Chapter Four: The Dungeon

Bahrain

Manama

Gudaibiya Neighborhood

Near Al - Abi Hotel

June 20, 2010

01:14 hour

The attacking party has reached a street near Al - Abi Hotel. Right now they are taking reconnaissance position on the top of an antique shop. On their feet four bodies of sniper and machinegun militiamen strewn. Nate and Colonel Petrovich are scoping through their binoculars.

" Three.. four.. I see six on the cafetaria."

" Eight at the entrance."

" No signs of civilians."

" It seems that there's no way we can enter the building without warning the insurgents inside." Mutters Nate.

" What about a diversion? If we can't enter the building unnoticed, at least we can diminish their concentration number." Advises Colonel Petrovich.

" Good idea. How can we do it?" Asks Nate.

Fifteen minutes after Colonel Petrovich calls through his reinforcement. A Tupolev Tu-330 aircraft flies through the far side adjacent the building where ninjas and Spetsnaz are. Two flares are thrown down followed by parachutes holding figures. Their descending are greeted by gunfires and RPG rockets aimed above. The militia inside the hotel are running outside toward where the parachutes are dropped in panic and haste. " Brad, it's about time! Now!" Orders Nate to his sniper through his radio. Colonel Petrovich gives sign to his sniper. The militia outside and seen on windows are all killed by silenced sniper fires. The ninjas and Spetsnaz then charge the hotel front leaving their snipers and communication officers behind to guard and scout the area. " Hold on, Shiori, kids, I'm coming!" Says Nate in his heart. Soon they reach the lobby entrance. On their rally, they shot one surviving insurgent. 

Nate's heart pounds swiftly as he leans on the hotel's front wall. Thought races in his mind. His emotions mixed. " Are you ready?" Asks Colonel Petrovich. Nate answers by nodding. The ninjas and Spetsnaz breach the room in sudden, they take out a few surprised militia. 

"Left, clear!"

" Right, clear!"

" Threat neutralized!"

" We got one!" Two ninjas wielding HK5 and ninja swords are pointing on ground. The report alarms Nate. He, escorted by Sam and Two ninjas as well accompanied by Colonel Petrovich surges to the scene. A wounded insurgent in tan kaffiyeh is there on floor under guns and swords points. He is dying. Blood gushes from his mouth. Two bloody gunshots are seen on his belly. Nate orders Sam to translate him to interrogate the captured insurgent. The dying insurgent extracts informations that most of the insurgent on the hotel have been out to ambush the parachuting attackers and most inside the building are guarding on conferrence room where foreign hostages are detained. When he is asked about Shiori and his children, the insurgent tells him that they are brought inside the conference room as well. The man coughs then dies. Knowing that the high possibility that his family are still alive relieves him.

The attacking party sweeps through the hotel's hallways and rooms, killing all insurgents they find using swords, shuriken, crossbow and silenced sidearms including the ones guarding at the conference room's two large doors. Through Nate's micro tube camera, five militia are seen patrolling between sitting hostages insidewhile others leaning on walls and sitting.

" Colonel, the only seen accesses to the room are through these two doors. Too concentrated. They may easily sweep us down if we use the usual method of room breaching." Says Nate.

" This time diversion is not enough. They will tighten their grip on the hostages when they feel threats are near. We may breach, but prepare for high death numbers." replies Colonel Petrovich.

" No good. The burden will be brought to you, Colonel, since I'm never here." Says Nate. " Wait, I have an idea to enter undetected. Men, prepare swords and blades." Orders Nate.

" What are you going to do, my friend?" Asks Colonel Petrovich. " We'll get close with them." Answers Nate. 

Under orders from Nate, the communication operating ninja waiting outside with the sniper launches an EMP grenade to the building. Temporary hotel black out occurs following its explosion. That sends panic to the militia and hostages inside. The hostages are ordered to stay down and quiet. When they are trying to contact their commanders, they find their radios become malfunction. Several militiamen come out from the room only to be killed by the ninjas and Spetsnaz. Nate and Colonel Petrovich lead their mean slipping inside through the two doors with the Spetsnaz on the left and the ninjas on the right under darkness. They infiltrates among the hostages.

When the light suddenly turns on again, the attackers springs from floor then overpower the guarding nine insurgents using swords and silenced sidearms. The hostages become panic and scream heavily. Colonel Petrovich and his soldiers shout, " Calm down!! Calm down!!" Some hostages cower in fear when they look at the ninjas' swords and blades. After they are successfully brought to order, Nate browses among them searching for Shiori and his children, but doesn't find them. Colonel Petrovich's men reports to the Bahraini National Guard to start their advance inside the district. " Have you found them out?" Asks Colonel Petrovich.

" No. I don't see them here." Says Nate in weak tone.

Seeing that most of the hostages are Russians, under permission by Colonel Petrovich, he asks them in Russian, " Did you see a petite asian woman with two children?"

An old woman with his son raise their hands, he mutters to his son and he answers, " My mom says because the woman is an American, she and her children were brougt from here and would be detained in different place." The answers surprises Nate. " When did it happen?" Asks him again. The woman answers, " About two hours ago."

