Chapter 3
Rainbow Six
Mayor's official Residence, Los Angeles, California, United States, August 13th 2022
The sound of gunfire echoed in the home as bodyguards slumped to the floor dead. Armed intruders made short work of the Mayor's security detail. Men and Women who weren't used to this type of combat. James Rio, the head of the security detail, was busy firing his Glock 17, when he felt a thwack and his vision started to blur. Seeing a man dressed in a military uniform. He saw the flash and saw only blackness.
"General Ridgeway, the Mayor, is cornered in his private study." Said one of the attackers
"Captain Lewis flush him out." He turned to the other member of his assault team "I want him on camera Major Ashford, hack all media services."
They both replied "Yes sir!"
Rainbow Six Headquarters, Hereford, United Kingdom
Bishop and Six were in the Tactical Operations Center overlooking the situation in the United States. They needed to work fast, given the fact that WMDs are in the country. The Team in DC is working with Federal Law Enforcement to clear the insurgents from the Capital. New York City was a bigger mess than initially thought. The explosive's the Insurgents used blew up the bridges surrounding Manhattan, essentially cutting it off.
"Sirs. We have a live video feed from the mayor's residence." Sharon Judd said
A man in a clean looking military uniform looked directly at the camera before it turned to show the mayor of Los Angeles, gagged and tied up. His eyes showed terror. The man started to speak
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I am General Antwon Ridgeway of the True Sons and we are calling all noble patriots to rise up in Revolution like our brothers and sisters in the Last Man Battalion. This is how it starts!"
The man walked up to the mayor and raised his handgun and shot him in the head. Blood and brain matter hitting the floor.
"God Damnit!" Six shouted "Bishop Inform Keller and his team to stop him at once."
"On it." He replied
Los Angeles International airport, Los Angeles, California, United States
Keller's mouth was agape with shock as he saw the scene play in front of him. Knight nodded at him and they decided to do what they do best, fight terrorism.
"Listen up guys, we need to get to the residence ASAP. It's 15 miles from our position but our friends at LAPD gave us a SWAT Van and a squad to help us in our mission. We'll meet them at SWAT Headquarters." Keller said
"Remember there may be insurgents and civilians in our route. Watch your fire, more importantly SWAT Officers may have a different ROE than us." Knight said, her voice cool and content
They entered the armored vehicle and began checking the equipment again. Keller looked at his HK 433 Carbine, pulling the bolt and releasing it. The 433 was Heckler and Koch's newest rifle and is now the standard for Rainbow Assault Teams replacing the 416. Looking at his drop holster was his trusty HK45 handgun. Chambered in .45 ACP, it packed a punch which was needed against terrorists with body armor. He was satisfied with his equipment and everyone else nodded to him. After 10 minutes, they reached the rendezvous point, where they would meet the SWAT Team and work out a plan of attack. Knight turned to him
"I see the heat signatures of the SWAT team."
"Copy that Knight. Everyone dismount from the vehicle."
Everyone dismounted with their black uniforms and gas masks on. The street and surrounding buildings were completely empty. Keller didn't like what he saw, this was the perfect setup for an ambush, the former CAG operator told his team to take positions while he met with Sergeant Harrelson of the LAPD.
"You must be Keller from the NATO Task Force?" a voice called out
"Yeah. You must be Sergeant Harrelson." Keller responded, unsure of the identity of the man
"That's correct, though most people call me Hondo." He replied
"All right Hondo, it's nice to meet you. I'm Logan Keller."
Both men shook hands and entered the SWAT Headquarters and discussed plans to enter and retake the mayor's residence. They gathered around a large table and introduced one another.
"Hondo, this is Knight, a former member of the FBI's HRT, Jung Park, a former member of South Korea's elite counter-terrorist and quick-reaction unit, the 707th Special Mission Battalion, Michael Walter, a former SAS operator and LT. Fred Franklin of Delta Force".
