War of Hearts

Chapter Twenty-Seven - False Flag

The 141 and Farah scouted ahead with a drone, marking their entry point to the bunker. It was a remote area alongside a mountain. They would have to get in, neutralize the missile, then get out. Simple, as these things always start out.

They parked just off the X and pushed down from the mountainside, using the tall grass and rocks for cover. Soap and Price took point, taking down any guards who were wandering farther from the rest of the complex. They noticed one of them had a can of spray paint and was marking the walls of a nearby building with something.

"What the hell...?" Soap muttered.

Farah froze, "that's the ULF symbol..."

Price's voice was quiet with an underlying rage. "...Makarov is launching a false flag attack."

Hex swallowed, and Gaz spoke "Those missiles are American. He's pinning it on Farah and the West."

"He wants the world to think I'm the enemy... We need to figure out what the target is before it's too late."

They continued their advance and cleared the perimeter, ready to move to the interior of the bunker. Farah adjusted to take point, having some familiarity with the area. She was a force to be reckoned with, moving with grace and ease; a deadly dance as she eliminated enemies and led them to the silo where the missile was being held. "Clear."

Hex's astonishment was replaced with dread as she moved in. They all looked up at the missile and swallowed their disbelief, seeing it was now capped with a chemical warhead. Steam and mechanical whirring was echoing around the room and through the tunnels.

"Steamin' bloody Jesus..." Soap was moving in an instant, trying to find the controls and recall what Laswell instructed him to do in Chicago. There was a small case on a command center table nearby which he flung open. "It's already in phase one, it's gonna launch!"

"My missiles, my flags... my country..."

Price's voice was filled with dread. "Makarov wants the world to think you did this..."

"If this missile launches, they will."

"Farah, these are your missiles, there has to be a way to disarm it."

"There is." She hurried over to Soap and they got to work, but panic was setting in.

"Captain..." Soap muttered. He turned to look at them all with alarm in his eyes. "It's too late to stop it."

Nobody uttered a word. Hex looked around for anything that they could do. Her mind shifted to analyze, and she considered their situation. "Let it launch." She spoke.

"What??" Soap shot back.

"We can close the blast doors and detonate..."

Farah nodded slowly, then faster, processing her plan. "...containing the damage and chemicals to the bunker. Yes...Yes that will work."

"Where are the blast door controls?" Hex asked Farah.

"Back above."

"Let's move," Price commanded.

Farah and Soap didn't budge from their spot at the missile controls, "We'll get to a safe position and hold the launch as long as we can. Go, now!"

Hex, Ghost, Price, and Gaz rushed back towards the tunnels and pressed ahead to make their way back up to the ground level of the bunker, taking out the few straggling soldiers that had chased after them. They were nearly to the ladder when an enemy juggernaut barreled towards them. "Fuck!" Price shouted, "Get down!"

Every shot they fired was absorbed by the heavy armor, and Ghost and Price got pinned down behind a concrete barrier. Hex and Gaz were still around the corner and peeked over to watch helplessly as the steel-plated soldier advanced with ease. "What's the plan, Doc?" Gaz shouted

"What do you mean, 'what's the plan??'"

"Well, you seem to have all the brilliant ideas, got any now?"

"I don't know, hit him fucking hard!" She snapped.

They all took as many rounds to the juggernaut as they could, taking turns covering each other and trying to scatter his fire, but he was closing the gap of the narrow tunnel between him, and Price and Ghost. Her stomach was doing flips, seeing them so close to danger. Her eyes frantically scanned her surroundings, desperately searching for any way to help them.

"Two minutes to launch, captain!" Farah's voice rang in her ear

"Fuck!" Her calculating gaze darted around the tunnels and spotted a rusted vehicle sitting abandoned in the underground road of where they came from in the silo. She ran to it and began kicking a door off its hinges. Gaz followed her train of thought and helped her get it the rest of the way off. She grabbed it and held it in front of her. "I'll draw his fire, you guys- "

"Hit him fucking hard?" Gaz said with a smile.

She smiled back and nodded, then ran around the corner to begin charging down the tunnel.

Bullets sprayed the door, but they either deflected off or lodged into the metal. The window shattered and showered her with glass, littering her hair and uniform, but she pressed ahead. She was taking all his fire and gave the rest of her team the opportunity they needed to obliterate him with everything they had. Their shots finally began to pierce through, and the juggernaut dropped to the ground with a heavy *thud*.

"Clear, move!" Price shouted as he and Gaz sprinted for the ladder. Ghost watched Hex drop the door utterly in awe. She shook some of the glass off her and caught his stare, then smiled softly and chuckled, "told you I'd take the hits for you."

He rushed over to her. "You..." he said, as he grabbed her face with both hands "...are bloody incredible."

She smiled widely at him, so big her eyes squinted. His heart swelled as he watched the sparks return, the fire inside her igniting once more. He reluctantly released her, and they all ascended back up to the surface to fight their way to the blast door controls.

"One minute to launch!"

Price arrived at the control room first and savagely took down the guards inside. Gaz rushed to his side and with all his strength, pulled hard on the door lever until it shut.

It felt as though the entire mountain had shaken. Dust had kicked up from all over, and all the local wildlife scattered. The windows to the control room cracked, and Ghost instinctively threw himself over Hex. It finally settled and Price shouted into his comms. "Kilo, Soap?"

No answer

"Farah, do you copy?"

Hex held her breath.

"Soap, can you hear me?!"

"Loud and clear, captain. Detonation complete. Missile is dead. Chemicals contained."

They all threw their heads back in relief.

"Rog. RV at the Exfil, good work Bravo."