Chapter 37

 THIRTY-SEVEN

Fick laid a stack of building plans out on the table before him. Club Aurora was a relatively large complex, the first subfloor, first floor and second floor all consisted of the main Club space. The Third and fourth floors was a more exclusive location. With the fifth floor acting as a labyrinthian office space; The six and seventh floors consisted of a penthouse for Michael Troy, the clubs proprietor, and the Marines target. Trigger studied the diagram and was glad he wouldn’t be on the primary assault team for once. No matter where he looked, the interior was a smattering of concealment and cover, and more choke points than he cared to count. To a less experienced force it would be a blood bath, however after seeing the brutal efficiency Basilisk operated with, Trigger felt bad for anyone standing between them and Troy.

 

After the operators studied the plans for a moment, Morgan stroked his beard. “We don’t even have time to make a shoot house of this place. Let alone have a practice run.” He lamented.

Fick cleared his throat “Well we just so happen to have a plan that shouldn’t get us all killed.”

“We have done more with less intel.” Zhao noted. Fick pulled out a pen and circled one of the rooms in the penthouse. Trigger read the label as Dining Room.

“According to the Broker, the meeting will be here, which unfortunately is a straight shot to the Lift.” Fick started. “We can expect a moderate resistance on the top floor, and more as we go down. Per shift schedules, most of the security will be in the main club room around this time. They’re expecting an assault from the ground floors clearly.” Fick continued

“And I imagine you have some other way we’re getting in?” Asked Kyle.

Fick nodded. “A three-prong strategy. First I’ll cover is Trigger since he’s the easiest-“ He pointed at Trigger “- You’re our eyes in the sky and acting as ISR. Sorry I can’t spare either Kyle or Morgan so you’ll be doing this single seat; Is that OK?” Fick asked.

Trigger nodded “Understood, will be nice to carry the extra gas.” He said smirking

“Hey, I’m not that bad!” Kyle defended himself.

Fick held up his hand to silence the men. “Regardless, Trigger I also want you loaded out for close air support. They got the drop on us last time, I don’t want to see them try it again.” Fick ordered.

“Righto” Trigger replied. “Should be good with a limited Hellfire loadout, the gun-pods for good measure and the ISR pods.”

Fick nodded in acknowledgement before continuing.

 

“Second team will consist of Dennings, Adams and Zhao. You three will be a part of the distraction and exfil team.”

“Distraction?” Dennings asked.

“Yes. Corporal, your job will be to secure our exit, there’s a parking garage underneath the building, You’ll be stationed there and will have to make sure we have that as an option.”

“By myself? Great.” Dennings groaned.

“What about Adams and Myself?” Zhao asked.

Fick grinned wickedly. “For you? I will need as much noise as possible inside the main club. Try to keep civilian casualties to a minimum, but make sure you take out as many of their guards; The more you tie up down there, is the less coming upstairs to deal with us.”

The two NCO’s traded glances. “So, it’s one of those jobs?” Adams asked rhetorically

“Yep.” Fick replied.

 

Zhao paused for a moment. “If at all possible, I think it best if we take a quieter approach instead of kicking in the door, guns blazing.” “Any chance we can get any of the spoofers?” Adams added.

“Shouldn’t be a problem.” Fick replied

 

Trigger was briefed on the technology, tended to defeat any minor security implements for a short time when activated, up to and including metal detectors. It wasn’t perfect but for most occasions it worked.

 

Zhao smiled. “Great, we should be able to take the Five Sevens, a few mags and flashbangs if that’s alright with you Lieutenant?”

“I don’t have an issue with it.”

“Ooh do we get those suits with ballistic weaving as well?”  Adams asked.

“No time for that, Best chances we have is to just wear the carbon fiber shirts we have.” Zhao replied.

“Really? Those won’t stop more than a nine though.”

“Odds are we’ll be long gone before they break out the heavy weapons.” Zhao reassured him. 

 

“Well, it sounds like a plan then. Adams and Zhao will cause a distraction in the main hall and draw away hopefully most of the guards long enough for us to infiltrate on the rooftop.” Fick continued.

Zhao raised his hand “Just out of curiosity sir, how many would that be?”