" What do you get?" Asks Colonel Petrovich. " We'll find out." Answers Nate. Nate calls the scouting ninja outside whether anyone has left the hotel or not. The ninja answers no one. Nate replies to the Colonel, " Colonel, She's still here."     

To be continued

License: Personal use and read only. Further usage requiring permission from author.

Disclaimer: All contents are fiction.

Chapter Three: In Search

Bahrain

Manama

Gudaibiya Neighborhood

June 20, 2010

23:48 hour

After seizing the city neighborhood, the attacking militia round up any survivors they found. Initially, they shoot indiscriminately, imposing many casualties. Some survivors managed to escape from the neighborhood, while unnoticed others hide inside buildings. The militiamen conduct mass search on buildings and either shoot or herd anyone they find. They separated foreigners and local hostages and gather them inside Al - Abi International Hotel, the largest hotel on the neighborhood. The shootings are still able to be heard on other neighborhoods. The streets becomes silent eerily. Bodies and vehicles strewn and abandoned at them. The bustling neighborhood now becomes a ghost town. Bahrain Emergency Command decides to conduct a joint operation between Bahrain National Guard and foreign forces whose citizens are inside the neighborhood such as: Russian Spetsnaz and Nate's Valkyrie Unit. Their plan is to insert the foreign forces first to capture Al - Abi Hotel then defend it until the main force of Bahrain National Guard arrives then sweep remaining militia.

Bahrain

Manama

Gudaibiya Neighborhood

June 20, 2010

23:48 hour

At a rooftop on a grocery, two ninja strangles and stabs two guarding militia RPG team. After turns right and left, he gives a signal. A group of masked men suddenly appear from darkness. Nate looks through his binocular looking for a target. He is asked by Colonel Petrovich, " What are you looking for?".

" Al - Habash Restaurant. That's where her last beacon signal was." Says Nate sadly. " It goes to further north. Come on, we got to move.", " I'm sorry, I mean.. My troops.." Apologizes Nate.

" My friend, don't be ashamed of asking for help. I've seen her. I'm sure she's alright." Comforts Colonel Petrovich.

" Thanks, Colonel. That's what I need." Replies Nate.

The party proceeds their way methodically through streets, buildings and rooms. They kill every militiaman they run into with bladed weapons, crossbows, shuriken and silenced rifles as well sidearms. The party stops when Nate sees Al- Habash neon lights hanging in front of the sacked restaurant. Nate orders four ninjas to check it. Inside the restaurant, four militiamen are rounding six captured civilians begging for their lives. A militiamen executes one of  them with a shot through the man's forehead. The executor moves and shoots the second hostage. Suddenly, when he is about to shoot the third hostage, eleven men in black led by an unmasked one leaps the restaurant windows and overwhelm the militiamen, killing two but spare the rest to surprise of the hostages. The two captured enemy are cornered to wall. Nate comes forward and orders Sam in stern tone, " Translate me."

" Answer my questions." Murmurs Nate coldly and angrily. The interrogated one quakes in fear.

" Did you see any Asian woman with two children?"

" The Asian wo-woman.. Yes.. I saw.. Th.. They were take.. taken to Al - Abi Hotel.. Please don't kill me.. Please don't.." Mumbles the militia.

" Who is in charge of this attack?"

" Abb..Abb.. Abdul.. Abdullah Ghoulam.. The Syrian.. He's on the hotel.."

" Tell me how he looks like."

" Tall.. He uses a short gun.. A Mac ten or eleven.. Yes.. Yes.. A Mac.. "

Nate turns to Colonel Petrovich, " I'll give the rest to you."

" Are they alright, Nate?" Asks the Colonel.

" From what I heard, yes. She didn't fight back in order to protect my children. For years I saved many people and hostages. I didn't know if such thing might happen to my family." Says Nate sadly.

Nate looks his surrounding and sees bodies of civilian and militiamen strewn. Glasses were bashed. Tables and chairs turned upside down on floor. The cashier burns. There's no light except reddish radiance from burning concretes. " Colonel, I wasn't here when they were attacked.."

" Stop blaming yourself, my friend. You didn't know this would happen. You didn't know..I know the guilt.. Three years after our first encounter. My only son, Nikolai, was killed in Beslan. I was far away from the city. My son was there but I couldn't do anything. If I could, I would break through the school and save my son, I wouldn't think about myself as long my son is safe. In the end, when I enter the school. I found him dead. I couldn't stop crying for six days. He was a hero, he calmed other children though he himself was afraid. I am proud of him. Today, the pain is still with me as if it happened yesterday."

" Polknovnik..." Says Alexey after hearing Colonel Petrovich's story.

Colonel Petrovich continues, " Yes, Alexey, that's true. I still feel the pain today."

He speaks again to Nate "You and her are heroes. I saw you two held against numerous enemies at the ridge. In the end, you were about to sacrifice yourself. I believe she's alright."

Colonel Petrovich's saying encourages Nate. " Thank you, Colonel. I feel revived now. May you find healing for your heart."

