There were still so many questions that Cooper wanted to ask. Why were Russians in North Korea? How did the target escape? Why are these scientists so important?

So many questions he wanted to ask, but he couldn't ask; a soldier's duty is to follow orders, no matter what.

"Jackson, you alright?" Trent asked through our walkie's.

"I'm fine, Trent; keep an eye out for the signal. We need to make sure this operation goes smoothly."

"...There's more to it... isn't there?"

"..."

"Jackson, I can tell something is bothering you. If it's about your father's -"

"The target may know what happened to my mother..." I spilled out. Trent and Jack were quiet, but I know that they're looking at me. "I know that it's a slim chance; that I'm just pulling straws at the moment. That's why I'm trying to stay focused on the mission. I can't get my hopes up... I can't..."

"...I understand." Trent replied. "I know that pain, Jackson. Hoping to find some peace... But know that you're not alone on this... Not anymore."

I nodded.

But that raises one more question.

What did Trent do in his past?

BOOM

Suddenly, a big explosion occurred.

"That's the signal, Alpha team. Time to move out; remember, stay in the shadows and do not engage unless necessary."

The three of us moved forward, slowly; staying in the shadows and avoiding any of the locals, if possible. A few however, did get in our way, but with Trent's skills and accuracy. We were lucky to sneak past without any delays.
As soon as we reached the target's location, it was heavily fortified. Several guards, a couple of snipers and mounted turrets and...

"Damn it! They got a goddamn Gekko!" Jack informed me.

Gekkos are bipedal autonomous combat vehicles. Normal weapons like ours won't put a dent on them. The best way to take out a Gekko is with a severe amount of firepower, or a very sharp blade. I'm guessing the locals somehow obtained one and patched it up with their own equipment; considering that the Gekko was not heavily armored and had several opening weak points.

"Trent? Got any ideas?" I asked.

"I might be able to take it out instantly once I head toward the roof, but those soldiers will spot me. afterward"

"I got something for that," Jack responded and took out several grenades and flares. "I might be able to stun those guards with these grenades. But it'll only be a short time, you'll only get one shot."

"Good enough," Trent answered and left to reach the roof of the nearest building. Jack and I will prepare our shots to take out the snipers before they can spot Trent.

We have to time it properly or they'll notice our location, endangering the target's safety.

"[Trent, are you in position?]"

"[Yeah.. just give the signal when ready.]"

"[Alright... 3... 2... 1... Go!]

Jack and I just threw the flash bangs out toward the soldiers, blinding them while Trent fired, sabotaging the Gekko. Afterwards, Jack and I fired our weapons and took out the snipers and then the guards. After Trent sabotaged the Gekko, Jack moved in and destroyed it's main system completely, preventing it from reacting and alerting the others.

"All clear," Jack responded.

"Copy; everyone, form up at the entrance, there may be more inside."

Everyone joined up at the entranceway and sneakily moved in. So far, no one was on the main floor, and the second floor was clear too. However, there was no sign of the target.

"Jackson," Trent said, "I found something."
Trent found a secret entrance behind a bookshelf that leads toward the basement. My guess is that's where the doctor's is being held.

"Stay close everyone; be ready for a fight, but watch your shooting."

The three of us moved in quietly, waiting for someone to pop out and shoot; so far nothing. Until we heard voices, the local militia that were holding the target were speaking.

"ay kalam min eumalayina?"

"la shay' , kan yajib 'an yakunuu qad wasaluu mundh saeati."

Unfortunately, the only one who knows the local language was Sarge, but he's not here with us at the moment. He's been on tour in the Middle East most of his career; he managed to learn a bit of the native languages here.

"tawajah 'iilaa altaabiq aleulwii watlub altahditha."

"ealaa ma yurami."

One of the guards started walking towards the exit. We moved to position to hide in the shadows. Right after the guard left the room, Trent went behind the guard and took him out with his CQC. After that, Jack enters the room and takes out the other guy before he can alert the others through comms.

"Area is secured," Jack responded.

"Trent, keep an eye on our exit. Make sure no one blocks our way out. Jack, you're with me. Let's get the target and get out of here."

Everyone agreed and Jack followed to the other room, it was a hallway leading to only one room. I'm assuming it's the target's lab. Jack and I walked cautiously forward towards the entrance.

I opened the door and aimed quickly for a firefight.

But luckily, there was no guard. Only the target.

"About time," He said.

