Warhounds: Mercenaries of War

Her eyes stared at the cloud above her, nonchalantly with expression of calmness and serenades. A flock of birds flew past her view, soaring gracefully while the roar of jet engine sound can be heard from the distance. She tried to raise her hand up, as if trying to grasp the free skies and the shadow casted by her hand covers her face. “Elle, are you there?” a female voice called her on the radio. She regains back her sense and got up. Wind blowing on her face as she sat on top of the container while the truck is moving down the highway. She took the Peltor Comtac headseat and wore it over her head. “Yes I am here,” She responded while looking at her partner at the other trucks. “Captain Sanchez told me that you shouldn’t slack off like that.” Her friend reminds her. “I know Kuzya, I was just taking a quick 5 minute Zees earlier.” She replies. She took her M14 rifle and stood on the container whilst the vehicle is moving. She’s already used to escorting the convoy mission that the shuddering and wind blowing on her didn’t bother her. She then walked towards the end of the container before sitting at the corner. She occasionally scans the horizon with the telescopic sight attached to the rifle and tried to spot anything out of the ordinary. “Don’t fall off, Elle. The last thing we need is to pick up your remains.” Kuzya told her, advising her to be more careful. “I won’t fall, Kuzya. I won’t.” She stressed to her. “This Scorching heat is killing me… I’m sweating like crazy.” One of the girls replied, seen on the other side of the truck standing whilst fanning her face. “Suck it up Chiara, it’s not like it’s our fault that the client hired us for convoy protection in the middle of Syria.” Another girl replied, with slight Russian accent in her tone. “Easy for you to say it, Kuzya… since you’re privileged enough to seat with the driver in an air-conditioned truck.” Gabriella told her partner, which is inside the truck she’s sitting now. Three container trucks escorted by fully armed US Army humvee vehicles on the highway while reverberation of machinegun fire and artillery explosions was heard from the distance echoing through their ears despite it was faintly masked by the truck’s engine sound. From what they were told last night, the convoy was carrying supply for humanitarian aid, or so what they were briefed. They passed several destroyed vehicles and tanks with steady road speed. “Are we there yet?” Chiara asked. “We’re near, just be patient Chiara.” Sanchez told her. The city later comes into their view at the horizon. Half torn apart with several fraction of the city are in flames, charred wrecks and human remains at the roadside serves as a remainder for Gabriella that the country’s war is violent and unforgiving. Her expression remains silent, trying to pay no attention to what she has seen. “Benghazi…” She whispered softly, looking at the signboard that leads to their destination. Coming in closer to the city, the presence of US Army increases with armored vehicle convoys parked on the side of the road and their personnel disembarked outside. Their ride soon ends when the container trucks stopped abruptly. “Why are we stopping?” Sanchez radioed in. “This is Elle; I’m seeing the American tank unit just ahead of us. They seem to halt their advance as well.” Gabriella reported. She spots a mine clearing vehicle at the front, the reason why the road is jammed now. “Captain, it seems they are trying to clear mines up ahead.” She reports to Sanchez. “Understood. Looks like you’ll have to keep your eyes open now for any threat.” He advised. “Roger that, Signore.” She responds, standing and looking at the horizon from the top of the container. “Check it out, a chick with guns!” a manly voice coming from the vehicle next to them caught Gabriella’s attention. An armored Humvee convoy was parked next to them, also halted by the jam up ahead. “What’s up girl? How’s the weather up there?” said one of the soldiers that manned the .50cal machinegun. Gabriella responds briefly by giving them a middle finger. The soldiers responded with laughter and chatters. “Looks like she has some feisty attitude, too bad Brad she ain’t your type” Another soldier inside the armored vehicle said to his friend while they laugh nonchalantly. “Americans… I swear…” She whispered, trying to ignore them. Her attention is shifted towards the road up ahead. Now the mine-clearing vehicle finished their duty, followed by the barriers removed from the road. Once the road is clear, one by one the vehicles started their engine and moved up ahead and their container truck convoy moved as well. Their trucks travelled 5 kilometer further until they reached their destination; a retreat camp established by the United Nation. Refugees are still flooding the main entry, forcing the trucks to travel with crawling speed. 