Hotel Six: A Call of Duty Fanfiction

Chapter 47: Loose Ends

"It's been a tough week, gentlemen." Shepherd set a full glass of whiskey on the mantle at the back of the room under a large painting of an American flag and the silhouettes of five soldiers saluting it. "We've lost more than we ever dreamed. But we will recover. I've got a blank check. And we're gonna use every cent of it killing Makarov." He typed in something on his computer and scrolled the mouse across the desktop to search for some files. "Despite what the world may say, we are not savages, we don't kill civilians. We use precision. There's an evil man hiding in these shadows and we're gonna bring him into the light. Once his face is revealed, we will write history, gentlemen." He enlarged the images on a map and turned the computer for the rest of the team to see. "These are the last safe havens left on Earth for Makarov and his men."

Price leaned in, studying the locations, one in Russia, and the other in Afghanistan. "Sounds like we gotta be in two places at once."

"Impossible?" asked Shepherd, cocking a brow at the famously ambitious Captain.

"Not for the 141."

Ghost folded his arms, rocking his weight back and forth until they were evenly distributed between his feet in a comfortable position. "Fifty-fifty chance to take out Makarov, eh? Captain Price, request permission to take the safehouse with Roach and Lone Wolf."

"Granted," said Price, nodding his head. "Soap and I will take the boneyard in Afghanistan." 

Shepherd raised himself from his propped-up position on the desk to his feet, spine straight as he tugged the bottom of his jacket to smooth out the wrinkles. "Very well. We will cut off all avenues of escape." He turned back to look at the team once more before leaving the room, a sinister glow in his pale blue eyes. "This ends now."

The door closed behind him, and Price kept his eyes on the place the General had just stood as he spoke to Soap. "Strange," he said. "I could have sworn we ended this war yesterday..."

"If Makarov's still out there," said Soap. "We can't let him keep roamin' the world free. This war isn't over until Makarov's dead."

Roach set his brows. "But isn't it odd that he has a blank check, even after we nearly decimated the Russian army on the East Coast? Even if there's still a bounty on Makarov's head, this doesn't sit right with me."

Soap shook his head, a touch of ire in his voice. "I can't help what Shepherd and the Americans want. All I can do is work with them to achieve a common goal."

Jessica shifted her gaze to Price's face, seeing the muscles in his jaw working. "We do need Makarov gone, I agree," she said. "Because at least if he's gone, the Ultranationalists won't have a leader."

"They already don't have an army," said Price. "We don't need a blank check to hunt Makarov. I feel like Shepherd's up to something."

"I think he's just as ready to see Makarov dead as we are," said Soap. "Let's nail this guy and go home. Then we won't have to work with Shepherd anymore. A'ight?" 

They all nodded solemnly and headed for their barracks to prepare. "When do you want us back, sir?" asked Ghost.

"As soon as you can. I'm ready for this to be over."

Galaxy laid beside Roach as he stroked her ears, occasionally twining his fingers into her scruff. "I don't know why I'm so nervous about this," he whispered.

"I know," she replied. "My stomach is in knots, too."

"What if Makarov isn't here?"

"Then he'll be in Afghanistan, and Price and Soap will get him," she said.