World War III

by Heath Jannusch

  Bruno watched patiently, as the minutes passed. Waiting was his specialty. In his line of work, patience usually meant the difference between life and death. He didn’t care if Mason showed up in five minutes or five hours, just as long as he showed up. As a private contractor, Bruno was only paid if and when the target was successfully eliminated. He’d already missed one opportunity and had no intention of missing another. After all, he had a reputation to uphold.

  Bruno watched, as the Russians entered the house and began interrogating Lex. He was mildly curious in regards to their methods and wished he could see more clearly, but knew better than to relocate. Over an hour had passed, when he saw a set of headlights approaching from the west and felt a flicker of hope.

  The vehicle came to a stop in front of the house and three men and a woman disembarked. After knocking on the door with no response, they broke it down and entered, guns drawn and ready.

  “It’s him,” said Bruno, into the radio.

  “Wait for my command,” said Snake Eyes, watching from a distance.

  “The Russians are escaping,” said Bruno, watching as they climbed onto snowmobiles and drove off.

  “Let them go,” said Snake Eyes, “Mason is the target!”

  “Are you sure?” asked Bruno, hoping for a bonus kill.

  “Stay on target!” hissed Snake Eyes. When he saw Mason open the backdoor, he shouted, “Fire!”

  The still night exploded into a roar of thunder, as Lt. Gardner and his men opened fire.

  “Fool,” hissed Bruno, as Mason dove for cover, disappearing from his scope. He’d have had a clean shot if Snake Eyes hadn’t jumped the gun.

  “Kill them,” shouted Snake Eyes, into the radio. “Kill them all!”

  Mason swung the door shut, as bullets thudded into the wall around him. “Spread out!” he shouted, as he pulled Savannah close and shoved her to the floor.

  Ian dropped to his knees and crawled to the living room, peering out the window. “There’s dozens of them!”

  Cleo took a knee beside Mason and Savannah, and began firing into the night. “There’s too many!”

  “Take as many as you can with us,” shouted Mason, returning fire.

  Shiloh joined Ian at the front window and the two men began shooting at shadows moving in the dark, as soldiers circled the house. “We can’t hold them off forever,” he shouted, noticing the soldiers getting closer.

  “They’ve got grenades!” shouted Ian, shooting one of the soldiers, as he was about to throw a grenade through the front window.

  What seemed like hours were only minutes, as a barrage of gunfire turned the house into Swiss cheese. As suddenly as it started the firing stopped, and the night grew eerily quiet.

  “Come out with your hands up Mason!” shouted Snake Eyes, and we’ll let your family and friends go free. If not, we’ll blow the house down around you! You’ve got five seconds to decide!”

  “Maybe I should,” said Mason.

  “Don’t be a fool,” hissed Cleo. “You know damn well they’ll kill us all. And probably torture us to get ya to talk. Is that what you want?” she asked, glancing at Savannah, who sat shaking in the corner.

  “You’re right,” said Mason. “Go to hell!” he shouted into the night. “It’s better that we die together,” he added, pulling Savannah close.

  “Attack!” shouted Snake Eyes, and the night erupted once again. The soldiers advanced on the house and were about to unleash a bombardment of grenades, when Lt. Jon Sawyer and his company of Marines arrived out of nowhere and engaged them from behind.

  Caught between gunfire coming from the house and from the Marines, Snake Eyes and his men scrambled for cover behind their vehicles. Realizing the battle was lost, he ordered his men to attack the house one last time. “No matter what, the target must be eliminated!” he screamed into the radio, as he climbed into a black suburban and started the engine. Glancing in the rearview mirror as he sped away, he saw several of his men riddled with bullets, as they attempted a final assault on the house.

  After seeing Snake Eyes flee from the battle, Bruno quietly slipped away into the night. Although he wanted a payday, he knew there’d be other opportunities and could afford to wait.