30 minutes later, their trucks managed to enter the camp and parked safely. Gabriella and the rest disembarked out from the vehicles with their guns hung on their chest. “So what now?” Chiara asked their commander while Chris stood next to her. “You guys stay here, except for Elle.” He said to them, looking at Gabriella. “Gabriella and I will meet the commanders to settle our payment.” He adds, noticing that Gabriella also complies with his words. “Alright Captain.” Chiara replies with a soft grin. “Speaking of which, where’s Sacha?” “Toilet break…. or what she said earlier.” Chiara replies. Her phone suddenly rang. She opened the zip of her pouch and took it from her chest pouch rig. She looked at the displayed number and realized that is Sacha that called her. “Kuzya, what is it?” Sacha’s faint voice can be heard in the speaker of Chiara’s phone. “What do you mean you’re lost? Can’t you see the large truck parked on the field here?” Chiara replied, catching Gabriella and Sanchez’s attention. “Alright, alright…. I’ll try to find you… hoping you don’t wander too far.” “Okay, both of you find Sacha now.” “Yes sir.” Both Chiara and Chris responded. They later walked out of the scene, walking towards the location where they last saw Sacha walking. This left Gabriella with her captain. As the containers now are opened and medical staff began to unload the cargo out, Gabriella looked at the other side where refugees are taking their ration meal given by the United Nation workers. “Come on Elle, let’s go” Her captain said to her, moving towards the headquarter camp. She followed him from behind, slinging her M14 rifle on the back. The later arrived at the front entrance, guarded by 2 Soldiers fully geared and wearing light blue UN helmet. After a brief document inspection by the military personnel, they were admitted inside; where the UN Base commanding officer was waiting for them. “You must be Captain Sanchez, right?” the commander said to him, offering his hand for a handshake. “That’s right.” Sanchez replied while shaking his hand. “Thanks for accepting our offer. As you can see, we lack the manpower to dispatch personnel to escort our own convoy, added with words from the street that these rebels deliberately target the UN personnel. ” The commander thanked him, explaining the situation. “Now, I would like to hire you guys for another job.” As expected Sanchez thought talked while still maintaining his smirk. “Same mission template?” Sanchez inquired, asking whether it will be another escort mission. “No. Different mission.” The officer told him. “Come, follow me.” The officer invited him to his private office room. Sanchez followed him without further asking him question. Once he entered the room, the door was shut and locked, leaving only him and the UN officer inside the room. “I want to hire your team for an assassination missions.” The officer briefly and succinctly told him, looking at Sanchez’s face with serious expression. “Assassination? You know we can’t ac-“ “I know your company’s background, Captain Sanchez. No need for the formality.” He said to him. “If it wasn’t for your Mercenary company’s background, I wouldn’t even want to hire your team in the first place. Since United Nation has no jurisdiction to apprehend him and the American JSOC is anything but useful at this moment, you’re our only answer for this problem.” He continues. “Alright… I’m listening” after a couple of thought, Sanchez agreed on his term. The officer pulled a green dossier out from his table drawer and presented it to Sanchez. Sanchez opened the dossier, revealing document regarding their target; a picture of influential leader in Benghazi. “Abu Hamid Ibnu Al-Nawfal; AKA Khalifa Al-Ansari…. currently the most powerful warlord in this shithole city.” The officer briefed him with a clear tone of disgust and abhorrence. “He’s the reason all this shitshow happened and it’s because of them I have to take command of this base.” He said to Sanchez with utter annoyance. “We can do that, but the payment-“ “Don’t worry about that. Your previous contract has already being paid. If you accept this mission, we’ll pay your team another extra 2 Million dollars.” He presented Sanchez with a lucrative offer. “You don’t have to report this one to me; once you’re done with the job you can get the heck out of this godforsaken shithole country.” The commander expressed to him with a clear Louisianan accent. “Alright… I’ll accept that offer.” He replied, reluctant yet at the same time was drawn into the job for some bonus cash. “I’ll take this dossier with me if you would not mind.” “Please take it; the lesser thing I need to worry about the better it is for me.” The commander told him, not minding Sanchez taking the document with him. He left the room with another task to accomplish. The UN base commander was right about their company. The “Warhound” military contractor was just a cover-up of their secret function that involves this kind of operation. He already know the base commander would ask for another favor, but he didn’t expect such mission as now he’s completely ill-equipped to do the job, but it was more than enough for a four-men fireteam to do accomplish it, and he already have an idea on how to achieve it. … “Did you all read the dossier?” “Yes