{"sf1_id":144149,"sf2_id":"znJdKq7e","title":"Task Force - Long Shot","author":"SrA havenofimage","words":2016,"posted_at":"2010-05-06T16:15:00.000Z","tags":["Death","Military","Snow Leopard","Spec Ops","Story Series","kill","marten","sniper"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/144149-task-force-long-shot","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/znJdKq7e","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/ab/28/ab289f0f-3af0-4fe4-af58-d49677aa3fc4","description":"#17 of Task Force","content":"\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;I propelled myself across the tundra on my cross country skis which slid smoothly beneath me.\u0026nbsp; The cold air and windblown hard pack terrain combined to create optimal conditions and we flew across the wasteland at over 20 mph.\u0026nbsp; This was all part of my plan.\u0026nbsp; Come in fast, come in small, and come in low.\u0026nbsp; Why would it work?\u0026nbsp; It would work because it was unexpected.\u0026nbsp; No one had done it, no one had tried it, and with them looking for us soon, no one would guess where we'd be.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; When we reached our target, we'd be well out of range of the enemy sensors and scouts.\u0026nbsp; As for our government looking for us, finding two members of the most elite Special Forces team ever created in a tundra covering millions of square kilometers, good luck.\u0026nbsp; On top of that, we traveled light.\u0026nbsp; I wore only a white, compression style, t-shirt and my uniform bottoms with the plating removed.\u0026nbsp; The armor would just add weight, decrease mobility, and slow us down.\u0026nbsp; Jessica was clad similarly except she wore a stripped down top as well.\u0026nbsp; Her fur was not suited to exposure in these climates nearly as well as mine was.\u0026nbsp; Nor did it blend in as well.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; We carried small packs with our limited gear.\u0026nbsp; I had my sniper rifle slung on my back.\u0026nbsp; Jessica was carrying her SMGs as always.\u0026nbsp; She had also taken an ultra-light variation of the assault rifle.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Flying through the cold air with nothing but an expanse of white spread out in front of me and a gun on my back reminded me of the days when I raced for my school biathlon team.\u0026nbsp; It was only three years ago but it seemed so much longer than that to me.\u0026nbsp; I had already had a lifetime of experiences and knowledge.\u0026nbsp; Twenty one was much too young to be planning assignation and mutiny.\u0026nbsp; Hell, two months ago I wouldn't even have been able to get a drink at a bar.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I was glad Jess had decided to come with me.\u0026nbsp; I was going to do this either way, but having her along was comforting.\u0026nbsp; On this mission, a second pair of eyes would be immensely helpful, if only to watch my back.\u0026nbsp; Something Jessica was best at doing.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; We skied throughout the day, slowing down only once to eat while still on the move.\u0026nbsp; I checked my wrist GPS occasionally to ensure we were still on the right course.\u0026nbsp; Hogan and I had had a quick covert discussion before we left the bunker.\u0026nbsp; Under the pretence of sending me details on the next operation, he transferred all the intell we had on my target.\u0026nbsp; I had been surprised with how much our people knew and hadn't done anything about.\u0026nbsp; Well, now something was going to be done.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; As dusk fell, we found a sheltered location for camp.\u0026nbsp; I set the small two person tent while Jessica stretched a sheet of camo netting we had taken from the bunker.\u0026nbsp; I stowed and secured the skis before taking refuge in the tent.\u0026nbsp; Not even my fur would be able to protect me unshielded from the cold at night.\u0026nbsp; Dinner consisted of dry scout rations.\u0026nbsp; Basically dirt and cardboard flavored protein bars meant to sustain units for long insertions.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; We also brought chemical heaters and heated water for two bags of flavorless tea which supposedly contained a mineral compound to prevent fatigue.\u0026nbsp; At least it was hot.\u0026nbsp; That's more than I could say about anything else.\u0026nbsp; We talked quietly about the plan and we drank it.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I still don't see how this will fix anything Kirian.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Directly it doesn't.\u0026nbsp; But we need to send a message to these people.\u0026nbsp; We need to let them know that we're not going to play their games anymore.\u0026nbsp; Besides, they'll never let us come home under our own power.\u0026nbsp; Someone's going to have to want us back.