December 15th
Jason and April Wolf were crouched on the distant mountainside in Qurac. The cold wind buffeted their armor and gear as snow fell and covered the mountainside. Concealing their position and allowing the two to monitor the isolated base below them. It wasn't as large as their standard bases, nor as open. Mainly housing two landing pads for choppers and one road in and out. The rest of the structure was a small maze of connected buildings and warehouses. Reminding Jason of some of the bases he dealt with during his time as Red Hood.
He shifted as he continued his scan of the base with his built in image enhancers. Switching between thermal, electrical, and normal views. April doing the same in the other direction. April had been with the Nemesis program as long as he had. An ex-army ranger, she quickly became one of the program's top CQC specialists. Preferring to utilize dual axes and pdws, to the standard knife and rifle most were accustomed. Slade had worked with her further to turn her into a one-woman army. Expanding her weapon knowledge and setting her against more exotic fighting styles. Like Rose's dual sword and pistol. Which naturally led to the two interacting on the regular. Becoming fast friends and competitors. Which then made her Jason's go to, for any missions that he and Rose couldn't handle together. Her aggressive fighting style paired with theirs to form a three-person fireteam. Code named Silver Bullet, or just Silver on comms.
Jason inhaled slowly as he tracked the two guards turn the corner and continue to the automatic door. Which was flanked on both sides by posted sentries. They had been HALO dropped in ten hours ago. Waller and her men had found the elements through their interrogation of the two survivors and examination of the dead at the research station. She then decided to offer Jason a new deal, after learning that Rose was pregnant from Slade. Jason and Rose would have a guaranteed, paid year off, if he helped her get the elements back. A deal they jumped at, knowing that he and Rose would need the time later down the line in her pregnancy, and the first few months with the baby. Plus, they really didn't have the need for the time off at the moment. So here he was. Stalking fanatics, who they still didn't have a name for, in the middle of a mountain range. Hoping to be home in time for Christmas.
"I've got heat sigs on the slope to our two thirty." April reported as her own helmet zoomed in on the blob of orange, before switching to standard view.
Jason shifted and zoomed in, catching sight of blonde hair and a woman in a white and gray body suit. Face covered in a pointed mask, resembling a tiger. He then saw another white figure next to her. A white hood and cape draped over them. Breaking up their silhouette. Before another shape shifted next to them and a young man with a white snow cap and winter gear appeared. The three huddled behind the one of the many rocks and snowdrifts that surrounded the base and concealed them from the guards. But they were visible to Jason and April's position, as they naturally flanked them. Jason zoomed in on the man's face, trying to confirm what he already knew. The man turned his head, speaking to the hooded figure, and Jason cursed the world silently. Conner fucking Kent was in Qurac with Young Justice.
"Silver to Red Crown. We have confirmation of Young Justice on-site. We currently have eyes on Tigress, Super-boy, and presumed Red Robin." Jason spoke, his mind trying to figure out how the group had tracked the elements here.
Knowing their methods, he guessed Oracle or someone else had managed to hack their files and sent the intel up the chain. April shifted next to him. Stretching her limbs slowly and carefully as to not draw attention. Jason started doing the same. Both knowing that this operation had probably just become a race.
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Tim cursed Barbara and Bruce silently in his head as he organized his team from their perch overlooking the back of the base. His eyebrows turning white as snow landed in his hood and its chill seeped into his greaves as he crouched. Artemis Crock, or Tigress, seemed to be handling it a lot better than him. Her face frozen in her normal glare and tight lips. Connor, the bastard, didn't even look cold. His usual scowl was in place as they waited for M'gann to lead the others to them. Cassie and Jaime being unused to the cold and stealth operations in the laters case. While bio ship waited patiently on the other side of the mountain. Invisible to the world in its small clearing the team had hiked from.
He started his third scan of the below base as his mind worked to develop a plan to get in and out undetected. The team had been given this mission a little over thirteen hours ago. Batman informing them of a collection of elements that needed to be captured to prevent their use in a weapons program. What he had neglected to tell the team was that the United States government was actively and ruthlessly searching for the same elements. It becoming their number one priority in recent weeks. It left a bad taste in Tim's mouth when he had learned this through his own, brief, investigation into the mission. He didn't like that it seemed they were actively working against the US, no matter what the mission might be. But he did agree that the potential of the elements was too dangerous to be left alone. So here they were, freezing on the side of a mountain. Joy.