 

Fick thought for a moment. “Probably thirty on the floor, another ten or so in the lounge above you, and maybe another fifty in the building. Like I said, security will be tighter than normal.”

“Great, well at least Dennings won’t have the shittiest job.” Adams quipped.

“Moving on, final team will be the strike element. Haver, Hernandez, Kyle, Morgan and myself will insert via helo onto the rooftop to secure the penthouse and neutralize the targets inside the Penthouse. From there we take the stairwell down to the bottom floor and evac with Dennings.” Fick explained.

“That’s still eight flights of stairs.” Morgan noted.

“We’ll just have to deal with it. If Zhao and Adams pull off their job, should be able to soften most of the resistance coming up the stairs. And besides I left out one part, we will need to pull Adams and Zhao out of the Main Hall as well. No separate RV points, we all go together.”

“What about secondary rendezvous points?” asked Haver

 

Fick pulled out a large map of the city. 

“If we can’t meet up in the garage, we are to meet at Gründer Park where the Belkans’ will be waiting for us anyways.”

“Because that worked so well last time. Or the time before that.” Haver noted.

“Relax, only person we need to worry about shooting us down is Trigger, and what are the odds that could happen twice?” quipped Hernandez.

Trigger stepped back and held his hands up “Hey! I got acquitted of that!”

“Says the guy who painted three lines on his tail!” shot back Hernandez jokingly

“I mean, Uh.” Trigger threw up his hands in defeat. Jeez, even the old squadron didn’t give me this much grief Trigger thought to himself. Trigger sighed “What if that doesn’t work? Like last time.”

 

Fick shrugged “We play it by ear. Won’t be the first time, Won’t be the last time. OIA has safehouses nearby, we make contact with the old man and cool our heels there.”

“What if it goes sideways?” Adams asked.

“Well, if its before all the teams are in play. Zhao and Adams will have to get themselves out of the club. From there, Trigger will need to provide Overwatch until Dennings or the helicopter can pick them up. Failing that? We will be looking at the minimum of a different Special task unit pulling you out, or an international incident. Let’s hope it doesn’t fail there.” Fick started

“If something goes wrong while all pieces are in play? We take out who we can and move on from there. I’m not keen on shooting our way out of the city but if it comes to that, be prepared.” 

 

A silence fell across the room.

“Alright gentlemen, moving on.”

***

Adams looked over the railing towards the main dance floor. It was a variable sea of bodies moving in the flashing lights of the music. While his electronic earplugs had brought the noise level to something bearable, he could still feel the reverberation of the music in his bones. Though only in his mid-twenties and his more fashionable persona he put up, he hadn’t been to a nightclub outside of a mission in years.

 

“On your six.” Zhao’s electronically amplified voice whispered. He held two glasses and handed one to Adams.

“What about the ‘No drinking on a mission’ policy?” Adams asked.

Zhao shrugged “Gin and Tonic, hold the gin.”

“Oh, So shitty tasting lime water then?” Adams replied taking a sip, recoiling at the bitter carbonated drink. “Fuck, next time just get me a jack and coke.” He complained.

“At these prices? No way.” Zhao replied, Adams continued his search of the room. He had identified all the entrances shown on the blueprints and made out where the security was located. Now he was just waiting on the signal.

Adams looked over to Zhao, he wasn’t sure where the senior marines attention was. “Yo, give it up man, your old enough to be half these girls dad.” Adams quipped. He himself did take notice of many of the scantily clad women, some of whom he could see had an eye on him as well.

Zhao shrugged again “I’m divorced remember? You don’t get that option. When is she due again?”

Adams frowned “Sometime in November. I was hoping to take some leave after this mission to take care of her. I’ll certainly have enough.”

Zhao nodded in approval. Neither man continued the conversation. Between the distraction and professional courtesy, there was no room for their personal lives in a mission.

 

“Two more guards just walked in.” Zhao noted.

Adams looked down at his watch. “So, you want to do this together, or separate?”

Zhao paused for a moment. “Let’s start together then fan out, I’ll take this side, you move over and take the other side.”

“Copy. Your radio set to the right frequency?” Adams asked.

“Yup, though here reception is going to be shit without the jammer.”

