Jinnah Town,
Quetta, Pakistan
Government
Officer Residence
May
14, 2001
1600
Local Time
“Check out this puppy.” Dau lifted a
M82A2 sniper rifle from a wooden crate.
“Yeah, I’ll just mind my own
business.” Johnson sat in the passenger seat of a Warthog.
“Can you guys seriously help?” Frederick rolled a fuel
barrel with Daniels to the Falcon docked on the intersection of the street.
“Yes ma’am.” Johnson hopped off the
vehicle and went to push a fuel barrel.
“Hey guys, where’s Hariprasad?” Frederick watched Daniels
link cables to the Falcon.
“That way.” Dau pointed at the
building right of him with his newly acquired sniper rifle.
There was a sound of a vehicle
coming from the corner of a building which heightened Frederick’s defenses.
“Incoming! Get to positions.” Frederick ordered.
The marines quickly got to their
nearest cover and readied their guns. A Warthog skidded around the corner and
halted to a stop in front of the Falcon.
“It’s Hariprasad!” Dau looked in the
scope of his sniper rifle.
“A Gauss hog.” Frederick looked at the unique turret on
Hariprasad’s Warthog.
“Ma’am, here’s a surprise.”
Hariprasad touched the hood of the vehicle.
“You sure did surprise us.” Johnson
got of his cover.
“That thing is beast.” Dau admired
the gun with awe.
“How come we don’t see more of these
on the fields?” Frederick
asked.
“This is an early prototype built by
the engineers in High Command. It’s been made to combat the boss zombies, but
we haven’t tried it yet.” Hariprasad explained.
“Good, maybe we can take out the
choppers with it.” Frederick
smiled.
“It doesn’t have that much
ammunition. I’d say ten rounds and we’re out.” Hariprasad sighed.
“Oh, that’s a shame.” Frederick looked
disappointed.
“Don’t forget we have the other
Warthog.” Johnson interrupted.
“Gentlemen, new plan.” Frederick suddenly
thought of an idea.
“Yes LT?” Dau looked interested.
“We’ll leave the Falcon here and
drive the two Warthogs to the Pelican’s location. Then we combine out firepower
and attempt to rescue Blake and maybe others.” Frederick briefed.
“And what about Zyrok ma’am?”
Hariprasad asked.
“We’ll have air support with ground
support. I’m sure we can establish a capable means of finding him.” Frederick reasoned.
“Last time I checked, the Russians
still have air superiority.” Johnson joked.
“That’s true, but we have better
gear now.” Frederick
pointed at Dau’s M82A2 and the Gauss hog.
“And one Pelican once we reach our
destination.” Hariprasad reminded.
“Exactly.” Frederick crossed her arms.
“Might I say that we’re a
bit…outnumbered?” Johnson spoke truthfully.
“That may be true marine, but we
aren’t UNSC marines for no reason. We are good at what we do.” Frederick looked at Johnson with a cold
stare.
“Understood ma’am. Cobra Squad’s
still with you.” Johnson replied firmly.
“To the end.” Daniels shouted.
“Hoorah!” Dau cheered.
“Alright marines, let’s get formed
up.” Frederick
patted the hood of the Gauss hog.
“Ma’am?” Johnson asked.
“Daniels, you drive the Gauss hog
with Dau. Hariprasad, drive the other Warthog with Johnson on the turret. I’ll
take the passenger seat.” Frederick
climbed into the seat of the Warthog and looked at her Lock 17 sidearm.
“You heard the LT, get a move on
it.” Johnson climbed onto the turret and rotated it to check.
“Time to pop some heads.” Dau smiled
mischievously as he got onto the Gauss cannon.
“Don’t waste it.” Daniels hopped
into the driver’s seat of the Gauss hog.
“Nah, trust me.” Dau grinned.
“I bet I’m a better driver than
Hariprasad.” Daniels joked.
“We’ll see about that…pilot.”
Hariprasad shot a glare and honked his horn.
“May the best operator win then.” Daniels
smiled.
“Hey Hariprasad, I think you’ll lose. We’re Spec Ops
remember?” Johnson teased.
“True, but I know this terrain
better than you do.” Hariprasad countered.
“Alright…alright. Let’s move!” Frederick waved forward.
Erazi,
Kandahar, Afghanistan
Russian
Communications Outpost
May
14, 2001
1845
Local Time
“How do you like it here?” Dimitri
sat at the end of a table eating with Zyrok and Sarah.
“It’s pretty good.” Zyrok replied
with his mouth full.
“What about you Sarah?” Dimitri
pointed with his fork.
“Good.” Sarah nodded without looking
into Dimitri’s eyes.
“Look Zyrok, my men need someone
with skills leading them to the Secronom Research Facility.” Dimitri spoke
seriously.
“You want to go back down there?”
Zyrok stopped eating.
“Well, what’s down there that needs
to be destroyed so badly?” Dimitri put down his fork.
“Look Dimitri, don’t go down there.
Secronom was researching the Nerotonin drug and it mutated. All I know was that
we received a log from the chief scientist asking it to be destroyed to prevent
it from reaching the surface.” Zyrok explained briefly.
