Chp. 30: Attack On the Taliban Pt. 1
Charikar, Afghanistan
Bagram Air Base
Mess Hall
October 8, 2020
At Bagram Air Base, Jacob, Nora, Robert, Liberty, May, Uzra, Nabir, Kobalt, and Team NDGO were all seated in the mess hall having breakfast. It had been a couple days since they had all arrived in Afghanistan.
"What do you guys think our assignment here is going to be?" May asked.
"Most likely something related to fighting against the Taliban," Jacob answered.
"It's most likely. There were only two Grimm attacks reported in Afghanistan from what I had found out. So it's likely that we won't fight any Grimm," Uzra said.
"Kids," a voice called.
Everyone turned to see the Ace Operatives and Alex at the door, with the Operatives wearing different uniforms. They all wore heavy-duty jackets and pants that were camouflage with dark brown and beige pixelated patterns. Clover wore a pair of sunglasses, a bullet proof vest with some pouches, and a pair of beige and dark brown boots. He still retains his fingerless gloves.
Harriet's pants were cut into shorts. She wore a pair of beige and dark brown running shoes, and a belt with some pouches that was also held up with suspenders. She also wore a pair of beige fingerless gloves and a black bandana over her head.
Vine wore a bullet proof vest and a pair of boots just like his leader and a belt with pouches. He also wore a helmet strapped to his head.
Elm wore a black sleeveless shirt and a belt just like Vine's. She still retains her vambraces on her forearms and was also completely barefoot.
Marrow wore a vest and a pair of boots just like Vine and Clover and wore a boonie cap on his head.
"Lookin' good troops," Robert said.
"So what are we all doing today?" Liberty asked.
"We're all going to be heading into Kunduz. That city is having some recent Taliban sightings," Alex said.
"Are we really bringing them into this? I mean, they're just kids," Marrow said.
"To be fair Marrow, we did sign up to go on missions like this, and we knew the risks," Kobalt said.
"Besides, as long as they follow our instructions They'll be fine," Harriet said.
"And to top it off, we have backup that will be waiting for us just in case we do need help," Elm said.
"We'll all be split up into three teams. Jacob, Robert, Dew, and Liberty will go with Clover and Steel. Uzra, Gwen, Nabir, and Kobalt are with Harriet and Marrow. and the rest are with me and Elm," Vine instructed.
"We all have a half an hour before we move out. So I suggest you all get yourselves ready as soon as possible," Clover said.
"Will do," Jacob replied.
The Ace Ops and Alex all walked out the door leaving the students to finish up their breakfast.
Airfield
Later out at the airfield, the group walked out to three Blackhawk helicopters. Jacob, Robert, Dew, and Liberty all boarded onto one of the helicopters, while Uzra, Gwen, Nabir, and Kobalt boarded on to the second, and Nora, May, Octavia, and Nebula all stepped on to the third. The Ace Ops and Steel soon came out into the airfield and all headed towards the helicopters with the students. Clover and Alex steps inside the first Blackhawk, Harriet and Marrow boarded onto the second, and Vine and Elm boarded on to the last one.
Once everyone was inside the Blackhawk helicopters, Alex took out his radio and spoke into it.
"Good luck, everyone. You're all gonna need it," he said.
The helicopters soon started to take off and fly out of the base and toward their destination.
Kunduz
About an hour had passed and the Blackhawks were flying over the city of Kunduz. Everyone inside the helicopters looked down at the city down below them. Alex pulled out his radio and spoke into it.
"Thirty seconds until we drop down. Get your asses ready and remember your call signs and ready your secondary weapons," Alex informed.
The Blackhawks then split off as they flew off into different directions into suburbs of the city. Clover and Alex's helicopter flew over the southside of the suburbs and soon hovered down and made a landing on a nearby street.
"Everyone out! Now!" Alex ordered.
Clover and Steel, followed by Jacob, Robert, Dew, and Liberty all stepped out of the helicopter.
"Alright. Let's go," Clover said.
The Ace Operative and the Marine started to jog down the street as the four other students followed behind them. The Blackhawk then took off into the sky just as they left.
In the West side of the suburbs, Harriet and Marrow's Blackhawk hovers down and lands onto a street. The two Operatives stepped out of the helicopter, followed by Uzra, Gwen, Nabir, and Kobalt.
"Let's get going kids," Harriet said.
