Chapter 12

What a Lousy Morning

Three days had passed since Carys had been taken. Three stinking days and all Dafs, or the rest of the guys were able to do is sleep, nightmares of being boarded, nightmares of betrayal. Being beaten up sure was fun; not only does it rip away any trust in human-kind, it hurt pretty bad too. There was one good thing to say about it, it was one of the few ways to check that this is all real, instead of some never-ending nightmare.

Dafs was the last to wake up, his body smarting after the kidnapping of Carys, and it was still tender where he was unceremoniously kicked. Still, someone who had still got a bit of Barbarian Celt bloodline in him was never going to quit, no matter what obstacles lay ahead.

He was in a position which he would normally have a lot of trouble sleeping in, and his hydraulic arm, which normally hung free, was trapped underneath the cargo bay, and was powered off.

The enormity of that fact hit Dafs with the force of a charging elephant, and he felt trapped and helpless. His mind refused to work, and for the latest time of many, his basic instincts took hold, he used all the comparatively feeble strength in his organic arm, and lifted the cargo bay door slightly. It wasn’t enough to free him, but it was enough to free his mind.

He restarted the hydraulic arm, and with a blood-curdling scream of rage he got the cargo bay door open fully, and freed his arm. Once he had regained his bearings he went over to see the condition of the others.

Terrik had a massive gash to the head, but he was eating breakfast in the cramped corridor, really peeved at his seeming incapacity to put up a fight when surprise took hold.

Captain Black staggered past, shaking his head periodically to keep himself on his feet, obviously suffering, the effects seemed similar to what happened to Dafs earlier, an incapability to get even the barest basic functions to work.

Nakejama was his usual self, confident as always. Well, you didn’t get a sharp kick in the balls did you? In fact, you escaped unharmed. I know you were tied up, but Captain Black was in the same trap, and he got out, why didn’t you? What were you up to, and why didn’t Kayne kick your ass?

Commander Eugene La Salle looked like he had just woken up from a rather rowdy night at the pub and was feeling the rather nasty side-effects of a hangover. His eyes had a dull, unseeing glaze about them. Whatever had happened to him, he was not in a shape to rescue anyone, least of all himself.

As for Gustav… wait, where was that German guy anyway. Surely he was on the helicopter, right? Don’t tell me… Oh, please don’t say he’s gone to rescue her himself.

Rescue was the first order of business. As much as they hated the idea, they all agreed that the rescue of Carys was to be undertaken immediately, and that, regardless of their current state they would do all in their power to make sure she still survived.

Terrik started the briefing. “We got tricked and duped. First off, to track down and hopefully capture the mercenary who did it; we need to go there anyway, either to get cold revenge right away, or find out where he’s hidden himself, so that we can get there, and,” Terrik’s eyes glazed over with hateful malice, “make him pay dearly.

“Second, Gustav is quite enraptured by her, and, if he hasn’t already, will go on a hopeless fools errand to get her back, and get shot in the back, either by Kayne, the people in that stronghold, or by Carys herself, even though the chances of the last happening are remote. Gustav has already saved her life twice.

“Third, she’s a member of this crew, and no matter how dodgy the circumstances of her being here we won’t let one of ours rot inside a prison, or a torture chamber.”

Nakejama continued the briefing, “I have concrete knowledge that the mercenary was heading to Spain, to Roberto Tomicielli’s stronghold. As you know, he is the current leader of the UN, and is twisted around Yugorovski’s little finger.

“He’s also paranoid, and will probably have CCTV cameras up the entrance to his fortress. .He’ll also have numerous of hidden traps which we may never know of until we get killed by one. As for what’s inside the complex, we can only assume it’s as sordid as Yugorovski’s imagination.

“It’s located up a ravine, one that looks like a slow sloping mountain. You can notice the slight differences between his stronghold, and between a normal mountain in the same country under the same circumstances. First off, the CCTV cameras, even though they are carefully concealed, are visible from aerial scans. Secondly, the plants he’s used to disguise his fortress, are not from around here, but are in fact from Southern France.

“The plan is quite simple, we shall use surprise to park the helicopter right by the doors of his stronghold, and shall rush in, grab Carys out of there, and retreat, I presume to Vostok, to regroup.”

Nakejama opened up the aerial map from the helicopter databanks. “As you can see, this is the proof of what I’ve said,” he pointed. “We have no idea what’s inside there.” Then he turned on the recording of what he’d found out from Cooper. “For any suspicious people, this is where I got the details from.”

“From Johnny Cooper… He should know, he’s been spying on us for days,” Dafs muttered bitterly, Never the other way round though… The Welsh never have the chance.

