The night was shrouded in darkness as the team stood at the opening cargo bay doors of the aircraft, the roar of the engines drowning out any semblance of conversation. Sentinel exchanged a nod with each member of his team, their eyes reflecting a mixture of anticipation and determination.
"Thirty seconds to drop zone," came the crackle of the pilot's voice over the intercom, jolting the team into action.
They checked their parachutes one final time, ensuring that every strap was secure and every buckle was tight. Charlotte Harris double-checked the straps of her pack, ensuring that every accessory was safely stowed away, the same way everyone adjusted their gear.
"Eagle One to Tower, we're about to jump," Sentinel said into his comms.
"Tower to Eagle One, you're a go for jump," came the voice over their comms. Sentinel had brought in an old friend to handle surveillance with the drones back in the safehouse while Vreven joined the action.
As the aircraft banked sharply, the drop zone came into view, illuminated by the faint glow of moonlight filtering through the clouds. Marcus took the lead, his form silhouetted against the night sky as he leaped into the abyss.
One by one, the team followed suit, their bodies plummeting through the frigid air with breathtaking speed. The wind whipped against their faces, drowning out the cacophony of the aircraft as they hurtled towards the earth below.
About five hundred feet from the ground, with a practiced flick of his wrist, Marcus deployed his parachute, the canopy billowing open above him with a sharp snap. The sudden jolt of deceleration sent a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins as he guided his descent towards the designated landing zone. As soon as his parachute went up, those of the rest of his team went up too.
Beside him, he could see the rest of his team floating gracefully through the night sky as they guided themselves away from the canopy of trees to the clearing of the landing zone, their parachutes casting eerie shadows against the landscape below.
As they neared the ground, Marcus's heart pounded in his chest, the rush of adrenaline heightening his senses to a razor's edge. With a soft thud, he touched down on the green floor, his boots sinking into the soft earth as he quickly released his parachute and took stock of his surroundings.
Around him, his team gathered, their expressions focused and alert as they surveyed the drop zone. With the HALO jump behind them, the next thing on the agenda was to locate Hassan Al-Mazari and neutralize the threat he posed once and for all.
—
The team moved through the dense Amouri forest like shadows, their movements silent and calculated. Marcus "Sentinel" Steele led the way, his senses sharp as he scanned the surroundings for any signs of danger. Behind him, Sophia Jackson, Willy Vreven, and Charlotte Harris followed closely, their eyes darting nervously between the trees.
On their heads were their MICH TC-2000 Combat Helmets, with their AN/PVS-14 Monocular Night Vision Devices attached to them. Back at the safehouse, the fifth member, stationed at the surveillance console, watched intently as the drone maintained its watchful gaze over the forest. The crackle of the radio broke the silence as his voice came through, cool and composed.
"We've got movement up ahead," the voice murmured. "Militia patrol, three clicks east of our position. Stand by for further instructions."
The team crouched low in a gully, their bodies pressed against the damp earth as they waited for the patrol to pass. Tension hung heavy in the air as the minutes ticked by, the sound of footsteps drawing closer with each passing second.
When the patrol team had passed, the voice came through the earpieces again. "Move out, but stay low and quiet."
The team emerged from their hiding spot, their movements swift as they continued on their journey.
They then entered a thick canopy, too thick for the drone to be reliable, leaving the team to rely on instincts and expertise. With each step, the tension mounted, the possibility of running into enemy patrols hanging heavy in the air.
Marcus switched his lense to thermal imaging as they stopped. "Willy, pull up the map," he said.
Willy crouched where they had stopped and pulled out his PDA. He pulled up the map which showed their precise locations in a satellite GPS tracking view of the forest and the location of the compound.
"We're getting close," Willy muttered, his voice low but determined.
"Good," Marcus said. "We'll need to proceed with caution from here on out. Stick close and stay alert. I need everyone to switch to thermal imaging."
The team followed Marcus deeper into the forest, their senses on high alert. Marcus followed Willy who had the map.
—
As the team approached the East entrance of the compound, Marcus raised the M22 binoculars to his eyes, scanning the perimeter for any signs of movement. The compound was shrouded in darkness, its walls looming ominously in the moonlight.
"Two guards on the left," Marcus whispered into his earpiece, his voice barely audible over the crackle of foliage beneath their feet. "Armed and alert. Stay in the shadows and follow my lead."
The team followed Marcus's guidance, skirting along the edge of the compound. The night air was thick with tension.
As they reached the gate, Marcus signaled for the team to take cover behind a stack of crates, their bodies melding seamlessly into the darkness. Security militias patrolled the perimeter, their attention focused on the empty expanse of the forest beyond.
With a nod from Marcus, the team moved forward, their footsteps light and purposeful as they closed in on their unsuspecting targets. The cameras mounted along the perimeter scanned the area, their electronic eyes sweeping back and forth in search of intruders.
But the team was one step ahead, their blades glinting in the moonlight, poised and ready to strike.
Swift and coordinated, Marcus grabbed the first guard from behind, one huge gloved hand around his mouth, the other plunging the OKC-3S Bayonet into his chest, the blade sinking deep into his flesh. Willy moved simultaneously, throwing his Marine Raider stiletto with lethal accuracy into the neck of the guard in front of the one Marcus had just dropped. He'd been aroused by the slight raucous and was beginning to turn around. He gulped as blood filled his throat, clutched at the air and dropped to the ground. Marcus retrieved the knife, wiped it on the guard's uniform and returned it to Willy.
Sophia and Charlotte moved in tandem, their targets the guards heading in the opposite direction. Both had their Ka-Bar Combat Knives flashing in the darkness as they stabbed the two guards with swift, decisive blows repeatedly from behind into all their vital organs. In moments, all four of the security militias guarding the East entrance lay lifeless on the ground, their blood pooling out into the earth beneath them.
Marcus dropped the Barrett M82 case beside Sophia. "We need this field to go blind," he said, his hand on the case.
Sophia nodded immediately and began working on the case. She opened it and quickly began assembling the Barrett M82.
—
Charlotte knelt beside Sophia, her eyes scanning the vast expanse of the field through the Leupold Mark 4 scope. Sophia positioned her Barrett M82 sniper rifle, her movements deliberate as she affixed a suppressor to the muzzle.
"Four floodlights, evenly spaced along the perimeter," Charlotte whispered into her comms, her voice low but clear. "Range, 415 meters. Wind is minimal. Take your time, Sophia."
Sophia nodded, her focus narrowing as she peered through the scope of her rifle. The floodlights stood like sentinels in the darkness, their beams cutting through the night with unwavering intensity.
With a steady hand, Sophia adjusted her aim, her breaths slow and measured as she lined up her shot. The distance was daunting, but she remained calm and composed, her years of training guiding her movements.
"First target in sight," Charlotte murmured, her eyes fixed on the surveillance feed. "Take the shot when you're ready."
Sophia squeezed the trigger, the suppressed shot echoing softly across the field as the first floodlight shattered into a shower of sparks. With each successive shot, she maintained her focus, her aim true as she blew out the remaining floodlights one by one.
As the last flood light blinked out, plunging the field into darkness, Sophia and Charlotte shared a silent nod of satisfaction and got up from where they were crouched between the trees, Sophia carrying the Barrett M82, Charlotte carrying the case.