Nodding at what he assumed were veteran operators, he began to introduce his team.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all, I wish it was under better circumstances. To my right is Sergeant David "Deacon" Kay and Officers Dominique Luca, Victor Tan, Jim Street, Zoe Powell and Alexis Cabrera".
"Nice to meet you all." Keller responded in kind "I guess it's time to read you in on the situation. About a week ago, my team went after a Pakistani Warlord named Tafkir, we had received weapons from an arms dealer named Hamid Zarza. The weapons were WMDs given to the Domestic Terrorist Organizations that are in control of Los Angeles."
"Jesus!" He heard one of the SWAT officers respond, he remembered his name being Luca.
Hondo took control of the conversion "We are around six miles away from the Mayor's Residence. I suggest we use our armored vehicles and dismount one mile away. We'll assault the building and extract the target."
Keller looked at the man impressed with his tactical and decisive leadership.
"Hando. You serve in the military?"
"Yeah. 1st Battalion, 9th Marines from 94 to 98. Why?"
"You sound like a soldier with experience. I was with Force Recon before I went to the Unit. After that I was recommended to this Task Force in 2005."
Walking to the SWAT van he saw Luca walk up to him, 416 in hand.
"Are those the new HK 433 Rifles?"
"Yeah. We replaced the 416 with them."
"During my liaison mission with the German's I used one of them. Nice rifle."
"It is. Anyway, let's get focused. We need to find out where those weapons are before more damage occurs."
Black Tusk Kill Team, Los Angeles, California, United States
The convoy of vans slipped unnoticed through the abandoned dark streets of the city. It was eerily quiet to the veteran mercenaries of Black Tusk. Early in the organization's history they worked for the CIA off the books. Now they are accomplishing the culmination of a plan that was set in motion many years ago. Their target was known to only a select few but it'll be devastating for the surrounding area. Los Angeles Water Supply Plant. Kestrel looked at his watch and noticed that they were slightly off schedule, nothing to really worry about. They had all night and the LAPD was stretched thin. His only concern was Team Rainbow. They've been interfering with their plans for far too long. Thankfully, Meggido had a plan for them, he was told that Rainbow's own worst enemy is itself.
Rainbow Six Headquarters, Hereford, United Kingdom
"We have an update from Thermite's Team in Washington D.C. No sign of WMDs but multiple insurgent cells have been located by the FBIs HRT Unit and NCIS. They have the location of the senior leadership of the Last Man Battalion." Sharon Judd said
"Good tell them to execute the mission with extreme prejudice."
"Understood Sir."
Combined Rainbow-LAPD Task Force
Looking at the schematics of the mayor's residence, they went over the plan twice. Keller and Hondo would lead two separate teams to assault the building while two of Hondo's elements provided sniper fire from an elevated position facing the general direction of the residence. Keller looked around and saw a perfectly sized assault element. All armed with the latest weaponry available. Hondo decided that the sniper team would be composed of Officer Luca armed with the BCM Recce-14 MCMR-13 a short range DMR while Officer Zoe Powell will use the Ruger Precision Rifle. The Lenco BearCat armored vehicle stopped near an alleyway.
"Luca. Powell. Get to the top floor of the building and provide cover for us. Once you give the go ahead, we'll cross the street and get into position." Hondo said
"On it. Come on Powell." Luca responded
Luca and Powell swung the slings of their rifles and equipped their TTI STI 2011 handguns. Given the state of Los Angeles the building was most likely abandoned but they wouldn't put it past the hostiles to have sentries guarding the area. Seeing no one in the hallway they proceeded to cross it and went up the stairs, weapons at the ready. Once in position Luca radioed Hondo.
"22-David in position. We have eyes on the street and the target building." He told Hondo of the situation.
"Copy that." After responding with his radio he told the others to cross the street. Keller and his team provided overwatch and then crossed themselves.
Luca's radio went off and he heard Keller's voice "All hostiles are to be shot on sight." He felt a bit uncomfortable with that line of thinking. He was a police officer not a soldier, they didn't kill with impunity. They arrested people and killed only when necessary. But these guys were terrorists. They've killed hundreds of people so far. He keyed his mic when he saw a hostile walk out of the building into an alley.
