Danielle Walker, codename “Star”, one of only a handful of true Quantum Level Supernormals in the world was rapidly trying to figure out just what in the hell was going on.
I had finally managed to put down Hammerdown and had barely caught my breath when Overwatch informed me that the Tactical Team was in urgent need of assistance.
I looked at Captain Williams floating above the ground and was shocked at the raw power rippling off the woman. “Captain! Captain Williams! Wolf Leader can you hear me!” I yelled at her but got no response. Looking around I spotted Wolf Two in a heap where he had landed.
Stalking over to the prone form of Brunner, I picked him up by his weapons harness to see if I could get some answers to what was going on and why I found him firing on our team leader. Unfortunately for me, but possibly fortunate for him, he seemed to be unconscious. Wondering where the rest of the team was I started looking around but with so much debris swirling in the air visibility was rapidly deteriorating. Helpfully helpfully my comm crackled to life.
“Star, we’re holed up in the civil engineering building at six o’clock of your position,” Heidi’s voice spoke into my ear.
Getting a good grip on Wolf Two I fought through the wind and debris by staying low to the ground until I found the building holding the somewhat ragged-looking Wolf Unit.
Having located the team I tossed Wolf Two down in a heap. “What in the hell is going on? Oh, and uh, I guess somebody should check on him,” she said addressing the group with a nod toward the unconscious Wolf Two.
Alessa immediately went to check on Brunner while the rest of the team nominated Laurel as spokesperson by looking at her.
Laurel leaned in a little closer before beginning her explanation. “As you know we deployed outside and moved to infiltrate while Fox was ahead as a forward scout but we quickly realized there was an unexpected level of activity and presence. Fox Two and Three ran into a patrol at the rec building and were forced to engage while Wolf Leader and I were staying hidden from a patrol of our own and weren’t in a position to help. Overwatch informed us that you were engaged so Wolf Leader called up Four and Six to assist. After pacifying the rec building Teams Two and Three moved to regroup with Wolf Leader, but they were hit by reinforcements wounding Wolf Six and leading to an all-out engagement.”
“Okay that tracks given the outcome but how did we get to Wolf Leader going all floaty and Wolf Two shooting at her?” I asked over the steadily increasing noise from the other side of the wall where their Captain was slowly tearing apart the base.
“The enemy position was deploying a fifty-caliber so we had to move to stop it, but Wolf Six was injured, so Wolf Three was ordered to stay with her. Fox was able to coordinate with us to take it out but we weren’t able to advance fast enough and got caught exposed. Not seeing a way out Wolf Leader decided to use her ability. She said it was classified but called it “Event Horizon”. From what I can tell it seems to be a gravity-based ability,” Laurel explained.
“And she doesn’t know how to turn it off?” I asked
Laurel looked frustrated for a moment and I couldn’t tell if it was because her hair kept getting blown in her face or that she didn’t know the answer.
“It doesn’t seem like it, but you know about as much as we do at this point. She asked Wolf Two to incapacitate her if she got out of control before activating her ability and he was yelling at her before he fired on her. Then you arrived. Speaking of your arrival, what did you do to Wolf Two?”
“I got here right as Brunner fired on the Captain so I blasted the ground as I landed to knock him away. I might have put a bit more into it than I meant to though,” I explained with a sheepish look.
“You didn’t know what was going on and based on the circumstances, you probably did the right thing. Hopefully, he’ll be ok because I think we’re going to need all hands on deck if this gets any worse,” Laurel said placing her hand on my shoulder.
I appreciated the gesture but was still at a loss for what to do. I had guessed that Captain Williams was a Supernormal during training due to her strength and durability, but she never talked about it, and I never got the courage to ask.
Realizing that being in my head wasn’t going to do any good I decided to focus on trying to figure out a plan with Wolf Unit. “How’s Brunner,” I asked Alessa, who was still on her knees with a hand on Brunner’s cheek.
