Snow fell in slow, heavy flakes, drifting sideways in the wind like scattered ash. The Russian taiga stretched endless in every direction dotted with black pines and buried rock underneath several layers of ice.
Six snowmobiles tore across the ridge and cut toward the tree line. Their lights flickered through the storm. The engines powered down one by one and plastic tarps hit the snow while they covered their tracks. The cold seeped through their thick layers of clothes, freezing every inch of them.
Ward unrolled a map over the hood of a tarped snowmobile. The falling snow soaked into the edges of the paper. A gloved finger traced the path northeast.
"Forest density increases here," she said. "We lose visibility after this ridge."
The comms in their ears communicated static and finally, a familiar voice.
"Spectre, this is Hammer, are you receiving me?"
"Loud and clear, Hammer."
"We have an extraction of a Dr Elena Novak," said Billy, from the other side of the comms. "A NATO cyber analyst who vanished outside a security conference in Helsinki. News around the world is reporting an abduction. The US government knows better and hired Cobalt to retrieve her."
"US government?" asked Reynolds, perplexed. "Then why isn't Shepherd and the 141 taking care of this?"
"This mission is unsanctioned. Need I say more?" replied Billy.
Hernandez lifted the encrypted tablet and showed Novak's photo to the rest of the team, holding it as steady as she could against the gale winds. Blonde hair framing a pair of deep-set eyes that looked haunting.
"Novak has been missing for six days," said Hernandez.
"Alive?" asked Reyes.
"Last intel says yes."
"How reliable?"
"Unsure."
Ward carried on with the briefing ignoring the tension descending on the team.
"Hostile presence expected," said Ward, holding the map. "Ultranationalist militia, well-geared and well-trained."
A gust of wind cut through the clearing, rattling tree branches like dry bones. In total silence, the soldiers checked their kit and gear and carried their radio check. Hernandez gave the final signal, and they moved out slipping between the trees.
In the distance, headlights cut through the snow as the engines of a couple land rovers roared angrily.
Spectre team sank into position. Reynolds settled in the prone position on a nearby ridge and raised her Remington. Peering through the scope, she scanned the area.
"Count?" Hernandez whispered through comms.
"Maybe twelve, thirteen total," replied Reynolds quietly. "Looks like Ultranationalists."
"Armed?"
"Affirmative. AKs and one PKM."
"Copy. Wait for signal."
The convoy crawled into the clearing, unaware of what was waiting for them in the treeline. The enemy soldiers stepped out of the vehicles as their breath fogged in the freezing air.
One shouted to another in Russian. The team didn't need translation; they stopped to search the area.
She aligned two soldiers in her scope. Two birds with one stone.
"Targets in sight. Waiting for orders."
"Execute."
A single suppressed shot and two dropped on the ground in a heap.
Hernandez ordered her to neutralise as much as possible before their cover was blown. Obeying her lieutenant, Reynolds searched the area for her next targets. Soldiers were hitting the ground like dead flies.
"Contact!" someone yelled in Russian.
The storm could not cover the bodies fast enough and one of them was spotted. Chaos erupted and gunfire tore through the clearing. Two men fell before they could even turn, the rest scattered for cover.
"Three down," Bianchi murmured into comms. "Seven moving, left flank."
"Copy. Shift to counter."
Flashes of orange and yellow burst through the forest. Snow exploded off the ground with every shot and shredding the branches and tree bark in the vicinity.
"Reloading!"
"Cover!"
One of the land rover's engines roared in the storm, driving gas down towards Hernandez's position. Spotting it through her scope, Reynolds swiftly pressed the trigger multiple times, and a muzzle flash lit the area temporarily. Three shots burst through the windshield resulting in the land rover changing direction eventually stalling out.
The squad cleared the area effectively with single shots, no ammo used more than it was necessary. Silence fell around them like the blanket of snow around them once more.
"Clear," said Reyes.
"Clear," Reynolds confirmed.
They regrouped and scanned the perimeter.
"Any runners?"
"One. Took off north," replied Ward.
Hernandez adjusted her grip on the rifle. "Doesn't matter. Let's proceed. Hammer, area clear. Moving to recover the hostage."
"Roger that Spectre. Good luck."
Ward got out the map once more scanning it closely.
"We need to move east, thirty clicks deep into Ultranationalist territory."
