ECHO, LOCK
AND LOAD! ONCE WE DISEMBARK, SPLIT TEAMS, ECHELONS LEFT AND RIGHT!” As the
CEATA combatants stood up, checking weaponry and adjusting their body armour,
Piper patted Winters on his shoulder. “If I know you Tim, you’ll get the
bastards.” He smiled at his friend as the Chinook began descending. Then,
without warning, Ash Piper began to feel violently sick.
The take off had been smooth, Captain Bauer and his co-pilot
handling the Learjet with graceful precision as Sonia unbuckled her seat belt
and walked over to her passengers. “OH, MS ZEIST!” The VKE stewardess sounded
genuinely shocked as Helga Zeist quickly grabbed one of the cabin’s sick bags
and vomited into it.
“Helga,” Otto Von Kurst looked desperately worried, “what is
the matter, something is wrong, isn’t it?”
“I’ll get another glass of water Mister Von Kurst,” said
Sonia, quickly making her way to the galley.
Helga Zeist shook her head, the look in her bloodshot eyes
one of grave apprehension, “Otto,” she whimpered, “he hunts again!”
“What!” A deep, rumbling growl emitted from Von Kurst’s
throat as he clenched his fists, “Helga, what are you telling me…Helga?”
She vomited again, “oh my head, it aches so much. Otto…I can
see him, in my thoughts,” another heave of vomit left Helga’s mouth as she sat
back, her eyes now virtually blood red.
“Here we go Ms Zeist,” Sonia began walking back from the
galley.
“Turn to the window Helga,” whispered Von Kurst, “don’t let
Sonia see your eyes!” Von Kurst took the glass of water, “don’t worry Sonia! I
think Helga had a little too much champagne last night. She’ll be fine, she
just needs peace and quiet.”
Sonia smiled affectionately at her handsome employer, as
most women did, “of course Mister Von Kurst, just let me know if you require
anything else.”
As Sonia walked back to the galley, Von Kurst felt the hairs
on the back of his neck become rigid. “Helga,” he whispered again, “you must
tell me, what do you see?”
The Chinook landed heavily in a clearing beside a large
cluster of apple trees, the rear cargo door slowly descending as the powerful
helicopter’s occupants prepared to disembark.
“Control to Red Haze, do you copy?” Colonel Mann’s voice
crackled through Piper’s Com-link as CEATA’s Rapid Reaction troops formed two
groups, one at each side of the Chinook.
“GO AHEAD, CONTROL!” Piper shouted, the thumping of the
rotor blades making everyone’s bodies shake.
“We are patching you through to Captain Estelle Rinise of
the GIGN. She has worked with Team Echo before. As per our previous
conversation, you will liase this operation with Captain Rinise from now on, do
you understand?”
“COPY CONTROL, PUT ME THROUGH!” Piper turned and waved to
the pilot, who gave the traditional thumbs up sign. It was time for the massive
helicopter to leave. Everyone bent low as the Chinook’s twin rotors gathered
speed, bringing Victor Nine to a hover then away it flew, furiously beating the
air and vanishing into the distance. There was a loud crackling of static
through Piper’s Com-link as his colleagues knelt down, their weapons at the
ready. With the thumping of the Chinook’s rotors quickly fading away, the Team
Echo combatants looked at their team leader, waiting for instructions.
“Sergeant Piper, this is Captain Rinise, it is a pleasure to
work with you.”
The Anglo French female voice was clear and resonant as
Piper replied, “likewise Captain. I take it Colonel Mann has already briefed
you regarding Team Echo’s plan?”
“Affirmative Sergeant, we are ready to move when you are.”