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Okay.\u0026nbsp; But what if they take it the wrong way?\u0026nbsp; What if they decide that this is a step too far?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Then they scrap the task force and we're court-martialed.\u0026nbsp; Wouldn't that be better than being some barricades private hit team?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Yes, I understand.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Get some sleep.\u0026nbsp; We have another hard day in front of us tomorrow.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I woke in the middle of the night.\u0026nbsp; I stepped outside and looked across the vast flat expanse.\u0026nbsp; The whole landscape was lit by the near full moon, whose light was reflected by the snow and Ice casting the world into sharp relief.\u0026nbsp; The mountains we had been heading for stretched across the horizon.\u0026nbsp; The stars were brighter than I had ever seen them.\u0026nbsp; It was a surreal moment enjoying the Gods work on my way to commit murder.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I returned to the tent and noticed that Jessica was shivering.\u0026nbsp; I had forgotten how cold it must be for her.\u0026nbsp; I slid back into my sleeping bag and moved closer, putting my arm around her unconscious form.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The next day brought clouds and crosswinds.\u0026nbsp; I pulled up my balaclava to cover my muzzle.\u0026nbsp; We bent our heads and began the repetitive motions again.\u0026nbsp; The elevation began to rise but we kept a steady pace, cutting across the harsh landscape.\u0026nbsp; By the end of the day we were deep within the mountains which were my goal.\u0026nbsp; Now we would have to continue on foot.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; By day three, my legs were beginning to ach from the constant strain.\u0026nbsp; I ignored it though as a slung my rifle and skis and began the hike that would get us to position.\u0026nbsp; It reminded me of the final mission at the academy, climbing a mountain side to assault a heavily defended location.\u0026nbsp; It was different now though.\u0026nbsp; Instead of having to get in and out, I would only need to get in view.\u0026nbsp; If our intelligence was correct, all I would need was a clear line of sight.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; By four in the afternoon we reached our objective.\u0026nbsp; I stood in a small clearing overlooking a mountain valley.\u0026nbsp; This would be no different than any quite mountain refuge, but rather than a quaint town, there were concrete buildings and series of walled perimeters.\u0026nbsp; The one road in was covered by a triple gate system and the whole compound was swarming with guards.\u0026nbsp; Now I understood why we hadn't hit this location before.\u0026nbsp; Shot of an airstrike, any job to take this place out would be suicide.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; It was getting dark fast.\u0026nbsp; There would be no point in doing anything today.\u0026nbsp; The completion of my plan would have to wait until tomorrow.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The next morning I was set.\u0026nbsp; My rifle was zeroed and everything was ready. I had my calculations for range, trajectory, even the Coriolis Effect from the planet's spin was taken into account. \u0026nbsp;I knew he was here.\u0026nbsp; I couldn't afford to miss a single opportunity, because I would probably never get another one.\u0026nbsp; My high perch offered an unhindered view and line of fire for the whole compound.\u0026nbsp; There was only one reason this spot wasn't guarded, it was 1.8 miles away.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; This was it.\u0026nbsp; This was the shot I had been training for since the day during BCT when I first fired a sniper rifle.\u0026nbsp; This was the shot Dr. Easterling had designed this rifle for, even if he didn't know it.\u0026nbsp; Conditions were perfect.\u0026nbsp; It was a warmer than usual day and the air was clear.\u0026nbsp; The only hindrance would be the slight breeze.\u0026nbsp; Jessica lay next to me in the snow, gazing through a spotter's scope.\u0026nbsp; I clicked on the range finder I had mounted parallel to the barrel of my rifle.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Kirian, I'm reading over twenty nine hundred meters.\u0026nbsp; Are you sure you can make this shot?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"No.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; She turned to me and stared with a bewildered look on her face.\u0026nbsp; I looked her strait in the eyes, dead serious.\u0026nbsp; I had no idea if I could hit this.\u0026nbsp; My calculations said I could, but I had never even trained beyond 2,300.\u0026nbsp; I had hit targets at 2,800 but those were vehicles.