Within 40 minutes of leaving the Zaire Liberation Force artillery site, the squad of Jack Rourke, Marcus Creed, and Amos Walker found themselves flying across the border into Angola. Rourke watched the landscape from the window as the chopper passed numerous scorched earth sites, remaining silent at the sight.
"Baseplate, this is Big Bird 2-1. ETA 10 minutes."
- - -
10 minutes prior to the squads expected entry into Angolan airspace, a convoy with numerous jeeps full of soldiers entered the AFRICOM base. Soon, the jeeps within the convoy would begin splitting up and stopping at different parts of the base, until the final one stopped at the command center. Sergeant David Mercer got out of his jeep and grabbed the duffel bag full of his belongings in his left hand while carrying his standard issue M4A1 by the handrail with his right arm.
Lieutenant Robert Akers followed behind with his own gear. He dressed for the weather with a muscle shirt and cargo pants. The Lieutenant stood above most operatives at a staggering 6'4".
10 minutes later, the helicopter featuring Rourke, Creed and Walker touched down on a helipad. David's bandanna blew in the wind as he passed by the helipad, in which the helicopter had just landed.
Rourke got off the chopper and slung his M16A3 on his right shoulder. He looked to this left as he felt his other shoulder slightly seize up from his gunshot wound. Despite the lingering burning sensation, he decided to join the rest of the squad to the Command center for debrief.
Merrick stood before the glass window that overlooked the entire AFRICOM base, watching as the harsh dry land was drenched in the storm. Not a bad time to have a quick smoke. He drew his lighter and lit his cigarette.
---
Lieutenant Akers was the first to enter the headquarters, being greeted by JSOC and Marine Corps alike as he walked through the corridors. In one room, a USMC soldier was being treated by a doctor while another made coffee in his quarters. Akers was followed by the rest of the JSOC, including Mercer and the helicopter crew.
Upon reaching the upper level, Akers was quickly checked by a specialist before entering the main command room where Major Thomas Merrick awaited.
Two more operatives were here - Dmitry Berkhoff - A big burly man with a thick Russian accent - And Mitchell Pierce - A lean and athletic englishman with a helmet to cover his face.
Rourke too was halted by a check. He placed his M6A3 in locker outside of the Command center and opened the door, standing by the row of seats in front of Merrick's projector screen. Rourke too was halted by a check. He placed his M6A3 in a locker outside of the room and opened the door, standing by the row of seats in front of Merrick's projector screen.
Rourke was followed in by the rest of the team, including Creed who quickly found a spot to listen attentively in the front.
A JSOC Lieutenant stepped forward from the side wall, sleeves rolled, rifle slung tight across his chest. His voice cut through the low chatter abruptly. "Alright, listen up, we need Major Merrick speaking -- So cut the chatter and lets get everyone sitting, please, thank you, thank you..."
David was one of the last to enter the room, taking his seat at the last row of chairs as Merrick was about to begin his debrief.
Dmitry stood at the doorway, his rifle slung to his side, his right hand holding the left in its palm, he was attentively listening to the briefing.
Pierce too, he remained silent, but he sat in the last free chair, which happened to be next to Mercer and Rourke, he listened to the debriefing also.
"Looks like everyone's here... we'll start then." Merrick picked up his cigarette dish and put his cigar out.
The projector screen flashed to a satellite image of what seemingly looked like a scorched patch of earth, with jeeps that had been blackened to ashes and numerous dead bodies laying around it, amidst an open field. Next to the satellite image, there were numerous blurry images of what seemed to be a gunfight in motion.
"Sir, what are we looking at?" Akers paid close attention to the projector, only making out bits and pieces of Commissionner Fremont's kidnapping as blurry imagery was the only thing left.
Merrick explained the situation; From Fremont's embassy escort, to the convoy ambush, to the UN Peacekeeping response, and all the bloodshed inbetween.
"As of now, the only evidence of this incident is the satellite image we've acquired of the aftermath, and the bodycam footage of Sergeant Callum Rowe, who died at the site as well."
Merrick continued talking, as some operatives looked around, "Numerous UN soldiers were killed in action, but the EU Commmissioner is yet to be found."
"I'm well aware of the ZLF's perceived threat level, but Rourke, Walker and I took down an entire artillery base. Are we sure this threat is real?" Creed challenged Merrick with a fact.
"I'll address that, Creed."
Merrick picked up the projector's remote and transitioned to the next slide. It showed the entirety of Zaire, which had been mapped out and designated into separate zones with different colors.
Creed watched the projector change slides attentively, "What do the colors represent?"
Merrick proceeded to explain:
"This is a map drawn out by numerous collective AFRICOM intelligence divisions throughout Angola and Zaire. Shortly after the Commisioner's disappearance, ZLF hostilities has surged in Zaire, specifically in the Southwest province and the Zaire Basin. We've received several reports of militia and civilian massacres alike, in the ZLF's effort to establish a stronger foothold in those regions. The militia has been driven out of the basin and are now surrounded in the Southwest. A separate militia division remains isolated in the North, and are currently in hiding from the ZLF."
Dmitry, one of the operatives, soon spoke up, "The ZLF doesn't present enough of a threat for you to be drawing up these plans or sending out this huge of a response… what are you playing at Major?"
"They're basic grunts in my eyes, they walk around with minimal gear.....Ak-47's....hell they even got their kids runnin' around with guns too. But I dont see where this threat comes in." Akers backed up Dmitry with his own claims about the ZLF - They were right about the terrorists currently, but did not know that they were now backed by a PMC.
Merrick nodded, "Your observations aren't wrong. But its what we don't see that'll get us killed. What we see before us and what they've accomplished has no logical connection as of what intelligence we've gathered on them."
Merrick then flashed back to the first slide.
"During the incident, there were only Allied casualties. No ZLF insurgents were seen dead on site. They were precise enough to kill everyone but leave a single man alive."
The operatives all looked around in disbelief. David Mercer adjusted himself on his seat and spoke - The uncertainty in his voice was palpable, "Then we got a serious threat on our hands."
Rourke nodded, "These men are bound to no conventions. Unlike the rest of us, they're free to fight for whatever cause they choose to believe in..."
Suddenly, the JSOC Lieutenant who ordered everyone to sit earlier began moving frantically in the corner, getting activity in his radio, "The department of defense?! Say again, over! Are you saying he's? SHIT! Come again, Sergeant! Sergeant!?"
"Say again?" Merrick focused on what he was hearing over the radio, hearing numerous panicked voices and frantic movement over the chatter.
"What's going on, sir?" Lieutenant Akers turned to the side of the room where the Lieutenant and Merrick were listening to the radio.
Merrick remained silent for a moment. What had previously been an international matter had now turned into a matter of national security as well, for the Americans and perhaps a warning to all other nations.
Merrick took a deep breath, and turned to the operatives.
"We have just received a report... the US' Deputy Secretary of Defense has been kidnapped while on a visit to the AFRICOM headquarters in the Northern region of Zaire."