“Very well Captain, we are now advancing toward the close
proximity of the farmhouse. Stand by for further instructions.” Piper took a
firm grip on his MP5, “ALRIGHT EVERYONE, WE SPLIT AS USUAL! TWO TEAMS, KEEP TO
YOUR ECHELON POSITIONS! USE THE TREES AS COVER AND REMEMBER…” Piper paused, he
had a
AND LOAD! ONCE WE DISEMBARK, SPLIT TEAMS, ECHELONS LEFT AND RIGHT!” As the
CEATA combatants stood up, checking weaponry and adjusting their body armour,
Piper patted Winters on his shoulder. “If I know you Tim, you’ll get the
bastards.” He smiled at his friend as the Chinook began descending. Then,
without warning, Ash Piper began to feel violently sick.
The take off had been smooth, Captain Bauer and his co-pilot
handling the Learjet with graceful precision as Sonia unbuckled her seat belt
and walked over to her passengers. “OH, MS ZEIST!” The VKE stewardess sounded
genuinely shocked as Helga Zeist quickly grabbed one of the cabin’s sick bags
and vomited into it.
“Helga,” Otto Von Kurst looked desperately worried, “what is
the matter, something is wrong, isn’t it?”
“I’ll get another glass of water Mister Von Kurst,” said
Sonia, quickly making her way to the galley.
Helga Zeist shook her head, the look in her bloodshot eyes
one of grave apprehension, “Otto,” she whimpered, “he hunts again!”
“What!” A deep, rumbling growl emitted from Von Kurst’s
throat as he clenched his fists, “Helga, what are you telling me…Helga?”
She vomited again, “oh my head, it aches so much. Otto…I can
see him, in my thoughts,” another heave of vomit left Helga’s mouth as she sat
back, her eyes now virtually blood red.
“Here we go Ms Zeist,” Sonia began walking back from the
galley.
“Turn to the window Helga,” whispered Von Kurst, “don’t let
Sonia see your eyes!” Von Kurst took the glass of water, “don’t worry Sonia! I
think Helga had a little too much champagne last night. She’ll be fine, she
just needs peace and quiet.”
Sonia smiled affectionately at her handsome employer, as
most women did, “of course Mister Von Kurst, just let me know if you require
anything else.”
As Sonia walked back to the galley, Von Kurst felt the hairs
on the back of his neck become rigid. “Helga,” he whispered again, “you must
tell me, what do you see?”
The Chinook landed heavily in a clearing beside a large
cluster of apple trees, the rear cargo door slowly descending as the powerful
helicopter’s occupants prepared to disembark.
“Control to Red Haze, do you copy?” Colonel Mann’s voice
crackled through Piper’s Com-link as CEATA’s Rapid Reaction troops formed two
groups, one at each side of the Chinook.
“GO AHEAD, CONTROL!” Piper shouted, the thumping of the
rotor blades making everyone’s bodies shake.
“We are patching you through to Captain Estelle Rinise of
the GIGN. She has worked with Team Echo before. As per our previous
conversation, you will liase this operation with Captain Rinise from now on, do
you understand?”
“COPY CONTROL, PUT ME THROUGH!” Piper turned and waved to
the pilot, who gave the traditional thumbs up sign. It was time for the massive
helicopter to leave. Everyone bent low as the Chinook’s twin rotors gathered
speed, bringing Victor Nine to a hover then away it flew, furiously beating the
air and vanishing into the distance. There was a loud crackling of static
through Piper’s Com-link as his colleagues knelt down, their weapons at the
ready. With the thumping of the Chinook’s rotors quickly fading away, the Team
Echo combatants looked at their team leader, waiting for instructions.
“Sergeant Piper, this is Captain Rinise, it is a pleasure to
work with you.”
The Anglo French female voice was clear and resonant as
Piper replied, “likewise Captain. I take it Colonel Mann has already briefed
you regarding Team Echo’s plan?”
“Affirmative Sergeant, we are ready to move when you are.”
“Very well Captain, we are now advancing toward the close
proximity of the farmhouse. Stand by for further instructions.” Piper took a
firm grip on his MP5, “ALRIGHT EVERYONE, WE SPLIT AS USUAL! TWO TEAMS, KEEP TO
YOUR ECHELON POSITIONS! USE THE TREES AS COVER AND REMEMBER…” Piper paused, he
had a
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