FourtyTwo

Juggernauts (BigPapaBelial and kingkonrad) IC

Ross pushed up, getting cover by Carl, as he raised his Mk48, his arms and whole body tired out by now. This was getting tiresome, as he set up a position for defense, his comms buzzing again.
"We got incoming, Knight. Hold your ground." Andrew said, as he adjusted his rangefinder, seeing the two truck fulls of militants stop further down the mountain, maybe 2km out. They would hit Knight within a couple of minutes, and when it hit, there would be hell to pay. There was six men against perhaps two dozen, but somehow, Andrew could guess that those four down there would be able to take out a fair number and get through this ordeal.
"Lock and load, Nolan. I'll clack up the targets. Knight, they look like they've split into about three, one group flanking to your right, two moving either side of the river. Watch your front 180, we don't see any behind." Andrew added, as back down by the LZ, the smoke still flowing out, Ross saw the first few come into sight. The Mk48 barked into life, as Ross aimed down the sight at a few of the men, a stray couple of rounds snagging his chest, as he took out another, before keeping his head down, Ramsay using his HCAR's stable platform to snipe off two more men that were trying to move into cover behind some rocks.
"Knight, your transport is one mike out." Ross heard, as he moved back out, firing as he heard the distant sound of the helicopter rumble over the valley side in the distance. Ross kept his head down, and dropped a pair moving to the right hand side, feeling his ammo run a little lower by every round that he fired, giving Carl the opportunity to frag a few more. The helicopter began it's landing pattern, the side gun already opening up and peppering supressive fire across the area.

-----

"Contacts, moving up on the right. They're ragheads, no armor, nothing. Range is 750 moving on 670, bearing 050, I count minimum five. There's no crosswind, but 2m/s to the east from us. Fire when ready, drop 'em." Andrew said to Nolan, watching the group move on the other side of the river, watching Nolan get to work, as he didn't use his own rifle just yet- that would come if there was some extra firepower needed against a larger grouping and number of targets.

-----

The helicopter came in quick, the Wildcat's skids scraping gravel as the pilot was barely able to keep it in control. It had been a fast landing, as Ross looked to Carl, then at Ramsay.
"You fuckers get in. Just shoot like hell in our direction, don't worry if you stray a round! Just do as I fucking say!" Ross said, as the SEAL leader gave the order to his collegue, and they moved back to the helicopter, the door gunner, opening up fire on a group on the left, taking three down as the rest dived into the dirt, getting cover and popping off inaccurate shots. This was a Taliban group- not AQ, it seemed, this was a bunch of goatherders with AKs rather than full on AQ-trained operators with advanced weaponry. Taking out the grouping in front, Ross looked to Carl, as he took a shoulder and helped him move, putting whatever energy he had left. It was hellish- his own weight was enough, but Carl and his armor weighed enough, and while he only had him partially weighted in order to stop his ankle from completely collapsing and get them the fuck out. It was strenuous, and with his helmet off, the effort on Ross's face could be seen, as he rushed towards the door, rounds still flying overhead and a few even hitting the helicopter, the gunner's reponse enough to warrant them time to get in.

Hurling Carl in as he let him get a step aboard, Ross threw himself by the gunner's position, laying down whatever fire he could as the helicopter began to dust off, gunfire roaring as Ross laid down whatever he could, the gunner moaning as suddenly a bullet pricked inside.
"Fucking hell! To the bloody helmet!" He yelled, as Ross looked, chuckling, as he saw the bullet fragment sit in the well between him and the gunner on the L7A2 in the door, ricocheted off his crew helmet. If that had happened to Ross, he'd be dead- but this guy had it the other way round, a crazy irony. And Ross knew that shock was a natural reaction, but so was his other one.
"You'll have kids yet, you crazy bastard." Ross said, as Ramsay chuckled, looking out the door as the Wildcat picked up speed, nose down as they thundered out of the valley, getting the fuck from that area and the rapidly closing set of troops.

Sierra Vanguard (Espionage RP)

ONL should post soon I would hope- otherwise I'll push us forwards.

Military RPs- a Cause for Debate

Holy thread revival. Wow, I'm interested to see this post, that's for certain.

