{"sf1_id":127198,"sf2_id":"pnG4QjV1","title":"The Academy - Assault","author":"SrA havenofimage","words":1864,"posted_at":"2010-02-21T00:44:00.000Z","tags":["Bear","Bird","Fox","Military","Snow Leopard","Story Series","attack","marten","shot"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/127198-the-academy-assault","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/pnG4QjV1","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/06/92/06926835-9b13-4ce0-bffb-a6e0619ce6e9","description":"#9 of The Academy\n\n \n\n\n ","content":"\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; The next morning brought overcast skies, and a light misting of rain.\u0026nbsp; I explained my plan to the other squad members.\u0026nbsp; They asked questions, and made suggestions, but soon, they agreed.\u0026nbsp; I reviewed the details and made sure everyone knew their assignment.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; We hid our packs in a crevice in one of the rock walls behind us and headed out.\u0026nbsp; The only gear we would need was our weapon, the map, and the radio.\u0026nbsp; We resumed our accent moving silently in the dreary weather.\u0026nbsp; From what I had heard from the enemy coms, they didn't have any patrols, but why take any risks.\u0026nbsp; As we approached the tree line, the mist turned to snow flurries.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The word around us was white, which limited our visibility.\u0026nbsp; We pushed on up the slope, the trees thinning to our left, and passing ever growing cliff faces to our right.\u0026nbsp; We hiked on until we reached the point where we would begin to climb.\u0026nbsp; I examined the sheer rise in front of me.\u0026nbsp; It would be difficult, but not impossible.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"What do you guys think?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Let's do it.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I leapt onto to rock and began pulling myself up.\u0026nbsp; Trestan flew behind us, ready to catch anyone who fell.\u0026nbsp; Much to my relief, nobody did.\u0026nbsp; I reached one tricky part where I had to pull myself out over a crevasse I had been climbing in.\u0026nbsp; All the rock around me was worn smooth from the wind.\u0026nbsp; I found a hand hold and swung myself up and out.\u0026nbsp; By mid day, my arms were straining with every movement, and my legs shook.\u0026nbsp; I clambered onto a small ledge and sat, waiting for the rest of the squad to join me.\u0026nbsp; I looked down to see nothing but cloud and swirling snow.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; After we had all rested, It was back to climbing.\u0026nbsp; But the end was insight.\u0026nbsp; I pushed myself to keep going.\u0026nbsp; Just one more hand hold, just one more.\u0026nbsp; Stretch out your leg, you can reach that crack.\u0026nbsp; Come on, push it.\u0026nbsp; I pulled myself over the top onto a small plateau to find Tank already up there waiting for me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"What took you so long?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The flat we were sitting on was thirty feet below the summit and well shielded from the wind which was starting to pick up.\u0026nbsp; We needed to wait till after nightfall to move, so the squad agreed to spend the rest of the day here.\u0026nbsp; We enjoyed and early dinner of stale MRE crackers, and tube peanut butter.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I listened to the radio.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Bunker to Reese.\u0026nbsp; Go ahead.\u0026nbsp; We had some lizard from Alpha in here, dressed in one of our uniforms.\u0026nbsp; Did you get him?\u0026nbsp; Ya, he's KIA.\u0026nbsp; Alright, that means Alpha is out.\u0026nbsp; So who's left?\u0026nbsp; Just Charlie.\u0026nbsp; Any news on them?\u0026nbsp; No, they called in a dead cadet from Delta on the first day, but other than that, I haven't seen or heard from them.\u0026nbsp; Alright, we'll keep a look out.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"So were the last ones left?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"That's what it sounds like.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; We sat high on the mountain, huddled together against the wind and snow.\u0026nbsp; Tank checked his watch.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Hey, it's half past eight, time to get moving.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I got up and stretched.\u0026nbsp; The sun was nearly gone now, and the sky was dark grey.