Crawford saw that the pair was getting closer to the bend at the end of the office hallway. If I get that position then these guys can’t escape, he realized.
“Webster! Cover me!” he yelled. Before she could respond Crawford was moving down the aisle, shotgun out. He fired every time the enemy tried to poke their head out. Yeah, now I’ve got you!
He saw the one closest to him stand up, but before Crawford could even line up the shot, the man ducked. Then his partner snapped up, pistol in hand, and fired two quick shots. Crawford never saw or heard the shots. One hit him squarely in the neck, the other on the side of the head. He slid down the wall, a bloody smear tracing his descent.
Webster watched in shock as her partner slumped onto the floor. A spate of bullets flew down the aisle. She peeked over the top of her cover and saw the two men making a mad dash around the bend. “Crawford’s down! I repeat Crawford’s down! They’re falling back around the corner,” she cried out desperately.
Reid felt like he’d just been slapped. “Crawford’s been shot? Is he ok?”
Webster shook her head, even though no one would see. “I…I don’t know. I just see blood.”
Edge’s voice came over the radio. “Hold it together people. Reid, Tucker, follow me. Webster, check on Crawford.”
Reid punched the wall in anger, but still managed to maintain what composure remained. He and Tucker followed Edge after the two men. All three of them fanned around the corner and saw the two men slip out of the door and into the hallway.
Reid walked over to Webster, who was kneeling next to Crawford. The bullet wound in his skull made a steady stream of blood run down to his neck, making it obvious that there was nothing to be done.
“Goddamit, man,” Reid mumbled. Webster started pulling the few spare magazines that remained on Crawford’s vest.
“We’re going to need these,” she said, dejectedly. She had shut down. Reid just nodded and went to walk to Edge.
“They’re going upstairs,” Reid said, looking at Edge. “Do we go after them?”
“Negative. There’s more than two of them up there, and I’ll bet my shitty salary they’re waiting for us.”
“Then they’ll slaughter us,” Tucker concluded more to himself than anyone in particular.
Reid walked over to Edge. “We can’t just let them get away. Is there another way up?”
“We need the code to get to next floor by the other stairs,” Tucker stated.
Edge flipped up his night vision. “Tucker you said the magic word.” He immediately started grabbing papers and stuffing them into a garbage pail.
Tucker helped Edge put three pails full of paper on top of a desk, not quite sure why this had become Edge’s new objective.
“Three things to always have on a mission, no matter where you are: money, smokes, and a lighter,” Edge said as he struck the metal wheel on his Zippo and was rewarded with a steady, solid flame.
Tucker looked at him, puzzled, as he set the pails on fire. “Umm, how is this helping us?”
“Those locked doors can only be only be opened by code. Or if there is a fire, then the alarm must open all locked doors to provide people multiple routes out of the building,” Edge said grabbing his gun. “That’s the fire code of regulations.”
Tucker had to chuckle. I would’ve never thought of that.
“Okay, everyone. We’re gonna get wet in a second. Now grab your stuff and follow me.” Edge finished. He took off with Tucker and Webster in tow. The alarms came on and the sprinklers with it, pouring water on everything. Reid stood there for a moment more starring at his dead colleague and friend. He determinedly slammed a new magazine into his gun and took off after the group.
۞۞۞۞
“Draggo?” Keeast asked said over the radio.
“Sir?”
“Have you dealt with the intruders yet?” He questioned as he spun his gun on the desk.
“They have not come up the stairs yet sir. Lox said they were following him and Bricks,” Draggo replied. “We’ve been waiting about a minute sir.”
Keeast sighed. He had found it difficult to focus the past few minutes, with the sound of the fire alarms ringing in his ears. “Hitoshi, can’t you do something about the alarms?”
The computer whiz stopped his typing and rotated his chair to face another keyboard. Three exaggerated keys strokes later and unspoken “stop bothering me” look, and the noise was silenced. He spun back to his original task without saying a word.
On principle, Keeast never apologized to anyone; he was the head of the unit, and he had earned it. Most people never had the balls ever to tell him that he had interrupted them. On the other hand, Keeast swore that when Hitoshi got into his work, Death himself would hesitate to bother the man.
The sound was now off, but the lights continued to blink. Keeast’s attention was drawn to light above one of the doors flashing “Emergency Exit” with an arrow pointing to the door. Keeast wore the hint of a smile as he came to the plan their intruders had initiated. They’ve done their homework.
“Draggo, get your team moving towards the northwest stairwell. Tangos are already en route to the secondary barricade,” he ordered. “They used the fire alarms to bypass the door locks.”
“On our way,” Draggo confirmed.
“Your assignment is to contain them. Kill them if you can but do not risk yourselves. We are less than five minutes from completion,” Keeast ordered. “Just keep them busy until then.”
No response came from the Russian. The head of Black Unit took a second to contemplate the success this team was having. Perhaps I have underestimated them? Could these few intruders get the best of my men?
The thunderstorm of his team’s weapons began directly beneath them. Not likely, he thought with satisfaction.