“From what my ability is telling me I can tell he’s borderline for a concussion and is bruised from getting ragdolled. It was probably the pressure wave from being so close to your blast and a classic case of sudden acceleration when he was pushed away. I expect he’ll wake up sometime soon with a headache,” she detailed for me.
“Okay, I appreciate the update. I’m glad he’s going to be alright. I wasn’t really trying to hurt him, just get him away from Wolf Leader,” I explained a little defensively for some reason.
Alessa held my gaze for a beat. “He fired on our commanding officer. Without context, he’s lucky he isn’t the crater.”
“Listen, Chere, we’re all new to each other but I don’t think anyone's first thought is ill intent. We’ll figure it out. Assuming we survive our debut, eh,” Andre said with a lopsided smile topped off with his now trademark wink.
“Right, Right,” I said with a shake of my head trying to re-focus on the task at hand. “So who’s actually in charge right now?”
“Technically Fox is, but since he’s indisposed command falls Wolf Five as the Assistant Operations Officer,” Heidi volunteered. “After that, it’s rock paper scissors between, Three, Four, and myself.”
I raised an eyebrow at that bit of information. Hearing it really drove home how close to a disaster the mission was.
“Um, is this what you special forces guys refer to as FUBAR?” I asked the remnants of Wolf Unit.
Andre let out a peal of laughter while Heidi just smiled. I heard Alessa snort from where she was kneeling next to Brunner before she replied, “You could say that.” Even Laurel had a bit of a smirk despite the situation. I felt my cheeks heat as I realized how badly I’d stated the obvious.
“Alright everyone, let's figure out…” Laurel started to say before she was interrupted by the whole building shaking and what sounded like part of the roof being torn off.
“A plan,” she finished, a look of deep concern on her face.
We all rushed to the windows to see a piece of the building swirling around Captain Williams before being pulled into the golden disk and crushed. The trees near our position were even starting to bend toward Wolf Leader.
At this point, Captain Williams was starting to tear apart the base's standing structures as the intensity of her ability increased. We could barely even see building twenty anymore due to the haze of debris being sucked toward Wolf Leader.
“Okay, Wolf Unit we’re going to begin an ordered retreat back toward the RAID since this position is no longer safe. Wolf Six, let the RAID know we’re in retreat toward their position and make sure to loop Fox in. The rest of us will try to move Wolf Two while Star tries to see if she can snap Wolf Leader out of her trance since she’s the only one who can probably even get close at this point,” Laurel said taking command of Wolf Unit.
She was doing her best to look confident but none of us missed the look of uncertainty in her eyes. Still, she was a professional and would do her best. “If anyone has anything to add, now would be time.”
“Um, I have a suggestion,” I ventured before the group could muster.
“Go ahead,” Laurel said with a guarded expression.
“Wolf Two is six-foot-two, and probably in the vicinity of two hundred and fifty pounds of dead weight. You will struggle to move him if he doesn’t wake up in the next few minutes. Not to mention the issue with the snow. Let me fly him and Wolf Three back to the RAID. That way you, four, and Six can stay flexible. If it’s safe to move Wolf Two I can make it quick,” I suggested.
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Laurel's eyes narrowed a bit and you could almost physically see the gears turning in her head as she worked through different scenarios. “I’m not a huge fan of having you unavailable, even for a few minutes considering the situation but I see your point. We could try to rig up a sled but that will be unwieldy in its own way.”
“Normally I wouldn’t suggest moving someone with head trauma but I don’t think we have much of a choice. I didn’t feel any neck or spinal trauma when I scanned him so I don’t think we risk further damage if we’re careful. Even then I’m sure he’d take that over being smashed to atoms,” Alessa interjected.
“Alright, I don’t think we have time to beat this up. Star will proceed to evac Wolf Two and Wolf Three to the RAID. Wolves Four and Six will proceed with me to pull back toward the barracks and try to stay in a position to cover Wolf Leader,” Laurel ordered.
The team wasted no time and broke up into their respective groups. I stepped back over to Alessa and Brunner and looked at her questioningly. “Um, is there a particular way I should do this?”
