Let us do something, while we have the chance.
Still don't own Chuck.
"Sometimes it helps to know that you got something to lose."
--Agent Walker Episode 3.4
Chapter 11—the Counterstrike
Casa Bartowski
"This is Tom. There are five vans around the safe house. Each van appears to hold at least four shooters. There are two down at the doorway. We have tried to call into the safe house but their lines are busy." The gunfire continued in the background. "We have taken a position in back of our vehicles," Tom ended.
"This is Vera, I am across from Tom. We did come in separate vehicles. The protection detail is spread out around the street exits. So far, they are only using Glochs and machine pistols," Vera pointed her camera around the scene.
Sarah called out, "Mary, can you get the FBI ops center and see if they have this on their lines. Tell them we have a team on site and need to coordinate."
Casey thought they were still outnumbered. Without the FBI acknowledging the firefight he was planning to send another protection detail. He said, "I can send a team from here. We can delay rotation." He turned to Doc Adams, "Doc, we could use you." Casey asked Sarah, "If he promises not to look at any pictures, can I have the Doc?"
"Yes, I promise. This has priority," Chuck agreed.
Sarah winced, but after Chuck agreed she said, "Yes. But we need you to stay here and coordinate."
"Right," Casey turned back to the screen and started talking into his cell. Doc Adams got his bag and headed out the front door. Major Garth met the Doc in the courtyard and they ran to waiting van.
The timing was perfect. The phone next to the bed rang. Sarah picked it up and went secure, "This is Director Walker secure. Yes, he is here. He's doing better. Yes, here he is." Sarah turned back to Chuck, "Its Director Wabash's secretary. She is ready to connect you." Sarah handed the phone to Chuck.
"Hi, this is Chuck. Oh, good morning… Director, one of our teams is in a firefight. They had gone out to ask some questions of Melina Habana at the FBI safe house. Yes, she is the Columbian Security Agent that helped identify the diplomats' daughters. Well, there could be as many as twenty shooters. We are trying to contact the FBI ops center to see if they have contact with the safe house…
"I originally sent the email to you over concern about those diplomats' daughters. This obviously reinforces that threat. Can we get extra protection for them? Actually, I think we need to order that it be put in place… If we keep them and are able to get some information from them about the MS, we may be able to keep them out of the country. That has to be a national security concern.
"Okay, sure… Yes, they are tied together. As a matter of fact, the attack could be Fulcrum, MS or the Ring. I don't know yet… Okay, sure I can do that… Yes, I'll wait for your email… Great… Thank you very much, this really is a good thing… I promise I will. Oh, sure. The number is…" Chuck gave the number for the conference room and the network with Tom and Vera.
FBI center was now linked in the conference network. Sarah was talking with them, "Yes, we have a small force of twelve behind the shooters, and another force of eight on the way. Can I get through to your SAC; we need to coordinate a full counterstrike." The center replied that it would contact him.
Chuck signaled Sarah and Casey, "We are going to receive a Presidential finding based on the attacks the other day and confirmed by this one today, that organizations involved human trafficking are conducting terrorist like activities against the United States. Actually, I am sure this has been building for a while, but the last few days have given it the push to get it signed. It will mean we get any support we need." Chuck looked at Casey, "Yes, I know this will be decided before we get the message. What have you been able to add to the fight?"
"I have two A-10s rolling in. They are fully armed. They were heading to the national range coming out of Edwards AFB. They will be there in two minutes. The targets will be the vans. FBI will be following with two full SWAT teams. But they are ten minutes away. Our team is another five minutes behind that." Casey looked at Sarah, "Can we engage?"
"Yes, take out the targets. Tom and Vera did you copy that?" Sarah asked.
There was a chorus of yeses when Tom, Vera, the detail and the safe house responded. They barely got done responding. The A-10's rolled in with their guns blazing at over four thousand rounds per minute. The middle van got the brunt of the action as it was the place where one staffing ended and the other began. The timing was perfect. Their teams took cover as the vans exploded and were demolished. They covered each other as they maneuvered forwarded. The opposing force was down.