Over the last few months, I've run probably a few more crazy RPs, that aren't exactly military, but do have a focus that related to the spun stuff that I've known of military. I've learned a lot though, from other RPs, such as Lima, about particular narratives that Military RPs require. It's a strange sort of balancing act- and I keep seeing the divisions between the types that want hardcore, absolutely rough military RPs with total and full realism, to those who dabble in the lighter ends of stuff. I've always frayed the lines between the two, and have never been able to properly satisfy both camps. From this thread, I started Devil's Brigade, as an attempt to foster an RP that focussed on contemporary and a realistic portrayal of warfare in Afghanistan, something that didn't come about in itself. It didn't work sadly- and I realize it wasn't really that great a construct. It felt artificial, really kinda just put up for the sake of it. It wasn't something that I could really write that well, and I couldn't tell why. I think maybe it just was because it had no fire in it- no real sort of passion behind it, that I always try and give in my RPs, and that it's at least better to have your own sort of creativity pushed upon something even if one or two elements of realism do drop away- ones that are just a really, really irritating barrier to opening an RP that can have some influence.

I wouldn't even say it's down to experience or elitism in the community- just because you've served, it doesn't make a military RP any more good for your presence, it only serves to fuel an elitist streak (I have seen many an RP go down when one very, very gung-ho military-type RPer has often over-criticized one fledgling member). While I acknowledge it and would most definitely say that sure, it's a great contribution that you bring and it gives the GM some perspective, it's something that alone doesn't add a lot when you think about it- whilst useful to put yourself in the mindset of a soldier and someone in a warzone, there are liberties that can be taken, as there can be with many other RP genres.

A great example was that of an RPer (whom shall remain unnamed) that told me to open a door on a helicopter via PM, when there were a group of private contractors aboard a Kamanov Ka-60 utility helicopter. Now, I insisted on them being shut, despite it being a dusty desert environment, as the Ka-60 is surprisingly well cooled- as with many light aircraft, there is a basic climate control, so you don't boil to death. This was someone in the US National Guard I believe, and yes, had something to do with helicopters (as a soldier, not a pilot). Now, I've ridden in the back of a helicopter (AW109), and I can tell you that I stand by that decision, even if it is a different model. You don't have to be a geek about helicopters to understand this stuff, but the GM's authority, when undermined, can be really withered away when a particular RPer overimparts it. I told them I would stand by it, and I received another separate PM.

Safe to say, when a GM who has made a specific decision that seems so tiny and insignificant and is hassled over it, you begin to really wonder where the line is. I want to make a realistic RP, but I do want to maintain my own features of it- and not be fucking messaged when I do one thing out of order. It is important, sure- but there is a point when it stops being for realism, and it starts being a total simulation of a war environment, and becomes a fucking drain to run. I like to enjoy RPing- and frankly, whilst there are places where keeping realism is worthwhile, there are areas where it vastly polarizes the RP group that you're with when some have a vague grasp of realism and others are former servicemen/current.

It really depends what you're going for- and whilst useful, and definitely a great benefit to use in order to further the RP, it can't be used as the only standpoint. Realism is good, of course- but when it gets too much, there is a point where people begin to lose interest.

But I digress.

The point being, I've given up myself on seeing other people run military RPs that last a long and particularly interesting set of time. I've realized that it's the point that people begin bickering about equipment or scenarios, or generally retarded people get involved. The cogs begin to seize, and they die. There was a Vietnam one a few weeks back- and that crashed out, from what I saw. GMs don't avoid the blame either. Non-faithful GMs are fucking horrid. I will say that whilst people have real lives, GMing an RP is a big undertaking- you're creating your own creative scene that requires constant control and work to keep in check. In the past year, I believe I was a part of a couple- one about a WW2 RP set on Crete, that fell through because the GM simply stopped posting. It felt like a letdown, like even my enthusiasm was going to shit. It's a very personal account I'm giving here, as I am finding that it's the best way to write it up. Military RPs can exist, it's just that I've discovered that due to a multitude of factors, they're an impossibility to run.

The only way I see you can run a military RP is to form exceptionally strong bonds with RP partners, about three or four or so. This would mean contact in other forms than just RPG- Skype, or any form of chat (IRC, and so on). Only that way, do you get a consensus of agreement on what the GM is trying to paint as a picture, and it really allows for people to get involved. With Sierra Vanguard, a light-hearted espionage RP that I've set up, I've done it with three of the closest RPers I've worked with.

