AN1 Happy 30th chapter!
AN2 I understand that most Chuck readers are not interested in this fiction. It's a military story, written in the Queen's English, set in the United Kingdom, and most Chuck readers are from the United States. With all of that said, I know I won't pull outstanding numbers for this fiction. This is why it's important for those who do like the story to remain vocal about it with me.
Who Dares Wins
Chapter Thirty: Lockdown: Part Nine: Deserters: Part 2
Friday, 9 November, 2007
Hinkley Point
Nuclear Power Station
Somerset
Red Team, accompanied by Colonel Wood, Captain Wallace, Morgan Grimes, and the Home Office representative, exited their vehicles at the Nuclear Power Station which the plutonium convoy would depart from on Monday at 09:00 hours.
"Briefing with the police chief superintendent in twenty minutes," Colonel Wood ordered, glancing around Red Team.
Red Team nodded in confirmation of their instructions.
The two officers, the Home Office representative, and Morgan promptly departed away from the eight teammates, and they entered a control room on the station.
"I need a coffee after the one-hundred-mile drive we just did, fellas," Big Dan said to his teammates, "There should be a canteen here somewhere."
"I couldn't agree more, mate," Jamie said, "Let's find it because I could murder for one right now meself."
Red Team nodded as they departed together in search of the canteen on the power station.
A short while later
"Good evening, I'm the Chief Superintendent in charge of the force tasked with policing this nuclear site," Chief Superintendent Smith said, glancing around Red Team, "Your command no doubt briefed you on the illicit activities of Sergeant Lewis, a member of our force."
Red Team nodded.
"We have probable cause to suspect there to potentially be more members of the force than just Sergeant Lewis to be involved, possibly even members of the escort. We can't take the chance to assume otherwise," Chief Superintendent Smith declared.
Red Team shook their heads, with Chuck, Cole, Bryce and Big Dan even going as far as to also puff out sighs because this mission just kept getting better and better!
"Can't another independent force be called in for the escort instead of your lot based out of here?" Sarah asked.
Most of the people inside the room glanced at Sarah to query her question.
"We strongly considered it, but we opted for the safer option, which was to call you in instead," Chief Superintendent Smith said.
"The safer option would be to cancel the transport completely, mate," Jamie said in frustration, shaking his head.
Jamie's comments led to immediate mutterings of agreement from most of Red Team.
"As your commanding officers will have briefed you, delays are not possible. The plutonium that will be transported has been expected at the Sizewell nuclear station for some time," a representative from the energy company responsible for the power plants stated.
"I get that, but these aren't normal circumstances," Jamie said, continuing to shake his head at the mission parameters of his team, "We've got members of this police force responsible for the protection of this power plant and the escort of the transport, accessing routes illegally. In addition to that, he's proved to be part of extremist right-wing movements, and we don't know if anyone else shares his ideas either. It's not a good recipe, mate."
Sarah, Cole, Bryce, Big Dan, John Murray, and even Chris continued to voice their muttering of agreements, which became somewhat louder after Jamie's latest remarks.
"Exactly what Jamie just said," Chuck started, "And in addition to that, Paul Lewis has been in close contact with four lads who have buggered off from their duties, and they've taken their rifles and kit with them! This convoy is inevitably going to get hit, potentially with members of the escort turning rogue during the engagement and stabbing us in the back while in the midst of things kicking off!"
Sarah, Jamie, Cole, Chris and John Murray continued to voice their agreements towards the remarks of their teammates, while Big Dan said, "Too right, fella," and Bryce said, "This is a pisstake, mate!"
Colonel Wood and Captain Wallace remained silent, and they allowed their soldiers to control the narrative of the briefing. It's what they all did best, and it's why they passed selection into 22 Reg in the first place. Colonel Wood and Captain Wallace had complete confidence in Red Team that despite their reservations, they would get the job done, and do it well, provided they had the information that they wanted, which they were now receiving.
"Will we have air support at least?" Sarah asked, glancing to her front at the seven people who stood in front of her.
Red Team glanced at Sarah briefly to query her request for information and then quickly to their front also.
The Home Office representative nodded. "I'm sure we can manage that. We'll arrange for eyes in the sky for most of the journey at least."
Red Team relaxed slightly. At least they would have something going for them on this nightmare mission.
"Ok, now we're talking," Jamie said, "At least we'll have advance notice of an ambush, and then we can proceed with caution in case any plod turns sides against us during it."
Red Team nodded.