  Lt. Gardner had no intention of abandoning his duty, despite the sudden departure of Snake Eyes. “Grenades!” he shouted to his men, pointing at Mason’s house. He’d been told that Michael Mason was an enemy of the State, a traitor and terrorist of the deadliest caliber. His orders were to kill the rouge agent, otherwise known as Condor, and retrieve the stolen Intel in his possession. But with his men outgunned and dropping like flies, it was painfully clear the mission was doomed. At the very least, he could kill the spy and complete half of his assignment.

  Lt. Gardner stepped out from behind a jeep, gripping a grenade in his hand. Stepping toward the house, he saw several of his men release their grenades, before being gunned down. Knowing these were the last seconds of his life, he watched the grenades rain down on the house. With the pin already pulled, the Lieutenant launched his grenade through the living room window.

  Shiloh saw the Lieutenant an instant too late. He raised his rifle and shot him twice through the heart, as the grenade smashed through the window.

  Ian ran for the grenade and kicked it down the basement stairs, an instant before it exploded in a thunderous boom. The room began to shake and the walls cracked, as other grenades exploded on the roof above.

  With most of the Special Forces soldiers dead or dying, the few remaining tried to flee. But Lt. Sawyer and his men were nothing if not thorough. They immediately gave pursuit, killing every last man.

  “We’ve got to stop Snake Eyes!” Mason shouted, as he pulled Savannah away from a crumbling wall and escorted her outside.

  “Who’s Snake Eyes?” asked Ian, as he and Shiloh scrambled from what was left of the house.

  “My old handler,” explained Mason. “If he gets away he’ll return, and with more men. Stay with Ian and Shiloh,” he added, holding Savannah’s chin and looking deep into her eyes. “I’ll be back. Come on Cleo! Cleo?”

  The last remaining snowmobile roared to life and Cleo sped off into the night, following the tracks left by the Russians and Lex.

  “Damn it!” Hissed Mason.

  “Go!” shouted Shiloh. “I’ll bring her back.”

  Mason nodded in appreciation. He ran for the Hummer parked out front and jumped inside. The tires screeched, as he pulled out of the driveway and chased after Snake Eyes. He had a pretty good idea where he was headed.

  “Stay with Ian,” Shiloh told Savannah, putting her hand in Ian’s. With his rifle slung around his shoulder, he turned and jumped over the neighbor’s fence. A large, brown and white Clydesdale was grazing in a small corral, but barely noticed Shiloh’s presence. He sprang onto the horse’s back and kicked it gently with his heels. The horse lifted his head and sprang into action. Ian swung open the fence, as Shiloh rode after Cleo, following her tracks in the snow.

  “Won’t he need a saddle or something?” asked Savannah.

  “He’ll be fine,” replied Ian, as Shiloh disappeared into the night.

  *******

  Snake Eyes crashed through the gates at the Clearview airport, where a jet sat fueled and waiting. He leapt from the car and sprinted for the jet, screaming, “Start the engines!”

  The pilot scrambled onboard and began firing up the engines, as two C.I.A. agents ran toward the black suburban. “What happened?” asked one of the agents.

  “It all went to shit!” Replied Snake, scurrying from the SUV.

  “Someone’s coming,” shouted the other agent, pointing at a black Hummer and withdrawing a machine gun from inside his coat.

  “Kill him!” Snake Eyes shouted over his shoulder, as he ran passed the two agents and boarded the plane. “Let’s go!” He ordered, pulling the door closed behind him.

  “But what about them?” The pilot asked, looking out the window at the two agents, who’d taken up defen
sive positions behind the suburban.

  “Leave them!” Shouted Snake Eyes, dropping into the co-pilot seat and pressing his gun to the pilot’s head. “Go!”

  The pilot put the jet into motion, as the Hummer pulled onto the runway.

  Mason drove straight for the suburban, where the two agents stood firing at him and smashed into it, rolling the SUV onto its side. Realizing he wasn’t going to stop, they dove from behind the vehicle at the last second.

  Mason jumped from the Hummer, as the agents climbed to their feet and reached for their guns. He shot both men in the head, before turning and firing at the jet, as it lined up on the tarmac.

  “Hurry!” screamed Snake Eyes. “Get us in the air!”