Adams laughed “Guess we’ll be playing it by ear then.”

 

A squelch on the radio caused the men to go silent.

Fick’s voice crackled across the radio.

 

“Attention all Servants, the grail is filled”

 

“Showtime.” Zhao said calmly as he pulled out his Handgun.

Adams sighed. The spoofers had done their job, and the club’s staff was unaware what they had invited inside the building. He calmly unclipped a flashbang from his belt and pulled the pin.

 

“On three.”
***

The CH-53 flew low over the water, out the side windows, Morgan could see the aura of light radiating across the water as land drew closer.

Fick stepped his way across the helicopters cargo bay and sat in one of the netted seats next to Morgan, miming the channel for him to step his radio to.

“What is it sir?” Morgan asked.

“About are talk this afternoon.” Fick began, “Do you think it will effect the mission if he knows?”

Morgan thought for a moment and shrugged “Probably, His history and psych eval suggest he’s one to make stupid decisions when his judgment is clouded. But then again-“ Morgan gestured vaguely in front of him “-maybe that’s just his MO either way. Not my place to judge; but why take the risk?”

Fick nodded in understanding. “I see, we will have to cross that bridge when we come to it.”

“Or burn it”

Fick frowned “Hopefully it won’t come to that.

 

The Crew chief rushed up to the cockpit briefly before holding up three fingers towards the Lieutenant.

Fick sighed heavily “Once more unto the breach” before clicking his radio back to the teams frequency.

Ficks voice crackled across their headsets. “Alright gentlemen, get ready, three minutes out.” He reported.

 

Morgan took a moment to inventory the equipment strapped to his vest. HK-416 rifle with attached suppressor, EO Tech red dot sight, Sig Saur M17 Handgun, with spare magazines for both, as well as two hand grenades and two flashbang grenades. Across the cargo bay from him sat Haver, who was loading his Benelli M4 shotgun with a speed that even pro shooters would be impressed with. All the Marines had opted for their standard OCP uniforms with a mixture of khaki or camouflage plate carriers and vests.

 

The plan was simple, Morgan would be the first on the roof, followed by Haver, Hernandez, Kyle and finally Fick. Haver and Morgan would breach the upstairs and secure the sight while the other Marines rappelled from the helicopter, and then they would move to secure the bottom floor of the penthouse to kill their targets. From what the Broker had told them, the expected number was nine; With Troy leading the meeting and his eight sub-lieutenants.

 

As the Helicopter passed between the Anchor Bay Bridge spans, Kyle spoke up.  “Hey Lieutenant, Isn’t this helo a bit noticeable?”

Fick shrugged “Not much we can do. Besides, if we’re lucky they’ll just mistake it for local police.”

 

Another voice crackled over the radio, it was Trigger “Lancer, Rooftop looks clear, be advised, two heat signatures seen three minutes ago near windows on the top floor.” He reported.

 

Fick clicked the radio twice in response.

The female Helo pilots voice crackled over their radio next. “Archer, Lancer one-one at IP as fragged”

Fick stood up “Get ready people. One minute!” he barked.

Trigger was quick to reply over the radio “Lancer, LZ is Ice”

Fick keyed his throat mic “Attention all Servants, the grail is filled”

 

From here it was only business. The Crew chief opened the rear door, its hydraulics hissing to a stop as the helicopter banked to the south towards the city’s football stadium and entertainment district. Within seconds the Helicopter slowed to a stop above a dark building. Morgan stood up, and threw the thick rope out the back of the helicopter, waiting for only a moment for the rope to complete its fall, he grabbed onto the line and within a heartbeat was descending towards the rooftop, only using his boots to arrest his decent. Seconds later his boots were on the roof, he unclipped his rifle and brought it to his shoulder. He paused for a second.

 

Staring dumbfounded before him was a man inside the penthouse, just behind a pane of glass. Morgan knew his expression well, it was the same he had seen time and again on countless soldiers, terrorists and dissidents faces. One three-round burst shattered the glass and sent the man crumpling to the floor.

Morgan moved forward as he felt Haver tap him on the shoulder, cautiously the two men fanned out across the upper deck of the building. A stout report of a shotgun was heard as Haver found the second guard on the roof. Morgan keyed his throat mic, “Rider one-three, two tangos down.”

