Time: 0900. Location: South America, somewhere along the Amazon River.
"Men, it's time."
Gathered around the dingy table of the dimly lit briefing room are the men of Viper's Nest. Men were chosen by the Commander himself to operate and maintain this isolated intelligence outpost. Standing at the head of the cramped table is Lt. Onesi.
"Time for what, sir?"
"Time to go above ground...
What no arguing. No whining, pissing, bitching, and moaning about it being too damn dangerous?"
"Sir, you do realize we don't have a mortuary freezer, right?"
"Yes, I do, Nason. So what?"
"Have you had the pleasure to become acquainted with Young's… aroma?"
"We put him in a body bag, in a closet, and did our best to seal it."
"I thought that was coming in from outside."
"It's not. I'd go out there right now if it meant fresh air, undead or not."
"What's the point?"
"What was that Crouch?"
"I said, what's the point? We haven't heard from the Island in weeks. For all, we know Cobra." Crouch's statement trails off as he looks around the room.
"Crouch is right, sir." All eyes turn toward Akin. "I never damn well thought I'd say that. But he's right. What is the point?"
Onesi pulls out a chair from the table and sits down with his men. "Listen, guys. I hear you, I do. Crouch, you are right. We haven't heard from the Island in weeks. But we still have a job to do. Right now, that means gathering any local intel that might assist us, or the Island. If and when communication resumes. We have no idea what's out there. What we might find. But I know this. We're Vipers, damn it. We have standing orders to uphold, and until someone with more brass than me says otherwise, I intend to follow my orders. As should you. Right now, I'm ordering we go topside and see what the hell has been happening to the world while we've been in here."
Time: 1232. Location: South America, somewhere along the Amazon River.
The team gathers at the outer hatch. Crouch, Lee, Nason, and Akin are accompanied by Lt. Onesi and a BAT.
"Alright, men, the BAT is going out first. Then I'll go. Akin, you're after me. Lee and Nason take up the rear. Helm coms only. No open mics. Hatch opening in 3. 2. 1."
The sound of the creaking hatch does little to phase the nerves of Viper's Nest. As the hatch opens, all rifles are trained on what may lie on the other side.
- "There's nothing. Not a god damn thing." -
- "Easy Lee. Keep it together." -
- "I'm good, Nason." -
- "You know, Nason, for a pilot, you sure do a lot of ground-pounding." -
- "Yeah, well, why you fuckers need a pilot in the middle of a fucking jungle is beyond me." -
- "You must be so proud to pilot a trouble bubble." -
- "Screw you, Crouch." -
- "Quit the chatter, damn it. We're going out." -
Stepping out into the light, Lt. Onesi follows the BAT.
- "Cover left Akin." -
- "Got it." -
One by one, each member steps out. Rifle trained on a possible unseen enemy.
- "We're clear." -
- "Nason, secure the hatch." -
- "Let's see if those upgrades Fintak and Kosa made to this BAT work. Alpha 1 to Viper's Nest you picking anything up?" -
-- "That's a negative Alpha 1. Systems show all-clear for half a click." --
Inside the bunker:
"There is nothing out there. I tweaked the shit out of those sensors and there is nothing."
"Look, Kosa, there is only so much we can do. Let's just hope we can warn them if something does show up."
Outside the bunker:
- "3 sweep teams; Crouch stick with the BAT. Akin, you're with Nason. Lee, you're with me. 10-yard intervals. Weapons hot." -
The Vipers spread out. Cautiously watching every step. Alert for any sound which might indicate the presence of THEM. They have gone no more than 25 yards from the hatch…
- "Life form approaching. 20 yards and closing." -
- "What the fuck! Fintak, are you hearing this shit?!" -
-- "Yes, sir. We're monitoring all scanners." --
- "15 yards and closing." -
- "Circle up. I want 360 firing lines. Crouch, get the BAT hot." -
The men respond like a well-oiled machine: each, taking his position., weapon ready.
- "BAT is live. I repeat, BAT is live." -
- "Where the fuck is Akin? Nason, where the fuck is he?" -
- "He was just behind me." -
- "Fuck! Alpha 1 to Mother Eye. Do you copy? Alpha 1 to Mother Eye. Do you copy?" -
-- "5 yards. Stationary." --
- "Crouch, can that fucker tell us where it is?" -
- "It should be able to, but I don't know what the hell was done to him. Kosa, where is it?" -
-- "We don't see shit. I don't know what is setting off the BAT's sensors, but we can not see it. I repeat we don't see shit." --
Outside, the men are circled, watching for any movement in the brush.
- "Sir, what's our move?" -
- "Shut the fuck up. Alpha 1 to Mother Eye, do you copy?" -
-- "Life form disengaged." --
- "What the hell does that mean?" -
- "It means to get our asses back to the bunker and figure out what the fuck just happened." -
- "Back to the bunker? Are you a damn pussy, Crouch? You gonna get spooked by some BAT with faulty sensors?" -
- "What the fuck! Akin, is that you?" -
- "It is Lieutenant. Approaching from the south side. Try not to shoot me."
Out of the brush steps Akin. Rifle in hand.
- "Where the fuck were you? I was calling you over the com." -
- "I heard. My radio is Series 2 fubar. I tried responding, but you know. Shit happens. Especially with any radio Fintak touches." -
- "Got it. We'll have Fintak check it out back in the nest." -
Back in the bunker:
"Did I just hear what I think I heard, Kosa?"
"Joes."
"Shifting com channels. Engaging wide spectrum scrambling."
- "Viper's Nest to Alpha 1. Series 2 a go." -
Outside:
- "Akin." -
- "15 yards behind. Mono-filament from location to frag g at his back. Took ammo. Scrambled com. Grabbed me with a fuckin' noose. No pos ID" -
- "You heard him. Make it fuckin' natural. Let's take this fucker out." -
- "I knew the fuckin' Joes were behind all this." -
- "For once, Crouch, even I agree with you." -
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