" My pain is relieved when I see a father like you. May your children become heroes just like their father and mother." Replies the Colonel.

" Thank you again, Polkovnik." Says Nate.

After Spetsnaz soldiers finish questioning the militia, the attacking party arms the hostages and ask them to guard the captured militia. Then they continue their advance to the hotel through the ghost town streets.

To be continued

License: Personal use and read only. Further usage requiring permission from author.

Disclaimer: All contents are fiction.

    

Chapter One: Unexpected News

Bahrain
Manama City
June 20, 2010
Gudaibiya Neighborhood
17:14 hour

A petite Japanese-American woman and her two children are walking on a bustling street on their way for dinner in Gudaibya, Manama. Twilight sky covers the city. The four years old girl calls her mother, " Mom, when will we be on the restaurant? I'm hungry." Shiori answers Alyson's question gently, " Soon, dear. Wait a liitle longer, okay?". " I want big chicken, mom." Says Brandon. Shiori laughs and answers Brandon, " That's if we get the big one."

Meanwhile, four men with sunglasses are waiting inside a parked white sedan on a street bank. They are tense as if were waiting something extraordinary. On their hands, short muzzled weapons such as Mac-10 and AK74SU are held below. One of the man sitting on the backseat asks the one sitting on the front passenger seat in Arabic,

" Is it the time?"

" No, not yet, Abdul." Asks the man on the front.

People on the district bustle around as usual. Security personnel stand and patrol on pedestrian. The man's watch starts to make a countdown. " 20, 19, 18, 17, 16.." The situation inside the car become more tense. Suddenly, a security personnel approach the car. He knocks the car's side windshield and addresses the passengers, " Good evening, sirs. Can I help you?" The passengers are surprised. " Hamid, do something! What are we gonna do?"

The passengers grip their weapons more intensely. The security personnel knocks the windshield again.

" Calm down!!" Shouts Hamid, the man sitting on the front passenger seat. " Let me handle this!"

Hamid opens the door and answers the security personnel's call. "Yes, sir? What happen?"

" Sir, I notice your car has been parked in this road for one hour. I though you were on trouble. Can I help you? Is everything alright?" Asks the guard.

" Yes, and what can I do to settle the matter?" Asks Hamid again intensely.

" Sirs, this is just a check. Can I see your driver license and check your baggage?" Asks the man.

" Why? .. Have we done something wrong?" Asks Hamid. The passengers on the backseat swithced off their guns' safety.

" No, sir. As I said, this is a regular check. Now I ask you and your passengers come out from the car." Emphasizes the guard.

Hamid, in extreme tense, draws his hidden Mac-10 and immediately has it pointed at the guard. " Huh?" Says the guard surprised. Hamid shoots the guard multiple times from close range. The passengers come out from their car and shoots other security guards nearby. Civilians near the scene run around and scream. Some hides behind any concrete while others try to escape. Suddenly, other gunshot sounds are heard on the entire district. Gunmen in civilian suit and armed with various weapons appear everywhere and shoot around both security guards and civilians, especially foreigner. Shiori quickly takes her children to safety inside a restaurant. Alyson screams and cries, " Mommy! Mommy! What happens? I'm scared!!". Brandon also cries, " Mommy! I'm scared! I'm scared!" Shiori calms the children, " It's okay. Mommy's here. Okay, calm down, calm, down, do what Mom says, okay?" People collapse to roads. Grenade blasts occur. The district sinks into chaos.

USA
Los Angeles City
Private Echelon Headquarter
June 20, 2010
07:45 hour

Nate tries to call Shiori through his cellphone in his office but it goes unanswered. He tries calling Shiori several times more but again goes unanswered. He then switches on TV to watch morning news. The morning news program broadcasts a shocking news,

" This evening, an unknown militia group assaulted and captured Gudaibya neighborhood in Manama. The situation inside is unknown. Shootings are heard from the district. The area is now surrounded by Bahraini security forces. So far no demand is asked by the assailants."

"What?" Responds Nate. He immediately calls Shiori again but goes unanswered. Suddenly, a call appears on his phone. It's from CIA agent Bob, now a field operation chief in Qatar, his former colleague in CIA SAD (Special Activities Division) nine years ago.

" Nate, it's me." says Bob in his Boston accent.

" What's up? Do you know that.." Replies Nate

" I know. Your wife and children are still inside there." Interrupts Agent Bob.

" How do you know that?" Asks Nate in surprise.

" That's a high profile family vacation for a jonin (Ninja Hierarchy Leadership) family like you." Answers Bob

" I must go there. You know what I mean." Says Nate

" I know. I'll take care of everything. See you here, old friend." Says Nate

" I count on you, Bob." Replies Nate.

" You can always count on me, pal."

Nate summons Sam, now a chunin (Middle Ranked Executive Officer) and Nate's bodyguard commander, to his office. Nate orders Sam, " Sam, deploy Valkyrie Team. We have a mission."

" Yes, sir." Answers Sam.

To be continued 

License: Personal use and read only. Further usage requiring permission from author.

Disclaimer: All contents are fiction.