UNSCDF3 Chapter 13- Holding Prisoners

Erazi, Kandahar, Afghanistan

Russian Communications Outpost

May 12, 2001

0810 Local Time

           Blake woke up to the sound of car horns honking. He had a black cloth over his head with his hands tied behind him. He heard the sound of a door opening and some minor flashes of sunlight penetrate the dark cloth.

            “Move!” a soldier shoved from behind him.

            Blake’s muscles ached and his head pained as he walked a coarse road. He remembered missiles hitting the bridge and the shockwave sending him out the window. The darkness immediately followed as he splashed head first into cold water. Next, he recalled the sound of a helicopter nearby as he floated on a piece of debris. It was a UNSC Falcon, but he was too weak to call out. His head throbbed with pain and he passed out on the sea and back into the darkness. The events after involved another helicopter, but it was the Russians this time. He was airlifted and then placed into a van transporting him to an unknown location.

            “Sit down!” a soldier pushed Blake onto a chair.

            Blake felt his hands locked to the armrests of the chair followed by the sound of a door opening.

            “Mr. Blake, what a surprise.” a man spoke in front of the captive marine.

            “What do you want?” Blake scoffed.

            “Everything.” the man removed the cloth from Blake’s head.

            Blake noticed he was in a small room with a light hanging above him. The man was behind him and had his hands on his shoulder.

            “Who are you?” Blake spoke angrily.

            “Who am I? Hahaha.” the man spun the chair to face Blake.

            “I am Dimitri, your enemy, of course.” the man opened his arms in pride.

            “Why are you here?” Blake questioned.

            “Let me be clear with you Captain Blake…I ask the questions here.” Dimitri punched Blake in the stomach.

            “Screw you.” Blake spitted.

            Dimitri nodded to his soldiers standing next to the door. Two soldiers knocked the chair holding Blake to the ground and began to kick him.

            “If you haven’t noticed Captain, I am in charge of you now. Until you are clever to see that, some things won’t be changing.” Dimitri stormed off.

            “I’ll kill you.” Blake coughed as the soldiers continued to kick him.

            “Huh, we’ll see.” Dimitri laughed and walked out of the room.

            Dimitri walked down the halls when a tall man with a scar on his cheek approached him. He saluted Dimitri and looked at him.

            “Captain Dima, a job well done.” Dimitri complimented.

            “Thank you sir.” Dima replied.

            “I must say, Captain Blake is quite a fighter.” Dimitri crossed his arms.

            “I’m not so sure about the others.” Dima said with confidence.

            “Others?” Dimitri smiled.

            “Five marines, sir.” Dima pointed down the hall.

            “Good, let’s see what they can offer us.” Dimitri rolled up his sleeves.

            “Right this way sir.” Dima led Dimitri towards the captured marines.

Clifton, Karachi, Pakistan

UNSC Cobra Squad’s Camp

May 12, 2001

1000 Local Time

            “How are they doing?” Frederick asked Parker as she examined Dau’s vitals.

            “He’s holding.” Parker recorded some notes.

            “Lieutenant, I have something.” Sears rushed into the room with a piece of paper.

            “What is it Staff Sergeant?” Frederick turned her head.

            “We know the Russians came back to pick up the survivors, but we don’t know how many people made it.” Sears reported.

            “Calm down Sears. Tell me.” Frederick listened attentively.

            “They transferred our marines by car into Afghanistan. Erazi, to be exact.” Sears looked at the paper.

            “Is the Intelligence reliable?” Frederick was interested.

            “I believe so ma’am. Blake’s emergency transponder was turned on prior to him entering Erazi.” Sears read the paper.

            “Blake, he’s alive?” Frederick’s eyes widened.

            “Appears so.” Sears replied.

            “Okay, I hate to be pessimistic, but what if it’s a trap? A trap set by the Russians to kill all of the remaining marines.” Parker interrupted.

            “That’s a possibility…” Frederick thought deeply.

            “It is possible, but what if it isn’t?” Sears challenged.

            “What if it is?” Parker asked.

            “Okay people. We need to do an assessment of our risks.” Frederick waved at the marines to follow her.

            “Guys, I think I may have the solution.” Johnson rushed into the room holding a tactical map.

            “What’s that?” Frederick looked amused.

            “Oh, that map…I totally forgot about it.” Sears brushed his hair.

            “It’s Fire Team Kilo’s assets.” Johnson handed the paper to Frederick.

            “A Pelican?” Frederick flattened the map on a table.

            “Yeah, it’s a supply Pelican modified for heavy payloads. It’s slower and lacks firepower.” Sears read the map.

            “Problem…the Pelican is in Afghanistan.” Parker reminded.

            “Yeah, we go in by Falcon and take the Pelican with us.” Sears explained.

            “Russians are stationed in that area. Once we lift it up, we’ll get blown out of the sky.” Parker pointed at the surrounding buildings.

            “Damn it. Any ground assets available?” Frederick studied the map.

            “Warthogs and Mongooses.” Sears quickly replied.

            “Still, like I said, Afghanistan.” Parker frowned.

            “Where’s the other map?” Sears flipped the maps.

            “On the desk, but it’s incomplete so I didn’t bring it.” Johnson answered.

            “Incomplete?” Frederick looked impatient.

            “Ma’am, Hariprasad was the one doing it.” Johnson replied quietly.

            “Sears? What about you?” Frederick turned to look at her Sergeant.

            “I’ll see what I can do. I was focused on assets within Afghanistan because we’d never expect to go beyond the borders.” Sears replied.

            “And Hariprasad was?” Frederick questioned.

            “No, nobody was. Hariprasad and another marine had set up communication relay stations outside of Afghanistan.” Sears answered.

            “And they seemed to have failed when the Russians knew where we were when we discovered the Secronom facility.” Frederick crossed her arms.

            “I believe so, but that doesn’t mean we have lost our assets.” Sears replied optimistically.

            “Alright, let’s head to the central room and get that map completed to the best of our ability.” Frederick rolled up the maps.

            “Ok.” Johnson and Sears replied in unison.

            “Parker, stay here and watch Dau and Hariprasad.” Frederick pointed.

            “Yes ma’am.” Parker nodded and turned.

            Johnson opened the door and waved at the marines to pass.

            “After you.” Sears motioned for Frederick to go first.

            “Thanks.” Frederick smiled warmly as she passed the two marines.