Tim was pulled from his thoughts when Conner disappeared next him. A slight oof erupting from Connor as Cassie slid down the slope and swept his legs out from under him. Her giggling as she came to a stop against the snow drift. Tim quickly looked back up and frantically scanned. Hoping beyond hope that no one had seen that. Crock doing the same next to him.
"Damn it Cassie." Connor cursed as he returned to his crouch, starting his own scan.
"Are you alright?" M'gann asked as she appeared to Connor's right, pulling Cassie up.
"I'm fine. I just lost my footing a bit." Cassie said as she brushed off her bracers and checked her lasso.
"Get it together then. We almost got caught because of that." Crock admonished. Turning her glare on the Amazon. Cassie merely just stuck her tongue out at her and Tim bit back a sigh.
"Alright, get over here so I can tell you all the plan." He said as he activated his gauntlet. He rendered the base in front of them and held it out for the group to see.
"I see three main entrances. One at the helipads, one at the vehicle bay, and the final one here." He said has the doors in question flash a brilliant red in the hologram. "M'gann, I want you to knock out the two guards stationed here and then act as a scout for the rest of us. Once we're in, Cassie will split off with Artemis and Connor with me. We don't know exactly where the elements are, so we'll need to be quick and quiet. Jaime you have the perimeter. If they get past us, it's on you." His eyes focusing on the other winter gear dressed man next to Cassie. Who nodded even as he shivered in the cold.
"Uh….. Tim." Artemis interrupted next him. Looking off toward the planned door.
"One second Artemis. I've configured your wrist pads to detect high amounts of energy. I'm hoping that they will pick up the elements but I'm not certain. So be careful when you're…"
"Tim!" Artemis snapped at him. An uncharacteristic growl in her voice.
"What Artemis?!" Tim snapped back. Looking over at the woman who was standing and peering at the door.
"The guards are down." She said as she watched the door.
"What?!" Tim asked as he scrambled up next to her. Enhancing his own zoom within his domino mask. What he found was two men crumpled on the ground. Their rifles lay untouched in the snow next to them, and bright red blotches painted on the wall behind where they were stood.
A second later, their comms buzzed as Barbara connected, "Attention team, we're tracking one Blackhawk and two Apache gunships on a beeline to your position. ETA fifteen minutes" she spoke as Wayne Tech satellites followed the mission from above and tracked the incoming aircraft.
Tim froze for less than a second before growling out, "Shit." Then taking off at a sprint down the mountain with his team right behind him.
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Ten minutes ago
Jason and April descended from their observation point. The cloak masking their movements as they low crawled toward the two guards. Pausing to line up their shots. Jason radioed back to Waller and their support team.
"Silver to Red Crown, waiting for your go." Meanwhile, back in the states, a team of professional electronic warfare specialists worked to crack the base's network. Using the wrist computers both Jason and April had as connection points.
"Red Crown to Silver, we have access to the network. Please wait while we analyze the layout and try to locate the objective." Waller spoke as the blueprint and holographic map formed on their screens. The many pathways overlapping and weaving through one another.
Jason switched to his and April's frequency. "Once we have an idea where the elements are, it's going to be a sprint. We can't stop till we're in the same room as the elements." He said as he eyed his guard.
"Rodger. I've been itching to stretch my legs. Observation has never been my thing." April responded. Drawing a small smirk from Jason.
"No, that's always been Agent Snarp. I never understood how that man could sit still for hours and focus on his target. Yet when he's left in a chair for more than two minutes, he's out like a light." Jason said as April gave him a light hum.
"Silver, we're marking where we think the elements are. Be advised, we have reason to believe additional metas are on-site and you are clear and hot. Evac is enroute, ETA eighteen minutes." Waller spoke as a waypoint appeared on their hud.
"Rodger Red Crown. Transfer us to the navigator and lockdown all the doors behind us. Silver team out." Jason said as he steadied his breathing.