 

Looking back, the rest of the Marines had landed on the roof, The CH-53’s crew chief disconnected the rope and immediately the helicopter was gone. Fick motioned for the team to split off into two groups, Haver and Hernandez quietly entered through the shattered glass windows, while Fick, Morgan and Kyle made their way down the outside stairs to a lower balcony. Without the roar of the Helicopters rotor blades, Morgan could hear the sounds of chaos. From far below was screams of the clubs patrons as they fled the violence Adams and Zhao were unleashing inside, while in the penthouse before them, Troy’s bodyguards were hastily preparing for a hostile force to be coming up the elevator any minute, in the confusion missing the sound of the heliborne assault taking place above their heads. Morgan took up a shooting position and found his targets, while Fick and Kyle did as well. He had a perfect vantage point as he saw Hernandez dispatch a shocked guard silently with a garrot allowing himself and Haver to take up their own shooting positions in the room. The Marines now had coverage or had cleared every room of the Penthouse besides the dining room.

 

There was a collective breath. “Execute” Fick ordered.

 

Morgans first burst was into the back of one of the guards defending the hallway, before the man had collapsed, he moved the rifle to the man closest to him. Within seconds the dozen guards who had taken cover laid dead or dying without getting a shot off in retaliation. Morgan dropped his empty magazine, replacing it quickly.

 

Without saying a word, Kyle stacked up on the door breach the room, As Hernandez made his way down the stairs he yelled “Gun!” and dived to the ground, the walls around the room burst open as the familiar sound of an AK rifle filled the air. Morgan unclipped a flashbang from his webbing, pulled the pin and threw it into the open doorway.

 

With a muted thud it went off, shattering the remaining glass in the room.

 

More erratic gunfire tore the drywall of the penthouse asunder, shattering glass bottles in the wet bar and destroying granite furnishings in the kitchen.

“Fuck! I’m hit!” yelled Kyle. Hernandez quickly rushed forward and pulled the Sergeant out of the room onto the balcony to administer first aid.

 

Within a second the gunfire stopped as their assailants ran out of ammo.

 

Fick nodded to Haver and Morgan. Quickly kicking down the shattered door Morgan crossed the threshold to clear the room he turned to his right and was met with a guard within grabbing distance, the man was still visibly disoriented from the grenade. Morgan didn’t even bother to aim as he pointed the rifle at the man’s chest, three rounds of 5.56 sending him backwards and out the shattered window to the street below. He turned and stepped forward to his left to allow Haver to come in behind him.

 

Morgan started to pick off those closest to him, a man in a clean business suit raised a pistol. Three red blossoms appeared across his chest as Morgan cut him down. A guard turned in surprise, trying to reload his rifle he crumpled as Morgan pulled the trigger.

He felt thumps as Haver unloaded rounds across the heavy wood table into the targets on the other side. Taking a knee, Morgan turned his attention to the man wielding the AK rifle. The rounds flew high, starting at his sternum, the second round hit his throat, and forth below his right eye, killing him instantly. Morgan moved his rifle to a final target, rushing for the corner, a final burst cut them down with the rounds hitting them in the side.

 

Morgan exhaled.

“Tangos down.” Fick reported over the radio.

The next voice was Hernandez. “Berserker one-eight to Magus, be advised, Berserker two-six is going to be fine, his plate took the round, we’re entering the building now.”

Haver let out a chuckle “Nothing more than a mosquito bite then.”

Fick cracked a grin “yeah I guess so. Refreshing to take direct fire like that.”

 

A moment later, Hernadez entered the room followed by a limping Kyle.

Fick pointed to Haver and Kyle “You two, put Claymores outside of the elevator, and cover our exit.”

“Wilco” replied Haver. Kyle groaned slightly and followed, stepping over the growing blood pools.

 

Morgan stood up and took count, eleven people laid dead in the room, counting the guard who had taken the express way down to the ground level, that accounted for all but three people.

Looking to Fick, Morgan could see that it dawned on the Lieutenant first. He quickly keyed the mic. “All Servants, be advised, four possible tangos still active.”