"If there are further turncoats, it won't be many. We aren't exactly a renegade police force," Chief Superintendent Smith declared, glancing with frustration at Jamie for his remarks.
"That's fair, plus we can't exactly talk lads, we have four British Army soldiers part of this, and the one plod who was is former army as well," Chuck said.
Red Team nodded in concession.
"What can you tell us about the route?" Cole asked.
"The route to Sizewell nuclear station will take two-hundred and eighty miles to complete," Chief Super Smith said.
"Maps?" Chuck inquired.
Chief Superintendent Smith pointed at several maps laid out over a desk close to the group of seven that stood at the front.
All of Red Team walked to the location of the maps, and they intensely studied the convoy's planned route for the next minute.
"That's probably at least a four and a half-hour transit," Sarah declared, glancing down at the maps.
Red Team mused over Sarah's estimations briefly.
"I'd say closer to five hours, mate," Jamie said.
Red Team, including Sarah, nodded on further inspection of the maps.
"Good assumption. The transport will take close to five hours," Chief Superintendent Smith added in, and Red Team turned to look at the gathering stood watching them once more.
"What are your numbers for the force detail that will be part of the convoy?" Chris MacDonald asked, glancing at the Chief Super.
"Six outriders ahead of the main convoy, with two escort vehicles in convoy. There will be four AFOs (Authorized Firearms Officers) in each escort and one in each of the two plutonium transport vehicles. However, one will sit out and will be changed with the Captain in his place," Chief Superintendent Smith declared, glancing at Captain Wallace.
"Two escorts? That seems low," Chuck declared.
Red Team nodded at Chuck's assessment.
"Usually, there would be three with a convoy of this size, but with your presence, we cut down on the number because the less of our force we have on the convoy, the better, for now," the Chief Super admitted.
Red Team nodded.
"Their weapons?" Cole asked.
"The outriders will be armed with pistols. All of our force are required to be armed. While every AFO will have assault rifles," the Chief Super declared.
Red Team processed the information briefly.
"What about the drivers?" Big Dan asked.
"They work for the energy company," the Chief Super said.
Big Dan suddenly became irritated. "That's not what I asked, was it? Look, fella, I'm not being awkward here. I simply want to know what me and my mates could potentially be coming up against in this fucking nightmare convoy," he said, holding a stern glance at the Chief Superintendent.
"They won't be armed, but they could potentially be part of the group if there are more of them. Who knows at this point?" the Chief Super said.
"Ok, so that's seventeen potential hostiles, with fifteen of them armed, as well as the four confirmed hostiles," Big Dan declared, shaking his head.
Red Team grimaced at the numbers. They were not ideal.
"I'm not happy with an armed police and the driver in the same vehicle either," Sarah added in, glancing around the room, "If they're working together, or the AFO puts a gun to the driver's head, we'll be in serious shit!"
Red Team nodded.
"Captain Wallace will be in the first transport, so that's sorted. We should put one of us in the second one to keep it secure," Chuck said.
"You have the job, Chuck," Staff Sergeant MacDonald ordered him instantly.
Chuck nodded, while the rest of Red Team also nodded. If a firefight did kick-off, then hopefully Chuck would be kept out of it, and he wouldn't have to shoot people he had served with. Every teammate of Chuck's was thinking this inside right now, and their team leader's choice was the perfect one, which is why he gave the assignment to Chuck in the first place.
"I could come along as an extra body if needed?" Morgan suggested suddenly.
Everyone turned to glance at Morgan to query his suggestion.
"It's risky," Chris said, "You have no training in our tactics."
Morgan nodded. "I know, but you will need everyone you can trust on this mission, and I would like to help out."
Red Team mused over the suggestion for a long moment.
"Are you trained in firearms?" Staff Sergeant MacDonald asked.
Morgan shook his head. "No, but it can't be too difficult? Surely it's just pointing and shooting?" he chuckled.
"It's a little more complicated than that, mate," Chuck said.
Red Team nodded.
"We have multiple Specialist Firearms instructors at this facility," the Chief Super intervened, "We could train him up extensively for the next few days in the use of firearms and arm him up for the mission?"
Red Team considered the suggestion briefly as the team glanced among each other before they all nodded. Any extra help was better than no help. They would need it.
Chris turned to face Morgan and the Chief Super once more. "Ok, see to it. But if the shit does hit the fan, don't play the hero, and don't shoot us in the back," he warned.
Morgan nodded.