"On mark, three, two, one, mark." He counted down. Two silent coughs erupting from their rifles as the rounds shot through the guard's heads. Jason and April up and sprinting through the now open door. Their cloak distorting wildly as they moved, creating a fast moving series of waves in the air.
"Move straight for three doors. Then take the first left." The monotone voice echoed in their ears as they ran down the hallway. It's dull gray walls and black pipes being broken up by the colorful red line painted in the center of the floor. Silver Team moved through the first interior door with no issues, but the second opened unexpectedly. Two other guards heading out to start their rounds. April opened up first, her ump hosing the two in a wall of bullets. With Jason following up with a series of bursts. Ensuring the men would stay down. They passed by and refocused on the next and final door. Slowing in preparation to make their turn.
The door opened to a series of three other hallways. One to the left, one on the right, and the last continuing forward. Jason hugged the left wall and swept forward. Clearing the hallway and providing cover for their advance. Multiple doors lining the hallway.
"Head to the end of the hall and take a right." The voice instructed. The two Agents rapidly advance as quietly as possible. This time, April hugging the wall and sweeping forward. Her pdw opening up again on another guard that was making her way down the hall. Jason brushed past and dropped two final rounds into the guard as April reloaded behind him. Both not pausing or waiting for a response.
"Head straight till you see a green line leading right." Jason glancing down and noticing yellow and red parallel lines marked on the floor.
At the first intersection, Jason panned left as April took the right. Being met by two guards advancing on him with shouldered rifles. He immediately opened up on them as their minds worked to process the distortion in front of them. Cutting them down with a wall of lead as he swung back to the center hallway. April keeping pace. The next intersection was quiet and the final intersection had the line they were looking for. April pausing as Jason completed a quick scan down left and center hallway as he recentered his sights on their objective. Both advancing at once as before.
"The first room on the left. We're picking up a level of energy behind that door and its location indicates a possible lab. Be advised we don't have any eyes inside." Jason stacking up in the left side of the door in question as April circled around him to stack up on the right.
"Rodger, Red Crown." Jason said as he dropped his cloak and counted down silently to April with his left hand. The door sliding open as the two agents burst through.
"What the hell are you guys?" A tall blonde man growled at them from his place on an office chair. A similar looking blonde woman straightening from her position of leaning on an office desk across from him. Eyes narrowing as a snarl formed on her lips. Both were dressed in black pants and shoes, with a white shirt, the sleeves cut off.
"I'm guessing they're the new power rangers Gizmo kept crying about." She said as she cracked her knuckles. Her brother towering over her from behind.
Jason quickly switched to April's private frequency again and explained, "The Terror Twins. They have super strength and durability."
"Noted, I'll take the girl. Mark?"
"Mark." Jason responded as April dashed past him. Tuppence responding in kind and tackled her over one of the desks.
Tommy meanwhile began to circle with Knight. The agent already holstering his rifle and drawing his knife in his right hand.
"Mammoth was an idiot. Always more focused on the next meal. We're much more dangerous." Tommy taunted. His muscles rippling as he readied himself to strike. Jason just glared. Waiting for the man to lunge forward. He barely had to wait a second longer as Tommy launched into the air, his fist denting the floor in front of where Jason was supposed to be. But the agent saw that coming. Already rolling forward and slicing his knife upward as he landed. Catching the man's left calf as he backed up and readied for his next strike.
Tommy howled in pain. Before he spun around and lashed out with a right hook. Following it up with a series of three hooks, trying to catch the agent. Who weaved and redirected his strikes, armor slowly glowing as it absorbed the energy from Tommy's strikes.
"Shot!" Rang out from Jason's comms. April dodging her own attacker's blows and maneuvering her into a clear sightline. As she pulled her two axes and readied for her own strike. Jason responded instantly. His training taking hold. He landed a right hook, disorienting Tommy and then spun. Drawing his pistol in his left hand and immediately emptying the clip at Tuppence's face and eyes. Making it difficult for the woman to defend herself, as she flailed to cover her face.
"Mark!" Jason called out. Indicating April's opening.
