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Phase 17:Unintended consequences
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Part 2
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Research station Alert/SHIELD facility Theta
Northern Canada
To the world at large, this place was supposed to be a mundane research facility interested in the weather and the effect of global climate change near the North Pole. For SHIELD, the Canadian and US military, the area was an excellent place for covert research facilities working on and testing cold weather equipment. As a bonus, due to all the state-of-the-art weather radars at Alert, it was a place where one could try tracking stealth aircraft by their passage through the atmosphere without outside factors interfering. The sheer remoteness of the site ensured the only people who went to it were researchers, support staff, and the logistics needed to keep them alive and reasonably comfortable in extreme weather conditions.
Those factors made the station an ideal location for testing advanced weather radars against Wakandan stealth and a good enough remote site to get a few operatives trained on how to fly a Talon or a Dragon.
Even in SHIELD, there were only so many operatives who were both trained and experienced in direct action and, at the same time, were already passable pilots. The numbers were even lower across the regular special forces outfits. They tended to rely on air force support for transportation, after all.
However, between SHIELD's reach and the number of countries Wakanda managed to infuriate, finding the people with the necessary skills was more than possible. Narrowing them down to be trustworthy enough for the operation suggested by Stark was harder.
Five of SHIELD's best, a handful of the US Army's Delta detachment, two SAS operatives, and a member of the French Foreign Legion arrived within hours of each other. On the way there, many of them wondered how they fucked up by the numbers sufficiently to be deployed on the North Pole.
Their first guess that Station Alert was more than the first appearance suggested was seeing a well-concealed hangar practically invisible from the sky and, more importantly, its contents – an F-22 and F-35 surrounded by maintenance personnel. The second clue materialized shortly after the ten of them settled up and gathered in a small cafeteria for a briefing and a cup of hot coffee or tea.
For Natasha Romanoff, the place felt too much like certain training facilities in Siberia for comfort. That she would have to work with personnel she knew nothing about didn't fill her with confidence either. At least, there were a few other SHIELD operatives, and she knew their capabilities.
John Garrett and his protegee Ward were legends in SHIELD. The only issue was that since a mission went to hell in Bosnia, Garrett had become one of SHIELD's spymasters instead of a more active field agent. In contrast, Rumlow and Ward were rising stars among the organization's direct action units. From what Natasha could see of the other people that joined them, they were experienced special forces operatives, making Garrett stand out even more.
"Welcome to the middle of nowhere, or at least the next best place," a rough voice rasped, announcing the arrival of another person. He was a tall, pale-skinned man whose face looked like he lost a meeting with a blender. At a closer look, an experienced eye could notice traces of a recent massive facial reconstruction that was still healing.
"Aren't you supposed to be dead?" One of the American operatives asked.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I am Lieutenant Schloss from SWORD and will be handling briefing and logistics for our little exercise."
"Schloss? Really, LT?" The same man asked.
"Certain people have an odd sense of humor, like our troubled kid over here who can't keep his mouth shut," The Lieutenant shook his head in mock disappointment.
A glance around confirmed Natasha wasn't the only one out of the loop. Yet the other Americans apparently had an idea who this 'Schloss' character was supposed to be.
"Keeping mum unless ordered is not in my job description, sir." The Delta Force soldier shrugged with a wide smile.
Now, two odd people were standing out among them, great.
"I am painfully aware of that. It's a good thing no one expects you to keep your mouth shut. We expect you to fly and, if necessary, neutralize a few threats, which is why we are here," Schloss pulled out a small remote from one of the pockets on his heavy winter clothes and switched a projector built into the ceiling on, before getting out of his jacket. "Congratulations, you've all been volunteered for a potentially suicidal mission because of your credentials. You are all veteran direct action specialists who, for one reason or another, can pilot modern fighters, which is the important part."
The gathered people looked at each other. That was not what any one of them expected to hear.