Many other RP genres can exist without this method, I think- Fantasy and Medieval, Sci-Fi too, but Military and maybe more intricate Spy or so on RPs won't work without an intricate bond. Lima works on that basis- and whilst perhaps less realistic, it does still give a good attempt at putting RPers into the minds of special forces personnel. A fantasy, if you will- but one that finds good traction in a military RP, for the specific segment I'm working with. Yet it works because I know the RPers I'm working with on a far greater level than just in the RP itself an the OOC- and therefore, working with them is a little easier, knowing that I can at least let them go right ahead and do what they think makes sense. There's a broad agreement on what works and what doesn't, and with RPers that you have little contact with, it's playing russian roulette quite frankly.

Hence why military RPs may fail. The content can be dictated to the GM's pace, and whilst there is a stark divide between the two camps, the GM themselves is probably part to blame. My response? I would love to do more and more RPs that have a historical and military focus, but I've slowly lost touch with it. Time and time again, I've tried to base it off different mediums, work with others, and repeatedly, I've seen the dream go to shit. I'll probably have a successor for Lima, and if anyone wants to join in, I say that there will be open spots. But if you don't like it, you can fuck off, quite frankly. I've RPed military for five to six years now, and while I'm not perfect, I do have a good idea of what makes an RP work when you have the right people onboard. Countless numbers, by this point- on new and old guilds. I don't let my RPs die, my people do, or when I join an RP, the GM or someone else leaves and it all falls apart. That is what it comes down to in the end- and I find it rude when people do decide to leave without any justification. That's all I'll say about it really- and that's all that really needs to be said of the topic. To anyone that would like to do a military RP- I would love to, but sadly, I think I've tried enough.

Sierra Vanguard (Espionage RP)

"That GMG might be useful for their vehicles, but watch for collaterals. Area looks mostly clear of civies, but remember, we minimize it and avoid the shitty blowblack we've already expected for this. Still, click and shoot. Should work though." Martin said, looking over at the general overview of the feeds, as he then watched the drone in the sky, the one that Drevan had "borrowed" for observation. Martin couldn't help but feel charmed that his team were good at creating solutions to problems. They needed an eye in the sky, and Martin wanted a drone from MI5, to do their work for them. Instead, he had been refused, as it was too risky in an airspace like this. So instead, now, Drevan had done this. Here he was thinking that he'd engineered a different solution, but in reality, this was the one that would work, this was the one that was giving them the views. The UGV was a good piece of equipment to use, but again, was a failsafe. Martin didn't like losing agents after all, and Sierra had only ever lost a few. A few good men and women, who were cremated, their bodies buried at sea if they were recovered at all. And he knew that it was all based on getting the right timing and the right methods that meant that people didn't fuck up. From Drevan's questionable hacking, to Cassie's unorthodoxy, George's suave methods and Thom's role in the background as a connecting thread, you could tell that while they all had different ways of getting the job done, they were unbeatable. Oh, and him. Controlling that circus like the brave magician he was. He knew exactly how it ran from the lower levels, so he had no qualms in calling the shots to make the calls he was making now. There would be bodies
"Affirmative, Liberty." Martin simply said into his headset, as he took another sip, watching Liberty's feed.

------------

Hassam looked at Lancaster, or Qadir, taking a small sip, as he nodded, Thom looking across. Very soon, things would be getting real. The radio buzzed, as he heard Liberty place herself in position, and could tell, that when she came in, it was going to get very dangerous indeed. Hassam drank down a little more, as Thom took another strong puff, before putting it back.
"This hashish is not bad at all. I'll need to take some with me. Allahu Akbar (God is great) for your presence, Mohammed. I do wish I could make a better introduction." Thom simply said in Arabic, as he adjusted the position of his watch. Hassam looked at Thom particularly, words forming in his throat but not coming out, as Thom moved his wrist up an inch further, Sadiq looking at Hassam in particular worry. Then, Thom pushed his finger into the watch's adjusting dial, and the miniture pressurized compartment, and the cyanide dart inside flew out of the watch.

The tiny dart was perhaps half the size of a toothpick, and it flew through the air with a vigorous force, landing into Sadiq's neck. It flew through his Carotid Artery, and the tipped dart left enough poison in his bloodstream, pumped to his heart to shut it down within mere seconds. The handful of men in the room looked around and yelled loudly in Arabic, as Thom watched the carnage now unveil from Liberty's unorthodox methods- throwing himself flat on the floor in front with his hands pushed forward, head down so as to not get shot or murdered. Hassam was already out for the count, and on the floor too, unconscious but more passed out than a sleeping drunkard.

