CHAPTER SIX: THE CAPTURED

The news anchor on the television cut off the reporter unexpectedly. "…sorry for the interruption, but this just in: as we wait for the Secretary of Defense to address the nation, we have just received a statement issued by the Borovians in response to the capture of the six servicemen. We're taking you now to a live feed in Borovia where they are being held; we would like to warn the audience that this is, again, live, so please use discretion upon viewing."

The television cut to a live feed, as a masked Borovian spoke in English, as if he was specifically trying to get the attention of the West. "…an absolute injustice. We want the world to know that these Americans have been spying on our country, an act punishable by death. Upon their capture, these criminals had the audacity to attack and open fire, killing thirteen of our brave and noble soldiers and four innocent civilians. We ask the rest of the world: Would YOU allow these crimes to go unpunished? Stealing secrets that ensure our noble countries defense and protection? Would you allow the American government to send spies to your own country to steal and kill? Killing in cold blood innocent civilians…"

The masked man continued to speak as the cameraman panned across the six American soldiers from right to left.

Every single team member watching the live broadcast on the television were glued to the set and could feel chills running down their spine. The image on the television was fuzzy and the lighting was poor in the dark room, but as the camera auto-focused, each person watching through the television screen recognized the face of each and every captured American soldiers:

Shipwreck.

Deep Six.

Torpedo.

Leatherneck.

Gung Ho.

Wet Suit.

All of them looked ragged, unshaven, and were wearing orange jumpsuits... sitting cross-legged on the decrepit concrete floor. Shipwreck had a few cuts on his face, but had a look on his face portraying an incredible amount of anger which appeared to overcome any pain he might have been in. Gung Ho had a bleeding gash on the top of his bald head; the blood trickled down the side of his head down to his wicked looking scowl. Leatherneck had more facial stubble than anyone had ever seen on the face of the normally clean-shaven Marine. Deep Six had the same neutral look on his face that his teammates were used to; had it not been for the scruff on his face, he looked the same as he always did. He also seemed to be the only one of the six that didn't have a scratch on him.

Still, each and every one of them looked ragged and worn down. But they also looked like thugs.

This is exactly how the Borovians want them to look, Snake-Eyes reasoned. He felt an unbalanced mixture of sorrow, rage, and even disbelief.

Scarlett seemed to have read his mind. "This can't be happening, Snake. All of them... we have to get them back."

It was easy to feel her pain and frustration. *Shipwreck... he saved my ass on more than one occasion; especially back in Chicago. You remember, I believe. Leatherneck and Wet Suit... Those two are hardcore. Neither of them should have been captured. Still, I can't believe Hawk let those two work together after the last "Marine versus Navy" debate they had. I don't think the bar they destroyed was ever fully restored, and as I recall it cost them quite a bit out of their paychecks.*

"Maybe, but I heard they worked well together on the pirate ship assault off the coast of Africa a few months back."

Snake-Eyes nodded. *I agree. Sometimes those who are most stubborn and full of pride bring out the worst in each other, but sometimes, and under the right circumstances… they also bring out the best in each other.*

He paused before signing again, *Sometimes.*

Quietly, with her arms crossed, Scarlett nodded in agreement.

"Deep Six and Torpedo were two of my instructors, you know... Deep Six taught us maritime warfare, and Torpedo was my actual combat instructor in the water. I thought he was going to drown me the first time I went up against him! I was coughing up water for the next hour. Snake, how on earth did a team with this amount of skill and knowledge and training get captured in the first place? Especially in a place like Borovia? This doesn't make sense. Something isn't adding up..."

Snake-Eyes didn't have to nod in agreement; he didn't even have to budge. She knew that he could sense something was off, too.

A loud, booming voice snapped the entire room back to reality. It was General Hawk.

"Everyone, report to the Briefing Room in ten minutes." The Tomahawk spoke with professionalism, but also with much anger. Everyone looked at each other… no one, not even the veterans, had seen Hawk this upset.

*Time to find out what happened,* Snake-Eyes signed to Scarlett, shaking his head.