"First, the reason why we're here is simple; you will participate in a brief training program on how to fly a Wakandan fighter. Second, you will participate in the planning of an asset recovery operation. The target will be one of several Wakandan secondary air force facilities, holding no more than a squadron of aircraft and a limited number of personnel. The purpose of the exercise is to get in, using one of their stealth craft, and steal any fighters present at the facility at the time of the raid…."
Needless to say, the Lieutenant had everyone's undivided attention.
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Kyumvi
Kenya
N'Jeru Basa, a Warrior of the Border Tribe, didn't enjoy his latest visit to Kenya. The last time he was in the country, he pretended to be the bodyguard of a supposed wealthy businessman working with the Commander of the Kenyan military unit stationed at Eldored. While Kenya and Wakanda didn't share a ground border, they were across each other, with only Lake Victoria separating them. That was a good enough reason for the Border Tribe and the War Dogs to be interested in the region long before Kenya became a thing. Thus, parts of the country's military were subverted back in the day of their original formation, ensuring those closest to Wakanda's border would not be loyal to Nairobi.
As of late, those underhanded actions proved to be extremely helpful. Otherwise, Wakanda would have found itself surrounded by enemies. Instead, it had a buffer of foreign forces ready to fight for it. They had already proved themselves in the fight to take over Kenya's and Tanzania's capitals.
That was all very good, yet it didn't explain why N'Jeru and his unit were beyond Nairobi, getting shot at in the small town of Kyumvi. Spirits, the place was little more than a village! If it weren't the main road to Mobassa passing through it, the area would be of no interest.
Unfortunately, for N'Jeru, the Mobassa road did pass through this place. More importantly, many Kenyan military units that refused to back their African brothers either returned to that port city to recover or moved deeper into the country to contest it. The War Dogs were supposed to do something about the General in charge of the traitors still loyal to the old regime, yet that was cold comfort. The young warrior was beginning to learn that many locals didn't see him and his comrades as liberators who came to help them remove the shackles of colonial oppression.
Case in point – a large group of armed civilians rallied around members of the local police, and a handful of soldiers holed in the hotel across the street.
N'Jeru took cover at the corner of the most significant building of the local market and used his shield to protect himself from stray bullets further.
"Ungrateful bastards!" Basa shouted in the general direction of the hotel.
The enemy answered with more gunfire.
"Youth and stupidity. It's such a charming combination," An old, tired voice grumbled behind the warrior.
N'Jeru stepped away from the corner and rapidly turned around, using his cloak and shield to protect himself. The vibranium tip of his energy spear pointed at the armored chest of a large, broad man with graying eyebrows.
"Commander!" N'Jeru stumbled to salute. Doing so was easier said than done when you held a spear and energy shield in your hands.
Distant shots and explosions made the young Warrior twitch and feel even more exposed, even if now he had a few walls behind the closest enemies and himself. Bright lights lit up the sky. Vibranium weapons cracked from above, and explosions shook the ground.
"We are in the process of bringing the war to their homes to protect Wakanda. That is not a reason for the average local to embrace us with open hands," The veteran warrior explained.
A group of warriors in stealth suits materialized from the shadows behind the Commander.
"Your unit will feint a direct assault on that hotel, focusing the enemy's attention on the front. Meanwhile, we will flank them and breach into the building to clean it the hard way."
"What about air support?" N'Jeru asked. Their fighters were supposed to reduce such strong points, so the warriors wouldn't have to storm them.
"Our air force is tasked to capacity tonight."
More figures emerged from the shadows, revealing the rest of Basa's unit, gathered together by the Commander's people.
"We are moving in flanking positions now. Attack in five minutes."
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Wakanda strikes again! As of last night, cargo ships off Africa's coasts announced they were under attack before being silenced or failed to respond to desperate attempts to contact them. The current estimate is that over thirty cargo vessels of all types are currently out of contact and suspected to be crippled or destroyed by Wakandan fighters.
Associated Press
