Chapter 23

Agent McFea /// Highway 6

The building in front of them was some kind of abandoned processing plant, smoke stacks and all. McFea checked his old world rifle, suppressor, ir laser, magazine, red dot, safety, all looked good.

“Can someone tell me why im using this dinosaur tech, shit man might as well be a musket.” came over the radio

“You really didn't get 10 weeks at basic did you kid… thermal mags dont work with traditional suppressors, and can cause combustion if firing in large volume, so on ops like this one we go back to the stone age” the Sgt shot back

“Alright, Pvt Arthurs, Sgt Colbert, Pvt Ramos your Team 1, McFea-Khan your Team 2, lccpl Heilds, and Pvt Tombs your Team 3, sorry we cant offer more support for this op, but truthfully the action plan’s bare bones anyways. I have a schematic up and will guide you through the building. Remember id hostels first, before firing. Other than that Team 1, head through the front door, Team 2 loading bay, Team 3 theres an emergency exit that doesn't lock to your right, go through it.

The Teams split off battle buddies moving in tandem bringing their training to full effect. As McFea, and Khan broke away for their entrance, McFea kept scanning ahead of them NVG, and IR streaking across every dark corner, seeking any potential threats.

As the two men ducked around behind and away straying further from the vague lights they left behind them the sky above cracked with thunder. Looking ahead McFea noted the approaching bay doors, 5 of them set in a sequential row. Trying the first bay the shuttered door shook slightly but didn't give, he gave a quick hand signal too Khan and moved ahead. Same happened at the second then the third. Finally coming to the fourth gave way to a fruitful opportunity as the door lifted ever so slightly off the ground. Lifting ever so slightly McFea motioned back to Khan who nodded, got down on his belly and crawled inside, before rising to his knees and taking a look around. A heartbeat passed between when McFea lost sight of Khan and when Khan stuck his hand back outside to let McFea know it was aall clear and to come on through. As Khan took possession of the door, McFea dropped low to the ground and rolled inside of the loading bay, much the same as Khan.

Once inside McFea couldn't really see any for of activity, as he rose, taking his rifle and scanning the area. The loading bay looked like it hadn't been used in some time, while McFea was noting this observation Khan was gentle as they could close the bay door behind them. As soon as the metal sheet touched the paved over concrete the two were on their feet descending into the darkness, careful not to disturb the trash or littered supplies that occupy the area. Passing by discarded styrofoam and fish bones made this place feel more like a decrepit passage of hell rather than a shutdown processing plant. As McFea and Khan swept the area, passing into what was probably at one point the main hallway, faded yellow paint cracked and flaked on the walls ahead McFea read “(to the left) Office, (To the Right) Receiving and Packing”.

At this point Koval made himself known again over the radio “Team 2 take the right up ahead”

McFea in response gave a thumbs up in front of his chest cam. Turning down the bleak hallway, McFea noted blood stains, and bones littering the floor, making his way as carefully as he could noting anything peculiar to Khan who was watching his back. As the walked McFea noted two bathrooms ahead of him, slowing his pace McFea took note that the doors had been ripped off of both. Taking the door in 20 angles a slow but purposeful clearing process slowly revealing himself to the awaiting door in 20 degree pieces. The first bathroom had dried shit, and blood staining everything while graffiti could be seen offsetting the walls. Pentagrams and swears dotted the few places not covered in human excretion. The smell would have been enough to knock someone unprepared to their knees, thankfully McFea knew this was wraith territory, this was probably going to be one of the most tame examples of their tastes. Taking the 20 he started on the second door, and immediately his weapon and ir laser snapped to a form on the other side of the doorway. Hung upside down from the ceiling a charred black corpse dangled from chains, its abdomen cut open and the wound covered in “specimen” as it stained the area of neck and chest. Kovals voice came over coms again “Team 2 has confirmed dead bodies, Team one has confirmed a weapons cache, be advised teams while nothing recent doesnt mean were in the clear yet.”

