Let Vigilance Be Our Sword

Prologue

"Let Vigilance Be Our Sword" — Third Echelon's motto

Prologue

Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, August 2nd 2022

The large C-147B Paladin was parked in a secure hangar far from the prying eyes of the rest of the base after returning from Fort Bragg, North Carolina. This was exactly what the members of Fourth Echelon, an agency that didn't officially exist, wanted. It also didn't help that they had precious cargo that needed to be transported to Langley. The CIA, while grateful for the intelligence they had received from them, wanted a shot at the prisoner before he was shipped off to Guantanamo.

Which is why a pair of unmarked SUVs were parked next to the plane. The convoy would take Bardon Schaefer to the CIA Headquarters at Langley for Interrogation. But before this could take place they needed to stop at a safe house for extra precautions. Which is why Paladin 9 Security offered their services and vehicles. It also helps that Victor Coste the CEO of Paladin 9 is friends with Director Sam Fisher. Well that's what Agent 6 had heard from Briggs, another Splinter Cell Agent. Briggs was an interesting character, the son of Rear Admiral Tommy Briggs.

Agent 6 or Brock took out the prisoner and put him in the middle vehicle. He then entered the vehicle and cuffed the prisoner. He heard his earpiece vibrate.

"Agent 6. This is Deputy Director Grímsdóttir. This mission is highly critical for the national security of the United States. Failure is not an option. The current route is on your OPSAT".

"Roger that Ma'am"!

Suddenly the prisoner started to shuffle and finally spoke.

"My employers will kill me and all of you. Haha". Said Schaefer

"Be quiet"! Shouted Brock

"Get this convoy moving. We need to get to the safe house". Said the driver of the vehicle

A Few Minutes Earlier

Viktoria Antsyforov's plan could have been better but she had only made contact with the ambush team a few days beforehand. It was relatively easy to make entry into the country. Using her fake identity and when she arrived at the airport, no one had a clue that she was a wanted terrorist. Megiddo made sure of that. The Snow Maiden loaded her rifle and waited along with the members of the extremist groups True Sons and the Last Man Battalion. They were phase 2 of Meggido's plan for the United States. The plan is to launch a series of coordinated attacks to cripple the United States with the use of biological weapons. But first things first. Time to kill Schaefer.

With the convoy

It had been twenty minutes since the convoy had left Joint Base Andrews. The ride was quiet and tense. But it's going according to plan for the most part. Brock looked around and suddenly felt uneasy. The road was surprisingly not filled with any vehicles. Probably due to some manufactured crisis to get people off the road. But he just didn't like the quiet.

"Lead Vehicle here. We have a situation on the road. Looks like a car accident".

This set alarm bells in Brock's head.

"All vehicles, this is Grizzly. Prepare for a possible ambush. There's supposed to be no vehicles on the road!"

"Roger that SC. Prepare for an ambush". Said the Paladin 9 Security Commander

Suddenly gunfire erupted from the treeline and two security contractors were gunned down instantaneously. " OH SHIT"! Yelled Brock as his face was then plastered with blood and brain as the head of Bardon Schaefer exploded. He then exited the vehicle to take cover.

"Deputy Director Grímsdóttir, this is Grizzly! Matchwood is burning! Repeat, matchwood is burning!" Said Brock

"Grizzly this is Grim. Hold your position. We have local PD and SWAT headed toward your location now".

"Roger that Ma'am. If I don't make it, use my helmet footage to good use".

Brock grabbed his SC-40K Assault Rifle (an updated version of Third Echelon's SC-30K Rifle) and began firing at the hostiles. The enemies were wearing a mixture of white and other colored tactical gear with armbands either saying LMB or TS. One hostile appeared to his left and he fired a few rounds that downed the enemy. Brock and the Paladin 9 Security contractors quickly realized that they were running out of ammunition and being overrun. They weren't exactly prepared for a major firefight in the continental United States.

Brock grabbed a grenade from a fallen enemy and threw it toward a group of hostiles. It exploded near the hostiles and he then felt a burning pain swell his chest as he saw blood seep out. He collapsed to the ground and vision slowly faded. He saw a woman order one of the hostiles to start executing the wounded.

In the C-147B Paladin Control Room

Deputy Director Grímsdóttir started cursing as she saw what had unfolded. Matchwood burning was the code for a mission going FUBAR.

"Fuck! How the hell could this happen"!

"We're looking into that Ma'am"! Replied Kyle, one of Fourth Echelon's analysts.

"Charlie, where's the drone footage"?

"It looks like our drone footage was erased just as the attack on the convoy began. Whoever these guys are, they have some serious firepower. They had military grade weaponry". Replied Charlie Cole

"Sam isn't going to like this at all". Grimm replied

"Where is he anyway"?

"He's following a potential lead on Megiddo. He's been obsessed since the Blacklist Attacks. He thinks there's a connection but doesn't know what yet".

Abandoned Complex, Washington DC, United States, August 2nd

Director Sam Fisher cursed when his ear piece buzzed. He finally had time to work on his ongoing investigation into the mysterious organization known as Megiddo. The organization that not only attacked the United States but attacked his family. Hell, he was tapping into other intelligence agency resources to figure out their motivations and what other moles they have left.

The past ten or so years have not been kind to the United States. The 2010 Las Vegas Attack, the Third Echelon Conspiracy of 2011 left Washington DC attacked by EMP's and a rogue PMC, as well as an attack on the White House itself. A year later in 2012 the terrorist organization known as the Engineer's lead by Majid Sadiq led a series of coordinated attacks on the United States known as the Blacklist. These had left the United States in a weakened position and the disbandment of Team Rainbow didn't help matters at all. He and the rest of Fourth Echelon had been working tirelessly for years to prevent and stop attacks by any means necessary. They only failed once, the 2015 chemical attack on Bartlett University by the White Masks. Mussed out of his thoughts Fisher reopened his coms.

"What's going on Grim?

"Fisher. Matchwood is burning".

"Shit! How was the convoy attacked"?!

"It was an ambush. They knew the route. There's a mole in the government ". Said Grim

"I'm meeting with the President, and some other officials along with LTC. Mitchell of Ghost Recon, and Team Rainbow's Director tomorrow. We'll figure out a plan". Fisher said

"Good. What do I explain to the authorities"?

"Give them the usual spin. Follow the investigation closely. I want to know who those assailants are".

"Brock's camera footage should be online shortly. I'll share the video with you".

"Good. Now, I have an early meeting with the President to prepare for. I do lead an organization that officially doesn't exist".