Chapter 15
Aggressive Negotiations- Part Two
0600 Hours, 12 February 2001, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
It had been over 36 hours since anyone had had contact with Tony. That was far too long as far as 1st Lieutenant Billy Hazard and his partner, Izabella Howsham were concerned. "That has to be where Movie Buff is being held" said Billy as he looked down on The Sky Dome through the scope on his Karabiner K98 Sniper Rifle.
"I count at least 2 dozen plus hostiles, AK-47s, G3s, Uzis and various other small arms" said Izzy as she lowered her binoculars from her face. "This isn't going to be easy" she observed.
"As if you would have it any other way" replied Billy with a slick grin. "What I still don't get is, is how Tony got caught. He's the best, he's The Movie Buff" said Billy.
"What if he was betrayed?" suggested Izzy.
"By who?" Billy asked.
"When I was with MI-6, I was responsible for assembling a file on DiNozzo" she confessed. "And I'm sad to say he has made quite the list of enemies over the years" she added.
"What happened to that file? Does British Intelligence still have it?" Billy asked.
"I burned it when I left" she informed him.
"Clever girl" mumbled Billy. "I don't suppose you can be even cleverer and find us a way inside?" asked Hitman.
"There, about 20 degrees down angle from the main entrance, that storm drain. That might work" she pointed out.
"Let's go for it" said Billy. He lowered his Karabiner and laid it in the back of the jeep, as he wouldn't be needing it. Instead, he grabbed his M4. "Let's move" he said as Izzy.
Billy and Izzy quickly made their way down the side of the cliff and quickly took cover in a roadside ditch. "Fuck" said Billy. Now that they had a level field of view on The Sky Dome, they could see that General Clarke had done some rapid remodeling.
"It looks like the Roman Coliseum" said Izzy.
"Does Clarke think he's Julius fucking Caesar or something?" Billy asked, half joking, half serious.
"More like Nero" joked Izzy, referencing the Emperor that had burned Rome to the ground.
"Well, when The Unit gets done with this place, it'll look like Nero was here" said Billy, who was actually being serious. "Let's move" said Billy as they quickly darted across the road. They slid into the ditch on the other side and quickly crawled their way to the storm drain. With a slight grunt, Billy was able to lift off the cover. The smell hit both off them like a fucking freight train. "This ain't no storm drain Izz" said Billy.
"It's smells horrible" she said.
"That's why they call it a sewer" said Billy with a smile. "Let's go" he said as he slid down the latter and hit the muck below with a splash. "Fuck me" he muttered. Not to be out done, Izzy slid down right behind him.
"Lovely" she commented sarcastically.
"Remind you of home does it?" joked Billy. She punched him lightly on the arm. Billy flicked on the flashlight that was attached to the end of his M4 and shined it down the tunnel. Izzy follow suit.
"So, when you were with MI-6, what did they know about this guy Clarke?" Billy asked.
"Career Canadian Military, a really screwed up combination of Hitler and Commodus" she said.
"Mental health?" Billy asked.
"He's a fruitcake" she replied as they made they're way down the tunnel.
"Terrific" he replied. They walked a couple more hundred yards in a comfortable silence. "Hey" Billy pointed out. "It's a ladder" he said pointing a head.
"Onward and upward" she said as they became climbing rung by rung. Izzy went first. Billy couldn't help but stare at her ass in the tight camo pants she wore. "Take a picture, it'll last longer" she said with a grin. Billy climbed up right behind her. Up above them was a manhole cover that led to one of the subbasements of The Sky Dome. Izzy tried to push up on the lid, but it was too heavy for her to lift. Billy scaled up behind her. Both their hearts skipped a beat with their bodies in such close proximity. Izzy felt a chill go down her spine as she felt Billy's breath on the back of her neck. With a grunt, Billy forced the lid up and over. Izzy was up 1st. she scrambled up over the top and quickly took cover behind a low wall. Only seconds later, Billy joined her, after replacing the lid.