"Ok, so that's ten friendlies minimum," Cole declared.
"Yeah, but there won't be more than one or two max who do change sides if they even do in the first place," Chuck said.
Everyone nodded with the assessment.
"Reinforcements?" Jamie asked, glancing primarily at his officers.
"Blue Team will be on sixty-second standby and in full gear for the full duration of the transit," Captain Wallace declared.
Chuckles erupted amongst Red Team.
"They'll love that," Bryce laughed, glancing around Red Team as the laughter continued.
"I'm sure they will, fella," Big Dan said back, chuckling sadistically.
"658 Squadron has already been advanced briefed. In the event of a convoy attack, Blue Team will instantly dispatch via helicopters to the scene," Colonel Wood said.
Red Team nodded.
"We'll also be in constant contact with the respective constabulary of where your convoy passes through. We will dispatch their AFOs to the scene if an attack is to occur, and their loyalty will not be in question," the Chief Super said.
Everyone in the room nodded.
"I think that about covers it," Staff Sergeant MacDonald said, glancing around the room, "Are there any further questions?"
The control room remained silent.
"We'll set up base inside this control room. Barring intelligence briefings tomorrow and Sunday, you're stood down until zero six hundred hours (6am) on Monday, but keep your pagers on hand at all times," Colonel Wood ordered.
Excitement erupted amongst Red Team over the Colonel's remarks.
"What about the lockdown, boss?" Chuck asked.
"Our vehicles are clean, and we ensured that nobody followed us. Sidearms aren't necessary," Colonel Wood said.
The excitement continued amongst the team at the prospect of them at least being able to unwind for the next few days until their mission on Monday. However, they would absolutely keep their heads in the game regardless—because the assignment was too critical and dangerous for them not to.
"Do not go overboard!" Colonel Wood warned sternly, pointing around Red Team.
"Boss," Red Team said in unison, nodding.
"We've set you up in a hotel close by. You'll stay there for the next three nights," Captain Wallace said.
"That's nice of you!" Big Dan said, smiling from ear to ear.
"Yeah. I hope the wine's good," Cole said, which caused approving laughter.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that," Captain Wallace said.
"I'm surprised you won't be joining us, Boss," Jamie said, glancing at both the Colonel and the Captain.
"I may well do that, Trooper," Colonel Wood replied, smirking.
Chuckles erupted amongst Red Team as they rubbed their hands excitedly together, and they soon departed for the hotel.
O-x-O-x-O-x-O
Red Team arrived outside a local hotel close to the Nuclear Power Station, which they would be staying at for the next three nights.
They had left all of their kit back inside the control room, so their two Range Rover service vehicles were safe to leave unattended in a public space.
The team departed their vehicles, and they linked up with each other.
"Right," Chris started, glancing around his team with a stern expression, "None of you are to get pissed this weekend. We can unwind, drink a couple and have a good time, but if I see any of you going too far, then I'll give you a bollocking like you've never had before, and then I'll take it to the CO."
Red Team all nodded.
"Chris, I'm not exactly in the mood for a party and getting pissed right now anyway," Chuck declared.
"Me either, I'm completely focused, and my head is in the game, and all of you will need to be too if we hope to come out of Monday all in one piece," Sarah warned.
Red Team nodded at both comments.
"Let's check-in and then head somewhere to eat together. I'm starving," Cole said.
"Same here, mate," Jamie said, "We may as well just book a table for eight inside the hotel 'cause my stomach's already rumbling, and I can't be buggered going elsewhere."
"Sounds good to me," Bryce said.
The rest of the team quickly agreed, and they promptly entered the modern and rather luxurious hotel to check-in.
A short while later
Chuck and Sarah entered a hotel room together. Red Team had not been given single rooms. Instead, they had been allocated four rooms, and they were expected to share the room with another teammate in pairs. The housing situation was no problem for any of the team. They had shared spaces on operations with each other in much worse conditions than a luxurious hotel room, that's for sure…
Closing the door to the room after them—Chuck and Sarah's glance connected onto a double bed.
"Well, a double bed, nice," Chuck said, suppressing a laugh, and he turned to glance at Sarah.
Sarah shared the muted laughter with him. "I'm not surprised."
"You had better keep your hands to yourself, Sarah," Chuck joked, grinning at her.
Sarah shook her head at him, and she donned him an affectionate smile. "So had you."
"Pfft," he said, shaking his head as he held his grin towards her, "Why would I want to put my hands on you?"