Morgan held up his index, middle and ring finger “Three, one went out the window.”

Fick rolled his eyes, “Scratch that, three possible tangos”

“Negative Magus, we cleared all the rooms. Building is all-clear” Replied Haver.

Fick swore under his breath. “Check again!” He hissed.

Hernandez turned around to face the officer “Sir, there isn’t many places to hide, if they were here, we’d have seen it.”

“Well let’s figure out who the hell we’re missing then. Get photos of everyone.” Fick said grimly.

 

Morgan let the rifle hang by its sling and pulled out a digital camera. Gingerly stepping over the bodies, he could see the man with the AK was the now-deceased Michael Troy. Hernandez walked up behind Morgan and glanced down at the corpse chuckling. “You really didn’t want to give him an open casket? Harsh.”

Morgan brushed off the comment and went back to the mundane inventory. Within moments they had found their missing person.

“Well shit, we got Morgan and seven of his lieutenants. Looks like Miss Lisa Park is the only one left.” Fick reported.

“Any chance she’s running late?” Asked Haver.

Fick hissed and kicked one of the dining room chairs in frustration. “Negative. If she was planning on attending, odds are she’s rabbited by now.” The Officer sighed. “Ok plan b, grab and hard drives or documents. Something in here might tell us where she went.” Fick ordered.

Dennings voice crackled over the radio.

“Well, whatever you’re going to do, make it quick, I hear Sirens, probably got a minute or two.”  

Zhao’s voice crackled over the radio next “Assassin One-One, moving towards the exit with Rider One-Four.

Hernandez left the room for a moment, returning with two black trash bags. Handing one to Morgan, the two Marines quickly started snatching phones, and wallets from the dead. Without pausing to turn the devices off the two shoved Laptops and paper files into their bags. Satisfied with their haul, Fick motioned them towards the door.

 

Morgan handed the bag off to Kyle and gently opened the Staircase door. While the Screaming died down, the sounds of automatic fire could be heard as Adams and Zhao made their way towards the garage below the building.

 

Nodding to the rest of the Marines, they began their way down towards the exit.

***

Dennings tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. He didn’t mind not being in the firefights unlike his teammates. Not every Basilisk Marine was selected for their fighting prowess. And while Dennings could hold his own in a fight, that alone was not why the Old Man had him assigned. His specialty had always been escaping and evasion, which often lent his skills to acting as a getaway driver for the smaller special tasks teams of Basilisk.

 

This mission had been like many others. Even through the thick concrete ceiling and walls, he could hear the music thumping from the club above, which was quickly cutoff by a dull bang, followed by confused and terrified screaming as people rushed the doors. To save time later, Dennings took it upon himself to dispatch the few guards in the garage and open the gates for a swift exit before returning to the rented panel van.

Within minutes of him reporting the sound of sirens, he watched the first police cruiser bolt past the garage entrance. He eyed his watch. He frowned.

 

A loud bang was heard as a metal door on the opposite side of the Garage was shot open, quickly, five heavily armed men in uniforms, followed by two in suits rushed through the doors, returning fire to unseen attackers above.

Dennings cranked the ignition and drove towards the men, one of the uniformed men yanked the side door open and threw a black sack into the back before limping his way in. Soon another man followed tossing the bag he carried. Quickly the six of them had crowded into the back while the seventh climbed into the passenger’s seat. He pointed towards the exit. “Drive” he ordered.

“Aye aye, Lieutenant.” Dennings replied, the vans tired squealed in protest as it lumbered towards the exit. On the main street, The Anchorhead Police had started to make a perimeter, but still had left an entire sidewalk open. Honking his horn, the van jumped the curb and shot passed the retreating police. There was a collective groan from the back.

“Hey, I got shot you know!” whined Kyle.

“Yeah, so did I, your point?” Zhao shot back.

“Please, it was a graze.” Hernandez quipped.

“Yeah, that cut through my armor!” Zhao replied.

Hernandez laughed “You all are the biggest babies I’ve ever met!” he said in faux disbelief.

 

Fick shook his head, chuckling to himself. Taking a second to regain his composure he keyed the radio.

“Magus has linked up with Assassin, we’re Oscar mike.”