Signore.” Gabriella replied, handing it to Sanchez’s hand. “We’ve studied the target’s location, his habit, and everything else that we could gather up in short notice using my device” she said to him, pointing on the extra information she got in her laptop. “Good. This time…” Sanchez took the plastic chair behind him and sat on it before continuing his sentence “I want you girls to accomplish this mission without my assistance.” “Sir?” Chris questioned his order. “Looks like it’s time for you guys to mature and handle your own operation. This will be the testament of your strength.” He briefly explains to them. “Besides, it’s already 3 years since your basic training is finished and nothing is better for advance training other than a real life situation like right now.” All four of them looked at Sanchez, hesitant and doubtful. They felt the uncertainty that if they fail this mission, a lot more people will be killed, including themselves. But their other conscience told them that what Sanchez has said to them make sense; it’s time for them to up their ante and start their official secret mission, since this is their first time receiving such job after 3 years. “So girls, how do you plan to accomplish this mission?” Sanchez asked them, looking at them to see if they can think for themselves. “How about we just snipe this fuckface from safe distance?” Sacha suggested, with vulgarity stressing her hatred to the assassination target. “That’s actually a good idea, Kuzya.” Chiara retorted, feeling that Sacha’s idea has its merit. Chris nods her head of Sacha’s suggestion. “Sniping the target is a good idea, since there are several area that we can pick as a sniper site to kill this guy.” Gabriella also agrees. “Besides, you did carry your sniper rifle, right?” Gabriella asked Chris. “Yes.” She tersely replied. “Alright if everything is done and settled, we’ll move out by 10” Sanchez told them, satisfied with their plan. ….. 12 hours after they discussed the operation, they already arrived at the location that they deem suitable to execute a long range shot without the enemy able to find them in short notice. Their sniper site is an abandoned high rise house that was damaged from artillery fire. Holes from artillery shells that punctured the room’s wall made it suitable for them to set up their sniper rifle without exposing themselves too far. The building they chosen were opposite to the mansion, giving them a direct line of sight from their position to the target. Chris finished setting up her FR-F2 on the large table overlooking the hole. The bipod is deployed and the butt stock rested on the table surface. Its bolt was left wide open; exposing the rifle’s firing chamber and the bolt action mechanism. Chris on the other hand is still trying to write the range reference in her notebook, a range reference she took from Gabriella’s distance calculation earlier. Gabriella’s M14 rifle on the other hand was placed on the war near the windows, just in case if Chris needs a second shooter. Both Chiara and Sacha weren’t present in the room, as they positioned themselves at the first floor to guard the place. “What time is it right now?” Chris asked Gabriella. “1850 hours, approximately 30 minutes before our target arrives.” Gabriella told her, looking at the ballistic charts while occasionally looking at the target via the use of a Spotting binocular she set on a tripod facing the window. “According to the time schedule, the target will be arriving at his mansion to dine with his family at 1900 hours every day.” “Every day?” Chris asked to confirm what Gabriella has said to her. Gabriella nods her head as a reply. “Either this guy is stupid enough, or he couldn’t care less about his own life….” “Then again, this bastard claims himself as the most notorious warlord in this country.” Elle added, talking about their target in mocking tone. “If he has the balls to claim such title, he might probably felt like an invisible deity when he’s just another dickhead of a ruler.” The scene went silent afterward for five minutes until Gabriella spots something in her binocular. “Elle…” Chris calls her. “Yeah?” “Do you feel nervous?” “No. Why?” “This is our first official covert mission. 3 years has prepared us for this. But those three years are mostly petty jobs like escort missions. This is my first time doing such operation.” Chris expressed her thought “And frankly speaking, this will be my first attempt to take someone’s life.” “Yeah Chris, me too.” Gabriella agreed what Chris has confessed to her, looking at her before looking back on her spotting scope. “Heads up, Deuce…” Gabriella informs Chris while adjusting the binocular zoom “Looks like our target is here.” She said, spotting the car that transporting their target arriving at the mansion. Chris then position herself on the table, lying down flat on her belly and resting her rifle butt stock on her shoulder. She opened the telescopic lens cover and viewed the target under her crosshair. She saw 3 cars; 2 are well armed jeep and the other one was a 4x4 truck. Their person of interest is located inside the 4x4 truck and the vehicles finally came into complete stop at the mansion’s front gate. “Alright, we’re in business…” Gabriella notifies her. Knowing what Gabriella meant to her, Chris took the detachable box magazine of her Sniper rifle and inserting it into the FR-F2’s magwell. 