Slinking past the scene in the bathroom both him and khan seemed to leave that area in haste. Wanting to get as far away as possible from the scene. The crept into the larper packing and processing room. Making there way inside McFea noted immediately the hanging meat hooks and several dog, and cat bodies hanging from them, there sides cut open like flanked pigs. Deciding to check the bodies, McFea took a quick detour to examine the decomposition of one of the closer corpses. It wasn't “fresh” but wasn't older than a few days. Putting his finger on the button of his radio, McFea reported barely opening his mouth to do so with his findings, to which koval affirmed his sending. After a brief pause Koval came in crips and clear again “Wraith activity confirmed atleast a few days old, but still better than what we were thinking, Team 1 continue to follow the red line it should lead you to some office structures, Team 2 make your way though a door opposite of where you entered processing, it should lead to a stairwell take that to the second floor. Team 3, hold position, i need to look at the schematics and find a way around.”

McFea looked back at Khan who gave a quick nod, before a few quick hand signals which roughly translated to “on you”. McFea really didn't like these types of ops, it was risky even if you assume intelligence was accurate its still not ideal, anything goes wrong, it goes wrong fast. Moving ahead into the next room McFea noticed assorted cutlery and a few cooking devices, including grills and deep fryers. Passing by a few outdated packages of fish Team two breached into the stairwell Koval was talking about, as silently as the aged door would allow. Scanning their ascent looked like the stairwell had for the most part been kept clean. Him and Khan ascended quietly the IR lasers clearing and bouncing off of the shadows ahead of them. Making their way to the second floor, a shut door stood before them, taking his position on the opposite side of the handle khan taking purchase of said handle. McFea held up three fingers and began counting down silently, before Khan swung the door open and the two men entered into the darkened hallway. Thunder shook the building for a moment and then a slightly more muffled version of thunder kicked off immediately after. McFea couldnt worry about that as he continued on mission objective searching the few rooms he could with Khan before heading back out into the hallway.

Turning left IR lasers pointed out the long sight lines, as McFea, and Khan continued to be embraced by the darkness. The footfalls, barely more then dull thumps as the two soldiers walked forward, were suddenly interrupted by an explosion of gunfire somewhere nearby.

Kovals voice came over the radio “team 3 has been engaged, mostly indirect fire from a raised office. Team 1 and 2 continue on mission, Team 1 you’ll breach the office in a few minutes. I'll keep you all informed.”

Mcfea looked back, in the guise of night vision his battle buddy shook his head in confirmation before they turned and continued pushing deeper into the facility. Taking their time, clearing each doorway slowly in incremental angles as the IR lasers traced the path forward and around. Their kit had been silently clicking and ticking against itself as they moved, nothing to overt, even as more gunfire could be heard, growing slightly louder. Seemed as though Kovals assessment was accurate. Following the path displayed in their helmets they continued forward towards a “office” although that could be retrofitted into anything at this point. A scuttling sound could be heard as the rubber soles of boots pounded down from behind the two man fireteam, both turning Ir lasers strobe past down the darkness they had already cleared as about a half dozen Wraiths in heavy dark colored clothes came sprinting down the hallway behind them, moving towards the office ahead of them. McFea clocked it first one of these Wraiths was carrying some heavy squad weaponry, a belt fed machine gun of some kind. McFea gave the order without even thinking “Engage” as their silenced rifles rang out with high pitched gasses throwing kinetic shards 1000’s of feet per second towards the oncoming group.

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Soft pounding thuds as the rounds ripped through the bodies of the wraiths pushing through to the other side with force. Bodies falling and slumping to the ground the clang and bangs of their assorted gear and ammo striking the hard metal flooring. It was like slapping a hornets nest, shouts began rising from the darkness around the fireteam. McFea makes two quick hand gestures and the fireteam turns and hit the ground hard, running as Wraiths began to organize, shouting out to one another.