  The jet lurched forward, headed down the runway and away from Mason, as he stood there unloading his clip.

  Mason quickly climbed into the Hummer and pursued the jet down the tarmac, shooting as he gave chase. If he couldn’t stop it with bullets, he’d use the Hummer to smash into it. He was only ten yards away, when the wheels of the jet rose off the ground and the plane veered up into the sky.

  “Damn it!” hissed Mason, watching the jet disappear into the night.

  Snake Eyes stood up shaking and mumbled, “I’ll be in the back. Wake me when we’re almost there.” He slumped down into a leather chair at the back of the jet and breathed a sigh of relief. His hands trembled, as he poured a glass of whiskey. Condor had always been his most reliable and deadliest asset, but he hated this game of cat and mouse. Why couldn’t the man just die?

  The phone next to him began to beep. “Yes?”

  “He’s on the line for you,” said the pilot.

  Snake Eyes didn’t need clarification on who ‘he’ was. He knew it was Legion, calling to check on his progress. This was the second time he’d allowed Mason and the flash drive to slip through his fingers. Would he be given a third chance?

  “Hello, this is Snake Eyes,” he said, into the receiver.

  “Is it done?” asked a deep, raspy voice.

  “Not exactly,” said Snake Eyes, fidgeting with his glass of whiskey, “but now we know where he is and I can go back and get him.”

  “I’m beginning to doubt you’re the right man for the job,” grumbled Legion.

  “I can do it,” said Snake Eyes, “I just need more men.”

  “What happened to the Special Forces units Hamilton provided?”

  “We were ambushed,” explained Snake Eyes, “they’re all dead. We had bad Intel and weren’t aware of a company of Marines stationed in town.”

  “Yet I see you survived,” observed Legion.

  “I was barely able to get out in time.”

  “The next time you might as well stay and join your men. This is your last chance,” hissed Legion, “don’t fail me again.”

  “You can count on me,” said Snake Eyes.

  “I wish that were true,” said the raspy voice, followed by a click, as the line went dead.

  *******

  When Cleo realized the tracks were headed to the basecamp at Lake Tahoe, she killed the engine and left the snowmobile behind. The vehicle was too loud and would alert the enemy of her presence. Continuing on foot, she followed the tracks to the edge of town and hid behind some bushes, when she saw both snowmobiles and the sled parked in front of a brick building. Three soldiers stood guard at the door, with several dozen more nearby. She hunkered down and watched, as high-ranking Russian and Chinese officers came and went.

  There was no way of knowing how many soldiers were inside the building without taking a peek, but that was impossible due to the lack of windows and patrolling guards. She knew she could take the three guards out front, but could she kill them quickly and quietly enough so as not to warn the others? It would be hard, with them standing together so close.

  A couple of hours passed and most of the town was asleep, when she finally decided to make her move. She realized it was probably a suicide mission, but she couldn’t leave Lex in there with those monsters for one more second. She knew he was being interrogated and tortured, and had no doubt he’d rescue her if the roles were reversed.

  Cleo checked her knife, ensuring it slid smoothly from the sheath attached to her belt. She ejected the clip in her 9mm Berretta and counted the rounds, before doing the same with the assault rifle. If she was going to die, she wanted to go down fighting. She was about to stand up, when a hand suddenly covered her mouth and pulled her backward into the bushes.

  Cleo struggled for her freedom, but the man’s arms were strong. She bit down on his hand and he gasped, letting go of her mouth. Of course screaming would only sound the alarm, so she jerked her head backwards and smashed him in the face.

  “Ouch!” he cried out, releasing his grip on her.

  Cleo spun around, withdrawing her knife in one fluid motion.

  “Wait!” whispered Shiloh, holding out his hands where she could see them.

  “Shiloh! What are you doing here?” Cleo asked, crouching low behind the bushes.

  “I came to help. Is Lex in there?” He nodded at the brick building behind her.

  “I think so. I was just about to go and check.”

  “And how were you planning to do that?” He asked, glancing at all of the soldiers. “It’s more heavily guarded than Fort Knox.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I have to get him out! He’d come for me.”