“Interesting…” Dimitri rubbed his
chin.
“The zombies…they had multi-limbs.”
Zyrok described.
“Zyrok, look we’re all about finding
a cure for the virus.” Dimitri continued to eat.
“Really now?’ Zyrok asked
uncertainly.
“Yes, if you have information to
share, so do we.” Dimitri nodded.
“Such as?’ Zyrok studied his plate
and turned to take a quick glimpse of Sarah.
“Such as you folks failing on the
containment of the spider zombies.” Dimitri replied.
“What? No!” Zyrok pounded the table.
“You somehow brought it back to North America and now levels are at a critical. Why we
want to go down again is to recover their research…do you understand?” Dimitri
briefed.
“I don’t believe it.” Zyrok shook
his head in disbelief.
“Here’s a report.” Dimitri waved at
a soldier holding a folder.
The soldier placed a grey folder in
front of Zyrok and walked away. Zyrok opened it and scanned the contents. There
were pictures of spider zombies on the streets of San Francisco and the destruction of various
UNSC outposts.
“My god.” Zyrok closed his eyes and
shut the folder.
“The situation is pretty bad.”
Dimitri nodded.
“What can I do to help?” Zyrok
offered his knowledge.
“Are you willing to take a team down
underground?” Dimitri asked.
“Research info right?” Zyrok asked.
“Anything else that you can offer us
that you know?” Dimitri wondered.
“Secronom was working on a piece of
armor.” Zyrok replied.
“Armor?” Dimitri looked intrigued.
“It appeared to be a prototype, but
we’re not sure if it was functional.” Zyrok answered.
“Did the UNSC take it?” Dimitri
grabbed a plate of dessert.
“Yeah, my Lieutenant took it. As far
as I know, they made it out alive.” Zyrok took his plate of leftovers and set
it aside.
Dimitri rubbed his chin and smiled
as he enjoyed his dessert and the information Zyrok had given him. Zyrok’s
knowledge may be of more use to him than he had hoped for.
Downtown
Kandahar, Kandahar,
Afghanistan
British
Embassy
May
15, 2001
1010
Local Time
“The Pelican should be there.”
Hariprasad stood at the adjacent building overlooking the British Embassy.
“Well, I don’t see it.” Johnson took
out his binoculars.
“That’s because it’s stored
underground in the facility.” Hariprasad pointed at the center courtyard inside
the embassy.
“Well, can someone explain why I see
the Russians?” Dau looked through the scope of the sniper rifle.
“They’re here?” Frederick took Johnson’s binoculars and
looked at two Russians patrolling the outside gates.
“Damn it!” Frederick kicked the railing on the roof in
frustration.
“Plans LT?” Daniels crossed his
arms.
“Time is running out. We have to
split into two teams to get more work done.” Frederick brushed her hair.
“I’m guessing we’re taking the Gauss
to Blake’s location?’ Hariprasad guessed.
“Yes, it’s a risk we have to take
with the ammo it has.” Frederick
nodded.
“What are the teams?” Johnson asked.
“Since Daniels can fly a Pelican,
he’ll head with you and Dau.” Frederick
looked at Johnson.
“You going to be alright LT?” Dau
raised an eyebrow.
“I’ll shoot, Hariprasad drives.” Frederick tossed the car
keys to Hariprasad.
“Yes ma’am.” Hariprasad caught the
keys with one hand.
“Good, we’re call sign 2-2. Dau,
you’re 1-3.” Frederick
patted the RaidComm device on her helmet.
“Test, test…do you read?” Daniels
tested the RaidComm.
“Loud and clear, over.” Hariprasad
replied.
“Guys, why are the Russians
scrambling?” Dau looked at the Russians rushing out of the embassy preparing to
set up defenses.
“Did they know we’re here?” Frederick waved at the
marines to crouch.
“I don’t think so, but I doubt it
was a coincidence…” Johnson replied.
“I highly doubt it too.” Frederick agreed.
“Is it me or when we used the
RaidComm, the Russians became alert?” Hariprasad voiced his concerns.
“You think the Russians know our
frequencies?” Johnson asked.
“Let’s give it a try.” Frederick suggested.
“Hey, are there any UNSC marines out
there? I’m lost a couple of blocks south of the embassy. Anyone copy?” Hariprasad
played with the RaidComm.
Frederick studied the movement of the
Russians and saw them preparing a van full of soldiers. In a few minutes, the
van exited the embassy and went onto the streets south of the embassy.
“Yup, RaidComm is out. Now what?”
Johnson crossed his arms in frustration.
“Encryption.” Frederick replied instantaneously.
“That could work…” Daniels rubbed
his chin.
“It will work unless we tell others
our encryption code.” Frederick
removed her helmet and turned some dials on the communications.
“Code ma’am?” Hariprasad asked.
“Sierra Pappa 215.” Frederick replied.
“Alright marines, you heard the LT.
Encrypt to Sierra Pappa 215.” Johnson ordered.
“Move out marines!” Frederick motioned at the stairwell.