"So far so good" Billy whispered. The 2 Delta Operators quickly made their way to the stairs and descended them two at a time. When they reached the sub-basement, they quickly checked the hallway. "Clear" Billy whispered. They slowly walked around for a few minutes, finding nothing. "Hey Izz?" Billy asked.
"Yeah" she replied.
"Does it seem a little too quiet to you?' he asked her. Before she could answer, Billy threw her to the ground, and fired off a burst from his M4. "Stay down Billy yelled as he fired off several more burst.
"What is it?" she yelled over the roar of the fire. Then she heard the return fire of an AK-47. "Never Mind" she yelled. She lifted her head off the ground and quickly stood up when she saw a Canadian soldier running towards her. She quickly kicked him across the stomach, before dispatching him with a strong elbow to the temple. The quickly regained focus and took on another oncoming enemy. When the soldier tried to hit Izzy with the butt of his AK, Izzy quickly caught it and slammed it back into the man's face, breaking his nose in the process. Izzy grabbed the man by the wrist and quickly flipped him over her shoulder, twisting his arm into a hammer lock. With one strong thrust, she slammed her elbow down onto the man's arm, breaking it. Before standing up and kicking him across the face.
"Izz, we gotta move" Billy yelled as he ejected a spent clip from his M4 and inserted a new one. Before either of them realized it, 2 dozen CNP Security troopers rushed them, Ak-47s in hand, quickly surrounding them at gun point. They're leader, who was holding a Glock 17, pointed it at Billy.
"Don't move Yanks" he ordered. Izzy and raised her hands, and Billy laid down his rifle.
11 hours later- 1800 hours, 12 February 2001, Main Arena, Sky Dome, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
"Move" the guarded ordered as he poked the barrel into Billy's back. In keeping with his obsession for Ancient Rome, General Clarke had had his CNP Guards rapidly convert The Sky Dome into a Roman-style coliseum. The arena roof had been removed and the floor covered with sand. In the middle of the arena were 3 large pillars. Chained to the far left one was Tony. With their hands handcuffed in front of them, Billy and Izzy were lead to the pillars. When they approached, Tony looked up. He had been badly beaten and tortured. There were burn marks on his face and arms. He only shook his head as they approached. "Don't worry Top, we relayed the message to Ex-Caliber, just as you ordered" said Billy as his hands were chained to the pillar above his head. Billy glanced over at Izzy, who briefly scratched her head before being chained as well. "Then we decided to come and rescue you" he spat out.
"Good Job" Tony commented. Suddenly, the roar of the crowd began to rise. "Oh good, the assholes are here" muttered Tony. For the next ten minutes, President-for-life General Albert Clarke gave a rousing speech about Canadian Nationalism, and how the 3 Americans would pay for trespassing on the sacred Canadian soil.
"And now, let the executions begin!" Clarke yelled from his private viewing box, which also held Ari, Shabbak Officer Adam Eshel and Clarke's person bodyguard, Arthur McGregor.
Tony just looked forward as the gates around the area opened, releasing 3 wild animals: a Lion, A Tiger, and a Rhinoceros. "Just stay focused" Tony warned Billy.
"What about Izzy?" Billy asked. Tony looked over to wards her.
"She appears to be on top of things" said Tony. Billy quickly looked over towards her. She had already been able to pick the lock on her restraints and was climbing the poll. Once released, the rhino charged at Billy.
"Oh no" he said as he swung his body out of the way, causing the rhino to miss. Meanwhile, the lion went after Tony. The Lion swung at Tony with its claws. When Tony ducked, the claws caught hold of the chain, and the force of the lion's strike caused them to break.
As the 3 Delta Operators fought for their lives, a figure, dressed in a black rope, slowly and silently walked down the hallway towards General Clarke's private box. As he approached, he shed the dark robe and drew his knife, a micro-tech halo. He crept up behind McGregor and yanked him backwards, holding the blade to his throat. "This Party's over" he declared. Ari, General Clark and Officer Eshel turned to see who it was. Ari grinned his sinister grin.
