Chapter 15: City of Angels

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"We're moving up to the east area, going through some alley ways, it's a bloody skating rink here." Soap reported. Scarecrow and Jester were watching the events from afar. The wind had picked up, making the cold weather freezing down to the bone. Being from the South, Scarecrow was use to hotter conditions, but he was capable of doing his job in artic conditions.

"Copy Stalker 2-4, suspected target building is still about 400 meters from your location." Scarecrow reported. He could see little parts of frost starting to build on his Sniper rifle, he knew that if he wasn't given the order to fire soon, the gun would freeze and lock up, making it nothing but a big stick.

"Bloody Hell, how big is this damn town?" Ghost muttered.

"Obviously a lot bigger than it was," Price bluntly stated.

"Hey Crow, another vehicle just went down the road heading east," Jester said, looking through his spotting binoculars.

"That's the 5th one in 20 minutes… They must be gearing up for something." Scarecrow said, watching it as it drove off. "Stalker 2-4, this is Echo 3-1, another jeep just drove off from the target area, they must be getting ready for something." Scarecrow said into his communicator.

"Or they're moving out.. Pick up the pace." Price ordered. The four sped up to a jog, going through the alley ways, but had to stop due to a patrol walking by the alleyway.

"Looks like someone's got a little birdie that told them we're in the area," Specter said.

"Too right mate. Scarecrow, a patrol just passed us, can you see if anything else is picking up at that building?" Soap asked.

"Yeah, they've just sent out some troop transports, but they're not in any rush. This Bespalov guy must be pretty important if they're having patrols out, cause if they knew we were here, they'd be scrambling." Scarecrow replied.

"Let's just get this over with. The sooner, the better." Price said. After some more traveling, they came in sight of the building. They had gone unnoticed so far, and now it was Scarecrow's job to keep it that way.

"Alright, we're in position, good luck you two." Specter said.

"Right. Jester, keep watch for anyone getting to close to our guys." Scarecrow said, checking his rifle to make sure it was not frost burned and still operational.

"Just like in the games…" Jester jokily commented, taking advantage of their bird's eye view.

---

"We're here." One of the two agents informed the girls. The humvee they were driving in was pure black, even the windows were so tinted you could not see in or out of them. Twilight was reading a book to pass the time, as she always has, Fluttershy was quietly explaining everything to Luna, and some of the others were asleep.

Rainbow Dash had not said much, just mostly listened to the music on her iPod Ghost had bought for her before he left. She missed him, and wished she could be by his side on the field. She didn't enjoy the killing, but she didn't want her friends or the guys hurt either. They were all conflicted by it, but Dash figured if these people could pull through it all, she could to.

They all got out, covering their eyes from the bright sun they had not seen for hours. They were told that taking a plane could have been risky because they could have been tracked and shot down, so they had to ride in the humvee the whole way.

"It's about time!" Dash exclaimed, stretching. The girls followed the two men to the house, and one of them knocked on the door. A young man, probably looking to be in his late 20's or early 30's, opened the door. After some explaining from the agents, the man nodded.

"Oh, yes, you told me. I have six rooms ready, they can come in." the man smiled, letting the girls in.

"Like we informed earlier, we will come back to pick you up when your "friends" have returned." the second agent said. They then left, leaving the girls and the man alone. Twilight knew this man knew they were involved with the military, but not exactly HOW they were involved.

"Right, so, um, I'm will, nice to meet you." Will said with a smile. Rarity thought he had the charming smile of a trusting man, so her past tensions were relieved. "If you can follow me, I'll show you all to your rooms." Will instructed, and they did so.

---

With the muffled blast of the MSR, another Russian fell unnoticed by his comrades. Ghost dragged the body into the shadows, and the team moved closer.

"Do you have a visual on him yet?" Soap asked.

"Negative Soap, This bastard must be a hide n seek champion." Ghost muttered, trying to find their target with the ACOG scope of his ACR 6.8.

"Well, you guys better hurry, this wind is changing constantly so I have to re-adjust often. I don't want to be caught off guard." Scarecrow muttered.

"Since when were you ever caught off guard?" Ghost chuckled as they moved along.

"I'd worry more about your well being then mine buddy." Scarecrow replied.

"I'm worried that both of you talking is going to get our bloody asses spotted." Soap muttered, breaking their conversation up. They stopped again, observing the building.

"I've got nothing sir." Ghost reported.

"Wait, I've picked up something." Scarecrow said. He turned his MSR to the left, following a figure moving, two Spetsnaz at each side. He pointed to different buildings and spots, as if giving instructions. "I've got a visual, Older man with an officers uniform. Based on what I can see, Grey hair, has some wrinkles, also has a nice shiner on his left eye." he reported.

"That's him," Price replied, "he got in a fist fight a day or so ago in a bar. Stupid bastard. Let's tag him."

"Right. Scarecrow, now's the time, stir the nest." Specter ordered.

"We are go, take the shot on your mark." Jester said. Scarecrow checked his MSR again, loaded it, and took aim at his target. An unsuspecting jeep driver was about to have a bad day.

Keeping his Breathing to a minimum, scarecrow prepared to do what he had done before.

"Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight" He pushed the bolt into place, the chamber loaded.

"My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer ; my shield, and he in whom I trust ; who subdueth my people under me" judging the wind speed and distance, he aimed about 3 inches up and to the left, and Scarecrow judged that this would alternate the bullets trajectory towards his targets cranium.

"LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him, or the son of man, that thou makest account of him." He put his finger to the trigger, taking in a breath of air to steady his aim. He pulled his finger back, the gun firing, Scarecrow felt the recoil and strengthened his should against it, as he was trained so many years to do.

"Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away." His highly trained eye watched the vapor trail of the bullet, something anyone else would not be able to see. One of the true advantages of knowing the ways of the long range assassins.

The group quickly got into position as they heard men yelling and orders being given out in Russian, the sign that Scarecrow, as always, struck his target.

"Echo 3-1, this is Stalker 2-4, we are moving out. Command, this is Stalker 2-4, we have confirmation on Bespalov, we are moving in to extract, over!" Price exclaimed as they rushed to the building, picking off Russians that were trying to do the same to them.

"Copy that Stalker 2-1, allied forces are on their way." Overlord responded.

"About Damn time!" Specter said, getting a clean shot to the chest on one Russian trying to flank them.

As Ghost was running, One tackled him, about to blast him wit ha pistol, but a bullet struck through his head, Ghost pushing the body off afterwards. "Thanks mate." Ghost exclaimed, picking up his ACR 6.8 and moving on.

"I told you to worry about yourself more than me." Scarecrow chuckled as he fired again.

"Jester, regroup with us to infiltrate and capture Bespalov, make it fast. Scarecrow, continue with sniper support!" Specter ordered.

"You got it Boss!" Jester replied, springing to his feet and heading for the city. "Good luck Crow." He told Scarecrow before sprinting off. Scarecrow didn't say anything, but Jester knew he would say "thanks", or at least a "Well, you heard him, go.". He loaded his MK46 as he went, getting ready for what awaited.

---

The others were doing as they wished, Fluttershy being in the back making a conversation with a squirrel, RD watching a soccer game on the T.V., and the others doing as they wished. Twilight was in the Kitchen with will, talking about his history.

"Well, , My father was a marine, my mother was a nurse. They met during a rotation my dad had in Pakistan, and after they both left duty, they got married, and then I came along." Will said. He then chuckled. "If my mother knew I was housing six women, she would drop dead with excitement. She always wanted to be a grandmother, but I don't lan on having any children for now." Will said.

"I can understand, I'm the same way." Twilight said, trying to build a character to her "Teresa" character. They were distracted by Rainbow Dash, who started cheering.

"What the heck's got you so happy?" Will asked.

"Chelsea just scored! Chelsea 3-1 Everton!" Rainbow replied, sitting back down to watch the game, Twilight and Will chuckling in response.

---

"We've got a fix but this guy must be a damn sprinter! He's trying to use this area to lose us! Ghost, don't lose sight of him!" Soap exclaimed, running through multiple alley ways. Scarecrow was taking down spetsnaz here and there that were trying to take them down, but the rapid movement would eventually take them out of his sights.

"This is Scarecrow, I'm going to move into city limits, I'll try to set up on a roof top where I'll have a better chance of keeping track of you guys." Scarecrow said.

"Shit…Right, hurry it up mate!" Price exclaimed. He slid under a railing, making sure to keep up with the others. "I'm too fucking old for this shit." He muttered to himself as he regrouped with soap as they chased Bespalov. For an older man, this guy still had a spring in his step. After about 15 minutes of running through alley ways and streets, the five regrouped with each other after splitting up, Jester joining them in the streets They had Bespalov in their sights.

"Sir, I can take him down with a shot now!" Ghost yelled, aiming his ACR 6.8 at his leg.

"It's too far out, we can't risk it, catch up to him!" Soap ordered, the group still running after him. They kept going until they were out of city limits, Scarecrow tracking from far behind. Eventually Bespalov turned around and tried firing his pistol at him, but Specter dodged a shot, and getting a gain of speed, Tackled Bespalov and held his arms behind his back.

"Command, cancel the others coming here, we've got him." Specter instructed.

"Copy that, an extraction chopper is en route to pick you up." Command responded. The others caught up, keeping their weapons aimed at Bespalov. Scarecrow eventually caught up as well, and he looked Bespalov in the eye.

"What are your men doing here?!" Scarecrow forcefully asked in Russian.

"Vy dumayete, chto ya skazhu vam? Ty durak!" Bespalov angrily replied. In response, Scarecrow Slammed his fist into his black eye, causing it to bleed, Bespalov wincing.

"POCHEMU MAKAROV POSLAL TEBYA SYUDA!?" Scarecrow yelled. Bespalov chuckled.

"Let's say Makarov was wanting to give his regards by visiting another country," Bespalov replied in rough English.

"Where is he going…" Price coldly stated, aiming his pistol at him.

"Let us say, he is going west to the city of angels…" Bespalov said, laughing like a loon. Price, un-amused with his psychotic laughter, put a single bullet into the man's head.

"What did he mean by Makarov "making a gamble"?" Jester asked.

"Who knows, that guy sounded like a psycho." Ghost replied.

"No, it means something. With Makarov, it always means something. He mentioned the west…where is a city of angels in the west?" Soap said, trying to crack the riddle. Price looked at Scarecrow.

"Does "City of Angels" translate into a city name in any other language?" he asked him. Scarecrow thought as hard as he could about it. He knew many languages, from Japanese to Catalonian. It the suddenly hit him.

"there is a close translation in Spanish, the angels translates…" Scarecrow said. The tone in his voice was not one of encouragement.

"Well, what is it?" Price asked him. Scarecrow looked him in the eyes, and Price could see the trouble looked under his ghilie suit.

"The Angels… Los Angeles."