Chapter 17: Guarding the Field

"Overlord, this is Echo 3-1, requesting air strike! Target location is Parking lot 8! I repeat, Parking lot 8! Specter yelled into his radio, ducking down to dodge oncoming fire. The squad had moved their location from the Main Campus to the Athletic facilities, trying to distract the main units from the evacuation center. Scarecrow was At the back edge of the practice field for football, picking off targets from the woodline, his Standard Shadow Company armor hiding him in the shadows, it acting like the ghillie suit he didn't have.

He had gotten a trio of headshots with one bullet, reloading calmly, readying to take out another group.

"Shiner, foot mobile at your Two O'clock!" Ghost hollered out, Shiner quickly responding and firing at the Spetsnaz in that direction.

"Echo 3-1, we are trying to get air support to the University but Russian MIGs are trying to take them down, hold on for about 5 more minutes, over." was the Response Specter heard on his radio.

"Copy that, Alpha 3-2 has moved it's convoy onto our location with ground support, over and out." Specter replied before aiming is M4A1, firing again.

"Tangos coming up fast at our ten!" Twilight hollered, getting down behind some fallen concrete that had been spread across the field.

"Ah've got em." Applejack said. She aimed her M14 EBR, and picked off two of them, Rainbow Dash hit the rest. They had to duck to avoid projectiles from a tank shell.

"This Artillery is fucking us in the ass! Where the hell is that air support?!" Specter yelled into his radio, tensing as some flak from the tank shell hit his piece of cover.

"Echo 3-1, this is the Blood Angel, we are en-route to assist, you are advised to take cover, over." A response came.

"Copy that, we're moving back." Specter replied. He then yelled to the others, "Fall back to the other side of the field, Air support is coming in!"

Soap repeated this, and the Shadow Company, 141, and the girls all made a break for the tree line were Scarecrow and A.J. were, taking cover as they did so. They had to take some time though as they helped the wounded fall back as well.

"Blood Angels, target coordinates are 6-4 Alpha Zero, hooah?" a Pilot said.

"Copy That Angel 1, should we use the 105?" a gunner asked.

"Uh, use the 105 I the parking lot itself, but use the 20s in the field, just don't fire to the left side, those are our guys." Angel 1 said.

"Copy that, Setting up the 105 for the entry." the gunner responded.

"Hit em' hard Angel 2." another crew member said.

"Just keep the damn ammo ready Angel 3." Angel 2 chuckled.

/\/\/\/\/\/\

The spetsnaz soldiers were moving, and they could see the American and British soldiers falling back, so they started to chase them. But some of them stopped at the sound of a loud explosion behind them. One turned around and saw the huge cloud of smoke in the parking lot, concrete and metal, even some body parts, flying into the air. He looked into the sky, and what he saw was not a pleasant sight. He tried to get the attention of his fellow men, and yelled out what he saw.

"Vrag AC130 vyshe!"

/\/\/\/\/\

"Oh yeah, they got our welcoming present." The Spectre AC-130, painted black with the shark mouth design on the front, and red wings on the side, dubbed the "Blood Angel" by it's crew, started it's circular motion around the target area. Angel 2 switched to the 20 mm gun and took out what spetsnaz were caught out in the open field, mowing them down like ants.

"Hot Damn!" he exclaimed as he took multiple spetsnaz out.

"Good hit with that 105, 30+ K.I.A. Angel 2." Angel 1 informed.

"We got a guy making a run back." Angel 3 called out.

"I got him." Angel 2 said, making quick work of him with the 20 mm.

They guys on the ground cheered as the AC-130 fired at the spetsnaz, taking out multiple units at a time.

"Echo 3-1, This is the Blood Angel. We will follow your convoy to your next drop off point and provide air support." Angel 1 said into his headset.

"Copy that, we're Oscar Mike!" Specter exclaimed. Shiner helped Luna up, staying with her. They got back to the vehicle convoy, and started to move.

"All units be advised, your new orders are to head to the Griffith observatory and take control of the Griffith Observatory, which will set up a command post for that sector." Their radios suddenly broke out, Overlord giving the command.

"Shit, they've got us going all over the place!" Jester exclaimed.

"Solid Copy, we're Oscar Mike." Soap replied.

"Shiner, get on that gun!" Ghost said.

"Copy that." Shiner said, getting the top half of his body through the hole in the roof, setting up the M104 chain gun. He could see that in the other jeeps Specter, Jester, and a Marine were working the guns on their jeeps. They moved, the remaining Abrams tank following.

As they went down the highway, Dust and ash was covering some of the view, making some things near impossible to see.

"Curb Stomper , this is Ankle Biter, you have any clear visual up there?" The driver in Shiner's jeep asked.

"That's a negative Ankle Biter, Visibility is damn near impossible." was heard through the radio from Soap.