Chapter 5
The architects had designed the seventeenth-floor reception area with one purpose in mind: to impress the bank’s major clients. The floor consisted of a plush waiting room in the center, with research offices that started on the west wall and wrapped around the east perimeter. A small hallway with wood-paneled half-walls and partitions of etched glass separated the two areas that opened up to the grand marble staircase leading to the CEO’s office. The seventeenth floor was where the customer’s perception of the bank was established, and careful thought went into every aspect.
The elevator was positioned to open directly to the reception desk where, once visitors signed in, they were brought to the waiting room which provided an assortment of chairs and couches along with refreshments. Large exotic plants decorated every corner, luxurious seating, and exquisite hardwood floors made it a preferred area to wait for an appointment; it was designed to be a brief mid-day vacation.
As clients waited in the comfort of their seats they had the opportunity to observe the operations of the Research Offices across the hall.
The Research Offices were another point of pride for the bank, much like the library it was filled with high-tech computers, video screens, the research office constantly monitored events across the globe, letting its clients know: We maintain awareness of everything, everywhere to ensure that your investments succeed.
In the current abandoned state of the building, the carefully crafted atmosphere of luxury was cold and uninviting, a stark contrast from its intended purpose.
Draggo and his squad approached the west end of the waiting area, headed towards a small barricade they had built, but were expecting not to have to use. He watches as a big gray cloud of dense fog suddenly rolled into the reception area, setting off fire alarms along the floor. Seeing the smoke grenade, he slowed his team’s advance and locked their weapons onto a barricade position, which was now hidden in the ominous cloud.
Clever Fuckers. They got to the barricade before us!
“Watch out for flashbangs,” Draggo instructed as his finger tapped the trigger. Realizing that the room was nearly empty of furniture, and with the barricades no longer being an optio
n for protection, he and his men were exposed.
As the fire alarms ceased, and the floor blanketed in silence, but the flashing emergency lights remained on, providing enough illumination that the soldiers of the Order removed their night-vision goggles, letting them hang around their necks.
Understanding that the enemy was quick to use flashbangs, and flashbangs through night-vision goggles lead to blindness, no matter how temporary, the blindness lasted too long to be able to defend yourself.
Black Unit waited patiently for an attack, but nothing happened. A few started to wonder if it has been a bait and switch. Then without warning, two figures broke out of the smoke and bolted into the Research Offices.
“Tango sighted,” one of Draggo’s team members shouted as all of his units opened fire.
۞۞۞۞
The glass partitions cascaded down on Edge and Reid as they dropped to the ground. “Stay low, keep your head down,” Edge said as they started crawling.
“I hadn’t thought of that,” Reid replied sarcastically as he swept a shot up picture frame out of his path. A constant hail of gunfire forced them to keep moving, computers, glass, and books exploded around them. After demolishing the partition, bullets shattered the exterior windows. Winds swept onto the floor, sending debris into the air like a snow storm. It provided Edge and Reid with the cover they needed.
Edge’s plan was to move through the Research section from the west to the south and flank the enemy from the east. From the bullets’ trajectory, as they erupted through their surroundings, Edge had figured the Order had positioned themselves in the middle of the floor. At least the plan is working so far; Edge thought as they pressed their way forward.
While the Order was distracted, Tucker and Webster sprinted from the dissipating smoke to the barricade and opened fire. Although outnumbered, the position gave Tucker and Webster the “higher ground” needed to level the battlefield.
Under fire, the Order had to adjust to confront hostiles in two locations. Draggo ordered half his group to suppress those still at the barricade and the other half to keep the pressure on the two in the research offices.
Draggo took a moment and observed how the battle was playing out. He noticed the direction the two in the research offices were heading, realizing they were progressing towards a position that would soon expose his men. They’re flanking us.
The waiting room was clearly not designed for combat cover, and the layout was not to the soldier’s favor.
That is when Draggo spotted a large opening in the research office partitions that the two men would have to cross unprotected to reach what he expected to be their destination. Sliding himself behind one of the large planters with draping leaves to conceal himself (it was virtually a jungle in a pot), he waited for his chance. He calmed his breathing and steadied his aim in preparation to take his next shot.
۞۞۞۞
Edge radioed, “Tucker how you are you guys holding up over there?”
“Getting shot at. Otherwise, we’re great,” was the reply.
“Okay. Keep it up; we’re nearly there.”
Edge saw the open area between the two walls. The area was too large to cover with a roll, so their only option was running pass it. He looked at Reid and instructed, “It’s only about five or six strides, but it fully exposes us, so we gotta move quickly.”
Reid nodded in understanding as he slung his gun across his back. “One…two…Go!” Edge signaled, and the two men took off together.
Hiding in the shadows, Draggo expertly lined his shot, picking the second of the two targets. He smiled and squeezed the trigger, hitting his mark precisely.
Edge slid behind the wall and turned to check on Reid. Reid was almost to safety when his body suddenly jerked right. His momentum carried him the final strides, and he fell in a heap inside the opening. Edge quickly grabbed him and pulled him the rest of the way, noticing that Reid was holding his hand to a hole in his neck. Blood was pouring out.
“Reid, you hang in there,” Edge commanded as he looked into his teammate’s fading eyes, blood seeping from his mouth. Edge knew there was nothing he could do as Reid’s hands relaxed and his head fell to one side.