10 rounds of 7.62x51mm MK 316 MOD 0 round is now loaded into the rifle and Chris pushed the bolt forward and down, and the rifle is now loaded. She quickly disengaged the fire safety and her finger is rested on the trigger guard, maintaining her trigger discipline. Right now, she’s waiting for Gabriella’s signal. “Deuce, see anything?” “Hmm…” Chris scanned the target and its surrounding through her sniperscope. “Couple of skinnies and Arabic personnel at the main gate… technicals and heavy weapon emplacement as well. Fifty-cal dushka and a couple of KPV mostly…. And there’s a sixty mortars too.” “Noted, I’m seeing the same thing as well.” Elle replied, confirming what Chris has seen in her scope. “Focus on our main target, check parallax and mils…” She told Chris. Chris then adjusted the parallax knob of the Scrome J8 telescopic sight until she has the sharpest image quality in her crosshair. She then measured the target’s height through the scope reticle mil-dot measuring and finally reporting it back to Gabriella. “One point six three Mils.” Chris said to her monotonously. Gabriella checks her spotting scope and referring to her ballistic notes to confirm Chris’s information. She confirms the target in her mil-dot measurement is similar to what Chris has told her earlier. “Alright, check level… hold over, two point three.” Elle notifies Chris the wind speed while telling her to get ready to engage the target. “Wait for him to reach the main door.” “Et toi, eternel, ne t'éloigne pas…” Chris whispered softly, breathing as slow as she can; now resting her trigger finger on the trigger. “Toi qui es ma force…” she whispers again quietly while keeping the main target in her bullseye. All the adjustment was already completed; wind speed and direction, elevation, and humidity. Their target, the warlord that they are eagerly trying to kill, is now reaching the first step of his house, almost reaching the main door. Seconds felt like eternity for both of them, as they patiently wait for the perfect moment. “Ready…” Chris announced, confirming that she’s locked on her target and ready to shoot. She grips her rifle’s pistol grip tightly, making sure that she doesn’t give the rifle a slacking. Everything has been calculated and now it’s just the matter of when Gabriella can give her the green light to shoot. “Right, point five.” Gabriella gives the order to shoot. “Viens en hâte à mon secours…” She whispered for the final time, now squeezing the trigger gently. When the trigger was completely pulled, a shot ringed out sending the bullet flying to the target. Within few seconds, the bullet impact their target; as observed by Gabriella through her spotting binocular, she saw the round impact the warlord’s head, splattering the door with his own blood. “Target down…” Gabriella reported, while Chris slowly pulls the bolt and then grabbing the hot brass on her hand. They remain motionless for half a minute to observe their enemy’s movement before satisfied that the enemy cannot locate where the shot came from. “Let’s get out of here.” Gabriella then folded her spotting binocular equipment and placed it in her backpack before grabbing her M14 rifle. Chris kept the spent casing on her pocket and standing up on the floor, taking her FR-F2 sniper rifle, slinging it on her back and switching to her SCAR Mk-17 rifle. They begin their pace by exiting the room and reaching for the staircase. The descended from fourth floor down to the ground level in five minutes. “Chiara?” Gabriella tried to call Chiara, but no response. But few seconds later, a whistling sound was heard from outside of the building. They recognize the whistling, a mark from Chiara calling for them. They quickly rushed to the road, where Chiara and Sacha were already waiting for them with their Toyota four wheel drive. “Now what?” Chiara questioned. “Now, for the final part. Meeting Signore Sanchez at Benina Airport.” Gabriella replied. “He’ll be waiting for us over there on our transport plane.” “25 minute ride, right?” Chiara then takes the driver seat and starts the ignition. “Let’s go, I’ll drive.” “Chiara, with your driving…. We’ll arrive there in 10 minutes, minus our soul.” Sacha joked; remembering that Chiara’s driving skill is as reckless like an intoxicated racecar driver. “Come on, let’s go. The longer we’re staying here, the shorter time for us to bug out of here.” Gabriella opened the front passenger door and decides to ride shotgun. The other followed, taking the backseat. They later egresses out from the area and drove to the main road. However their drive was halted by a roadblock. They weren’t expecting a roadblock in the area, but knowing that this was probably as a response from what they did 10 minutes ago. Fully armed militiamen with AK-47 