April clambered forward. Using her energy to drive an axe into the woman's left shoulder. Before using it to drag the woman downwards into her rising knee. Drawing a sharp crack that echoed through the room as she shattered the twin's nose. Jason had meanwhile ejected his spent clip and rolled again. Dodging another swipe from the man as he roared in anger.
"I'm going to crush you!" Tommy called as he advanced. Swipes and strikes came faster and harder as the man became more enraged.
"Red Crown to Silver. Be advised, Young Justice has made it through the first door. Evac seven minutes." Waller's voice rang out. As Jason just countered a right hook and lashed out with his own right punch to Tommy's gut. Sending the man flying back into the desks. He then extended his left arm blade and advanced on the downed man. Who was making his way back to his feet. Stopping a few feet away as he waited for April.
April had at the same time created her own distance with Tuppence. She slowly rotated around the woman, until she was back to back with Jason. The twins looking around them to one another before both nodding in some unspoken plan. Tommy rose first. Flying forward and trying to land a hook to Jason's helmet. Who had crouched and rotated left around April. Who did the same in the opposite direction. Driving her axe into Tommy's gut as Jason did the same to Tuppence with his arm blade. Standing back into a fighting stance and pulling his blade free as Tuppence lashed out like a wounded animal. Redirecting and countering each attack as she flailed. New slashes and cuts appearing with each strike. April had meanwhile abandoned her axe to the man's gut. Striking Tommy's nose with the top of her other axe before landing a kick to the head of the embedded axe. Driving it in further.
She then dropped her right handed axe so she was holding it directly below the axe head. Slicing and cutting with each counter and deflection of Tommy's strikes. Eventually the twins backed off again. Clutching their wounded stomachs as Jason and April returned to their original back to back position. Watching the rapid rise and fall of their opponent's shoulders, or shoulder in Tuppence's case. The twin's anger and hate bleeding from their eyes as they stared down the Agents.
"I'm going to tear your head off!" Tuppence spat. Jason and April both ignored the threat. Both having heard worse from better. Without another word, the twins charged a final time.
Jason crouching low and dragged his knife across Tuppence's stomach as she engaged. Before quickly driving the knife back upwards. Between her ribs and into her left lung. Before pulling it free again. Watching as the woman collapsed and then he kicked her across the room. Driving the remaining air from her lungs as she gasped for air.
April had at the same time landed a karate chop to Tommy's throat. As he had tried to swipe at her again. Standing the man up as he gasped for air. She then quickly advanced and swung her axe in a backwards swing. The handle sliding out as she extended the head and embedded it in the man's left throat. Causing blood to flood out as he began to gurgle and fell to his knees. April then ripped the axe free, before grabbing her other axe and tearing it across his body. Freeing it and mortally wounding the man again. As Tommy fell forwards and a pool of blood began to expand.
April and Jason then flicked their weapons again, clearing them of blood and sheathed them in one motion. As they peered around the room for their prize."Eyes on objective." Jason reported as he made his way across the room and grabbed the container from its place on a table. Examining it for any damage, before attaching it to his belt. Shouldering his rifle again as April stacked up on the door again. Her own rifle ready for action.
"Silver to Red Crown. Ready for Evac."
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Five minutes after Jason and April had engaged the Terror twins
Tim skid to a halt outside the base door. Both guards clearly dead to well placed headshots. He noted as he powered up his gauntlet again and began to override the door controls. His team formed up behind him as he worked. But surprisingly he wasn't making much progress. The network actively fighting against him and constantly trying to disconnect him.
"O, what's up with this network? I'm having trouble getting in." He asked into his comm.
Barbara's voice responded quickly, "I don't know Red. It's fighting me too. I think you'll be on your own, until I can break through." Tim only nodded before giving up on the endeavor. Powering off the gauntlet and turning to Connor.
"Smash through." As he retreated off to the side.
Connor only smirked before stepping forward and laying into the door. Smashing it open in a few seconds. Tim just pointed to his head as he rushed in. His team following as Connor led them. Sprinting forward and smashing the next door. Followed by the next. They slowly passed the two downed guards. Both clearly dead from the amount of bullets pumped into them.
