Dino Crisis: Stories

Chapter 7: Shoot to Kill

The briefing room was silent, save for the soft hum of the overhead lights. The tension in the air was thick, as the team gathered around a table scattered with maps, data drives, and weapons. Regina stood at the head of the table, her face set in grim determination. They had their orders—eliminate the people behind the Third Energy data collection on Ibis Island. But there was something different this time. This mission was personal.

"We know they're on Ibis Island. We know they're pushing the boundaries of Third Energy experiments," Regina said, her voice steady. "We don't have much time. If we don’t act now, the data will get out, and who knows what kind of damage it could cause. Our job is simple—find them, eliminate them, and get out before anyone knows we were there."

Gail looked across the table at the others. "We’ve been too passive so far. It’s time to stop playing games. Let’s end this before it gets out of hand."

But then, a voice interrupted from the corner of the room.

“I’m not going,” Cooper said, his tone cold and unwavering.

Regina turned to him, surprised. "What do you mean, you're not going? This is our only shot. We need everyone on this."

Cooper leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. "I’m not going in there to kill innocent people. You’re talking about wiping out whoever’s collecting data on Third Energy, but you don’t even know who they are. You’re willing to kill everyone on that island just because of a few rogue researchers? I won’t be a part of that."

There was a long pause, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Regina felt the tension in the room rise, but she refused to let it derail the mission. “We don’t have the luxury of mercy. These people are playing with fire, and we need to stop them before it all burns down.”

Cooper didn’t respond, his jaw clenched tight, his stance resolute. It was clear he wouldn’t be swayed.

“I understand your stance,” Regina said finally, her voice low but firm. “But this mission doesn’t change. I’ll be going with Gail, Dylan, and we’ll need someone to guide us from the outside. Rick, you're staying behind and guiding us remotely. I trust you can keep us in the loop.”

Rick nodded grimly from his position at the computer station. “I’ll be watching your backs from here. But be ready. I’ve got some intel you’re not going to like. Ibis Island is slated for total annihilation. The moment you step on that island, the clock is ticking. You’ve got one shot at this.”

The team looked at each other, knowing this mission wasn’t just about taking out a few rogue scientists anymore. They were running out of time.

Regina turned to the rest of the team. “We’ll need someone else. Someone who can get in, do the job, and get out without hesitation. Someone like Falk.”

At the mention of David Falk, a shiver ran down Dylan’s spine. Falk was a former military operative with a reputation for being ruthless. His name had come up before, but it wasn’t a decision Regina made lightly. Falk had been out of action for a while, but when the need arose, he was a weapon. A living, breathing weapon.

“I’ll contact him,” Gail said, standing up and grabbing his phone. He stepped out of the room to make the call.

Minutes passed in tense silence. The team exchanged worried glances. Everyone knew that the clock was ticking, but the thought of bringing someone like Falk into this mission added a new layer of uncertainty. The man didn’t play by any rules.

Gail returned shortly after. “He’s in. He’ll meet us at the rendezvous point in two hours.”

With Falk on board, they gathered their gear. Weapons were checked, radios were set, and all the data they had recovered was stashed safely in their packs. They weren’t just going in to eliminate their targets—they were going in to prevent the release of an unthinkable force.

The team piled into the helicopter, the engines roaring to life as they ascended. The flight was tense, each member of the team lost in their own thoughts. Regina stared out the window, watching as Ibis Island slowly came into view. It looked serene from the air, but she knew better. Beneath the surface, the island was a ticking time bomb.

“Rick, can you hear us?” Regina said over the comms.

“I hear you loud and clear. Just remember what I said—there’s a nuke ready to wipe out that island, and it’s not a ‘maybe.’ You’re on borrowed time.”

The team nodded in unison. They knew the stakes. If they didn’t finish the job quickly, it would all be for nothing. The island would be wiped clean off the map, and no one would ever know what happened there.

The helicopter touched down near the outskirts of Ibis Island, the dense jungle pressing in on all sides. They unloaded quickly, keeping low to the ground as they moved towards their first target. Falk was already waiting, his eyes scanning the perimeter.

“Let’s get to work,” Falk said, his voice a low growl. He was all business.

Regina nodded, her jaw set with determination. “We move fast. Find the lab, take out anyone who tries to stop us, and get the data. Don’t engage unless you have to.”

As they made their way through the thick jungle, the sounds of Ibis Island seemed to fade into the background. They were focused, moving with precision. Falk led the way, his eyes sharp, his movements silent. He knew how to track and eliminate threats without ever being seen.

They reached the first compound just as dusk was beginning to settle over the island. The compound was well-guarded, but nothing Falk couldn’t handle. He slipped into the shadows, taking down two guards with deadly efficiency before signaling the team to move in.

Regina, Dylan, and Gail followed close behind, each member watching their sector, ready for whatever came next. They breached the facility, moving swiftly and silently through the darkened halls. Data terminals flickered to life as they searched, and soon, they had what they came for—detailed Third Energy data that would expose everything.

But then, a voice crackled over the comms. “You’ve got three minutes. Get out, now.”

It was Rick. “They’re moving the nukes into position. If you’re not out by then, you’re done.”

Dylan’s heart raced. “We’re almost there.”

They grabbed the final pieces of data and turned to leave, but just as they neared the exit, a loud explosion rocked the compound. The ground beneath their feet shifted, and the entire facility trembled.

“They found us!” Gail shouted, pulling his weapon free.

The team didn’t wait for orders. They fought their way out, taking down anyone who stood in their way. Falk led the charge, cutting through opposition like a hot knife through butter. Regina, Gail, and Dylan provided cover, ensuring their retreat was unhindered.

As they made their way back to the extraction point, the sound of helicopters overhead signaled the final countdown. They were close—too close.

Rick’s voice came through the comms one last time. “You’re running out of time. The countdown’s at thirty seconds. Move!”

The team sprinted toward the helicopter, the distant sound of explosions growing louder with every step. The jungle around them seemed to close in, but they didn’t stop. They couldn’t afford to.

As they reached the helicopter, they piled in, breathless and covered in dirt and sweat. The rotors spun, and they lifted off just as the first shockwave from the nuclear strike hit. Ibis Island, once a haven of secrets and danger, was now a charred, radioactive wasteland.

Regina looked out the window one last time, the smoldering remains of the island reflected in her eyes.

“Mission complete,” she said quietly. "But this is just the beginning."