“Outside of carrying him by his tactical harness like luggage again, not really. Whatever works to allow you to carry us both,” she said while packing up her tools and doing up all her straps.
“Okay, I think I’m going to do a fireman carry then, which will keep an arm free for you and let me balance his bulk. Plus, I didn’t think you’d want to ride in his lap if I do a princess carry,” I said, reaching down to pick up the prone Executive Officer.
I couldn’t help but smile when I caught her grimace as I hefted Brunner up and over my shoulder trying not to jostle him too much. He was heavy by average standards but with my enhanced strength his weight wasn’t an issue. With Brunner settled on my left shoulder, I reached out and snatched Alessa up with my right arm, eliciting a surprised squeak from the medical sergeant. Unfortunately due to our height difference, I had to get a little handsy with her as I wrapped my arm around her and pinned her against my side.
“You okay?” I asked looking down at her in the crook of my arm. Her face was only a few inches away and her eyes were as big as saucers. She took a big breath and nodded.
I rose off the floor and floated out the door of the civil engineering building and was immediately buffeted by wind and debris created by Captain Williams. The gusts were easily equal to a strong thunderstorm and visibility was a nightmare causing me to tighten my grip on Alessa and Brunner instinctively as I pushed out into it.
Before I started my journey to the RAID I turned to the rest of Wolf Unit and told them to be safe. I was especially worried about Heidi as she was just barely hanging on with her injuries. Whatever Alessa gave her would only work for so long and there was the very real possibility she could get injured even worse.
I pushed those thoughts aside as I rose into the air and quickly realized that I wouldn’t be able to just fly over the top of the buildings due to the amount of debris swirling around the area. “Hang on we’re going to have to stay low. Keep an eye out for anything I might miss,” I said to Alessa who had a death grip around my waist.
“Overwatch, Star enroute. One wounded,” Heidi came across our comm as soon as we separated from the rest of Wolf Unit.
Fortunately, the air cleared up the further away we got from Captain Williams but it was obvious her ability was still strengthening. The RAID put its ramp down and we approached and I flew us directly into the craft. I kept hold of Brunner while setting Alessa down near the medical station of the craft.
Dreamboy approached us from the front and immediately started helping Alessa set up the med station that rose up out of the floor. Once it had been properly set up Alessa gestured for me to set Brunner down on the table. I did my best not to jostle him too much as I moved him from my shoulder onto the med station bed. Alessa immediately started going over him and setting up different devices so I stepped back out of the way.
Dreamboy approached me with a look of concern on his face. His entire posture was tense. “Turning into a bit of shitshow out there isn’t it?”
I sighed and rubbed my temple before looking at him. “Honestly, yes. I’m going to go do my best to try and see if we can salvage it but I would make sure the RAID is ready to go”
“A mission wipe and hot evac are entirely possible,” Alessa chimed in from the med station.
“We’ll be ready, but you got this. Good luck,” Dreamboy replied, offering a fist bump. His trademark smile returning.
“Let’s go find out,” I said bumping his fist and ending with a “fa la la la”. I could just hear him say “Girl” and laugh as I flew back out into the snow.
I activated my comm to the team channel to find out Wolf Unit’s current location, “Star requesting unit location. Package delivered.”
“Dining hall building,” was the response from Heidi.
“Roger, en route,” I said and blasted back toward the barracks. If I remembered the briefing correctly the cafeteria was just south of the barracks. The debris picked up again as I approached the location of Wolf Unit and while my glasses were cracked and no longer functioned properly they at least helped keep the swirling garbage out of my eyes.
Day had officially broken over the air base so everything was now a hazy light grey rather than a soupy dark grey. I was able to pick out the Wolves as they held a position on the back wall of the dining hall and made my way to them.
“Any changes?” I asked as soon as I landed.
“No, but having pulled back we can get a better perspective of the damage Captain Williams is doing. You can see her ability looks to be weakest in a cone directly behind her,” Laurel said pointing at the various things she was referring to.
