This is a passion work. So, I would really appreciate it if you leave behind a review when you're done reading.
***
CH16: REALISATION.
"Alpha team, Bravo team, you have been given green light. Commence Operation Catching Fire."
"Alright people, you have your orders. Move out!" Second Lieutenant Kunle Balogun-Keshinro said.
He turned around and led the team forward, pushing through the middle of the port to where the meet was expected to be held.
They moved cautiously and quietly. Intel suggested a lot of tangos. The last thing they wanted was for a large number of enemies to notice their presence prematurely.
They moved stealthily for a few minutes before they came across the first group of enemies. There were five enemies by their next turn. Two had a vantage point on the container, three were on the ground.
Second Lieutenant Kunle Balogun-Keshinro raised a fist, causing the team to stop.
"There are five tangos up ahead. Mark your targets. Idowu, watch our six." He said.
Everyone nodded their head and move to execute the order.
"Ready." "Ready." "Ready." "Ready." said the team members.
"Fire!" Second Lieutenant Kunle Balogun-Keshinro gave the order.
Tuut tuut Tuut tuut Tuut tuut Tuut tuut Tuut tuut
The team shot at the same time and the enemies fell to the ground. They continued forward towards the downed enemies. The veterans shot the fallen enemies once more to confirm the kill. They then kicked their weapons away before moving on. As they moved, Staff Sergeant Afeez Bayero admonished the recruits from behind.
"If you shoot at center mass, it's best you finish up with a headshot to confirm the kill. Always confirm every kill with another headshot, if possible, just to be safe. You don't want an enemy, you think is dead, to suddenly stand up and shoot at you, right?"(1)
Both Glory and Boluwatito nodded their heads and took the advice to heart while the other veterans said nothing and just moved on.
They didn't meet any other group of enemies, just those in pairs or by their lonesome. They were killed quickly by the operator assigned in their direction. So the team moved without stopping. Soon, the team approached the center of the port where the meeting was supposed to hold.
Suddenly, Second Lieutenant Kunle Balogun-Keshinro raised his fist and the team stopped.
"Something is off. This is too easy." Second Lieutenant Kunle Balogun-Keshinro said.
"Agreed" Master Sergeant Adewuyi concurred.
They weren't overreacting. As experts of multiple missions, both had developed a sense of danger. Currently, this sense was ringing loudly. So, the team no longer moved forward
"It's quiet" Boluwatito murmured.
Second Lieutenant Kunle Balogun-Keshinro's pupil shrank in horror. He finally realised what felt off. How can the meeting place of a criminal deal be this silent? (2) A thought flash through his head. At the same time, Korede's frantic voice could be heard from the comms.
"Alpha 1, pull back now!. It's an Ambush!!. You are entering a kill-box."
"PULL BACK NOW!!!" Second Lieutenant Kunle Balogun-Keshinro shouted to the team.
Moments Earlier.
"This is Bravo 4. Come in Bravo 1."
"This is Bravo 1. What did you find."
"I found nothing. There're no signs of tempering in the system. Nothing was damaged in the tower either. All cameras on site are working fine."
"The cameras are not shut off? And they are not on a loop?"
"Negative, They are not. Everything is working fine."
"Copy, Bravo 4. Standby."
Korede was a little confused. This wasn't what he expected. He needed more info so he contacted Abdul-Lateef
"Bravo 3. This is Bravo 1. SitRep."
"25 hostiles by my count. All have been taken out. No persons in view aside from Alpha and Bravo team."
"25? No other persons? Are you sure?"
"Positive"
'Didn't HQ say there were 30 hostiles? But if Abdul-Lateef says he's sure then he's sure. What is going on here?' Korede wondered to himself in confusion.
"Bravo 4. Where did they park the vehicles?" Korede asked
"Standby," Abdul-Lateef said as he did a quick sweep of the port with his scope. "No vehicle in sight. I repeat, No vehicle in sight."
Not just confusion anymore, a look of dread was present on Korede's face. The bad feeling he had about this mission was getting stronger. He quickly analysed the information he had.
'Who makes a deal somewhere with a lot of cameras and doesn't switch them off, leaving behind solid evidence. NDz are arrogant but it shouldn't be to that extent, right?'
'Unless this isn't where the deal is to be made!' Korede quickly came to a reasonable conclusion. 'But if so, Why are they here? HQ said 30 hostiles arrived just before we did. It's safe to say there were probably more men here before that. So why did Bravo 4 count 25? Where are the rest? Where are their vehicles? How could they just disappear?' He continued his analysis
"Disappear? Vehicles? Port?" Korede mumbled.
Suddenly, something flashed in his head. He had no time to waste, he quickly contacted Second Lieutenant Kunle Balogun-Keshinro
"Alpha 1, pull back now!. It's an Ambush!!. You are entering a kill-box."
His yell surprised the team. They looked at him in confusion.
"it's a trap. We need to get to Alpha team now, they may have entered a kill-box(3)" He said to them. "Bravo 4, the hostile are hiding in the containers! Cover the Alpha team!"
[A.N: Please, don't forget to leave a review of the work to encourage me. Your opinion really matters to me.]
AUTHOR'S NOTE / RAMBLINGS
1 This is a technique taught to every Operator called 'Double-Tap'. it involves shooting both the heart and the brain. If possible, it is encouraged to shoot both positions more than once when uncertain if the target is dead. Personally, sometimes I think it's overkill but I agree it's the best option just to be safe. After all, which human can survive a shot to the heart or brain, talkless of more than one shot.
2 I've never been in a criminal deal but I logically expect you to at least hear voices, not complete silence.
3 Kill box is a trap where the target is lured into a place with no exit. It's like trapping prey in an enclosed box they can't escape from.
[A.N: Please, don't forget to leave a review of the work to encourage me. Your opinion really matters to me.]