"This is 22-David. I have a hostile moving towards you, Hondo. He has a weapon, proceeding to take him out."
"Copy. Make the shot count."
Luca aimed his BCM Recce-14 MCMR-13 at the enemy. Lightly pulling the trigger the muzzle flashed as the 5.56 mm NATO round entered the man center mass dropping him like a sack of potatoes. He immediately saw both teams begin the assault. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a man with an RPG appear on the balcony. Thankfully Powell put a round from her Ruger Precision Rifle in him.
Rainbow Assault Team - Seconds earlier
Keller was in position with his team of Rainbow operatives waiting for the signal to enter the two story building. With his gas mask on he prepped a Tear Gas grenade. He heard the shot ring out and threw the gas grenade through the window. Park kicked open the door and the Rainbow Team entered the historic Getty House. Aiming his HK 433C, Keller saw a hostile coughing from the gas and took him out with a double tap of subsonic 5.56 ammunition. The carbine variant of the standard rifle was perfect for this type of mission especially with the Singuard Arms Whisper integrally suppressed barrel. Finding a set of stairs, he tapped Park's shoulder to inform him that the team was ready to proceed to clear the second floor while the SWAT officer's would clear the the first floor. Moving up toward the second floor another hostile was gunned down and killed. Seeing a hallway, the team split off to check the second floor for Antwon Ridgeway. Park and Walter went with Keller and Knight and Franklin paired up. After four minutes of clearing rooms and killing hostiles. They found the Mayor's officer, getting a snake camera out from Parks backpack. Keller connected it to his ATAK device and saw the layout of the office. It confirmed that Antwon Ridgeway was in the building. Prepping another flash grenade and on the count of three they assaulted the large room. Taking down a blinded terrorist with two shots from his rifle and saw Ridgeway reach for a weapon. Snapping his head, he turned and shot him in the arm. They needed him alive after all. The rush of adrenaline made the whole thing seem like slow motion. It quickly wore off and in an instant it was over. He stood over the now wounded Ridgeway, he zip tied him and had Franklin look at his arm.
"Hondo we have the package. I say again we have Rideway. Prepare a room for questioning. We need to find those weapons."
"Copy that. First floor is secure."
"You can't stop the revolution. I'll become a martyr for those who view me as a savior." Ridgeway said spouting his rhetoric
"Shut up. You swore an oath to protect this country. Not destroy it!" Keller sneered at the traitor
"You're nothing but a pawn in their games. A tool of the system."
Before he even realized it, his fist was crashing into Ridgeway's face. Leaving a large bruise on his cheek.
"Where are Black Tusk taking the weapons?"
"You're too late, you took the bait. You'll never stop the attack. Hahaha."
"Keller, Officer Street found a phone. It has the coordinates of a water supply plant. They're planning on poisoning the water!" Hondo shouted
"Good job Street. You've done good work today." He walked toward Hondo and whispered "Let me know if he wants to join my unit. We could always use new recruits."
"He's one of my best. I'll keep you informed."
"Well, Antwon Ridgeway is officially in the custody of LAPD SWAT. We'll need a ride to that water supply."
"Don't worry. I asked Commander Hicks for a chopper for you. Save my city."
Black Tusk Kill Team
The convoy of vehicles saw the gated guard area of the water plant. According to their intelligence, only five security personal would be on site. It would be easy to assault and take over the plant. Contaminate the water and escape within 30 minutes. Sitting in the driver seat of the lead van, Felix Sokolov saw a guard approach him. Getting his suppressed Colt M45A1 CQBP Handgun at the ready.
"Evening gentlemen. The plant is closed until further notice given recent events." The security guard stated noting the amount of vehicles "Let me check to see if you're on the list of appointments. "He didn't even hear the suppressed gunshot hit him as he fell to the ground, a dark pool of blood seeping all around him.
"Take his keycard, and you two." Pointing a two members of his strike team "Guard this area and make sure no unwelcome guests arrive and mess up our plans."