NERVES OF STEEL

CHAPTER 24- CHAMELEON

                      The very next morning at 4am, the men were already up and training. Russo spent most of the day inside, receiving as much information as possible from Felix who was tracking the S.A through a satellite.

                    The mission was set to take off at twelve midnight so as to catch the enemy by surprise. So throughout the rest of the day, the team spent their time, strategizing, training and going over the plan again and again.

                 The location of the Neuroveil was an industrial warehouse and given the size, the men planned to pair up in twos so as to infiltrate the place faster and increase the chances of finding the chemical as it could be anywhere.

                  The men were worn out by nightfall and finally it was time for dinner or rather, night grub. The Soldiers gathered round on the grass under the open night sky as the meal cooked a few feet away. One of the men was the one cooking a meal of rice porridge and the end result obviously wasn't looking pretty but the men was used to it. Out in the fields when luxury couldn't be afforded, one had to make do with what they could find.

                  Sitting in a circle, the team could be seen chattering in high spirits, laughing as they are like brothers as if there wasn't a life or death mission a few hours away but wasn't that what it meant to be a Soldier? One had to live each day like it was his last because for a Soldier, it could actually turn out to be.

               Diane looked around. One of them was missing-'Russo'. Where was he? Urgh! Why did she care? After eating what was left of her plate, she took yet another and left the group.

"That'll be all for now, Felix." Russo said.
"Goodluck, man."
"Ofcourse I'm gonna be back. Who the hell is gonna beat your ass at snooker if I die?"
"True but you won't be beating me this time around."
"We'll see."

                  He heard a beep from the other end. Felix had hung up but then he heard yet another sound from behind him. A knock.

"Come in." He said expecting it to be Lewis but why would Lewis knock? No it was him. It was Diane and she was holding....dinner? For him?
"Since you wouldn't be joining the rest of us, I thought it better to bring you a plate." She said, setting it on the desk.

He was sitting in front of a computer which she noticed was filled to the brim with certain coordinates.

"I was planning to."
"Then you'd have met an empty pot."
"Mmm."

                 Russo turned away and focused on the screen instead. He didn't like entitlements. Wasn't used to it and didn't want to start now.

"If my actions last night, passed out the wrong message, then I sincerely apologize, Serg." Came his cold voice.
"I don't understand—"
"Take it out." He spoke, an icy edge to his tone.
"What?" She was baffled by his reaction.
"I'm busy and besides, I don't eat before a mission."
"It's in two hours time."
"And if I were you, Sergeant, I'd get busy."

           He cut her a stern look and she got the message clearly. Turning around, she left the room and shut the door with a bang! How foolish of her thinking there was such a thing as reciprocating this man's act of....kindness? How can one be such a chameleon?

Soon, the team of twelve were all geared up and ready. Each holding a gas mask in hand. A chopper arrived at exactly twelve midnight and took them all to the location. With a stern expression on everyone's faces, they all braced themselves for what was to come. These were the moments were a Soldier doesn't smile.

                On arrival, the helicopter's blades whirred loudly as it descended onto the rooftop of the old industrial warehouse. The twelve man team, led by Russo, braced themselves against the stomach-churning turbulence. Diane's eyes kept scanning the surrounding area through the open door.

              The warehouse was eerily silent for a building supposedly housing one of the most dangerous chemical weapons known to man.

"Touch down in thirty seconds!" The pilot's voice crackled through their earpiece. Adrenaline already surging in everyone's veins. Just then, Russo's voice cut through the tension, cold and commanding. "You all know the objective. Secure the Neuroveil, eliminate hostiles and get the fuck out. Make no goddamn mistakes."
"Yes, sir!" They chorused. The men got up and stood in twos, according to their paired partner. Russo noticed, Lewis was with Diane much to his surprise. Not trusting Lewis, he immediately switched partners.
"Ryan...go over to Lewis. Alvarin, you're with me."

                        Diane gave sharp nod, steeling herself for what was to come. The team put on their gas masks and everyone turned on the flashlights attached to the front of their helmets. The moment chopper's skids hit the rooftop, the team was on their feet, weapons at the ready. They moved quickly, splitting into pairs as they cleared the area.

                     Russo raised his hand, signaling for silence as they approached the metal door leading inside. His eyes narrowed. Something felt wrong—too quiet, too still. But there was no time for hesitation. With a swift kick, the door flew open and the team poured inside.

                   The interior was dimly lit, the only sounds were the soft hum of machinery and the scuff of their boots against the concrete floor. The warehouse was massive, rows of rusted crates and industrial equipment lined the walls.

"Clear!" Lewis called from ahead.

Russo's gaze swept the area in a second, every muscle in his body coiled tight.

"Fucking move!" He growled. "The Neuroveil's supposed to be in the lower chambers."

The team fanned out, each taking a different route through the maze-like building. As Russo and Diane led the way deeper into the structure, a sudden burst of gunfire erupted from above. Bullets spread from the rafters, forcing the team to dive for cover.

"Ambush!" Diane exclaimed, taking cover behind a crate as more gunfire ricocheted off the metal walls.

                She wasted no time in positioning her rifle at the enemies. Sending off as many gunfire as possible. Meanwhile, Russo stood behind her, his jaw clenched as he fired back, taking out three of the attackers hidden in the rafters.