Pulling ahead the soldiers continued to clear corners but in a quicker dirtier fashion, not wanting to give any Wraiths a clear shot as they pushed forward. Just ahead of them a door flung open and a huge balding fat man in black shorts walked out, both weapons raised Ir lasers tracing targets center of mass, as 4 rounds were let loose striking the prey with terminal force. The man took a step back bleeding from 4 new holes in his body before looking up, taking one uneasy step forward before a 5th round from McFea struck his throat and he collapsed. The ground cratered slightly under the impact shaking the metal floors. Within the span of heartbeats heavy caliber fire rips out from inside the room the fat man had just stumbled out from punching fist size holes in the wall strafing down the hallway towards Mcfea. McFea shouts “Down” before hitting the metal floor as quickly as he can as the rounds continue to shear through the wall and pass as far of an arc as possible. McFea could hear the action lock back as the automatic fire caused the weapon to jam, but within a hair second, a AK style rifle sticks out from another door further down the hallway held aloft only by hands no other exposed parts. The users fires indiscriminately as rounds punched down the hallway in a random pattern. McFea rolled hard to the left striking into the wall, as the 7.62x39 rounds ricocheted off the floor and walls.

Pulling at a utility pouch on his plate carrier he pulls out a flashbang, striking the pin he silently counts before tossing it down the hall at the now deceased fat man.McFea only barely managed to shout back “Flash!” and look away. With a sudden rupture the chemical components lit in perfect reaction tearing a hole in soft deceased flesh searing and burning the exposed biological material, lighting the room like divine providence striking down atop the mount, driving back the darkness only for a moment.

“I Cant SEE!” and “What the Fuck” could be heard echoing in different voices along the hallway. McFea taking the opportunity rose to his feet and sprinted froward past the room with the now smoldering body of the fat man, towards the assailant with the AK. leading into the doorway grabbing ahold of the arm holding onto the grip he pushed the gunman into the room firing twice into the Wraiths abdomen his life cut short with a “ergurk” following the body down McFea spots two more Wraiths were inside the room one woman who was only partly dressed trying to pull her jeans, and a man who was holding his hands up to his face with a shotgun rest in in the crook of his arm. McFea raised his rifle and put 5 rounds in the man quickly before missing the first shot as the woman hopped around trying to get out of the line of fire, before a second shot cut her spine and she dropped. Mcfea looked around the room making sure no other hostels were hiding in the room before leaning against the close side of the room to his battle buddy and leaned against the wall trying to see further into the hallway making sure he wasn't going to get shot in the back the second he popped back out. Checking clear he stuck his head back out towards the fat mans body seeing wraiths moving up the hallway being held off by Khan, McFea hugged the wall and moved forward before taking 30 degrees and starting to clear the doorway, he only made one rotation before he saw the weapon pointed at the doorway. It fired as he fell backwards in a attempt to evade, he hit the floor hard as large caliber rounds shattered past him overhead.

More suppressed fire into the oncoming Wraiths as McFea fumbled with another utility pouch pulling a frag out this time, just like the flash, pulled the pin counted quietly lobed it into the apartment and shouted “FRAG OUT!” a concussive blast let loose the terminal fragmentations. The sharp blast cut all sound for a moment before McFea’s body can recover enough after the shock to regain full function, his first sound was the combination between bullets ripping past his current position, and a sharp screaming sound from inside the room he just fragged.

Rising to a crouching position McFea turned back to the oncoming group of Wraiths, untrained and disorganized several ran out into the hallway as the fireteam fired dropping the small group and ending their false charge. “Lets go” McFea shouted down the hallway as both men rose to their feet, and began moving down the hallway towards the office, McFea taking point. Both men turned and their training kicked in one cover the rear as the horde pressed there luck tempting fate. The other covering theri advance as every door and shadow was potential death.