Spectre squad shuffled back to the snowmobiles, removing the plastic tarps, kicking up the thin level of snow that has settled upon them.
"Two clicks out," Ward said softly over comms. "Thermal ahead, multiple heat sources spotted. That's our nest."
Hernandez raised a hand and they slowed down to a halt. An abandoned lumber mill stood before them, its roof half-collapsed and walls rimed with ice. Lights flickering behind boarded up windows and smoke rising from makeshift chimneys made the decrepit building alive again.
"Count them," Hernandez ordered.
"Fifteen, maybe sixteen hostiles," replied Reynolds.
"Any eyes on Novak?"
"Negative," said Ward, peering through the thermals. "But it appears that there's a sub-level, lots of heat sources underground. Could be one of them."
"Alright ladies and gents. The plan is simple," said Hernandez, dismounting the snowmobile. "Infiltrate, secure the hostage, and extract. Keep it silent if possible."
"Yes, ma'am," they replied lazily.
They attached the suppressors to their rifles and advanced.
Inside the compound, the Ultranationalists gathered around rusted heaters and half-burned barrels with fires roaring from them.
A guard at the perimeter dropped soundlessly. One by one, soldiers fell, and no alarm was raised.
The team moved through the mill like ghosts, clearing rooms with cold precision. Bodies thumping on the ground. They faced a rusted metal door that led into the underground.
Hernandez gestured an order and Bianchi rushed forward attaching a silent breaching charge. A dull pop sounded, and the latch came free.
They shuffled through the corridor the air around them feeling warmer and thicker. A single bare bulb flickered overhead making it harder to identify the shadows in front of them.
Two guards were speaking Russian laughing and joking around. Their cackling was short-lived as two suppressed shots cut them off mid-sentence.
The team advanced to the last door at the corridor's end. Behind it, they could hear faint movement and the clattering of chains. This was it.
Hernandez took point and raised her hand up, gesturing the countdown.
Three. Two. One.
Inside the room, a woman sat on the floor, pale under the weak light, her wrists bound but eyes alert as ever.
"Elena Novak?"
She hesitated, then nodded once. "Who are you?"
"Your way out," Hernandez said simply.
Bianchi grabbed the bolt cutters and used all the strength he could muster to cut the chains.
"These are too thick, boss," he said, yielding. "We need a key."
"Search the guards."
They went through the pockets and belts of the militia that they had just neutralised.
"Got 'em," said Reynolds.
She rushed towards Novak and opened the heavy metal cuffs attached to the chains. Novak tried to stand but stumbled against the wall.
"Can you walk?" asked Reyes, peering into her eyes and scanning her body for visible injuries.
"I think so," she breathed, shivering uncontrollably.
Reyes covered her with a fleece jacket and guided her outside.
"Hammer, package is secure. Moving to the LZ for exfil."
"Roger that, Spectre. Good job."
The sun started to set as the helicopter made its way to the base in the UK. Novak observed the soldiers sitting near her and in front.
Rubbing her frost-bitten hands she remarked, "You're not military."
"No," replied Hernandez. "We're the ones they call when the military can't go."
"What happens now?"
"Now? We find out if this was worth the bloodshed."
The wheels of the helicopter landed softly on the tarmac at the base. The evening was chilly as ever, but nothing compared to the unforgiving endless and white environment of the taiga. Matthews was standing alongside Shepherd and Billy, waiting for them near the barracks entrance.
"What's her status?" Matthews asked Reyes.
"Slight hypothermia, malnourished, and weak. Nothing life-threatening."
"Dr Novak, we will guide you to the medical centre where you will spend the night under observation."
"Where am I?" she interjected.
"None of your concern," he continued indifferently. "We will talk tomorrow."
Matthews then turned to Reyes. "Don't let her out of your sight."
"Yes sir."
Reyes grabbed Novak and forced her towards the med centre.
"Good job Lieutenant," nodded Matthews. "Did you manage to find what we were looking for?"
Hernandez nodded towards Ward. What looked like an external hard drive was passed to Matthews who in turn gave it to Billy.
"I want it analysed by tomorrow morning."
"Consider it done sir."
"I am assuming you will keep me in the loop, Dave," said Shepherd menacingly.
"As if I have any other choice," he retorted, irritated. "Reynolds, you stay here. The others, RTB. Reyes will join you in the morning."