(Short post is short. May the defecation hit the ventilation, people.)

Burning Rubber (Bee and kingkonrad)

Seb parted off to the side, and while knowing it wasn't the longest flight that he'd done- that being reserved for the Eiger, this was something special, unique. It was one of a kind, and the cold wind and total trust in his abillity reminded him, that there was no place he would rather be. The blue and black was a smidge of a color as it blasted past a set of rocks, Seb now going to the left, away from her. He saw Ellie get her canopy open, and followed with his own, throwing the pilot chute out as he brought his arms in, legs still open as he brought his arms out, the pilot chute flying out of the burble. The rest of the canopy rushed out, and Seb felt it slow him down from 160mph to 30, the force hard but something he was used to with a high performance wingsuit like this. Looking down, he yelled with joy, looking over at Ellie's golden parachute, contrasting to his own black-topped, blue underneath colored canopy. It was fairly docile, but for something like this, it had to be- the last thing that Seb wanted was a kite to stop him when the rush ended. Turning the toggles, he dived a little, seeing Ellie come down as he whooped again, flaring as he felt his feet almost touch the ground. It was the last moment, the moment when your feet and your body no longer felt in the sky, like you were still in the void. And as his feet touched the rock, he made a running landing, as the canopy collapsed.

Seb was landing on the rocky beach by her side, high fiving her and screaming with joy. This was perfection, as he looked over to her, helmet still on and canopy behind him. He smirked as she looked over, the rocky beach along the fjord's coastline just a little desolate, but a wonderful place to be. And after that, it felt like he was most alive. Like he was truly living a life. He turned off his GoPros on his chest and leg, looking at Ellie, as she took her clothes off, and in her thermal garnments, was running to the sea. He filmed it through his helmet cam, as he saw her splash in, and warm on adrenaline, begin swimming. Turning the camera off, and unzipping his wingsuit, he threw down his kit, anchoring his canopy on the stones as he took off his down jacket and helmet. Dropping his rig down, he then put down his Oakleys, the dawn and difference in temperature at sea level completely different. He wore a simple thermal longsleeve top, and thermal leggings, perhaps a little strange but tight fitting and good at keeping the cold in. He felt warm, alive, truly like he was in a second heaven. He saw Ellie yell at him, and chuckled, looking over.
"You're such a tease! Come here darling!" He said, running to the water, as he dived in, feeling the cold kick hard, as he ran out to embrace her, in the cold, cold water, kissing her and knowing she was soaking wet. Embracing her, he felt her soaked thermals, and the nipples on her breasts inside her thermals poke against his thermals, feeling the wet feel of his girlfriend. He kissed her, tongue in, barely feeling the cold, but her warm feel.
"God, there's nowhere I would rather be..." He said, clutching her tight, as he felt like this moment was going on forever.

Burning Rubber (Bee and kingkonrad)

The rush was unbelievable, totally unbelievable. Like all things in life, it never failed to amaze, to remind of what they did what they did. Seb watched her fly over the edge, his camera fixed on her, as he followed suit, hurtling towards the recurve that threw him airborne. He couldn't help himself, as he threw himself into a backflip, skis flying off as he opened up his legs and arms, the blue material inflating as his wingsuit caught the cold and dry air, fully aware of what he did. He had backflipped off the edge, and now had the void in his view. His love's white and gold a different shade to the rock and snow below, as the moment felt slowed down. The adrenaline was flowing already, but now, his heart felt trapped in a moment of pure bliss, total calm. When you did this, there was no point doubting your ability. If you did, you would get injured, or die. You had to promise yourself that this was your territory, and that you knew your line down.

The speed rushed past his Oakleys, as he dived down, the rocks in double digits in meters in their proximity, as Seb followed Ellie, threading down the mountainside at a stupid pace. Diving a little, he felt the wind kick hard, the speed faster and faster, as it felt as if he was truly gliding. He could open his arms out fuller and back out, but he was coming in closer, a certain proximity. Ellie looked as content as he did, as they flew down the mountainside, the sight of the two a heart-stopping sight to see. The mountainside was rugged, and they were like birds in the breeze, well and truly alive. Seb didn't know anything better than this, maybe not even sex. It was that surreal, the whole fjord in his view, as he began turning, to follow the line's curve. A little bit of a rift that Ellie thundered through was something he followed into, as the rock gave way to greenery, the fjord in sight. They were going for the coastline, right down to the bottom.

