A block away, a large shipping container like portable structure sat in a half empty parking slot, all color of law enforcement buzzed in and out, much like angry bees protecting their hive. In the middle of the storm though, there was calm. Inside the structure sat six men and women, all staring intently at multiple monitors. They analyzed, predicted, and relayed information. They were the ones with the bigger picture, and their job was to give everyone else a overarching view of the situation. One among them was also charged with making life changing decisions. And after a brief period of calm observance, the orders came. "Get Alfa and Bravo to make a hole and stay safe, see if Alfa can find a clear LZ for medical transport, have the transport stand by at the edge of the cordon. Prep gunships for offensive deployment, and get Foxtrot on the ground, see if they can clear an LZ for Alfa and keep tabs on the suspect. Give Foxtrot command priority over Echo and Delta."
Orders were relayed, gunships were prepped. There was one thing left to do. She needed permission for drastic action. "HQ, this is Platoon D Command Post. We are at risk of losing the subject. We can take a defensive stance and extract out forces with minimal damage to both civilians and our men, or take the offensive and attempt to apprehend. Either way I am going to need permission to use close air support via gunships."
Bank on scene, Tess got the news she had been waiting for. "CP to Foxtrot, prep for drop. You are to take command of Delta and Echo to secure a landing zone for Alfa's extraction, find Charlie, and attempt to apprehend the suspect." She punched the air in joy. "Foxtrot received CP, we're on it." Tess made her way up to the cockpit, switching channels as she did. "Take us down, drop us on the fourty sixth floor south landing pad." She saw the helmeted head nod. "Got it. Good luck down there."
Bines was looking up at her expectantly, as if waiting for her to single handedly complete all of the objectives. Instead, she pointed at the rifle in his arms. "Get rid of that thing, we're going to get nice and cozy with these jerks."
The landing pad was relatively empty, most of the occupants of the building were either shut inside or shooting at the abundance of moving targets four floors below. As per her orders, both Delta and Echo had managed to detach from their overwatch positions and meet her there. The gray suited warriors faced the interior of the building, rifles ready. They had heard the bloodshed happening, and were not keen on turning their backs to it. The second Bines and Tesla joined formation with them, they started moving. All parties had already been filled in on the plan. It was to be quick and hopefully painless. With Alfa pinned in the stairwell with two men down, they could not be relied upon to fight their way out. Bravo was armed to the teeth and ready, but the brunt of the attack seemed to be on them.
And through all that, no one had eyes on the man in the hovercraft.
They arrived at their positions, her and Bines were at the railing, looking down on the ruined park four stories below. Right under their feet, armed men and women rushed around, firing sporadically in many directions. The crashed hovercraft sat a few yards away, behind a stand of trees, smoking. All the dead she saw were gang members or armed civilians, Alfa must have taken the body with them. " Fox One, this is Fox Three, we're in position. Waiting on you." A voice panted over the radio. They'd been faster than she had anticipated. She and Bines clipped carabiners to the railing, tested the coiled line at their feet, and waited. "Fox Three, on my mark." She motioned to her partner, and they sat on the railing, legs dangling over the four story drop.
Grabbing the static line in her left gauntlet, she pivoted to her boots were braced against the railing, her weight supported by the anchor that was a concrete pillar, Bines did likewise. Okay, deep breath. "Three.... two.... one.... Mark!" Below, the steel doors to an elevator blew open, spewing metal fragments across the courtyard. Four metal giants burst through the debris. Firing as they moved to cover, behind a planter.
At the same time, Tess coiled up, then pushed away from the railing. Her right hand gripped the static line behind her back, while her left gripped it infront of her. It sped through her right hand, zipping through the descender, and through the left. Her stomach dropped, blood pumped and adrenaline surged as the world sped by in a dizzying array of colors. It was moments like this that she lived for. But then it abruptly ended, she pulled the line behind her gradually up to the front of her body, the descender heated and her descent slowed just in time as he boots pounded on the ground. Bines was seconds behind.
Hell was about to break open, and its harbinger, a grinning bolt of armored lightening.