As soon as he said that he found an ‘interior’ map of the stronghold. “Wait a minute, this is more intriguing then most of what else I’ve come across. There is no way that there would be a memory of the map, unless someone has took the integral memory of the places this thing has been to. Now, we know there would be no way that Carys would have had the time to take the data-core.”

Dafs eyes widened. There was only one way that there was a map of the interior. Gustav must have gone, and as he wasn’t back yet, the worst must be assumed. Number two of the possibilities Terrik had outlined had already happened, with disastrous results.

He looked inside Gustav’s room and spotted the letter he had written:

{i}My friends and allies:

This is my calling. As I was the first to awaken after the humiliation of being knocked unconscious and having one of our number being snatched from us, the job at hand has fallen to me, and with open arms I accept it.

There is still conflict buried deep in me, and I feel things for her I could never utter to anyone, for they upset the balance, and disobey the very code my profession orders me to take. I have fallen in love with someone who Yugorovski sent to kill me. It has taken me blind, and until she’s back here, my heart would not be able to live with just a memory. For unless I rescue her, or try, my heart has no reason to continue on. Perhaps I’ve weakened and grown soft, but for her, I would risk anything.

By the time you have read this I will be gone, and will have entered the base of Roberto Tomicielli. I will either be victorious, or, if I’m not back within four days, assume the worst. I don’t know half of the back-story, or half of his plans, all I know is that they are all bad, and somehow I’m at the centre of the intrigue.

I should be back before Dafs wakes up, for then I’ll have done the deed I set off to do. If I’m not, I’ll either be in heaven with Carys, drinking tequila and vodka with the angels, or imprisoned.

If I don’t return, don’t hold your breath. This is one of the few times in which vengeance will only get you deeper in a stinking sewer without a pothole.

See you around good friends.

Dafs stared, stunned, his entire mind blocked as he tried to work out what was happening. The dilemma was obvious, should he go and see where he’s gone, or should he do as Gustav directed in the letter? Weighing up the upsides and downsides of both he felt as if the answer was obvious; no matter what the letter says, friendship comes first. Rescue was going to be underway come hell or high water.

After a few minutes he came out, shell-shocked, but knowing exactly what must be done. He walked over to Nakejama, “Do you know which part of Spain?”

“Perhaps not,” Nakejama admitted, “but if you feed this helicopter the map, then it should be able to analyse where it is, and the best route for us to get there.”

Dafs explained to Nakejama about the letter, “I know that Gustav probably wanted this kept out of anyone’s earshot. Fact of the matter is, he’s gone to rescue Carys, and has probably been imprisoned by Roberto Tomicielli. However, it says to wait for four days after he’s gone, and I can say that the maximum it has been is three so far.”

“Ah, I understand. It will be your call as to when the attempt will commence. If you say we should wait until tomorrow then so be it.”

“I didn’t say anything like that. Time is of the essence, and to make sure he stays alive we have to go now. I came to you for a bit of advice, as you seem to be the wisest out of us lot.”

Tomicielli was seriously worried. He stared at the in-base footage of how easily his men were shot down, one by pitiful one. These were supposed to be the best the world had to offer, and they went down like flies to two ‘invaders’, ironic really. He cringed slightly, I’m the only one left out f the crew I started off with. Those two killed all the rest.

What was worse was that there weren’t going to be any replacements en route until tomorrow at the earliest. Tomicielli groaned, this is far worse then I could’ve possibly imagined. No way could two second raters kill the best military troops on offer.

And yet they had, the capture had proven surprisingly costly; costly in troops, costly in power, and really costly in morale. Just what I didn’t need.

“This is red base to supply depot 7629.JXS-Gamma requesting additional troops right now. The others got unfortunately dispatched.”

“Come again?”

“The last lot died fighting against two painfully determined fighters. They died like flies. So, I’m asking for another squad dispatched immediately. We have the two invaders captured; now we need the guards to make sure they can’t escape.”

“How many do you think you’ll need?”

“At least thirty of the best, maximum of fifty, I want nothing getting through, and no more invasions, especially none of the skilled types. And next thing I need is a vastly improved security system. They managed to get through the current one, which means I want a security advisor along with them to analyse what needs improving, and how to improve it. Do you think you can supply me with one with the dispatched troop squad?”

“If they leave now they won’t be able to make it within two days. Rounding up the required number will take at least that long however, then we’ll have to do the debriefing en route.”

“The last mail I sent you will show you the list of people who I think are capable enough for the job; that will cut down the rounding up and analysis time by a day at least. All you’d have to do is find the required people, and get them here.”

“This is doable, but it would be stupid to think they’d be here in less time then two days. It’s undoable, impossible to get them here so quick.”

“Do what you can, and bring a security advisor. If you don’t get here within two and a half days I shall be extremely unhappy, and heads will roll.”