\u0026nbsp; We began the much easier climb around the summit and to the decent on the bunker.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I halted the squad as the low, concrete structure came into view.\u0026nbsp; The wind was blocked on this side of the mountain, and the few remaining snowflakes fell in random spirals.\u0026nbsp; I looked down at the bunker for the first time.\u0026nbsp; It seemed the reports had been correct.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; It was a small concrete building, partly constructed into the mountain side.\u0026nbsp; There was a large antenna on top.\u0026nbsp; The defenders had rigged an aray of spotlights which illuminated the ground for thirty yards in front of the station.\u0026nbsp; I could just make out two figures lying on the roof.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Alright, hand signals from here on out.\u0026nbsp; Let's get into position before the sniper change.\u0026nbsp; Then, I'll eliminate the two on the roof, and that will be your cue to move in.\u0026nbsp; Got it?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I received the okay gesture back.\u0026nbsp; I crept down to a wide snow field, left over from winter.\u0026nbsp; I dropped to my belly and low crawled down to where my targets would be in range.\u0026nbsp; Then it was back to the waiting game.\u0026nbsp; I checked my watch.\u0026nbsp; Nine o-clock, the new guards should be coming out... bingo.\u0026nbsp; I watched as two black clad figures stepped out of a side door.\u0026nbsp; They climbed onto the roof and took their positions.\u0026nbsp; I could hear someone talking, but couldn't make out what was said.\u0026nbsp; It must have been some sort of relief because soon the two who had been up there got up and left.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Alright, game time.\u0026nbsp; It was my job to take out the two on the roof.\u0026nbsp; I would need to shoot them in rapid succession so the alarm wouldn't be raised too soon.\u0026nbsp; I practiced the sweeping motion from target to target a couple times until I thought I had it down.\u0026nbsp; I sighted on the sniper, pulled the trigger, moved to the spotter, and shot again.\u0026nbsp; Two rounds left the muzzle and I saw both guards go limp.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I motioned the squad forward.\u0026nbsp; I then proceeded down the snow sliding most of the way.\u0026nbsp; We regrouped just above the station.\u0026nbsp; Tank took his position above the door, and Teague sat waiting behind a generator.\u0026nbsp; At my signal, Tank slammed the butt of his rifle into the camera above the door.\u0026nbsp; I waited, hoping this would work.\u0026nbsp; The door opened and two of the defenders walked out.\u0026nbsp; In unison Teague shot the first, a collie, and Tank grabbed the second, a squirrel, onto the roof and incapacitated him.\u0026nbsp; Before the door could swing shut, I tossed the grenade I had primed into the room.\u0026nbsp; I heard muffled voices from inside.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"What the!?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Then the sound of hissing and whirring as the grenade spun on the ground, spaying its contents into the air.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Teague held up one finger.\u0026nbsp; We waited.\u0026nbsp; He had estimated it would take one minute before it would be safe for us to enter the room.\u0026nbsp; Teague flashed the okay gesture and we moved into position outside of the door.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; On the side the door opened on four of us lined up.\u0026nbsp; Teague was in front followed by Jessica, myself and Trestan.\u0026nbsp; Tank stood opposite us, waiting for the signal to open it.\u0026nbsp; I felt Jessica tap my side.\u0026nbsp; I reached back to tap Trestan who returned the motion.\u0026nbsp; I taped Jessica who must have signaled Teague who motioned to Tank.\u0026nbsp; He turned the knob and flung the door open before rolling out of our way.\u0026nbsp; Teague dashed along the wall clearing the room with a sweeping gesture.\u0026nbsp; Jessica ran to the corner opposite the door.\u0026nbsp; I followed the wall to the position across from Teague and Trestan came through the door and sidestepped into the remaining corner.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Clear.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Tank followed us in.\u0026nbsp; There were three bodies on the ground.\u0026nbsp; A round was shot into each of them, just to make sure we didn't get any surprises.