Looking down into the darkness, Captain Hanlon could barely make out the specks which, until recently, had been the crack troops who had volunteered for this mission. When they all landed, they would return to that form once again, but until then, they were all just minute black dots on a black backdrop. The altimeter beeped once more, indicating 2000 feet, and Hanlon shifted slightly and steered himself toward the landing zone.
His feet hit the ground and the parachute blew clear. He glanced around and saw several troopers checking themselves over. Off in the distance, he could barely make out the glow of the locator on one of the packages of explosives. He flicked the switch on his communicator to [OVERRIDE SILENCE], in case some of the crew had accidentally put their comms on mute.
"We're here. You can probably see where the gifts landed from where you are. I want everyone here within five minutes and all the gear accounted for." A chorus of "Aye sir"s returned, and as he walked over to an elongated black-shrouded bundle, he recognized it as a package of 3 Stinger SAMs.
Captain Hanlon sliced the package open and tested the feel of one of the weapons. The Stingers, unlike the LAW rockets, were a "Just In Case" addition to the team's arsenal. Just In Case the Purples decided they wanted to send search copters after them, or something like that.
When troops were organized, and weapons allotted, and subgroups designated (there would be four people in each group), the team began the short walk to the city line. They would be using a concealed path through the shrubbery, rather than using the main road. This would also allow them to capture a (hopefully important) building from behind to use as a temporary HQ.
After a short while, the lights of Viedma became visible in the darkening distance, and Hanlon stopped the team. "We need a final weapons and systems check now. As far as we know, they're waiting for us as soon as we cross the city line. That's how we need to act, like they're waiting for us behind every corner. They can do things that we're not even sure about. We can see in the dark, and we can shoot at 300 yards, and we can blow things up, but we can also be killed."
One of the team members asked, "What happens if one of my group gets killed?"
Hanlon's face clouded. It was difficult answering these questions. He took a deep breath, and said, "Keep going. We need to be able to secure checkpoints as fast as possible, but we don't want to lose people."
The troops checked over their M4A1 carbines, then tested the infrared laser sighting systems. Those with heavier weaponry, such as the Stingers and the LAW rockets, checked the launch systems. Everything seemed to work. Hanlon decided to address the troops one last time.
"One of our first objectives should be to keep them from notifying anyone else that we're here, and bringing in support. Early recon indicates that Viedma's a major communication centre. Therefore, if you see something that looks like communications equipment..." He held up a plastic explosive package. "That's what these are for."
At the city line, the 3 groups split up with orders to find the command hub and report back, while doing damage and not being found along the way. Hanlon flicked a switch on a small box tacked onto his VESUR, and 11 small green indicators flashed into life in his peripheral vision. Issuing more commands, the scene around him lit up into a bright monochrome cityscape, and a small reticule began following his line of vision. As well, an area in the lower left corner displayed the distance to the target, along with mapping coordinates. This system eliminated the guesswork and calculations associated with determining ballistics for sniper shots and the like.
Captain Hanlon's team proceeded into the city, and the decision was made to capture an official-looking building. The team members approached the building quietly from the sides, and a muffled shot indicated that the spoungin gatekeeper had been neutralized. Sensing danger, Hanlon gestured to his counterpart on the other side of the doorway, and they both pulled back. 5 seconds later, 2 Luved Ones burst through the door and out into the street.
Hoping they couldn't hear him, he said into the comm, "Aim for the face! Their weaknesses are in the eyes and mouth!" He barely managed to pick up a slight nod before a Luved One came rushing at him. He opened fire with his M4, sidestepped, and as the thing barrelled past him, it fell to the ground.
Checking around to see that all of his group were still with him, he slowly rounded the corner and came to the door of the building. A sign above the door read [translation on] "Argentina Post Telephone Telegraph - Viedma" [translation off]. This just might be what we're looking for, Hanlon thought. Probing ahead with his mind, he discovered one lifesign just inside the door.
"They're waiting for us," he whispered. "And it doesn't feel quite natural. It's probably a Lyran." They're waiting for us to think that we've gained entrance, then attack. He ordered everyone else back, then molded a small amount of plastic explosive around the door handle. As he retreated slightly, he felt whatever it was inside move back as well.
Hanlon formed a small ball of light out of the air, and guiding it towards the door handle, ignited the explosive with it. The door handle, and any locks that may have accompanied it, blew off into shrapnel. One of the team members felt a chill run down his back. He glanced around, and noticed a blur of movement in an upper window of one of the towers across from the PTT.
It's the spoungin sniper who was supposed to cover the door. The blast woke him up! Grabbing Hanlon's arm, he pointed towards the window just as a burst of automatic weapons fire flew past them and smashed through a ground floor window behind them. Hanlon remained covering the door while two of the team members opened fire on the spoungin. It fell out of the window and made a sickening splut on the pavement.
Advising the rest of the group to stay back, Hanlon concentrated. A large dumpster hesitated once, then lifted off and sailed toward the still-closed door and the Lyran behind it.
TBC...