CHAPTER THIRTY: ARISE THE SERPENT

Just before dawn, the team arrived at the rendezvous point. Ahead of schedule; good, Snake-Eyes thought. Steeler had sent out the coded message and it was only a matter of time before the C-130 made an assault landing to retrieve the crew. This should be easier than last time – since there are no jumpers, all they have to do is fly low… down by the ocean waves right under their radar, and land on this old abandoned dirt strip. We load up, turn around, and then we'll be home free. I just hope Scarlett and their team had better luck than we did.

Snake-Eyes had been keeping an eye out for the last several hours, making sure they weren't being followed. But he didn't have to use his eyes to hear the low dull roar of the Herc's propeller engines… "The sound of freedom", he thought to himself. What they called it back in the desert. It was always good to hear one of those; it meant air support, whether in the form of cargo, paratroops, or even firepower from an AC-130 gunship.

Descending out of the sky, slowly getting larger and larger the closer it came, the C-130 dove down towards the short dirt runway at an impossibly steep angle in preparation for the assault strip landing. The crew made it look easy; the touch down was perfect and the large props kicked up a giant cloud of dust behind it. Cover Girl pushed up the throttles rolling The Flagg forward and into position behind the Herc as it came to a stop. Once they could get the Flag loaded up and on board they'd be ready to fly out of Borovia.

Several U.S. Air Force soldiers stepped out of the back of the aircraft as the ramp lowered. Most of them fanned out behind the plane even while the engines were still running. Two of the airmen had the privilege of riding a motorcycle each, useful for fast movement in this particular defensive stand. They were quick; no sooner did the cargo door open as they swarmed out of the aircraft in a defensive posture, fully prepared to cover the classified team and the Flagg should a firefight break out, or in case they were followed. A few combat medics hustled out of the plane behind the armed guards, immediately moving forward to help the wounded and get them on board.

"Steeler, I did it! We're in. Check this data out…" Clutch had finally been able to decrypt and open the files that The Wraith had on him, even as the tank rolled up on the back of the ramp.

"You're just finding this out now? Cutting it a bit closer, aren't we," Steeler said – his focus was on ensuring Cover Girl safely drove the tank into the belly of the aircraft, but this new discovery of information presented an internal conflict. "Cover Girl, careful… I need to see what Clutch found."

"Hey boss, woman driver… maybe you should watch her instead? Make sure she doesn't put a hole in the C-130 with the Flagg" Clutch couldn't help himself with his jab at Cover Girl.

"OUCH!" Clutch let out as a large object smacked the side of his shoulder - a large, hard object.

Tussling her hair, now that her own helmet was free, Cover Girl let her blonde hair flow down freely. She figured now that they were safely aboard, she didn't have much need for it. "Woman driver, huh?" she snickered at him. "Well, looks like I can drive a tank with one hand up the ramp of a C-130… and throw a helmet with my free hand. All at the same time!"

That really hurt, he thought, rubbing his shoulder. This chick is tougher than I thought.

"Oh, no…" Unlike Clutch, Steeler wasn't distracted, but instead was fully concentrated on reading the information that The Wraith had.

He saw the name again. The name of evil... the one that had finally surfaced only recently... the name of…

Cobra.

Steeler slammed his fist on the side wall of the tank. I should have known they were up to this. That explains the resistance we encountered.

Sensing Steelers worry, Clutch knew something bad was going on. He took a look at the screen.

Reading along with the classified documents as he scrolled down, Steeler mouthed along, "…Cobra agent, code name: *classified*, will infiltrate the United States and carry out Operation Fractured Eagle. Utilizing our holographic technology suit, his disguise will allow him to blend in. Expect his departure point from Urbak. No further information will be transmitted outside of need-to-know access. Scalpel, out."

Scalpel? Who the freak is that... and the other agent. Name is classified... who are these terrorists?

"Oh shit. Steeler, this…" Clutch didn't have to say anymore – Steeler felt the same way.

"Son of a b… Urbak. That's where the others are. We need to warn them."

"On it, boss," Clutch said as he immediately went to the radios to get a hold of Sierra Team. After sending out a few radio calls, they received no reply. "Steeler, this isn't good. Looks like the signals not even getting through. I think they might be jammed - looks like it's on their end, not ours."

Steeler cursed. He was trying to think of options of how to warn Sierra Team without radio.

"We could have the pilots divert and get close," Cover Girl added, now that the tank was stopped and aboard the Herc.

"That won't work. Assuming they have extra gas to fly down that way, which they probably don't, they couldn't possibly fly right above ocean waves the entire way without eventually getting seen by a coastal patrol or enemy radar. We have to get to Urbak, but can't get there fast enough."

"Yea, but Steeler, for all we know the infiltrator could have already left the city" Clutch replied.

"Maybe, but we have to do something. Come on, guys, let's put our heads together…"

Something outside the tank garnered the attention of the tank crew. A shouting sound, followed by a cursing sound, followed by a loud revving engine. Steeler and Clutch looked at each other. Steeler was the first to pop his head out of the tank to see what was going on.

The scene was surreal. One of the motorcycle riders was… dismounted. On his back and on the ground. Yelling at the man who had just ripped off his motorcycle. A man who just sped down the ramp of the C-130… peeling out, riding full speed back into the heartland of Borovia, from where they had just been. A man in black, with a sword strapped on his back… screaming down the road on his steel horse and hunched down against the gas tank as his speedometer accelerated at an incredible rate…

Looks like Snake-Eyes over heard me, Steeler thought, shaking his head. "Well, I guess I'd be more worried if it were anyone else." Looking at Clutch, Steeler gave out a quiet laugh and said, "He's got a long drive ahead of him though."

Wow, he looks badass on that thing, Clutch thought. Does he try to or is it just natural? Maybe they'll let me have the other motorcycle and give me a chance to catch up - just need to talk Steeler into it.

Then maybe I'll be a badass, too.