The person on the other end gulped slightly, Tomicielli’s meaning painfully clear, “If it’s possible, I can do it.”

“Good, we don’t need any escapees telling of our hidden agenda.”

At the base, it wasn’t all going well for Gustav, or for Carys. The chilling screams of Tomicielli’s military advisor were wild, painful howls. That fact was painfully obvious to them.

Vektar seemed oblivious to them, and stored malicious contempt against his captor. Rage burned slowly in his bloodshot eyeballs, and Tomicielli was all too aware of that fact. For that simple reason, and the fact he was afraid of Vektar, Tomicielli gave him a wide berth.

Gustav and Carys shared cells, a small, accidental gift by Tomicielli. Too late had he realised the possible implications by giving Gustav that victory, but, by the time the cells were chosen, there was nothing he could do about it.

Nothing short of removing Gustav from the torture chamber would do it, and that was a risk Tomicielli was well guarded against, well guarded because it would be suicide. Gustav in the chosen cell would pacify him a bit, in the short term at least. Tomicielli grinned manically; the short term would be all he’d need. By the time Gustav was agitated enough to try and escape, he’d have fifty of the best the UN Special Ops had to offer; this time he had chosen wisely.

“Sorry I flunked up the rescue attempt Carys,” Gustav apologised fully. “It almost worked, seems that there were factors I didn’t even know about. Tomicielli being trained in advanced combat procedures, especially knocking us unconscious.”

Carys smiled genuinely, “Glad we’re back together. I never got the chance to thank you for saving my life. First, with your friends, second, taking a bullet for me. I found that self-sacrifice touching, and I wish to repay the favour.”

Wow, she really means that? Yes, the look in her eyes says it all, wow. “Hush, pretty lady, don’t say a word. Just savour the moment, and when we escape, thank us then. Soon, we’ll be out, and Tomicielli will be able to do nothing.”

“Us?”

“Me and my Godfather, the manic guy growling in the other cell.”

“So he’s not the screaming guy?”

“No. Even though if it wasn’t for the screaming guy I’d be dead, as would Vektar, and Tomicielli would be taunting you about stories of my death, and saying it was you who killed me.”

“He’d really stoop that low?” asked Carys in a shocked voice.

“Why not? He’s the leader of the most powerful of military units, and can call all the units of the world to assemble. And once he’s done that, there can be no defence. No defence against a corrupt world power, especially if it is a ‘world power.’”

At those words Tomicielli came in. “So, you think you can stop my plans? You think killing twenty is enough when there are legions in this world who’d bow their knee to anyone to be able to do something useful in the UN?

“It is up to you to stop your thoughts, to stop trying to think of me as corrupt, but as a freedom-fighter. It will be your duty to her, as it will be the only way you and your girlfriend get out alive.”

“Whose freedom are you fighting for? Are you trying to ‘liberate’ those controlled by other countries and organisations, so they can work for you? Even Yugorovski has more honour then you!!”

Tomicielli’s face turned a deep crimson, “Coming from you, that is a cheap shot. Then again, as you’re an assassin, I wouldn’t expect you to know where true honour lies. Your kind never had any to begin with.”

“I’m damned if I’m going to work for you! Assassins have far more honour then someone who wants to ‘free’ the military to use it to plunder innocent countries. I understand perfectly why nobody likes you. You suck troop morale, and send them to fight their brethren to the death. Your lack of humanity and humility is shocking. And you have the cheek to lecture me about honour!”

“You will pay for that remark, Gustav Horst, and you’ll end up with nothing. Not even your last breath.”

“Before or after I see your head impaled on a pole?”

“Like I said, Gustav, you will pay. And as soon as my troops get back you will see why. Your days are numbered.” Tomicielli turned to Carys, “And, so are yours, your boyfriend has sentenced you to eternal damnation.”

Tomicielli turned around and left. So immature, like a toddler throwing his toys out of a pram.

“He really needs a life doesn’t he baby?”

Carys looked at Gustav, her eyes shimmering with love for Gustav, “I’ll protect you to the end.”

Dafs powered up the helicopter, and the whir of the rotors got louder and louder, until it was like a roar. The Apache rose from the desert floor, the uplift from the blades turning the surrounding sand into a small dust vortex.

“Status report?” shouted Terrik.

“Engines at 100%, shielding fully enveloping, fuel will last for a few more hours. We still have a few missiles left, and the chain gun is still kill capable, it still has six hundred rounds.”

“If we meet up with a severe resistance just how long will we have before this helicopter effectively becomes our tomb, our morgue, and our cremation chamber?”

