Getting to the top of the stairs, Marcus retrieved a M84 stun grenade from his vest and held it tightly in his hand, his gaze unwavering as he prepared to breach the door ahead.
"Al-Mazari is in the middle. His guards are all around him," the voice over the comms chimmed. Marcus gave a quick nod to Willy. Willy then pulled the door open while he pulled the pin and tossed the grenade into the room, the deafening blast and blinding flash of light signaling their entry.
As the stunned guards stumbled and reeled from the explosion, the team surged forward, their M27 Infantry Automatic Rifles at the ready. Sophia Jackson remained poised with the Barrett M82 sniper rifle which was beginning to weigh heavily on her, her aim struggling to remain steady, but still efficient enough to provide cover fire as the rest of the team moved with calculated precision.
Each member of the team surgically picked out their targets amidst the smoke, their shots ringing out in rapid succession as they fired off body shots into the heavily armed staggering guards watching them crumble lifeless. The room went calm in less than five seconds.
Through the haze of smoke and gunfire, Marcus spotted their primary target, Hassan Al-Mazari right in the middle, his hands flailing in the air, his eyes widening in recognition as he began rising from the ground, trying to flee.
Marcus darted forward, his movements swift and agile as he closed the distance between them, landing 600 pounds of force into Al-Mazari's head from a right hook to his temple that sent him to the ground with a resounding thud. Willy rushed in, retrieved cuffs from his vest and secured Al-Mazari.
Witb the dust settling and the echoes of gunfire fading into the silence, Marcus rose to his feet, his breaths coming in heavy gasps as he surveyed the scene before him. Sophia was arranging the Barrett M82 into the case. The room lay in shambles, but their mission had been a success so far. With the gunfire that had ensured, backup wouldn't be far. The next step would be to take out the communications system and get exfiltrated.
—
With the voice of the fifth member at the surveillance console ringing in their ears, Marcus led the team through the maze of corridors in the sprawling building, the secured frame of Hassan Al-Mazari hanging off his shoulders. Beside him, Willy Vreven carried the Barrett M82 case with determined resolve, his eyes scanning their surroundings for any signs of danger.
Sophia Jackson and Charlotte Harris brought up the rear, their M27 Infantry Automatic Rifles drawn and their senses heightened as they watched the team's back. As they navigated the labyrinth of hallways, six guards popped out, three in front of them, three behind them. Marcus flipped Al-Mazari off his shoulder and held him as a shield in one quick move. Willy, Sophia and Charlotte simultaneously fell in behind him.
Charlotte fired on the three behind them before they could lift their weapons, hitting each of them twice in the chest before topping it off with headshots before the bodies could hit the ground. Sophia wasn't as fast and Al-Mazari's unconscious frame absorbed a few rounds of fire before she broke formation with a shift to her right for a split moment where she drew on the three in front of them, firing headshots only.
They continued through the twists and turns of the building, hearing shouts in the background of guards closing in on their position, their path illuminated by the steady guidance of the voice in their comms.
—
Inside the communication center, Charlotte moved with focused determination, deftly planting the explosives at strategic points throughout the room. Each charge was carefully positioned to maximize the destruction. Then, she set the timer and stepped back, her gaze meeting Marcus's with a nod of assurance.
The team then exited the building, through the emergency doors of the communication center. Outside, the cool night air greeted them, but respite was short-lived as they saw two military transport vans hurtling towards them, their headlights piercing the darkness.
Sophia and Charlotte took up position, their weapons raised and their sights trained on the occupants of the first van and unleashed a volley of shots, each one finding its mark.
Meanwhile, Marcus seized a M67 grenade from his pack, and lobbed it towards the second van. It landed into the rear and the guards shrieked in fear. The explosion was deafening, the force of it rocking the ground beneath their feet, sending the van which was engulfed in flames, into the air, the flames licking hungrily at the night sky.
Marcus, Willy, Sophia and Charlotte entered the first van, and threw the bodies out. Marcus seized control of the wheel, his grip firm as he gunned the engine and tore through the field, leaving behind a trail of smoke and debris in their wake.
—
As the team drove through the dense Amouri forest, the sound of pursuit echoed behind them. Enemy reinforcements were closing in, their shouts and the crackle of branches snapping under their vehicles growing louder with each passing moment.
Marcus navigated through the treacherous terrain at top speed, weaving between trees with their drone friend guiding him away from a gully. They remained vigilant, their eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement as they pressed forward towards the extraction point.
Then, they could hear the deafening roar of helicopter blades cut through the air, signaling their salvation. With relief flooding through them, the team burst into a clearing where the waiting helicopter stood, its rotors whirring impatiently as the pilot prepared for takeoff.
They boarded the aircraft, Marcus gently guiding Hassan Al-Mazari's lifeless body onto the waiting gurney before strapping himself in beside him. Willy secured the Barrett M82 case, while Sophia and Charlotte took up positions near the doors, their weapons at the ready in case of any last-minute threats.
As the helicopter lifted off into the night sky, the tension of the mission began to ebb away, replaced by a sense of triumph and relief. Below them, the dense canopy of the Amouri forest disappeared from view, replaced by the twinkling lights of the city below.
With each passing mile, they drew closer to the safety of the safehouse. As they touched down at their destination, the team breathed a collective sigh of relief, their mission accomplished and their target in custody. A military transport van picked them up and took them into the building.