"Copy, keep it tight, get your trigger fingers ready. Blood Angel, any signs of contact?" Price asked.

"Negative Echo 3-1, the surrounding area is empty." Angel 1 responded.

"Try to increase the electrical calibration scan," Angel 3 said.

"Already did, nothing abso- wait," Angel 1 said. Convoy, be advised, enemy foot mobiles and light artillery is about 300 meters ahead of you, we're going to lighten the load for you." Angel 1 responded.

"Copy, switching to the 45 to knock em down." Angel 2 responded.

"Roger. Make sure you hit the target, not our guys." Angel 3 said with a small chuckle.

"Do you want to stay in this plane or not?" Angel 2 responded.

"Cut the chatter you two, those light vehicles are getting ready to move to engage our guys. Clear to engage." Angel 1 said.

"Copy that, Convoy, you might want to hold your location, this is near danger close." Angel 2 said.

"Copy that, Convoy stopping." Price replied.

"Light em' up." Angel 1 said. Angel 2 released the first two shells, both hitting their targets.

"That shook them up." Angel 2 responded. Angel 3 fired again, hitting a troop transport which exploded violently.

"hot damn, that must've been a full tank!" Angel 3 exclaimed.

"Glad to see someone is having fun." Angel 1 cut in.

"Lighten up, will you?" Angel 2 joked. Angel 3 switched to the 20 MM, picking off fot soldiers.

"Angel 3, a runner is trying to get into that building on the left curb, smoke em'." Angel 2 said.

"Copy, he's a goner." Angel 3 said, making short work of the man. "Convoy, you are clear to move."

"Copy that, thanks for the assist." Soap responded.

"No problem, the Blood Angels are always watching." Angel 1 responded.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

As they went along the street, it seemed too quiet. The main noises they heard were the rumbling of the vehicles, and the sounds of battle in the distance.

"Shiner, you ok up there?" Luna asked.

"Yeah, I'm good. How are you?" Shiner asked.

"I'm alive, which is the important thing I guess." Luna said, a hint of worry in her tone. Shiner felt sorry for her, she had to take all this in in so much of a short time. He dropped down from the chain gun, and sat by Luna. He pulled out a bottle of water, the almost shining fresh water covered by it's dirty container.

"Here, drink." he said, giving it to her. Luna drank some, welcoming the cool and refreshing taste.

"Thank you Shiner," Luna said with a smile. Shiner nodded. Getting back up into his position.

"He is such a nice man in a terrible world…" Luna thought. She saw him as attractive as well, for a human at least. His lightly trimmed black beard, the ocean blue eyes that his goggles tried to hide… they just put her into a kind of a trance. She shook her head, looking back out the window at the smoke and flames.

Shiner knew he couldn't push it. He was trying to be as friendly as possible to Luna, but he fought to hold how he felt about her. When he first met her, there was just something he saw in her, something that he felt the others didn't see. She was a beautiful woman, in human form at least.

In human form.

Those were the three words that always threw him off. He couldn't decide what to do, but he knew now wasn't the time to think that. He spun his minigun to the right, looking for any movement. He squinted his eyes, and coming out of an alley way were men in red uniforms. He knew what they were right away.

"CONTACT AT OUR TWO O'CLOCK!" Shiner yelled into his radio. The others obviously got the message, because Specter, who was in the front, started firing his minigun in the direction. The men returned fire, and out of multiple areas, they were suddenly being fired upon from what seemed like all sides.

"They're all around, don't let up! Drivers, focus on the road!" Price yelled, swerving his jeep to dodge some fallen debris. Jester unloaded his minigun into the side of a building, small bits of steel, concrete, and body parts falling. The others shot at the soldiers through the windows when they could.

One Spetsnaz was behind a dumpster, readying his RPD. He saw one of the American jeeps pass by, then another. He jumped out at the third one, firing his RPD at the gunner.

Shiner flinched back. He saw for a split second a Spetsnaz soldier with an RPD, but it was a second too late. He felt the hard, melting steel enter his neck, and was quickly losing sight. He raised his hand up trying to keep firing the gun for as long as possible until he lost all feeling in his body. As he fell back into the jeep, he used all of his remaining strength to speak.

"Luna…"

"MAN DOWN!" Ghost yelled. The blood had suddenly burst into the inside of the jeep, some of it getting on Ghost's sunglasses. He caught Shiner, checking his vitals.

"Shiner!" Luna screamed, shocked. His eyes were still open, but she couldn't hear him breathing.

"Chirst, he's fucked up!" Ghost exclaimed. He checked the vitals again, Luna looking at him.

"Is he…"

Ghost solemnly nodded. He them presssed a button on his headset.