Then it started to happen…a camera picked up one of the fallen agents and another camera showed the face of another. The cameras moved around as the teams moved through the debris. Faces came across the screen and vehicle pieces that were still burning were appearing. Everyone was watching the screen. Tom and Vera went to the FBI safe house. Two more faces appeared and then the two FBI agents that had lost their lives in the attack. A couple cameras turned to see the FBI SWAT arrive.
Chuck's monitor began flashing and beeping. His rate was going past one hundred and thirty beats per minute. Sarah almost jumped when the monitor started to beep. She grabbed Chuck's hand and started squeezing with both hands. Dorothy went directly to the monitor and got a stethoscope to check his breathing and pulse.
Chuck finally stopped the flashes. His breathing was ragged, but he got out, "Get everyone… away… from the safe… house." He saw Dorothy checking the amount in the syringe. "Need… ten minutes. Put model… on display. If I… flash, squeeze… my hand. Flash no more… than minute."
Sarah turned quickly to the best position for the microphone on this network, "This is Director Walker. All teams withdraw from the safe house and proceed to the FBI substation at Burbank. Confirm withdrawal by team."
While Sarah was listening to the reports from the teams, Chuck was reading the model reports and making inputs. He began a flash and Dorothy called it out. Sarah turned back to Chuck, "Mary, please get the remaining reports and make sure they get out of there." Sarah got Chuck's hand and waited for a signal from Dorothy. She began squeezing his hand. They started watching the monitor. It was getting close to one hundred twenty again. Sarah began calling his name along with squeezing his hand.
Chuck finally came out of it. "Thanks… Okay… Little bit more…" He could not figure why, but he was almost hyperventilating.
Dorothy used the stethoscope to check his breathing and pulse again. "Chuck, I need a couple deep breaths and exhale slowly," Dorothy directed.
Chuck took the breaths while typing away on his laptop. Chuck's face showed his concentration. He was making inputs and creating his own cross correlations. He was happy that he could type and not hesitate. He knew this would not last much longer. It really did feel like he was running a race and right now he was still going uphill. The results showed on the screen. Chuck saw the picture of Zappa Hellandas with the Halversons, Maximillion de Brouget, and another person. The flash came hard. Chuck's heart rate immediately started to climb.
Sarah became the squeezes again. Dorothy was looking at Sarah. The monitor showed the rate getting back up to the one hundred thirty range. Sarah began calling his name and squeezing harder. "Chuck, you have to stop. This is too much. Chuck!"
Chuck continued just a second more, "Got it. Burt… Grossner, Ring… Show you…"
It wasn't much longer and the screen showed a map. Highlighted with bubbles the FBI safe house was shown along with the FBI substation in Burbank. Then just four blocks from the safe house, another bubble showed, 'Burt Grossner, Ring commander. Garrison for 50 agents.' Next another bubble which was across town showed, 'Halverson staging area. Supported by 20 armed men. Could hold 100.' Finally, another bubble showed near the local airport, 'Zappa Hellandas MS office, holding 10 armed men.'
Chuck had the screen set up so that it had a crawler of information at the bottom. The line was currently showing, 'Attack at safe house with 3 confirmed Ring Agents and 2 MS operatives. While additional 17 members of the attacking force not confirmed, high probability exists that remainder of Ring and MS forces would engage at Safe House. Halverson staging area was not functioning during last attacks. Indications are that the Halverson area was set up by the remaining forces after the last attack.' The information was being shown on the scenes in the apartments and being feed to the FBI center and the addresses on Sarah's original email.
The face of Chuck's boss filled the screen. John said, "We have the Presidential finding. Chuck, I need you to get some rest. We are going to launch a coordinated attack against all identified centers. I need you to head this.
"Sarah, you and Colonel Casey are authorized to use any force available to protect your people and Melina. Protection of the other girls and the Fulcrum agent will be guaranteed.
"Sarah, we will be augmenting Mr. Wiggins and your analyst section. Connections are being made now. I would like the help of Steven, if you can spare him. He'll be getting a separate contract from us.
"I am sending Phillip out to help with the coordination. Mary, if you could help with his accommodations.
"Finally, thank you. You have done an outstanding job," John ended his connection. Emails with these instructions and further details began flooding their inboxes.
A/N Hope you enjoyed. A little shorter, but was the best break point. And as my Beta would say, you didn't send him back to the hospital, so he must be doing okay. Please review.