“Depends on how heavy ‘heavy resistance’ is, if it’s just fifty infantry we should be able to hold out for half a day, or longer depending on how many we can kill. Substantially stronger though, and we’d be a crippled wreck in less then three hours, any anti-aircraft or bombing raids would destroy us within an hour.

“Of course I suspect that Gustav killed quite a lot of the defence. He’s not one to go to the prison cells without a fight. Unfortunately I also suspect that he’s already there, though the projected defence won’t be much. The nearest base is two days away, via the Chinooks and other transport helicopters. There is no airport near here, so using an airplane would just be a waste of time and resources.

“We should get out at least a day before the defence arrive. If not, we’ll have a fight on our hands, and there’ll be a strong resistance.”

With deceptive grace, the Apache moved forward, its twin anti-infantry cannons shining bright as the sunlight hit them.

After a four hour journey through the desert they reached Tomicielli’s stronghold. Carefully, they parked the helicopter about fifty metres away from the entrance. Dafs had pretty much finished the landing briefing, “If you meet any resistance, find cover quickly, and fight like mad-men. The objective must be reached whatever the cost. The fate of humanity may hinge on this victory.”

Like wraiths in the desert they slinked through the entrance. As soon as they reached the inside the portable map glowed with a three-dimensional telemetry of the place itself. “Is it showing any lifesigns?” Dafs asked nervously.

“Too far out of live scanning range to be sure, but, knowing Tomicielli, he’ll want to torture them first.”

“I thought his cells shared the same styling as brothels.”

“They do. They even share the dodgy paint-jobs and unnecessary ‘tools of the trade’.” Terrik shuddered, “My rectum was incapacitated for weeks.”

“Too much information!!” Dafs whispered hoarsely. “Anyway, the prison cells start at the next floor down. We start there, and Terrik?”  I don’t remember giving him my disturbed imagination? I really don’t remember that.

“Yes?”

“Please keep your bad experiences to yourself. We don’t want to scare them to death before we rescue them!”  Coming from me, that’s laughable.

They headed through, each room still wearing the marks where Gustav and Vektar ‘painted’. “You know, I don’t think Tomicielli’s cleaning bill will be cheap. First off, he’ll have to pay them simply to stay, then he’ll have to pay them to clean the rooms individually, regardless of the smell. And he’ll have to shove in complementary gas masks. That’ll be one expensive job contract.” Dafs smiled.

“That’s one problem with an intelligent persons’ stronghold. They never take into account the cleaning bills should they be invaded. Otherwise their heavy equipment would be armoured then covered with laminate.”

They headed towards the lift, which took them on floor below. Commander Eugene La Salle looked through the corridor. “Heavy structural damage towards the end of the corridor, I laugh to think about the monetary drawbacks that the aftermath of capturing Carys brought about.”

“How many thousands do you say Gustav caused?”

“In damages? More then capturing Yugorovski alive is worth. Not that it’ll matter, in a court of law they should invariably see Gustav as more in the right then Tomicielli.”

“Wouldn’t be difficult. Then again, the vultures have been corrupt for years before Tomicielli came on the scene. That I’d bet on, if you were so stupid as to take that bet.” Dafs grinned, throwing the gauntlet so to speak.

“You’re right, I’m not that stupid!! Then again, all I’d have to do is find non-corrupted lawyers, and your theory would be dead in the water.”

“I’d be rich before you got back anything, my theory may be dead, but so would your bank balance be if you accepted the bet.”

“Terrik glared a bit, out of sheer impatience, then screamed, “Are you guys coming to rescue them or what? I’d like to be in the helicopter soon before my head gets sliced off.”

“We were just getting to that.”

“Well? You going to stand around or are we actually going to do something? The idea of being caught by the servants of the devil is more preferable then standing around here, waiting for impending doom.”

They walked towards the cells, and saw five people; Carys and Gustav, and three unknowns in different cells. Dafs walked silently to Carys’ and Gustav’s shared cell, and motioned to them to come closer. “We’re here, we’ve come to rescue you. Now, do you want us to rescue the other three, or just leave them there?”

“You can’t leave Vektar, he’s my God-father. He’s the one who helped me in here in the first place. As for his brother, we have to take him with us too, that was part of the deal.

“The military advisor could come in useful, and, if it weren’t for him we’d both be dead. By the time we succumbed there were still four soldiers still capable of holding a gun. He incapacitated them, I think, then Tomicielli knocked us and him unconscious.”

“Meaning?”

“He’s now an enemy of the UN, of Tomicielli, like we are.”

“I gathered that part, otherwise he wouldn’t be in prison. I meant, what are his and your conditions? You still fight capable? Or, did the latest scuffle take away all useable combat capabilities? In other words, will we have to carry you out?”

“Him, yes, the rest of us, no.”

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