"Unit's be advised, we have a 141 K.I.A.! Sergeant Marcus Smith! I repeat, Shiner is K.I.A.!" Ghost reported. A message of grief spread across the other's faces. His death came with many others, many they would have to mourn later.

Luna hugged his lifeless body, softly crying. The raging noise of war still surrounded them, Ghost firing his ACR out the window.

"SOMEONE GET ON THAT 50!" Ghost yelled. Luna looked up, then down ad Shiner again. She wiped her eyes with her arm, a serious look coming across her face.

"It's mine!" She called, getting up to the minigun. Ghost did a double take, but couldn't get her down fast enough.

Luna got lucky, activating the gun, and she pressed the two buttons on the handles, aiming at the spetsnaz, firing at them, getting some hits. Her arms felt like they were about to be knocked off, but she had to do this.

For the girls. For her friends. For Shiner.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

We're at the observatory, move, move!" Soap yelled, the Shadow Company and Task Force 141 soldiers, followed by the girls, sprinted into the building. They encountered some resistance, but working through, they cleared the building.

"Clear!" Jester called. Ghost set up a basic command post, transferring the signal.

"It's transferring the signal now, but it's going to take some time." Ghost told Price, wiping his face, which really didn't make any sense since he was wearing his skull mask.

"Right, we'll hold until then." Price said. Blood Angel was circling the building, guarding until they were done.

Scarecrow sat down against the wall, keeping his MSR close to him. Applejack walked over, and sat by him. Dirt and ash covered both of them, looking at each other. Scarecrow took his right hand and put it on Applejack's face, moving his thumb in a sweeping motion, cleaning her face, all without saying a word.

Applejack smiled a little, putting her hand on his. Scarecrow grabbed it, and the intertwined fingers. They sat there, close together, holding hands.

Fluttershy had not said a word since they got here. Soap went over to her.

"It's a bad sight, isn't it?" Soap asked her. Soap could tell she was shell shocked. She didn't respond, but Soap responded to her silence by hugging her. It was not his style, but every now and then he would have to change. Fluttershy returned the hug, holding him tight, softly crying into his shoulder. Soap rubbed her back, whispering to her that everything would be ok.

Everyone was taking the time to talk to each other, regroup, reload, do what they though was necessary. Luna was talking to some other guys, asking them about Shiner. She did all she could to hold back the tears when they explained how good of a man he was. They said Shiner was always loyal, he tried to stay committed to his first marriage, but his ex wife divorced him. He had never had sex, vowing to keep clean "until the right one came".

The calm was interrupted when Blood Angel radioed in.

"Echo 3-1 be advised, multiple foot mobiles and troop transports are heading your way, get ready." Angel 1 reported. Right after he said so, a 105 shell struck the ground, causing it to shake some. The group took positions outside, firing at the oncoming Russians. They must have been desperate, because this was a full fledged Russian banzai charge. Scarecrow took down multiple units with his MSR, the others taking down many men with their weapons two. But slowly, the started getting picked off themselves. Some men were hit, killed instantly, others were wounded, but the men kept coming on. Blood Angel did all it could to help, but still, the forces were overwhelming.

"Overlord, the Observatory is being overrun, we can not hold it! I repeat, we can not hold it, we need Evac now!" Price yelled, ducking for cover as a frag grenade went off.

"Copy, an evac chopper is on it's way, hold out until then." Overlord replied. Price swore under his breath. It always seemed like they were "on their way," never "Already in the area.

They held out until the chopper arrived, and the started to load on, Blood Angel covering them as they started to take off.

Angel 3 kept firing, doing his usual job, until he spotted something on his video feed.

"Angel 1, we've got a foot mobile with a guided missile, looks like a javelin!" Angel 3 said, it quickly being followed by "Shit, he just fired it!"

"Popping flares!" Angel 1 said, pressing a button on his dash board. The flares went off, and the javelin went astray. But as soon as that one was taken care of, another fired.

"Incoming! Fire flares again!" Angel 2 yelled.

"Their still reloading!" Angel 1 hollered.

"Fuck, Turn to the portside, TURN PORTSIDE!" Angel 3 yelled, but it was too late. The javelin hit the AC-130's tail, causing it to lose control. They group of men held on for their lives.

"This is the Blood Angel, we are going down! I repeat, we're going down!" Angel 1 yelled into his radio.

"BRACE FOR IMPACT!" Angel 1 yelled before the plane impacted.

"Shit, Blood Angel is down!" Price yelled. Ghost tried to get in communication with them.

"Are there any survivors?" He asked into the radio. There was the sound of Static and gunfire, but a weak response was heard.

"This is Angel 3, I'm still alive.. Angels 2 and 1 are dead, I'm trapped! I need help!" was the response. The group looked at each other.