  “Yes,” agreed Shiloh, “but it isn’t going to do him any good if you get yourself killed or captured trying to rescue him. We need a plan, and we need some more men.”

  “There’s no time,” cried Cleo. “Do you have any idea what they’re doing to him in there?”

  “I can only imagine,” he said softly. “But if you go and get caught they’ll be doing the same to you, and probably worse. We need to return to Clearview and organize a rescue mission.”

  “I can’t leave him behind,” she insisted. “What if he’s not here when we return?”

  “Then we’ll find him,” said Shiloh. “But if we’re his only chance, don’t you think we should give him the best chance possible?”

  “I guess,” said Cleo, drying her eyes.

  “Come on,” he said, guiding her away from town and back into the forest.

  “I ditched the snowmobile a few miles away,” she said, as they walked through the deep snow.

  “I know, I found it and followed you here. Don’t worry, I’ve got a horse tied nearby. We’ll ride double.”

  Operation Freedom

  World War III – Day Twenty

  Clearview, Nevada

  “We need to go now,” insisted Cleo. She’d arrived in town with Shiloh less than an hour ago and was already itching to leave.

  “What we need is a plan,” countered Lt. Sawyer. “I’m not willing to risk my men in a suicide attack just to save your boyfriend.”

  Cleo glared across the room at the Lieutenant. If looks could kill, hers would’ve dropped the officer dead where he stood.

  “I’m not saying we shouldn’t try,” added Lt. Sawyer, noticing Cleo’s scowl, “but my orders are to defend the mountain passes, nothing more.”

  “Listen,” said Ian, trying to reason with his old friend. “You and I both know the best defense is a strong offense.”

  “Not if I lose half my men trying to save one,” retorted the Lieutenant.

  “What if we could come up with a plan that put your men at minimal risk, but would still thwart the enemies advance?” asked Shiloh.

  “What do you have in mind?” asked Lt. Sawyer, staring at the map in front of him.

  “I recommend,” began Shiloh, “a small group rescues Lex, while your men create a distraction,” he added, looking at the Lieutenant.

  “A small group won’t have much of a chance in a town occupied by thousands of enemy soldiers,” observed Ian.

  “They might if the enemy believes the attack is coming from the mountains,” suggested Shiloh. “I propose the rescue party moves into position tonight under
the cover of darkness, while everyone is still asleep,” he added, using a stick to point at the map and the building where Lex was being held. “At the same time, the Lieutenant and his men surround the town.” He drew a circle in the mountains around the town. “The rescue party quietly eliminates the guards before they change rotation,” he drew an X with the stick. “This must be done before the sun rises. Lieutenant, you and your company attack at first light, creating as much chaos as possible. Once the enemy has engaged the Marines in the mountains around the town, the small group of volunteers will breach the building and rescue Lex.”

  “It’s not a bad plan,” admitted Lt. Sawyer, realizing his forces would be concealed in the forest and take minimal casualties, if any at all. “How much time would we need to buy you?”

  “As much as possible,” said Shiloh. “But for this to work, we must strike simultaneously.”

  “May I make a suggestion,” replied Mason.

  “Of course,” said Shiloh.

  “There’s a prison camp here,” said Mason, pointing at a beach on the large map spread across the table. “I suggest we follow your plan, but send an additional rescue party to free the American prisoners. If nothing else it’ll cause a huge distraction and those who escape will swell our ranks.”

  “That’s a good idea,” said Ian, staring at the map.

  “I agree,” replied Lt. Sawyer.

  “Well then, the only question is who’d like to volunteer?” asked Shiloh.

  “I’m with the group rescuing Lex,” stated Cleo.

  “As am I,” agreed Mason.

  “I’ll lead the group freeing the American prisoners,” volunteered Shiloh.

  “I’m with you,” said Ian.

  “I’d like to help too,” said Billy, stepping forward.

  “Wait,” hissed Cole, trying to pull his cousin back.

  “I’m old enough,” said Billy, shaking lose from Cole’s grasp.

  “No Billy!” gasped Dakota, reaching for his arm.