Operation: Not-So-Lone-Guardian

[alertcommando]

The door opens into what seems to be a warehouse, but a quick look around reveals it to be a boathouse, a large one. Tied to the enclosed pier, a U.S. Navy Amphibious troop transport waits for the combatants. Lined up near the transport are weapons, scuba gear and four 20 gallon metal drums.

Comments

[aeons_crackshot]

"Anytime," Annabelle says with a smile in response to Tanya's comment about watching her back.

Her expression is more grim when Tanya discusses the paratroopers. "So long as the paratroopers are in uniform that shouldn't present too much of a problem," Annabelle replies with a nod. Well, not too much of a problem for people with gun skills like Tanya and Annabelle.

[alertcommando]

"Oh, they will be. And this time, they are half decent fighters too." Tanya shakes head. "Fucking Romanov..."

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle's opinion of the man is similar. "Your world would end up with someone like Saturday in a position of power," Annabelle says with a sigh.

"If you ever go to...visit him, I'd like to come along," she adds with a predatory smile.

[alertcommando]

Tanya smiles to her friend "We might just have to... but first we have an invasion to stop."

It is a good 'drive' until the start point, and mostly uneventful. They have to stop once, while a huge rigid zeppelin passes above. Even from their hiding spot, the weapon blisters on the thing's structure are clearly visible, along with the hammer and sickle markings. "Kirov Airship..."

[aeons_crackshot]

"Very true," Annabelle says with a small smile.

Annabelle eyes the airship, contemplating ways to destroy it from her current position. "Hopefully, that thing won't spot us," she says quietly. It's too bad that blowing the zeppelin up would attract too much attention.

[alertcommando]

"The Reds came up with those things when the post-war treaties limited their number of conventional aircraft. It is powered with a lesser version of their Iron Curtain force shield." Ah, very hard to bring down.

The lumbering airship fades in the distance, and Tanya starts the transport again. "Those things are keeping the air force busy everywhere."

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle frowns at the transport as it fades into the distance, "Pity. I wonder if someone could make the jump onto one of those things and take it out from closer range...."

"At least if they are dealing with the air-force elsewhere they won't be looking for us." Annabelle smirks, "at least until we blow up those warships."

[alertcommando]

"Oh, I am sure Ben has something in mind to handle that one once we get Fort Bradley back online with the defense network." After all, being a highly regarded commando and expert or not, Tanya does not know all that is happening in the war effort.

"We will be at our start point in ten minutes. Ready to get wet and cold?"

[aeons_crackshot]

You mean she's not omniscient? *gasp*

"Ben hm? Is there something I should know?" Annabelle teases.

Annabelle makes a face at 'wet and cold', "No, but let's do it anyway."

[alertcommando]

"Ben Carville. General Ben Carville, my sort-of-commander?" Tanya pokes her friend. "I would much sooner hook up with Lieutenant Eva."

Soon the transport stops again, and it is time to strap on the air tanks and climb out. "This should be easy... just follow the directions on the diver's display, and set the drums as close to dead center of the lower hull as you can."

[aeons_crackshot]

"Oh, that Ben," Annabelle replies, eyes sparkling with repressed laughter. "I may have to meet this Lieutenant Eva, if she's caught your interest." It's a friend's job to check out potential significant others to make sure they're up to par, right?

"Follow the directions, aim for the middle, don't hang around too long?" Annabelle confirms. "Let's go blow up some boats."

[alertcommando]

Tanya smiles and nods, helping Anna belle out into the water with her diver helper and her two drums, then climbing out herself. "We meet back here soon, okay?"

No 'good luck' thing, everybody knows that wishing 'good luck' in a moment like this is bad luck.

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle grins at Tanya, "Right."

Being on top of the Atlantic Ocean involved getting cold and wet, going under it....also involves cold and wet, only with the added 'benefit' of lower light. Annabelle does not approve.

Annabelle makes her way through the water to the first boat, hopefully without coming to the enemy's attention. Then it's time to set the charge and move on.

[alertcommando]

It is a large thing.

Very large. The drums have neutral buoyancy, so the task of raising them up to the hull is simple. The top of the drum fits to the curve of the metal plates, and a bit of quick work with the underwater soldering tools secures them firmly.

One done, one to go. Right now Tanya must be doing the same thing.

[aeons_crackshot]

It's a bit unnerving how easy it is to affix explosive death to the hull. After double checking that everything is affixed correctly, Annabelle will move on to her next target and repeat the process.

If all goes well, she should be back at their meeting spot soon...

[alertcommando]

Not a thing stirs, not a thing seems amiss; once she is free of the second bomb, Annabelle can make quick way back to the transport.

Tanya joins her a minute or two later, and they can haul the divers back in. "No problems?"

[aeons_crackshot]

"Not that I could tell," Annabelle replies as she wrings some of the Atlantic Ocean out of her hair. "How about you?"

[alertcommando]

"No problems." Tanya grins, handing Annabelle a towel. "Ready to make some ship wreckage?"

And just before an answer can be uttered, both can hear the sound of the dreadnoughts' missile batteries firing. From the side window of the transport they can see the Reds are bombarding Miss Liberty, and the statue shakes, starting to fall.

"Bastards!" The commando's voice is full of shock and anger.

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle's response has less English in it, but the tone and content are much the same. Sometimes a statue is more than a statue, and seeing Miss Liberty fall hurts like a punch to the gut.

Annabelle's expression is cold and dangerous, "Let's make sure they don't get much of a chance to celebrate."

[alertcommando]

The commando is already reaching for the remotes: checking, arming, then pressing a button.

The closest of the dreadnoughts, a half mile away, shudders, shakes, then snaps in two, flames and shrapnel erupting in a half second of destruction. Tanya almost snarls, flipping the second arming switch and pressing the red button, making the next ship join the first in oblivion, the special charges cutting metal like a hot knife cuts butter, igniting fuel and detonating stores of ammunition.

She makes a pause. Deliberate, so the crews and captains of the other two ships can see the fiery destruction and realize they are next.

Flip arming switch. Green light. Red Button. Fiery destruction. One to go.

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle starts a bit when the first dreadnought explodes. Knowing theoretically what will happen and actually seeing it are two very different things.

Annabelle doesn't actually say anything, but her expression is one of grim satisfaction as Tanya moves to send the last ship to join its brothers.

[alertcommando]

Tanya arms the last charge... but then offers the detonator to Annabelle, a treat for her friend.

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle shakes her head, "It's...right that you should finish off all of them." It's Tanya's home they're invading, after all. In any case, the impersonal nature of the explosives makes Annabelle a bit uneasy.

[alertcommando]

She nods, and just blows up the last one. No ceremony, no hesitations. "Come on, we have to deliver the comm beacon now." The transport is restarted, and they can head to the nearest shore.

[aeons_crackshot]

"Right," Annabelle says with a nod. "Can we get out of these wet suits, or are we going to have to do any more swimming?"