Arms and legs open wider, he felt the aerofoil-shape of his body now pick up lift far better, as he thundered past a set of conifers, coming within meters, as Ellie had done. She was fearless, to say the least, and no doubt a match for his abilities. Still, this wasn't a race, just a very, very fun way of doing things. Those did occurred, but this jump was a first, and a real chance to just enjoy life, as it was. At 200mph, they were going over terrain that a supercar could never match the speed on, or any other transport. The view was incredible, the sunrise still going up, as Seb followed Ellie's line, staying right behind her within 20m or so, up close and personal with the Canadian's back, as they began coming out of proximity with the mountainside and clearing over this last stretch. They had to get a little height, and amazingly, due to the level of diving that they had incurred on the way down, it was possible to actually create positive lift with the wingsuits they used- the speed converted to lift, and giving a little more breathing room for deploying the canopies. Breaking off a little to her left, he had her in full view with his cameras, as they flew over the coast of the fjord, about ten seconds from going splat if they didn't deploy here, and hence he was out of her way when the parachute flew into the burble and rocked her into the arms of safety, out of the jaws of madness.

Sierra Vanguard (Espionage RP)

"We can do that, Qadir. I'll get in contact with you when needs be. But let us enjoy these pipes now, and talk business back at my compound." Sadiq said, taking another inhalation, as he looked over to Thom, or Hussain, his eyes already a little red. Thom knew that Sadiq had smoked far, far more than him, and kush in these parts was seriously strong. Even Thom had laid off it, and while getting stoned on a mission wasn't perhaps the best way to keep your reflexes, he had his eye on the goal. Besides, he knew that Lancaster, the extraordinaire of a person, would have this one in the bag. As he came back with the coffee, Sadiq looked to Thom again, after hitting the long pipe again.
"Hassam is a paranoid man. You must understand that. He things people are coming to get him. CIA people. Bad, bad people." He said, as Thom nodded.
"I don't blame him, he is a very strong leader of the holy." Thom said, as Sadiq nodded.
"Indeed. Anyway, just keep that in mind. Don't insult him. Or else he will have your head. I have seen him literally behead a traitor and two American journalists, the man is a very holy man indeed, but he does not forgive people who work against him." Sadiq added, Thom acutely aware of the video that this had happened on. There were few times where you browsed YouTube and prayed that you would rather see a Justin Bieber music video than the rest of the head-taking, though Thom did know that one was definitely decapitating any sense of the music industry anyway. None the less, the guy was fiery, and it would be interesting to see it in the flesh.

---

Martin watched the feed from Liberty, on the banks of screens, with the drone and Liberty's view visible.
"Well then, I guess carry on. Sierra has people like you with good reason." Martin spoke, as he observed Hassam, heading through the Bazaar, now being tracked. This was the person they were going for, that was absolutely certain. Martin could see that he was headed towards the northern end of the bazaar, right towards the hashish bar, and that if Lancaster had done as well as they had, they had gotten him to there. That proved to be correct, as Hassam and his entourage turned the corner out of the packed bazaar, the hashish bar on the second floor, with a set of stairs going up into the building. It was packed tightly in and amongst a whole set of terraced buildings, made out of varying building materials. Some sandstone, some clay and mud-built, all likely to fail building inspections.
"Liberty, we've got a confirmed sight that he's coming into the hashish bar, second floor. Entourage is following in. Prepare a breach, but hold until the word." Martin said, smirking.
"I do love it when you just thread everything together. They're all competent enough to get the job done. So now, you just need to watch a whole bunch of terrorists get floored." Martin said, chuckling, as he finished his glass, looking to Drevan.
"I'll get you a glass." He said, heading out the room, his headset still on.

