Chapter 15
Commencing Attack
The next night, everyone was gathered in Donatello's lab as they made their final preparations for the rescue attempt, even Tyroth was there. While Splinter had tried to mend the dragon's soul, the rest had been quite productive. And even though they hadn't dared to scout the Foot Headquarters, due to that it most likely was crawling with sentries, they felt that they were as ready as they could be.
"Okay, if Tyroth's family is held anywhere, it has to be in the Foot Headquarters' dungeons." said Donatello.
"Unfortunately we can't confirm that. Their computer systems are heavily encrypted." said April. "But it has to be there, it's the most defended place they got. Any other place and they wouldn't be able to stop us if we attacked."
"That doesn't mean that it will be easy to get in." said Raphael.
"No, but there is one way. It got us inside last time we stormed that place." said Leonardo.
"I remember it too." said Donatello and brought up an image of the building on his computer, showing a fire escape in one of the allies. Monalisa and Sephie recognized it right away.
"That's where we sneaked in." said Sephie.
"Yep, and while it's bound to be well guarded, it might be our best shot." said Donatello.
"We can handle a few guards, but it's their alarms and surveillance systems that has me worried." said Monalisa.
"And with all right. One wrong move and every Foot ninja will know where you are in an instant, unless you have something to throw them off the trail." said April, smiling at the last statement.
"Explain yourself, miss O'Neil." said Splinter.
"Donnie and I have made a little gadget that should even out the odds."
"If it works that is, we still haven't tested it properly." said Donatello. He then picked up a box-shaped object from beside his computer. It had a couple of buttons and cables, plus a small diode.
"What's that? A bomb?" Michelangelo asked.
"You're not that far off, we have rigged it with some explosives. Not much though, just enough to destroy the device in case we can't recover it."
"Okay, but what does it, you know, do?" Casey asked.
"Once it's activated, it will block out all forms of communications within a mile's radius. Phones, intercoms, walkie-talkies, email, anything advanced, all they will hear is static. In theory." said April.
"But there are a few downsides." said Donatello.
"Of course there is." Raphael half muttered.
"Our shell-cells will also be rendered useless. If we split up, we won't be able to contact each other, but only until the jammer runs out of power, after thirty to ninety minutes, give or take half an hour or so."
"That's not as much time as I'd like, but it'll have to do." said Leonardo. "However, once their communications is down, they will know that something is wrong."
"Then you will need some kind of distraction." said Tyroth, who had so far been quiet. "Let me handle that."
"What?! You can't be serious, love!" Sephie exclaimed, shocked by her mate's willingness to, seemingly, go alone.
"I am, hun. I'm going there, with or without the rest of you, so let me do this and at least it will be in accordance to the plan."
Leonardo contemplated on Tyroth's words. They would need a distraction, that much was certain, and a raging dragon mutant would definitively draw the attention.
"Alright, I don't like it, but it does increase our chances."
Just like Leonardo, none of the others liked the idea, least of all Sephie, but they couldn't argue with the benefits. Likewise, they couldn't ignore that Tyroth could get in trouble, it had happened before, although he was ambushed that time. Sephie sighed.
"If you're gonna do this, then promise me that you'll be careful, okay? I don't want to have to rescue you as well."
"I promise, love, I'll make sure to watch my back."
"Then it's decided." said Leonardo. "April and Casey will wait in the Battleshell and provide us with a mean of escape when we're done. Donnie will set up the jammer once we're in, and start it after we have signalled Tyroth. Wait a few seconds before you start, then… do whatever you think will work, and we will free your family."
"They're gonna freak out when four turtles and two lizards show up to rescue them." said Michelangelo.
"And one rat. I will accompany you on this mission." said Splinter.
"Are you certain, master?" Monalisa asked.
"I am, my daughter. To save and protect three humans that may not have any way of fighting these foes, you will need every able body. And while mine may be old, it is still able."
"I hope that Jennie has told her parents at least something about us, so it will be easier to gain their trust." said Sephie.
"Whatever the case, we strike tonight, at eleven. Everyone should make sure to be mentally prepared." said Leonardo.
The hours rolled by, and finally, the time for the attack had drawn near.
April and Casey had parked the Battleshell in a dark alley a couple of blocks away, where everyone would meet up. Meanwhile, seven mutants closed in on the Foot's headquarters, moving stealthily through the shadows. Reaching the alley where the fire escape was located, they saw that it was guarded by five Foot ninja. They had to be dealt with, quick and silently.
Last time, Monalisa had used a trick she had used against the Purple Dragons, before meeting the turtles, and while she kind of doubted that the same trick would work again, throwing an old can could distract the guards long enough. Finding one among the trash, she threw it past the ninja.
Hearing the clanking of the can, the Foot ninja drew their katana and three of them walked forward to investigate the sound.
The mutants didn't waste any time and immediately attacked. Raphael jumped out of the shadows and jabbed his sai into the throat of one of the two ninja still standing by the fire escape. The man died almost instantly and before his companion could react, Monalisa had leapt at him and slit his throat with her fans.
The three remaining ninja turned around when they heard the bodies hit the ground and saw Raphael and Monalisa standing by the fallen ninja, as well as three more turtles and a rat coming straight at them.
A swipe from Donatello's staff knocked the sword out of the first ninja's hand, while Michelangelo kicked the second ninja in the ribs. Leonardo quickly, and with great precision, decapitated both of the ninja simultaneously, leaving only one ninja.
Terrified, the last ninja dropped his sword and reached for his walkie-talkie. Before he could use it, an arrow pierced both the device and his hand. Crying out in pain, he was swiftly silenced when Splinter struck him with his cane, breaking the man's neck.
"So far so good." said Donatello. "Right, if you dispose of the bodies, I'll rig up the jammer, and place it somewhere it won't be found."
"Okay. Just tell us before you start it, and I'll send a text to Tyroth." said Leonardo.
A few minutes later, the bodies had been hidden in the dumpsters, and Donatello had hidden his jammer in a small ventilation shaft, while it was far too small to use as an entrance, it was perfect for the device, and to top it all off, it didn't have any kinds of alarms.
Giving Leonardo the all clear, the blue-masked turtle picked up his shell-cell and sent a text to Tyroth.
"Done," he said. "now, we wait thirty seconds, then we start the jammer and go in."
At that time, flying a few kilometres above the rooftops, the dragon mutant received a text on his shell-cell. Checking the message, he saw that it was from Leonardo, and there was only one word. 'GO!'
Tyroth's eyes shone red, and he set his sight on the Foot headquarters.
"Wahl hin drem, Arashi. Fah daar vulon, ausul yol fen lokluv nol gosvern fod dinok bo nau qobo viing ahrk zeydaan fen ru ko sahqon rath"
Diving towards his target, mana encased his entire body and he shone brightly in the nightsky, only to shine even brighter when he ignited the magical energy, basically transforming him into a massive fireball.
Like a meteor, he struck the building so hard that it shook in its foundation, sending fire and glass shrapnel everywhere as his mana exploded upon impact.
And so it begins, the attack on the Foot's base has begun, and with a bang no less.
For those wondering, the thing Tyroth said at the end is in Dragon-tongue and means: 'Make your peace, Arashi. For this night, hell-fire will rain from the heavens when death comes on swift wings and justice will run in crimson rivers.'