"Ah, Sergeant DiNozzo, how kind of you to join us. But I'm sorry to say, you're terribly out-numbered" Ari stated.
"I don't think so" replied Three. All around the coliseum, men rushed in, Fleur-de-lis sewn onto the tattered uniforms. Ari only smiled. Three heard footsteps approaching from behind, so he quickly threw McGregor to the ground and drew his 45, quickly firing several shots at the 2 onrushing CNP Guards. He quickly jumped over the side to the ground below, were he joined the rest of his allies.
Tony, Izzy and Billy had already been freed from they're restraints by Chester, who was now taking cover behind one of the fallen pillars. "You call this a diplomatic solution?" joked Billy to Izabella.
"No, I call it Aggressive Negotiations" she joked right back. Despite the Valor of both The Unit Members and The Québécois Freedom Fighters, the group was easily outnumbered by the Canadian Soldiers surrounding them. After an intense firefight that lasted over 20 minutes, the Canadian troops suddenly ceased-fire. The Unit members quickly followed suit. By now, the coliseum had been completely cleared of civilians and only the combatants remained.
"Colonel DiNozzo" a voice rang out. Tony recognized it instantly to be that of Ari Haswari. "Colonel, you and your men have fought quite valiantly, a deed which is worthy of recognition in the annals of Military History. However, surrender now, and your lives, shall be spared" Ari offered.
"Fuck You" Three replied almost immediately.
"That's one way to put it" Tony added.
Ari let out a sinister laugh. "As you wish Colonel" said Ari as he walked away. The surviving allies quickly took cover in the ruins of the coliseum.
"Sky Train, this is Gunfighter One-One, we are inbound" came a voice over Three's radio. Suddenly, 2 Apache ground attack helicopters flew over, firing Hellfire missiles into Clarke's now vacated private box. As the missile s crashed home, several UH-60 Blackhawks flew over head, carrying several chalks of US Army Rangers.
"Form a perimeter around the survivors" ordered Colonel Barrett, who was riding in the lead Blackhawk.
"Yes Sir" the pilot replied. The lead Blackhawk touched down and Tony, Izzy and Billy quickly scrambled aboard. Three, Deeks and Chester scrambled into the 2nd, while the remaining QNA Fighters scrambled into the remaining Blackhawks.
"Where's Tali?" Tony asked The Colonel. EJ quickly realized Tali wasn't with him.
"Oh my God, she's not here" he said, pointing out the obvious. Then it hit Tony like a brick wall.
"Oh God"
2230 hours, 12 February 2001, Hangar 354-AA, Toronto International Airport, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
It was just past 2230 hours, and it was pitch black out. As she waited, Sergeant 1st Class Tali Colleton slowly raised her Remington R700 Sniper Rifle to her shoulder. "My name is Sergeant 1st Class Tali Colleton" she whispered to herself. "I am the daughter of Colonel Thomas Colleton and a proud member of The Colleton Family" she added. She flicked off the safety of the rifle and took careful aim towards her target across the field. Ari might have at one time been her half-brother, but that was a very long time ago. She had setup her sniper's nest on a small hill that was just inside the perimeter of the field. She was about to take the shot when someone jumped on her back. The assailant quickly put his hand over her mouth and wrapped his legs around her torso.
"Tali" the man whispered. "Calm down, it's me, it's Tony" he assured her. Tali quickly calmed down, and Tony released her from the submission hold.
"Tony, what the hell are you doing here?" she asked him.
"I could ask you the exact same thing" Tony countered.
"Like I told Three, I am here to Kill Ari" she replied.
"Look, Tals, I know why you're doing this, but it doesn't matter, the CNP has beefed up it's security, you'll never make it out of here alive if you take that shot" Tony warned her.
"Just get out of here DiNozzo, I can take care of myself" she said.