---

Hassam entered inside, looking around, before looking at Sadiq. He had a scowl on his face, as he spoke to Sadiq in Arabic, not Pashto. Thom listened patiently, his Arabic so-so, but being able to discern the conversation.
"Sadiq, remember, I do not like time wasters. Don't drag me down for a group of smugglers. They better be worth what you say." He said, as Sadiq nodded, a little shy in the way he was.
"I understand, Boss. May Allah be merciful to all." Sadiq said, weakly back in Arabic, as the intimidating Taliban leader took a seat on the carpet, where Sadiq had been sitting. He changed to his Pashto, looking at both agents.
"So, Sadiq says you are reliable men. I don't trust stoned traders. You will say anything for money, not Allah." He said, looking at them.
"But, I digress. The Americans are far worse in this front. You will recieve any payment from me after you cross with what I give you to deliever. You do not check what it is, or question it. And you only answer to Sadiq personally from now on. You want to go to the Mosque, you go with Sadiq. I do not like rats. So you either turn now, or you follow me and help create the Kingdom of Allah." He said, sternly, as Thom nodded.

"I understand your wisdom, and I understand this. We can abide by this." He said, as Hassam looked.
"You aren't saying that because you're stoned. If you are, then please, I will have you hung by the very linen you sell."
"Of course not. I wish to serve. We will do exactly as you say, if it is true."
"Do not question me, brother. You are on a very slippery slope. Watch your tongue, before I feed it to the very mountain goats that your kind can belong with. Enshallah, Sadiq. You find idiots these days." Hassam said, bitter in his wording, as Thom knew that this was a very dangerous man indeed sitting opposite- easily enraged, it appeared, for a tiny comment that wouldn't have set anybody sane off. This man was clearly paranoid, and hard to get to.
"They're good men, Hassam. Give them a chance. They're not here to kill you." Sadiq supportively said, as Hassam sighed.
"Well, there's enough already trying, my paranoia is justified. But fine. Pass me the pipe. Also, I need a drink." He said back to Sadiq, looking over at Lancaster.
"Is the coffee good here? I haven't had the chance to ask." Hassam asked, as Thom adjusted his hand slowly, the tattered old Timex on his wrist being something that had a little more than a chronograph inside. It looked like it would fit on a trader, being of the right kind of watch. Turning the small screw on the side, he felt a slight click against his wrist, as he looked to Lancaster.

His left wrist sat on his left knee, poking in the right direction to strike Sadiq straight in the area around his neck. A tiny Cyanide-tipped poison dart was loaded in the watch's mechanism, and while Sadiq was a target of opportunity, he was expendable as far as Lancaster and Cavalier had agreed. The dart had enough propulsion to go about 5m, and it would likely spike through Sadiq's neck, coming out the other side and leaving a long trail of poison in his blood- that would instantly be pumped to his heart and brain, hitting smaller veins and arteries. He wasn't major enough a fish to fry out, but Hassam, oh, he was. Thom knew that Lancaster had Hassam covered, and in whatever way he planned it, Thom knew that once he was out cold, they'd have him out of here in no time at all, as the Taliban leader sat down. The men didn't smoke in the background- they watched the door, they watched outside, and looked stern. There was a good number of them, but that never meant that Liberty would have a problem.
"It isn't bad."

---

Martin could continue hearing this, aware that soon, it was going to be very dangerous indeed for everyone involved. If Liberty was ready, he knew that as soon as Lancaster or Cavalier gave the word that this would be on, as he walked back in, the bottle in hand as well as two glasses in his fingers. He placed it down on a desk behind Drevan, away from the computers, as he poured the scotch in.
"Well, his psychological profile does check out. Drevan, keep a watch, see if there's any particular groups lingering around the front. And do something creative with them that doesn't involve the drone's hellfires, if you get my gist." Martin added, as he continued listening to the events inside.
"Cavalier, Lancaster, let's take him alive then. On the word, and when Liberty sounds it, you make the move." Martin said coldly across the comms, watching the drone's feed of the building, the mics all coming when Martin selectively went through the list. This would be a situation that very, very soon, was going to explode. He let his team have a fairly free method of getting the job done, so long as it was. And at that moment, inside the hashish bar, Martin could tell that one very paranoid Taliban leader was about to get ripe for the taking.

Task Force Lima (COMPLETED)

Just waiting on Skyth before I'll post up. Looking back on my last post, it wasn't great, but I will have something to go on for the next one I feel.

Sierra Vanguard (Espionage RP)

Martin looked over to Drevan, looking at the multiple feeds he picked up, giving his approval with a simple quarter nod.
"Nicely done. Remember, let's avoid civilian casualties on this run. And if they trace the UAV's hack back to this IP, there will be hell to pay with the CIA. But you know what you're doing, just make sure you don't waste any weaponry or keep it in our AO any longer than needed." Martin simply said, as he looked over at Liberty's camera, being able to see what she saw. The ID of Hassam appeared to check out, and the two pictures matched from what he saw on her sent image, suggesting that this was the man indeed that they were hunting. He heard Liberty report in, before he gave his response.