"You must be the scientist," I said.

"Dr. Olwood's the name," He said. Dr. Olwood is your average size person, dark-skin, age around 30-40 years. Short brown hair with a stubble beard.

"Wait, Dr. Olwood? THE Dr. Olwood that invented the latest device. The one that can convert the very oxygen itself into nuclear energy?" Jack said.

Olwood nodded. "Indeed... though, I'm starting to regret ever making that... monstrosity."

"Why?" I asked.

"It wasn't supposed to be used that way. It was the opposite!"

Olwood slammed his fist to the table and took a deep breath.

"The energy converter was supposed to convert nuclear radiation into clean oxygen. It was supposed to clean out radiation from nuclear wastes or contaminated areas. I was planning on testing it on Chernobyl, hoping to finally clean the radiation that has been there since the Cold War."

"Until it was repurposed for military use, wasn't it?"

"...Yeah. Afterwards, I was captured by Russian defectors and sent to Korea. I managed to escape but got captured again here."

"That's why we're here. We're the U.S. unit sent to escort you out of here."

"Back to Russia, I'm assuming?"

"We're just following orders."

"Do you even want to know why?"

Jack and I were curious, but we're on a time limit.

"There's no time, we got to go and get you out of here," I said as I tried to contact Bravo Team. "Bravo Team, do you copy? We found the target, we're gonna need that escort ready."

All I was hearing was static for a moment, until I heard a voice.

"This is Bravo Team. We're just getting the vehicles ready, but you'll need to get here ASAP. We got company arriving."

"The Russians?" I asked.

"Yeah, so you better get here. Now!"

The three of us walked out of the room and headed for the exit. When I spotted Trent at the front, I called out to him.

"Trent, we got to go. Russians are on their way and-"

"Get down!" He yelled.

Suddenly, a rocket flew past us and impacted near us. We all ducked to avoid the debris and minimized the damage.

"Enemy forces are here, Cooper!" Trent yelled.

I nodded and ordered everyone to counter strike. Trent and Jack began firing back but also stayed vigilant to protect Olwood from any harm. The local resistance kept pushing at us back, but us three were not making it easy for them.

"We need to find a way through!" I yelled. "Jack, you see any openings?"

"Yeah! By the left flank; we may need to make a detour, but we'll be able to reach the others."

"Copy, Trent, cover us! I'll escort Olwood!"

Olwood, Jack and I began to move toward the left flank and took out several soldiers while Trent was covering our backs. We managed to pierce through and kept moving toward the village, which will give us plenty of cover. Just as we managed to make it toward one of the buildings, the ground started shaking, making us wobbly.

"The hell was that?!" Jack asked. Just as the comms started to respond.

"[Alpha squad, do you copy?]" Sarge called.

"Cooper here, what's the situation?!"

"[Bad, the Russians arrived and are already deployed soldiers and are bombing the area!]

"What?! Why?!" Jack yelled.

"[I don't know, but you better get here fast! We can't hold this position much longer!]"

"Copy," I said, "We're on our way; just hang in there."

Just as we were about to move, several more local soldiers were nearby. It'll take forever to reach the rendezvous point. It seems there was more enemies nearby than I expected.

"Damn it," I said. "There's too many of them."

"Cooper," Trent replied. "Let me and Jack distract the soldiers."

"What?!" I said.

"He's right, you know," Jack suggested. "Our main priority is to keep the doc safe. We'll meet you back with the others, just keep Olwood safe, okay?"

I sighed. If Jack is being reasonable, you know things are bad.

"Fine, but don't go being a hero, alright?"

Jack smirked, "C'mon, it's me. And Trent's too good to get himself killed." Trent was ignoring that last response and spoke,"

"Go, we'll cover you."

I nodded and ordered Olwood to follow me. We took the back door and kept heading toward the rendezvous point. Behind us we hear gunshots and explosions.

'Don't you die on me, you guys...' I thought and kept moving forward.

Olwood and I managed to slip past the enemies and are almost toward our goal point.

"Almost there, doc. Just stay low," I suggested. Olwood nodded and managed to head toward an alleyway, only a couple more blocks and we'll be there.

Suddenly...

"Look out!" Olwood yelled. A bullet nearly hit me as I made a turn around the corner of the alleyway. But, Olwood pulled me back just in time.

However, the situation was still grim, several more of the local militia surrounded us and we had little to no cover.

It was an ambush.

"Son of a bitch," I said.