Goddamn it!
Edge growled as he gathered what ammunition he could from Reid’s vest. Having lost a second member of the team, Edge knew they could not continue the offensive and that regrouping and retreating were their last option.
“One tango down in southern offices. Move in squad and eliminate the remaining hostile,” ordered Draggo.
“Copy that squad leader, moving in,” a soldier’s voice responded.
“Fuck!” said Edge as a few of the soldiers advanced on his position. He radioed Tucker, “They got Reid! We gotta retreat!”
“What the fuck?” Tucker responded. “Are you sure? What happened?”
“No time. Just throw that last flashbang into the center of them now!” Tucker did as instructed and tossed the grenade into the center of the waiting room.
Happy with his kill, Draggo’s attention turned to where the last two were held up. Now, with their resistance weakened, all he had to do was squash the remaining fighters. Turning, he got a glimpse of a metallic canister soaring through the air towards his men.
“Flashbang!” Draggo yelled just as the grenade detonated just above the floor’s surface. Some of his soldiers were able to react quickly enough to avoid the effects of the blast; others, including Draggo himself, were not so lucky and were momentarily incapacitated.
The bang was all Edge needed. He quickly hopped over the half wall and sprinted through the research area, his boots crushing everything from papers to keyboards. Time’s running short, go faster, go faster, he encouraged himself as he hurdled a broken chair.
Peeking over the barricade Tucker spotted Edge in a full-tilt sprint. “What…in…the…world is he thinking?”
“I’m not sure but let’s make sure he makes it,” said Webster, as the two gave suppressing fire.
The flashbang had hit a few of the Black Unit, but many had been protected enough that the effects wore off quickly. Draggo, as a matter of sheer will, shrugged off the disorientation and went hunting for Edge. Time to end all this bullshit, for good. A flick of the thumb and a laser sight swept towards his target.
Webster noticed the red beam through the dusty air coming from a large plant. Through the leaves, she saw a body moving. No! In mid fire she swung her gun towards the shadow, her rounds blasting the vase and surrounding glass into pieces, sending the massive plant and Draggo to the floor, out of sight.
Edge kept walls and pillars between him and the enemy, but in a matter of steps that would not matter as he was approaching a long open space with no cover. He knew the enemy had their sights already set, waiting for him to run into the open. Death was certain. Unless… Nah; too risky. But then again what choice do I have?
Without missing a beat, Edge jumped onto one of the desks and dove into the air. The plan worked as the enemy had to adjust to Edge’s elevated position and found themselves chasing him instead of leading. The Delta operative landed in a roll and slid behind cover. Edge quickly checked himself for bullet holes. He locked eyes with Webster.
“Well shit! Walk on water for us next,” she said, amazed. Edge just chuckled or gasped for breath; they weren’t sure which.
“What in the hell was that?” asked Tucker as Edge took up cover beside him, a few rounds coming their way. “What happened to Reid?”
His head simply shook as an answer. “We have to fall back,” answered Edge panting. “We’ve lost any leverage we had. The Order has the upper hand now!”
“No…..No, we can’t do that Edge, we’ve sacrificed too much to fall back now,” Tucker argued.
“Listen, Tucker; there’s nothing else we can do. Our best choice is to survive this and fight another day. If we fall, they win; we can’t honor the dead if we’re lying beside them.”
“There’s no need for any of that; they’re dro
pping back.” Webster chimed in. Tucker and Edge took a moment to peer around to see the Order in full retreat.
۞۞۞۞
Rising from the floor, Draggo received a call from Keeast. “The package has been transferred. Get the squad to the extraction.”
“What about the intruders, sir?”
“They are not the focus of this mission. We’ll deal with them later.”
“No…..We can finish them now,” Draggo spat. He felt warm blood trickling down his face. His fingers found a sharp fragment in his skin, and as he pulled it out, he found it to be part of the vase.
His radio went silent before his leader came over in a calm, measured, unmistakably commanding voice demanding obedience. “Soldier you have your orders. Fall back now!”
Draggo was not someone who took direct orders well: he also knew that Keeast did not tolerate insubordination in the slightest and was one of the very few he feared enough to obey. For several seconds, he stood there studying his weapon. Finally, after wiping the blood away from his eye, Draggo gave the command to head for extraction. The group fell back with full military precision, their guns always on the enemy, no space uncovered as they retreated up the stairs.
Webster was the first into the waiting area. Seeing a tall man running up the stairs she asked, “Who was that guy? I thought he was down for good?”
“I’m not sure,” Edge replied.
“We’ve got to get them before they leave,” Tucker said, refusing to believe they could fail this mission. He started to move out toward the stairs.
“Hold it. We don’t know if they’re leaving. There could be another trap up there...” Edge did not get to finish his statement as Tucker took off towards the stairs. Edge immediately took off as well and covered twice the distance in half the time grabbing Tucker by his tactical vest. “You wanna die too?” Edge yelled at him. “That’s how you plan to stop them?” He looked Tucker in the eyes. Before he could say any more, a red light began to flash on a black box in the stairwell.
Rise of the Pheonix: Act 2 Page 6