Sarah gasped, and her jaw dropped in offence to his comment. She moved to slap his arm with a hand. "I already don't want to share a room with you anymore," she joked.
"Me neither," he shot back, grinning, "I think we should go next door and ask Jamie and Cole to bunk with us instead. I'll stay with Cole, and you can have Jamie."
"You have yourself a deal," she said, still holding her affectionate smile towards him.
He light chuckled as they moved to put down their things and settled into their room.
"Sarah, this comment may offend you now, and I don't mean it offensively in any way, nor am I insinuating that you may have any intentions concerning what I'm about to come out with," Chuck started, and they made eye contact with each other, "I can't focus on having a good time right now while one of the most dangerous, if not the most dangerous mission I have ever been part of is looming over us on Monday. I don't know what you are feeling, nor am I interpreting anything in the slightest bit. I'm simply just stating my mindset, which is one of wanting to spend all of my time with the team for the next few days rather than just us."
Sarah smiled at him. "Chuck, don't worry. I feel the same way, and I was going to tell you the same thing if you hadn't have done it. We'll save us until we're not on assignment because that's exactly what we are on right now. I will never engage in any kind of intimacy with you while I am on assignment, and I ask you here and now never to do it with me either because I would not appreciate or tolerate it if you attempted to."
Chuck nodded at her. "Sarah, I could not agree more with you, and I promise that I will never do that to you. I respect you too much to ever do something like that to you."
Sarah's smile shaped to a much greater affectionate one. "Thank you."
"So, are you ready to meet up with the rest of the team then?" he asked.
Sarah shook her head. "In a moment, we will, but there is something else I wanted to talk about first."
"Ok?" he asked.
Sarah swallowed air briefly, and she gathered her thoughts. "Chuck, when I first joined the Regiment, you went out of your way to help me when I was in distress with the demons that came from everything that I saw, heard, and did in my first weeks. Your friendship, and at times, your comfort, helped me through it in a massive way that I can never repay you for-"
"Sarah-" Chuck attempted to interrupt.
Sarah moved a hand onto Chuck's thigh to silence him from where they sat on the bed. "Chuck, please let me finish."
He nodded.
Sarah composed herself from Chuck's interruption by swallowing air once more because speaking her feelings was never an easy accomplishment. "This mission is going to play on you massively, Chuck, I'm sure of it," Sarah paused, and she stroked his thigh with her hand, "If you need to talk, then I'm here for you, as you were for me. I want you to know that, and I want you to remember it, ok?"
Chuck sported her a trademark grin. "Sarah, thank you, but I'll be fine," he said reassuringly.
"I'm not so sure you will be, Chuck," Sarah admitted, and she sported him a comforting smile which showed no teeth, "I know I wouldn't be in this situation. Please promise me that you won't bottle things up inside if the worst does happen, and we do have to fight an armed engagement with those lads, and instead, you will come to me rather than attempt to deal with the torment alone."
"Sarah, I promise," he said unconvincingly.
Sarah sighed at his reservations, but she couldn't blame him. Sarah didn't exactly willingly open herself up to Chuck either. In fact, he had to approach her just to get her to. So she couldn't hold it against him for showing her that same mindset. Though she had never felt more determined that if Chuck needed support in the coming days, she would give it to him regardless of whether he asked her for help or not because he had done the same with her.
"Let's meet up with the rest of them. I'm starving just like the lads," Chuck said.
Sarah nodded, and they departed their room to link up with the rest of the team…
AN3 I will see you all in a few days with more Who Dares Wins, and a review with your thoughts would be great.
Next chapter, either the convoy escort will take place, or I will fit in final preparations or significant team moments if I encounter an opportunity for any. On the last topic of team moments, Who Dares Wins is a story where eight characters are central, not just two. I understand that people want Charah, but Jamie, Cole, Big Dan, Chris, John Murray, and even Bryce are essential in this story. Chapters will never be mostly just Charah (unless they're off-duty). It's IMPOSSIBLE for me to structure the story primarily around just two characters when they are part of a tightly knitted team of eight. If I structured it overwhelmingly with Charah every single chapter, then it would mean that Chuck and Sarah were purposely going out of their way to ignore the rest of the team, and focusing on themselves instead, which would make them the WORST kind of teammates. Now with that being said, there's an underlying Chuck and Sarah romance story also, which will become more intense as the story advances, but every member of Red Team will play a pivotal role in the story as a whole, and I ask for a reader understanding of that because that is the story that I want to tell :)