Laurel took my elbow to orient me toward what she wanted me to look at.
“From what I can tell, her ability seems to work by the gravity disk pulling more from the front and side of her while seemingly forming a pocket that doesn’t harm her. It might be a good spot to approach,” explained her theory. “You can see that while the civil engineering building we were in was taking some damage it’s taken less of a beating due to it being behind her.”
“Okay, I’m going to go see if I can do something. Has anyone heard from Fox?” I inquired.
★FOX★
Fox had been playing cat and mouse with the building's occupants jumping from shadow to shadow when he finally managed to work his way into a room adjacent to what looked like a command hub. There were at least ten hostiles in the room and it looked to be where the patrols were being commanded from. The room itself looked like an old briefing room and was packed with old theater-style chairs that had seen better days while the other half had an old raised dias which now housed a table with communications equipment.
Fox was huddled in the corner of an office he had shadow-stepped into and was using the infrared setting in his helmet to see into the next room over. He had hidden the bodies of the men he had killed but he knew he was on borrowed time until someone discovered them or went looking for them. He had briefly used a flexible camera to look to confirm the readings on his visor before retreating to his current position. There were just too many hostiles in close quarters for him to risk leaving the tenuous safety the shadows provided him.
Using his wrist panel Fox enabled the parabolic microphones embedded in the ears of his mask and had been settled in for about five minutes when the team’s comm channel crackled to life in his ears.
“Team, there is no clear way forward and our window to the target is closing rapidly. Suggestions if you have them,” Wolf Leader's voice queried the team.
“I’ve got nothing but a new collection of artisanal toothpicks from the tree I'm hiding behind ma’am,” was Andre’s response as he joked over the line. Fox made a note to have a word with him about operational protocol if Jas didn’t already plan to.
“MacGuffin is either in building twenty as the resistance would indicate, or is in the old nuclear bunker in my opinion. Tactically the bunker wouldn’t make much sense normally, but as we know, they have a teleporter,” Wolf Five provided a counterbalance to Andre by contributing an actual tactical observation before following up with, “My money is on the bunker.”
“Fox, what are your thoughts if you can respond?” Captain Williams asked.
“Inside the building. Heavily guarded. Need ears free,” he replied via text. He couldn’t monitor the team channel and use the parabolic microphones at the same time so he prioritized gathering intelligence by switching off the team channel and setting it to speech-to-text on his wrist panel.
He felt bad dismissing his team like that, but he was too close to the objective and had to trust their ability to operate without him. As soon as he tuned back into the microphones, he started to get a better understanding of the conversation that just took place. The hostile commander was getting reports of a stalled advance by Wolf Unit and was now scrambling to take advantage of the situation. It didn’t sound like everything was rosy though as someone named “Hammerdown” was missing.
Fox was pondering whether he needed to blow cover and intervene when the commander said something that made Fox’s blood run cold. “Inform Commander Morrigan that we’ve stalled the assault but that Hammerdown is missing.”
She was here.
It was at that moment Fox’s helmet comm came to life again. This time it was on a direct channel from Captain Williams, “Nick if this goes sideways and I can’t control it… you need to incapacitate me. Do whatever you need to do if it looks like I can’t get it under control. Remember Kuwait and what happened before Fox was able to stop me? That can’t happen here. Fox, save the team and the boy. You understand?”
“I understand Captain. I won’t let you down,” Brunner replied sounding unusually serious.
Fox had an inkling of what was about to happen and started rapidly scrolling through the text log from the team channel when he felt the building shudder. Dammit, Jas, what are you thinking, he thought as the text log confirmed his fears. Captain Williams was going to use “Event Horizon”. Just what was going on out there and where was Star? He didn’t get much time to ponder the current situation because his comm came to life again.
This time it was Brunner, “I tried Fox, but I can’t let Kuwait happen again. Not on US soil.”
Despite his best efforts and stealth training Fox couldn’t stop himself from muttering “Shit” out loud.