"They're on the clock." Tim thought as it echoed out to his team. M'gann mind linking them.
Connor smashed down the next door to an intersection. All the doors closed off and giving no indication of which way to go. Tim pulled his scanner and waved it around. It pinging around the left door. So he motioned to said door and watched as Connor smashed it down. Before rushing through again, as he waved the scanner around. It pinging towards his right and thus having Connor repeat the process at the end of the hall.
They repeated this process over and over at each intersection. Until they found their first open doorway. The team quietly stacked up before rushing into the room. Tim was immediately drawn to the mess of papers and smashed desks within. His eyes scanning the room as the team did the same.
"Fuck!" Artemis whispered shouted. Eyes locked on the body of Tommy Terror. A large puddle of blood surrounding him. Tim advanced forward as Connor drifted off toward the wall. A confused look on his face.
Tim crouched down and pressed two fingers to Tommy's neck. Not feeling a pulse and seeing the glassed over look in his eyes.
"Shit! Red, I need you here!" Connor actually shouted. Crouched over another body and pressing down on one of her wounds. Artemis joining him and starting a series of bandages and wrappings. While the blonde woman looked up, a look of panic in her eyes as she panted quickly and shallowly. Tim slid to a crouch next to the woman. Pulling his own supplies and working as quickly as he could to try and save Tuppence.
"Wonder Girl and Ms. Martian! Get outside and call bio ship!" Tim called, knowing Jaime was too new to understand how to communicate with the ship. Before switching on his comms.
"O and Jaime! We have a patient in critical condition! I'm calling off the mission!"
"Uh Red? The scarab is getting a bit agitated. It says it's detecting two high level threats closing in." Jaime's nervous voice called out.
"O here, I'm seeing the apaches and blackhawk closing in. Whose in critical condition?" She asked as Tim heard a clacking of keys.
"Tuppence Terror. I'm guessing a collapsed lung and abdominal stab wound. Jaime, get out of the area. We'll find you later." Tim said as he continued to work. Looking around for a makeshift stretcher.
"What about her twin?" Oracle asked.
"He's dead. Most likely rapidly bled out based on his lack of jugular." Artemis gritted out in response. Stabilizing Tuppence below her, before administering a sedative. Watching as the woman's eyes rolled back in her head.
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Cassie ran through the halls. M'gann simply choosing to phase through the ceiling and taking off toward bio ship. She crashed through another door. Her scanner beeping loudly as she closed in on the elements. She knows Tim called off the mission, but he sent her to go with M'gann. Probably to clear a way out for the rest, but who said she had to go back the way they came? Plus this way was clearly faster. No turns or intersections to cause confusion. She thought as she smashed through the final door. A cold blast of air assaulting her as she emerged outside.
She finally looked around and noticed the bodies of the other guards scattered about. All of them seemingly moving toward one position. Which turned out to be one of the two helipads. As she heard a final burst of gunfire and a body slumped down. Before tilting to its left and falling off the side of the platform. Two black armored figures beyond. Both crouched shoulder to shoulder and scanning for threats. Before she had a chance to call out or even move, a loud roar of multiple rotors swooped in over her. Two apaches sweeping in fast and low before peeling off in separate directions to establish air dominance. The blackhawk swiftly followed. Its pilots swinging the bird around and dropping down onto the helipad. The two figures quickly loading up as the door gunner held his gaze on her.
She was in awe at the amount of firepower on display. Still not used to man's world of weapons and gear. Suddenly, one of the armored figures appeared crouched on her side of the chopper. Seemingly watching her as the helicopter lifted off. Shortly after, Tim and his group shouldered past her. Only quickly glancing at the retreating chopper, as bio ship roared over the mountain. Settling on the same pad, as the group sprinted toward it. Tuppence held between Connor and Artemis on the top of a desk.
"Let's go Cassie!" Tim yelled as he bounded up the stairs. Cassie shaking out of her stupor and climbing up after them. As their own ship took off and began a low circle.
Watching as the two apaches began their first attack run. Launching missiles and starting to level the base. Most of the team in awe at the level of explosives and destruction as they fled toward the border for a zeta tube.