"We can't send the whole squad back, It's suicide." Specter said. They looked around, trying to figure out what to do, but it was Scarecrow who broke the silence.

"Overlord, this is Echo 3-1, Scout Sniper Scarecrow, requesting permission to return to field to extract survivor." He said. Everyone looked at him like he had just grown a second head.

"Negative Scarecrow, it's too hot." Overlord responded.

"With all due respect command, We've got a guy trapped down there. He's one of us, Like a brother. If someone doesn't help him, then why do we help anyone?" Scarecrow asked. It was silent, but then Overlord responded.

"Scarecrow, You are cleared for extraction mission of the AC-130 survivors." Overlord Responded.

The chopper started to swing around, quickly opening it's bay door. Scarecrow stood at the edge, but Ghost put a hand on his shoulder.

"Mate, you don't have to go in alone." Ghost said. Scarecrow turned.

"I don't have to, I need to. We can't risk everyone. If they kill me, so be it. They're only killing a man." He calmly replied. He looked back at Applejack, who's worried expression said what she thought of this. Scarecrow walked to her quick.

"Listen, No matter what happens, I love you and will always love you." He whispered into her ear. Applejack hugged him, Scarecrow embracing it. He pulled down his mask long enough to give her a kiss on the neck, then pulled it back up. He let go of her, and turned around, facing the bay door again. Thunder clapped from outside, letting them know that it had started to downpour.

The door opened, and Scarecrow sprinted out into the night, the fires of the building being the only way the others could see him.

He ran out, head on towards the oncoming Russians, taking as many down as he could with his MSR. He dove into the wreckage of the AC-130, and Saw the man, Angel 2, trying to get his leg free. Scarecrow went over an quickly helped him lift it, then helped him up.

"Can you walk?" He asked.

"Yeah, I think so." Angel 2 responded.

"Alright, head southeast, the evac chopper is there." Scarecrow said. Angel 2 looked at him.

"But where's the rescue squad?" he asked.

"I'm it." Scarecrow responded, not turning around. He ran to a piece of cover, setting up his MSR. He took cover behind the concrete slab he was using for cover, reloading. As he did, he Saw Angel 2 heading for the chopper.

Scarecrow took his mask off, tossing it aside. He knew if he was going to die, he was going to let the enemy see the face of the man that was giving them so much trouble. He set up his MSR again, taking aim

"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;" He took down a Russian trying to flank him.

"my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation." he fired again, He took down two men wit guided missiles who were about to fire at the chopper.

"Scarecrow, come on!" Scarecrow heard Specter yell through his headset.

"Go, It's too hot, you have to get out of here!" Scarecrow responded, firing again.

"But-" Specter started to say.

"GO NOW!" Scarecrow yelled, firing again. He tuned the headset out, and kept distracting the oncoming army, their attention now on him.

"He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior" He took down three in a line, with one shot, reloading again. He then felt a sudden pain in his left shoulder, but he quickly got back into position, still firing.

"from violent men you save me. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies." He kept firing, taking down every Spetsnaz at the other end of his scope, dropping down large numbers.

He kept going until eventually another bullet struck his other shoulder. Blood falling from his shoulders, sweat and rain running down his face, he fought the intense pain, still firing, not backing down.

"We are at Bingo fuel, we have to go!" the pilot said.

"We're under heavy fire, Scarecrow, come on!" Specter tried again. The Silhouette of Scarecrow stood in place, taking down multiple Russians, not letting one get by him.

Scarecrow had to stop yet again as another bullet struck his stomach, but STILL he fought the pain, firing, until he ran out of ammo. He then grabbed an M4A1 from one of his fallen comrades, killing even more Russians, not backing down. He was bleeding in multiple areas, the pain was lashing out at him like a knotted whip. But still he fought, holding his ground.

He did so until another bullet struck him, and he fell backwards. He fell to the ground, losing feeling in his body. He then saw Mark, standing at attention, A comforting smile on his face. It was at that instant he knew death had caught him.

"NO!" Applejack screamed in extreme shock. They all looked in horror as Scarecrow fell back, dropping the weapon. She tried to get to him, but Rainbow Dash and Jester held her back. The Spetsnaz were still coming at them, they had no choice.

"SHIT! GO, GO!" Price yelled. The pilots started to take off, and Angel 2 was being treated by Ghost, both looking up just in time to see what happened. The chopper got into the air and got to a safe distance, the rain still pouring, parts of the city still ablaze. Applejack was still yelling in shock, Calling out for Scarecrow.

"Scarecrow! NO!" She yelled, crying. Rainbow Dash hugged her, cradling her.

Applejack's sobbing was what everyone had felt like doing.

The lone Sniper ran out to the line of fire to save one man, and eventually saving them all.

Bloody and battered, the Scarecrow guarded it's field.