"Can't do it Colleton, you're my best friend, and I ain't leaving ya here" he shot back. She looked up from her scope.
"You're a real pain in the ass, ya know that" she said.
"I'll be whatever it takes if it gets you out of here" Tony said. Tali sighed. "Come on, we're leaving" Tony said as he took the sniper rifle from her hands. When Tali crawled away, Tony snapped the rifle to his shoulder and took careful aim at Arthur McGregor, Clarke's Chief Bodyguard. Tony took in a deep breath and pulled the trigger.
0735 hours, 13 February 2001, US Forward Operating Base, 15 miles south of Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec.
US Military Forces had been able to secure the Québécois territory below The St. Lawrence River. Unfortunately, Quebec City and Montreal, which were north of the river, still remained in CNP hands.
Inside Colonel Barrett's temporary office, 1st Lieutenant William Hazard and Staff Sergeant Izabella Freya Howsham stood at stiff attention. "Unbelievable, both of you disobeyed a DIRECT order when you went up there, and you nearly got yourselves killed in the process" Colonel Barrett yelled.
"Sir Yes Sir" they both replied in unison.
"I should have both of you drawn on charges this very instant" he yelled.
"Sir Yes Sir" they replied in unison once again.
"So who's brilliant idea was it anyway? Who thought it would be smart to disobey a direct order and charge up there looking for trouble?" Barrett demanded. Before Izzy could even think, Billy spoke up.
"It was mine Sir" he said, lying through his teeth. Barrett slammed his hand down on his desk.
"God damn it Billy, what the hell were you thinking?" Barrett yelled. Before Billy had the chance to say anything, Barrett continued yelling. "That's it, Hazard, you are desk bound until further notice" he ordered.
"Yes Sir" he replied.
"But Colonel" Izzy protested.
"You wanna join him Howsham?" he asked. "Then be quiet" he yelled. "Dismissed" he yelled. Both Billy sand Izzy snapped to attention and saluted, before hightailing it out of there. As they scurried through the door, Tony and Tali walked in. "Ah, another pair of idiots" he said. Tony simply flipped him off as he walked over to Barrett's mini fridge and pulled out 2 beers, one for him and one for Tali. He handed Tali and hers before he sat down in one of the chairs in front of EJ's desk. He put his feet up as he popped open the bottle. "Get your goddamn feet off my desk" Barrett demanded.
"No" Tony replied simply as he took a swig. "Who's got your panties in a bunch?" Tony asked.
"Fuck you" Barrett replied as he sat down behind his desk. Tali shot Tony a very confused look. Tony could only shrug his shoulders.
"You look like hell EJ" Tony commented.
"Look who's talking, those are electrical burns on your face" Barrett countered.
"We ain't talking about me, we're talking about you" Tony jabbed. EJ only grunted.
"He's pissed because Irving Morrell just got his General's Stars" Tali added.
"Already?" Tony asked looking at her. "Didn't he just get Full Colonel a few months ago?"
"General Franks put him in charge of 'Blade Force', the US' armored spearhead thrust through Quebec and into Canada" Tali informed him.
"Know Irv Morrell as I do, I'm sure he'll want to do his best Patton impersonation and lead from the front" Tony threw in.
"Which is why both of you will be with him, watching his back" ordered Barrett. "Together, understand. I'm sick and fucking tired of you too both playing lone wolf. You two are partners now, clear" Barrett added.
"Peachy" Tony said as he set the beer bottle down on EJ's desk and stood up. "As for Irv's stars, get over yourself EJ, life, especially Military life, ain't fair" Tony said.
"Says the man with every medal in the book" EJ said under his breath, thinking Tony hadn't heard.
"Fuck you EJ, you arrogant fucking prick, if life was fair, Johnny Hirsch would be my Senior NCO, and Tom Colleton would still be running things, not you" said Tony as he stormed out, his new partner following right behind.
A/N- I apologize for taking so long to update, but I've been working extra long hours at work these past few weeks.
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P.S- Happy 4th of July! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!