\u0026nbsp; I snatched the radio from the belt on the leader.\u0026nbsp; We lined up at the next door to repeat the procedure.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The next room we came to was a sort of corridor kitchen.\u0026nbsp; There was a bathroom to the right.\u0026nbsp; The door was open, and the light was off, but this wasn't the time to take chances.\u0026nbsp; I pushed on the small LED mounted on my rifle and swept the room.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Clear.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; At the end of the room, there were two doors.\u0026nbsp; I motioned to the one straight ahead.\u0026nbsp; Tank stood at it and we tapped up.\u0026nbsp; He wrenched open the door.\u0026nbsp; Before he could get out of the way someone inside the room shouted.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Don't move, or I kill the hostage!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Tank was standing in the door, gun leveled.\u0026nbsp; I was standing in his immense shadow, and gambled that I couldn't be seen from inside the room.\u0026nbsp; I crept around Tank's side and knelt to see around him.\u0026nbsp; The room was full of computers and right in the middle, tied up, gagged and blind folded, playing hostage was... Lewis.\u0026nbsp; I didn't have time to think about this though.\u0026nbsp; Behind him, a black clad panther was holding a gun to his head.\u0026nbsp; I could see his ear and part of his scalp past where he was taking cover behind Lewis.\u0026nbsp; I slowly raised my rifle, took carful aim, and squeezed off a single round.\u0026nbsp; The Panther collapsed.\u0026nbsp; Tank led the way in as we cleared the rest of the room.\u0026nbsp; There was no one else.\u0026nbsp; Jessica went to Lewis and untied him.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I gave him the okay signal, he returned it.\u0026nbsp; We exited the building, reversing the process from earlier.\u0026nbsp; Rule one in room clearing, once a room is clear, it doesn't necessarily stay that way.\u0026nbsp; Trestan lead the team outside, Lewis right on his tail.\u0026nbsp; We were all out, Teague covering our rear when I heard him yell.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"GET DOWN!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I dove to the ground.\u0026nbsp; Jessica, who was behind me wasn't so fast.\u0026nbsp; I heard her start to shout, but it was cut off as she fell, a dart in her back.\u0026nbsp; We had left one room un-checked.\u0026nbsp; On our way back out, we hadn't remembered to clear the room we had skipped before we found Lewis.\u0026nbsp; Now we were paying for our mistake.\u0026nbsp; I heard Teague open fire.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Trestan!\u0026nbsp; Get the captive out of here!\u0026nbsp; Tank, grab Jessica, we'll cover you!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I spun on the ground and turned to the door.\u0026nbsp; Teague slammed a fresh clip into his rifle.\u0026nbsp; In unison we opened fire, spraying twin streams of darts into to open doorway.\u0026nbsp; Just to be safe, I tossed in the final grenade.\u0026nbsp; I heard a loud thud as a body hit the floor.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Trestan had taken off with Lewis to our fallback position.\u0026nbsp; I lead Tank who was carrying Jessica and Teague watched our six.\u0026nbsp; We ran through the forest at an adrenaline induced, break neck speed. \u0026nbsp;We quickly reached the clearing we had decided to make the LZ for extraction.\u0026nbsp; Trestan gave the all clear and entered the ring of trees.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Is she okay?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"She'll be fine.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I radioed the chopper for pickup and lit my flare.\u0026nbsp; The pilot landed in the clearing and we loaded Jessica's limp body into the fuselage.\u0026nbsp; I was the last in, ensuring the rest of my team was safe.\u0026nbsp; They talked excitedly about the success of the mission on the ride back.\u0026nbsp; I couldn't join them.\u0026nbsp; I had messed up, and it had got a member of the squad shot.\u0026nbsp; I had betrayed Jessica's trust in me.\u0026nbsp; I can't remember ever feeling this bad at any point in my life.\n\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"The Academy","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/127103-the-academy-on-the-mountain.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/127210-the-academy-no-apologies-needed.json"}}