----

Sadiq smiled at Lancaster and Cavalier, totally unaware of who they were.
"Of course, Qadir. Help yourself to coffee, though I hear the tea is better in these parts. My boss is in town, I can give him a phone call. Encrypted, of course, you never know what the CIA are up to in these parts. Anyway, you two seem pleasant, and I see no reason why he shouldn't meet you. Just give me a moment." He said, looking to the two traders across from him, taking his phone out as he headed outside, Thom looking across to George, with a certain look in his face. This was on. They were dragging him over, and making acquaintances with Sadiq had worked well. Now, they just had to spring this trap, once Hassam was in the building, and Cassie was in position to take down this little meeting.

----

On the other end, Martin had heard the conversation, the bug that ran in that hashish bar providing audio throughout. It was mostly boring, but from that moment, Martin knew things could get a little interesting.
"Drevan, get me a break on that encryption, call from that exact GPS co-ordinate to wherever it's going. With their tech, I guess that they will need to take time to form up a proxy, I give us about forty seconds to get in. I doubt it's strong none the less, but if you can triangulate the signal on the other end, we'll be able to focus on where Hassam is. Bring the Reaper's camera onto his signal's focus, and we'll be able to see his every move." He added, watching Drevan get to work, aware it was a task and a half. Lots of multi-tasking to do, but this all meant that Hassam was watched, observed under an electron microscope of detail. This wasn't the CIA, after all- this was a division in black ops far above, and the computing power that Sierra Vanguard had access to meant that they could track and trace people with tech that was far ahead of whatever they had. When inteligence agencies said that most of what was the computing powers that these agencies had in films was fiction, they were lying. Of course, it was wildly overblown in areas, but tracing, and effectively tracking people wasn't too hard, nor was cracking open some encrypted networks in little time. They would find out exactly where Hassam was going, through Liberty being on the ground, the UAV feed, his signal, and perhaps a promise from Sadiq that he'd come. The call was going through, and while Martin didn't know at first what they were talking about, they could feed it through following the conversation and he could have a look. His Pashto wasn't perfect, but it would be good enough to make it out.
"Liberty, we're coming close to a fix. Keep following it according to your phone and what Bugcatcher says." Martin said over the comms, as he looked over at the screen, watching Drevan at work.

----

Back in the Hashish bar, Sadiq came back after a couple of minutes, seeing Cavalier on the carpet at the pipe, taking a deep breath of the pipe.
"Wonderful." Thom said, exhaling, the warm heat and humid room definitely a little reminding of a Sauna. Still, it felt good to have some of this stuff in his lungs, it was so fresh compared to the backmarket things he got for his pipe back at home. It was a shameful addiction, but here, in Peshwar, it felt good to be hitting the Hindu Kush of local breed.
"I'll have my boss, Hassam, come and have a visit. He was around in town for some business, but I'm sure he can join in for a session on the pipes. So, you two in the business of trading, yes? Cross border? I could use a pair of men like you, to help my boss's breatheren in Afghanistan. It seems all you trade is linen, but you realize that there is a lot of money to be made. Perhaps my boss can convince you otherwise." Sadiq said, looking to the two, as Thom nodded.
"And since it appears you like the local hashish so much, I am sure that you could help out in harder parts of our drugs trede. What do you think? I mean, of course, think about it. But you two look like honest followers of Allah, and ought to be rewarded for it." Sadiq added, taking a strong hit, smirking.
"My friends in Britain say it's falling out of trend, yet look at us here!" He said, as Thom giggled a little, looking to George, then Sadiq.
"I'll think about it. I cannot speak for Qadir, but we do go across the border often. To Kabul, Kandahar, usually no further. There's a good trade going on, but if we get caught, I dare not think of the consequences." Thom said, putting a little reliable doubt into his statement, aware that he couldn't outright agree now. It would never happen, but he had to make it seem genuine.
"Oh, relax. Hassam runs the network getting things across the border, we need good people, not courageous ones for this. Just a few guns from Darra, on the back of a lorry amongst your linen would be fine. After all, you're reliable. And I put my trust lightly in people, so consider it a gratitude that I consider you. After all, you never know who is working out there." Sadiq said, Thom knowing full well that this was a sting, and that he wasn't letting a single word slip on anything.
"All you need to do is just drive across, you know. Easy money." Sadiq added, taking another hit, as Thom looked to Lancaster. He had gotten his coffee it appeared, and he was leaving the intricacies of this conversation with Sadiq to Lancaster right now. In Thom's ear, a light buzz came through, as he heard Kingmaker's voice come through.