The small group started to jog down the street as the blackhawk started to take off and fly away.
Out on the East side of the suburbs, Elm and Vine's Blackhawk starts to make its way down and hovers next to the roof of a three story building. Elm and Vine, followed by Nora, May, Octavia, and Nebula all stepped out of the helicopter and onto the roof, carefully watching their steps. The Blackhawk then started to fly away.
"Stay close, and follow us," Vine instructed the students.
Vine and Elm walk over to a door leading down stairs and enter inside as Nora, Nebula, May, and Octavia follow behind them.
Southside Suburbs
Back at the south end of the suburbs, Clover, Alex, Jacob, Robert, Dew and Liberty all walked down the sidewalk, looking around at their surroundings. The whole area seemed to be deserted as there was no sign of anyone else around. Clover looks up at a four story building for a moment and then looks back at Robert and Dew.
"You two," he said, pointing at Robert and Dew. "Get on to the roof of that building and provide us with sniper cover."
"Got it," Robert replied as Dew annoyingly rolled her eyes.
The two split off from the others and started to run toward the four story building. Clover approached a corner and peered his head around and saw several Taliban troops patrolling down the street with a truck in the middle of them. On the back of the truck was another Taliban trooper with a mounted 50 caliber machine gun. Clover pulled his head back away and turned to the others.
"Patrol coming. A dozen hostiles and a truck with a mounted machine gun," he said.
"Right. Get into positions and take cover," Alex ordered.
Clover draws out Kingfisher and grapples up to the roof of the building next to the group. Steel runs to a nearby door and steps inside. Jacob and Liberty ran across the street and inside the building on the other side. A moment later, the Taliban soldiers came out of the corner and slowly started to patrol down the street. Alex cracks the door open, watching as the Taliban was about to pass. He took out his radio and whispered into it.
"It's your call, Ebi. let them pass, or take 'em out," Alex said.
"Let's do this," Clover replied through the radio.
Up on the roof, Clover casts her line at one of the Taliban soldiers. The line wrapped around the trooper's neck, and Clover yanked his line back, sending the trooper flying back into the wall of the building as his neck had then snapped. This act instantly caught the Taliban soldiers' attention and started to open fire at the operative. Clover ducks down in cover.
On the rooftop of the four story building Robert and Dew had just got up there and looked over the edge. They saw the Taliban shooting at Clover as he was ducked down at the edge of the roof of the building he was on. Robert knelt down and pulled out Sweet Kisser. He aimed his sniper rifle at the trooper on the 50 caliber and shot at his head, killing him instantly. Dew pulled out her spear and waved it around over the edge, creating three small twisters which descended down towards the Taliban below.
The twisters blew past most of the Taliban troops, knocking them down to the ground. Jacob and Liberty then charge out of the building across from Clover and Steel and towards the Taliban. As the Taliban troops were getting up, Jacob drew out God's Judgement and slashed at two Taliban troopers and decapitates another.
Liberty draws out a pair of Scimitars that have a built in revolver-like chamber just above the hilts and slashed at a Taliban trooper. The blade then lit on fire and she unleashes a wave of fire at three more Taliban troopers setting them on fire.
Clover jumps off of the roof and lands on the ground, and then slashes at three more Taliban troopers. The last Taliban trooper charges over at the Operative, but Alex kicks the door open and shoots at the trooper, killing him instantly.
"Thanks," Clover said.
"No problem," Alex replied as he then took out his radio. "Jack Rabbit and Rattler, this is Honey Badger. We have encountered enemy hostiles at our location. Keep a look out. They could be close to your locations too. Over."
"Copy that, Honey Badger," Elm replied through the radio.
"Roger that, Honey Badger," Harriet replied too, through the radio.
Westside Suburbs
Meanwhile at the west side of the suburbs, Harriet, Marrow, Uzra, Gwen, Nabir, and Kobalt were all walking down an empty street looking around at their surroundings.
"Stay close and keep your eyes open, kids. They could be close," Harriet said.
"I still don't like this. We shouldn't babysit these kids and they shouldn't even be here," Marrow said.
"You worry too much," Gwen said.
"Besides, the rest of us babysit you all the time," Harriet jokes, as Marrow crosses his arms with a pout.
"He has a right to worry. The Taliban will not hesitate to kill if they see anyone as a threat to them. And we definitely are a threat to them," Uzra said.