\u0026nbsp; This was no time for doubts though.\u0026nbsp; I looked through my rifles scope.\u0026nbsp; Data from the range finder was displayed on my HUD.\u0026nbsp; The mark that I was hoping for was ranged at 2,912.9m.\u0026nbsp; The infrared beam also measured the velocity of dust particles in the air to give me accurate wind values across the distance of the shot.\u0026nbsp; If I could pull this off, it would truly be one in a billion.\u0026nbsp; Perhaps it was good that I hadn't practiced.\u0026nbsp; It would have been a tragedy to waste my one.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Minutes ticked by becoming hours and still we waited.\u0026nbsp; The sun was creeping towards noon.\u0026nbsp; I had been waiting so long I almost thought I could discern its movement.\u0026nbsp; Jessica was scanning the compound diligently.\u0026nbsp; I watched the most likely places for him to be from the layout Hogan had sent me.\u0026nbsp; Jessica broke the four hour silence and spoke in a calm whisper.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"There, center building, third story window.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I panned my view and saw it.\u0026nbsp; There he was, at last.\u0026nbsp; My heart threatened to race but I controlled it.\u0026nbsp; I reached into my pack and pulled out a single 10.7cm long round.\u0026nbsp; I would only have one shot, no need for a clip.\u0026nbsp; The monolithic solid bullet protruded from the casing lethally.\u0026nbsp; I saw the EQ stamped on the bottom as I slid it into the chamber.\u0026nbsp; I closed the bolt and adjusted my position. \u0026nbsp;As I slowly breathed, I shifted my mindset, eliminating all distraction and calming my thoughts. \u0026nbsp;My focus was completely on the task at hand.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I watched as the figure walked across a room and sat down at a desk.\u0026nbsp; He was stationary.\u0026nbsp; I would never get a better shot.\u0026nbsp; I noted the wind and adjusted another meter to his right.\u0026nbsp; I checked my calculations for velocity and bullet drop one more time quickly.\u0026nbsp; The world went silent as I blocked out everything.\u0026nbsp; The lines of my crosshairs sat on the black feathered head.\u0026nbsp; He truly was a majestic creature.\u0026nbsp; Now I knew why he called himself The Phoenix.\u0026nbsp; I inhaled again, slowly exhaled and paused.\u0026nbsp; The muscles of my trigger finger tightened imperceptibly and I heard the crack of my rifle.\u0026nbsp; I closed my eyes and had a quick flashback of my shooting instructor.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"You want to know what the first thing you feel when you make a kill shot is son?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"What's that sir?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"The recoil of your rifle!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I opened my eyes as the butt pressed into my shoulder and then returned to its normal position.\u0026nbsp; I counted the seconds on my mission timer.\u0026nbsp; 1... 2... 3... 4... 5... 6... Glass broke, there was a spurt of red, and the black head fell to the desk, three feathers floating slowly to the ground.\u0026nbsp; The Phoenix was dead.\u0026nbsp; It was time to head home.\n\n\\*\\*\\*\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"What do you mean you can't find them!?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Sir, we checked the bucker, no one is there.\u0026nbsp; They left the vehicle so evidence would point to them leaving on foot.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Then get teams out major!\u0026nbsp; They won't be able to make it far.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"We're doing that sir, but these are highly trained men and there are hundreds of millions of acres of tundra out there and they could be anywhere within a 500 miles radius by now.\u0026nbsp; We have helicopters and ground vehicles running passes over the most likely routs of egress but they haven't found anything yet.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Sir!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Yes corporal?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"A report just came in.\u0026nbsp; The Phoenix has been assassinated.\u0026nbsp; They say he was shot by a sniper from extreme long range but no one knows who.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Major, are there any know NWO locations within that radius?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Just one, here sir.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Get me Dr. Hall on the phone.\u0026nbsp; Now!\"\n\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"Task Force","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/143963-task-force-change-in-plans.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/144262-task-force-operation-terminated.json"}}