----

"Lancaster, Cavalier listen close. We've got a feed on Hassam- he's headed your way, nicely done. Liberty has an operator kit at the moment, so when she arrives, you're going to want to keep your heads down. Remember the target, and the word." Martin simply said over the comms to the two in the hashish bar, aware that their tiny earpieces were subdernal behind their ear- almost impossible to make out beyond the mess of hair and beard that they currently had going. They just had to hear this, not respond, and Martin knew that it would at least prepare them for what was coming. He knew his fellow agents well- they could spring the trap when needed, and did their jobs well. He just had to make sure that there was no blowback, and while there were some risks they were taking, it was calculated. Martin could see Hassam's silhouette, highlighted specifically due to his signal trace, heading down the alleys and tight streets of Peshwar's market, barely wide enough for a car to fit down. He was headed to that Hashish bar, with his whole group of friends, AK's not visible but cut-down under their robes. Martin knew that from here, they were going to snatch him once he entered the hashish bar, and get him the fuck out of the area before the rest of his local friends realized what had happened.

Juggernauts (BigPapaBelial and kingkonrad) IC

Ross nodded, looking to Ramsay.
"I'm SAS, you may know some of the lads. Same process. I kinda wanted a little retribution at first, a patrol of mine got ambushed, and we were helpless. So when they said this was in place, it was a chance to have fun. Now, it's a case of using it for doing shit that you guys can't. It's slower, and maybe less versatile, but a force multiplier. I kept this, painted it black." Ross said, chuckling.
"Because it looks scary." Ross added, Ramsay nodding.
"I'd kill for something like that. Not friendly, but you know what I mean." He said, as Ross shook his head, knowing it was in jest.
"I guess so. Fuck." The Juggernaut replied, as they continued moving, the sound of the radio buzzing as their channel got a new set of people.

"Eagle, this is Cordite. We've got an OP set up about 1 klick from you. Exfil is coming closer for you, change of plan. We're going to need to do this fast- we're getting intel that the fuckers you pissed off are moving up into the area. We've got plenty of firepower to engage them with." Ross heard over his radio, and chuckled, as he realized who that was. Th
"Fucking hell..you haven't been watching us all this time have you?"

About a klick up, in a rocky hide, Andrew watched on through his spotting device, seeing the two larger armor clad figures, and two Navy SEALs.
"We observed for a while, but the point is, we're getting you out of there. About another 300m ahead of you, there's an area of flat land. You pop a purple smoke there when command rings through, they'll pick you up easily. It's good to see you alive. Shame about the airmen; if the best we can do is haul you out of here, so be it." Andrew added, the brown ghillie in the rocks, nestled under a nice boulder.
"Understood, Cordite. We're advancing there." Was the simple reply, as Andrew looked over to Nolan, nodding as he brought his XM500 forwards a little, a magazine sitting right by it. There had been patrols through the area here and there, but for now, it looked quiet in the surrounding area near the glacial river. That said, it could change- a technical, and Nolan and Andrew would have to fire many, many AP rounds and stop them dead in their tracks.

Ross moved up, looking to Carl, looking at his armored leg.
"Fuck me, I can't believe you're still going. That catches an infection.." Ross said, offering a shoulder for his colleague, noticing that his twisted ankle was definitely something that looked like it was affecting his movement.
"Once we're aboard, we're getting that shit off. You insisted earlier, but it won't last much longer." The West Country SAS Captain added, moving up, slowly and surely into the planned LZ.
"Command, Knight has made contact with Cordite, we've made it to the new LZ. We can pop smoke, over."
"Roger that, Knight. Drop purple, helicopter will be three minutes out." Ross heard, as he looked to Carl, as they headed over to the small bank by the river. Taking a grenade off his vest, he lobbed it forwards, exhaling as he moved downwards, the two SEALs keeping perimeter as they waited out. It was going to be long three minutes.