Rounds chambered into the pressing actions as their kinetic payload tore through the air around them, shell casings rained down ringing like the bells of fucking christmass. Heart beats tore in between the crack and pings of ricochettes or misses, Koval decides to make a reappearance over comms. “Team 2 continue on down this hall take the left at the junction to clear the office, Team 3 there should be a door opposite you, take it you’ll come up behind Teams 2 dog’s” short replies could be heard over comms as Khan shouted “LOADING” as McFea Whipped around and fired several indiscriminate rounds down range towards the pursuing horde, his battle buddy slotted a new mag, clicking it into place. “Ready!” he shouted as soon as his weapon felt comfortable in his arms again. “Loading!” shouted McFea, taking the opportunity to reload his own weapon. His arms moved in a mechanical muscle memory, dumping the spent mag, and slotting a new one, for a moment severely glad he and his unit were trained on pre thermal gear back in basic. “Ready!” McFea shouted, and his fireteam started moving again, wrapping around the corner to the left clearing the corner just quick enough to see any bodies in the way with their night vision. As they peeled around the corner far off in the unlit hallway McFea could hear the thudding sounds of rifles and heavier machine gun fire pounding away at something, this confirmed Kovals schematics of the place. Before them in the hallway two doors bursted open as a dozen or so black cloaked figures poured out trying to get into position, some hugging walls, others trying to crouch even into McFeas opening salvo. Striking a few down before they even returned fire McFea grabbed his battle buddy and forced him into the wall taking partial cover from the oncoming Wraiths. He barely made it as rounds tore into the hallway around them, McFea clicked twice on his IR flashlight and readied himself counting down 3, 2, 1 GO! He leaped out from cover as his rifle started blinking intense LED light in unorthodox patterns, in this darkness it would be completely blinding to his assailants. Round after round went down range, tearing soft flesh and smashing through bone, the bodies hit the floor. by the time the last dropped his mag clicked empty. Just like before he shouted loading as his battle buddy carried the firefight, still managing to beat back the pressing horde, while covering McFea. Just like before he called ready and they were moving rushing faster and faster towards the end of the hallway. Seeing a blue metal door standing waiting from them rocking in response to the heavy fire being deployed just on the other side McFea shouted “breaching!” as he ran forward throwing his leg up just in time to make impact with the door sending it flying open, the Wraiths on the other side all turned at the sudden commotion but McFea had already made it inside and with viscous accuracy he downed 3 before the fourth had fully turned towards him, as he did raising his weapon, a bloody hole shot through the man's throat going skyward from below.

“Team 1, you're clear, you better move now… take the service door opposite the processing floor from you.” Kovals voice came over comms clear enough as McFea and Khan hunkered down moving a large desk just out of direct line of fire from the door, before peaking down and sending a few indiscriminate shots towards the now entrenched hunters behind them. “Team 3, push hard, and you’ll come up directly behind some hostels currently pinning Team 2 down.” Mcfea and turned and continued to keep the attention of those psychos, constantly swapping which way they came from and sending rounds down range keeping the oncoming hungering horde back just far enough where they couldn't line up clear shots McFea heard a door open and close below him so at least his men were safe. Pounding boots, shouts of alarm, and an overall sense of chaos descended upon the blacked out factory, as bodies hit the floors, and the Wraiths were slowly turned to dust and memory. Before long the shouts the shooting had stopped, McFea waited before someone shouted “Pinata” down the hallway, and McFea looked out to see team 1 making there way forward, McFea shouted back “Orange”. As he stood on his feet, the area seemingly clear for now. Turning to Khan “holy shit, good work.”

Khan tilted his head and said “you too LT”

McFea heard the radio que up suspecting Koval probably had a few choice words, but before whatever protocol was about o be cited could even make its way across the airways, the room Khan and McFea were in was struck and consumed by fire, knocking McFea to the gound as the whole office snapped and peeled away from its supports falling into the floor below.