and RPD machinegun was seen at the roadblock, forcefully trying to inspect and ransack the vehicles one by one. “Everyone, cover your face and remove your gear.” Gabriella advised them while she pulled out her sidearm; P229 handgun from her chest rig holster. She c****d the gun and placed it in between her thigh, covering it with her jacket. Chiara also did the same, pulling out her Kimber 1911 handgun, making sure that they are prepared for anything worse. She removed her plate carrier vest and handed it to Chris. Chiara did the same, handing her Mk18 rifle and Plate carrier vest to Sacha in an effort to blend as a regular tourist. Chris and Sacha placed their entire vests, gears, and some of their weapons at the back of the trunk, covering it with canvas while Chiara’s Mk18 Assault rifle is placed on Chris’s leg, hidden from outside view. Sacha’s M1014 shotgun is also kept in similar manner. Their vehicle moved inches by inches, trying to expect the roadblock while keeping their apprehension high. “You two keep yourself low, guys. Let us handle this.” Chiara said to Sacha and Chris, while shifting the gear. “Keep calm Chiara.” Gabriella told her. “I am.” She replied, resting her right hand on the steering wheel. Their car stopped next to the Militia personnel. The militia guy tapped the car’s window using his AK-47’s barrel muzzle. Chiara complied and rolled down her window, looking at the Arabian militia face to face. “You an American?” said the Militia in broken English, which resonates with thick African accent. “No Sir, we’re just tourist from Europe.” Chiara replies, with her thick Germanic English accent. The militia guy looked inside the car, looking at Gabriella, Chris, and Sacha’s face. They were fortunate enough that the militia guy didn’t even bother to look down, where they hide their weapon. “Alright, you can go now.” The Militia told Chiara, satisfied with what he had seen. “Thank you, mister.” Chiara replied, winking his right eyes before closing the window and drove off. “That was close.” Sacha commented, relieved that they escaped the scene unscathed. “Fortunately, who would want to doubt a couple of teenagers… especially us four.” “Yeah, we’re lucky that we aren’t those typical ‘assassin’ types of people.” Gabriella added. 15 minutes later, they arrived at Benina Airport; controlled by the US Army command at that point. Chiara presented their ID to the US soldier guarding the front gate. “So you’re the Warhound mercenary that I heard them talking about?” The US Soldier told her, looking at Chiara’s face. “Either what just happened today is because of you guys I don’t know but now it caused a lot of stirring in the city” he told them. Chris and Gabriella could only look at each other, knowing that it was their handing work. “Alright, you may enter now. Your boss is waiting for you at the tarmac.” The soldier told them while he handed back Chiara’s ID card. “Thanks.” Chiara took her ID and drove off passing quite a lot of parked army vehicles and countless numbers of erected tents. Their route to reach the tarmac was a little bit complicated due to the layout of the airport-turned-to-base but after few minutes of asking and detouring, they finally arrived at their destination. Their C-130 Hercules transport plane was in the middle of refueling process with its cargo bay opened wide. At the cargo bay, Sanchez was seen overseeing the loading process of crates and cargo, waiting for the final cargo; which is the car they ride. Gabriella, Sacha, and Chris got out from the vehicle first while Chiara is still on the driver seat. “Wegner, bring the car into the cargo bay slowly!” said one of the loading crew to Chiara, calling her by her surname. “Ja! Just a moment!” She shouted, outside from the windows, now shifting the gear and moving their transport vehicle slowly into the loading bay. “Good job on that mission guys. Well executed.” Sanchez praised his subordinate. “It wasn’t that hard Signore. Deuce managed to pull that shot easily.” Gabriella replied, flattering Chris’s marksmanship. “Our client expressed their gratitude to me earlier and because of that, our boss agreed to split that extra 2 million bucks to all of you.” Sanchez told them, while giving Gabriella a good pat on the head. Gabriella felt amused by Sanchez patting her head, but hearing that he praised them really made her think that the pat is a well deserved gift as well. “Now that’s settled, all four of you can take your nap in the plane while we RTB” Sanchez told them, now preparing to sort the final inspection before their plane took off. …. “Elle, wake up.” Sacha woke her up, shaking her couple of time until she finally responds. “Hmm?” she murmured, half asleep with her head feeling lightheaded. “We’ve arrived at our base.” Sacha told her. Gabriella sat on the plane floor, looking at the cargo door opened wide, as the sunshine enters the interior with blinding brightness. “Hey Sacha,” Gabriella calls her name. “Yes?” Sacha replies. “Want some coffee? i'm sure hell want a cup of coffee right now” “Sure, why not” To be continued.