>>5228806> “You alright? Think you got it clean as a whistle back on the plane.”He doesn’t look at you, instead focusing on the internal mechanisms of his sniper rifle with a methodical and almost religious precision.
“I know. Just a tradition of mine.” He croaks out.
You nod in silent understanding. As far as weird pre-op rituals go, Shade’s doesn’t even rank in the top 50. Nothing wrong with doing whatever it takes to get in the right headspace for this kind of work.
After all, soldiers are some of the most superstitious bastards you’ll ever meet. And given some of the shit you’ve gone blow-for-blow with, there might just be a nugget of the truth to it all.
You shift back into position and continue to survey the area for points of interest; chokepoints, potential counter-sniping spots, available cover, etc.
Your concentration is broken when Shade gently taps you in the shoulder with his boot and crouches down next you.
“Here. Got some extra gear for you. Don’t fucking break any of it, alright? I’m gonna want it back later.”
Included in his little care package is some spare ammo, a good scope, and a silencer for your M14.
> “Thanks. Where’d you get this shit, anyways?”“Stole most of it, traded for the rest.”
He cocks his head.
“Is it stealing if they were dead?”
> “That’d be looting.”Shade cracks a little grin, one that doesn’t look like it gets a lot of use.
“Cool.”
Suddenly, your earpiece starts to crackle, signaling an incoming message from Ravan.
“Defcon, are you and Shade in position?”
> “Roger. No issues, got a clean line of sight.”Looks like it’s time to plunge into the breach yet again. At least you’ll hopefully dodge the worst of the fighting on this one.
You’re not one to shy away from getting in the thick of things, but you’ve lost most of the tricks up your sleeve.
No magic, no fancy gear, just your own skills and whatever else you can cobble together.
Besides, it’s one thing to put everything on the line for business or for the people you care about. It’s another to have a gun put to your head and be given an ultimatum.
You’ll do as they ask, until they slip up and give you a real opening. Then, you’ll go for the goddamn throat.
“Good. We’re moving in soon. Wait for my signal, then kill anything holding a weapon.”
As you aim down the scope of your rifle and get a feel for the light wind blowing over the city, you mentally kick yourself. The embassy definitely would’ve had a phone you could’ve used.
Of course, those would definitely be tapped so it’s not like it’d be a secure call. That, and you’d have to avoid letting anyone notice, which would’ve been a trial on its own.
Rather than worry about that, you instead busy yourself with memorizing the location of the Russian perimeter guards. Doesn’t look like they’re on high alert, but something’s definitely spooked them.