Suddenly a bullet wheezed over everyone's heads. They turned to see a group of Taliban troops at the end of the street running out from the corners shooting and charging towards them.
"Contact!" Harreit shouted.
"Stay!" Marrow shouted, pointing at the Taliban troopers.
The Taliban soldiers then froze to a complete stop due to Marrow's semblance. Harriet deploys Fast Knuckles and with her semblance, dashes over to the Taliban troops. As she dashed through the group she punched each of the troops to the ground. A gunshot rang out from behind everyone. Uzra, Gwen, Nadir, and Kobalt turned around to see more Taliban troopers shooting at them. Nadir drew out his sub machine gun and began to open fire at the Taliban soldier just as Gwen started to throw her knives at them as well. Uzra and Kobalt charge over at the Taliban soldiers. Uzra drew her pulwar sword as one of the Taliban soldiers looked at her for a moment before gaining a look of panic.
"ساحرة كابول! ساحرة كابول! (Sahirat Kabul! Sahirat Kabul!) (The Witch of Kabul! The Witch of Kabul!) the Taliban trooper cried out.
Uzra slashed at two of the troopers, then impaled a third. Another charges at her firing his rifle at her. Uzra grabs the barrel of his gun and yanks it out of his hands before whacking him in the face with it, then follows it up by slashing at his throat. Kobalt hurls a punch at one of the Taliban soldier's faces, knocking him to the ground. Another rushes at Kobalt, but he quickly wraps his arm around the trooper's neck, then snapping it.
Three more Taliban soldiers start shooting at Marrow. He turns his attention at them and draws out Fetch. Marrow throws it at the three as it sliced through their torsos, killing them. His boomerang flies right back at Marrow as he catches it. He transformed it into his rifle and shoots and kills a Taliban soldier charging at Harriet just as she was approaching the dog faunus. Uzra, Gwen, Nadir, and Kobalt all approached the two Ace Ops.
"Let's move out," Harriet ordered.
The group started to run down the street.
Eastside Suburbs
Meanwhile at the Eastern end of the suburbs, Elm, Vine, Nora, Nebula, May, Octavia were all running down an empty street. The stopped at a corner and Vine peered his head around it. He saw a large courtyard filled with large groups of Taliban soldiers, four trucks with mounted 50 caliber machine guns, and an M252 Mortar at the center of a small dug up crater. Vine also notices a few small children all armed with guns. Vine pulled his head back and turned to the others behind him.
"There's a courtyard filled with enemies all over. Four trucks and a Mortar. A few armed children, around the ages of eight to ten are among them," Vine informed.
"Children?! Are we really gonna attack them?" Nora asked worryingly.
"As much as I hate to say this, if they do attack us, then we shouldn't hold back on them," Elm said with a solemn look.
"We are going to need some backup for this. The six of us alone is not going to be enough to face all of them," Vine said.
"I'll call it in," Elm said as she pulled out a radio, then spoke into it. "Honey Badger and Jack Rabbit, this is Rattler. Do you read me? Over."
"Copy that, Rattler. I read you," Alex answered through the radio.
"Loud and clear, Rattler," Harriet answered as well through the radio.
"We have a small army of enemy hostiles one klick west from our drop off point. May need back up. Over," Elm reported.
"Roger that, Rattler. All teams converge on Rattler's position. Over," Alex instructed.
"Copy that, Honey Badger. We'll meet up with you and Rattler," Harriet replied.
"Now we wait for the other to get here," Vine said.
Several minutes had passed as Nora and Nebula sat against the wall waiting, Elm was leaning against the wall, while Vine kept a close watch on the Taliban. Just then coming up the street was Clover, Alex, Jacob, Robert, Dew, and Liberty all running up to them. And coming out of a nearby alleyway was Harriet, Marrow, Uzra, Nadir, Gwen, and Kobalt all running up to join them. The two groups approached the third.
"What have we got?" Alex asked as he peered around the corner and saw the courtyard was completely infested with Taliban soldiers, then turned his head back to the others. "Although we can take 'em all by ourselves, they will call in some more back up, which will make things more difficult."
"So what's the plan?" May asked.
"Yeah, what do we do?" Kobalt asked.
"It's gonna be a little while until back up arrives. So until then, let's give the enemy something that will keep them occupied," Clover said. "Listen up. Here's what we're gonna do."