Saturday, March 2nd, 7.10 PM Local time
Helicopter Base Area, Imperial Compound, Blachkov DC
As the night has just settled in the American Federal Empire of the Scarlet Eagle's capital city, people are starting to get out to enjoy the cool evening of this weekend day. Despite the tragic events that had happened in the city just two months ago because of the Green Poison outbreak, the situation managed to come back pretty quickly to a normal level.
As families go to restaurants, young couples enjoy the sights of the rising moon's reflection in the Potomac River, the Helicopter Base Area of the Imperial Compound, (the zone encompassing the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Guard Headquarters, as well as the Imperial Personal Brigade Garrison, and all the houses of their members), is subject to an intense activity.
On the landing pads, a group of four black Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks helicopters, as well as two MH-6 Little Birds of the same color, are boing prepared by a group of mechanics in dark green jumpsuits.
Meanwhile, a kilometer more south, in a wing of the Imperial Palace, a group of 22 men and as much women, all clad in black tactical gear, are preparing themselves for their upcoming mission. These people are the Alpha Squadrons of the Personal Guard of the Empire's monarchs, Emperor Anaximander "The Scarlet" Blachkov and Empress Anna "The Scarlet" Blachkov, themselves being active soldiers and Commanding Officers of their respective Squadrons. And the reason everyone is preparing for a nihttime operation, is because they are going, in a few hours, to board and inspect the Alshaahin , a Kyrenain yacht, hosting the Kyrenaian delegation coming for the return state visit, after the Emperor and Empress visited the Sultanate in Jjuly of the preceding year.
Despite a rocky start in their relation (following an incident involving a former Kyrenaian Colony, and Scarlet American tourists), the relations between the two countries had had least managed to reach a near-cordial level, despite recent intelligence suggesting that the Sultanate was considering the Eempire as a lesser country. Unfortunately, the Empire's view on the Sultanate was more or less the same.
In the Alpha's own preparation room, Major Charles Shaw, callsign Alpha 2-4, (and also considered like the Don Juan of sorts of his unit, thanks to his looks), and the medic of his Squad, is preparing his gear.
"Man, here we finally are! he exclaims to his colleague Norman Whitaker, the medic of Alpha 1, as the two men put a pouch of morphine, and some hemostatic powder packets in their backpacks.
-Indeed, replies Norman, as he closes his backpack, before moving to peparing his primary weapon for tonight, a P90 SMG. To think that nearly a year ago, we were ready to go at each other's throat, and now we're going, or at least we try, to see towards a common goal.
-Yeah, but considering how the recent intel we've got shows how they think of us, I think it's high time to remind them that we're not pussies, says Major Fanny Shaw, Charles's wife, as she comes to observe her husband, the blonde woman currently loading one of her Colt's M1911 magazines. Finished yet?
-In a few minutes sweetheart, we just finished checking our medicial supplies, now on tothe weapons, replies her husband with his trademark smile.
-All right, simply replies Fanny, before moving back to her own table, who she's sharing with her friend and squadmate Eleanor Hinkle, the other blonde woman being in the process of loading her SCAR A1 (the newest Assault Rifle who just entered service in the Empire's Imperial Guard, being chambered with a new cartridge, the newest 6.8x43mm).
A few minutes later, Charles and Norman have finally finished to load their weapons, and are currently in the process of putting their plate carriers on, before attaching them and putting their tactical vest over it.
Tonight, all of the Alphas are packing three weapons: a SMG (P90 OR MP7), or an SCAR A1 for ten of them, as well as a Remington 870 shotgun for five of them; their Colt Python Revolver in a thigh holster, as well as their Colt m1911 pistols in a thigh holster too, just next to their revolver.
As Charles finishes to attach his tactical vest over hos plate carrier, before putting on the new symbol of the Alphas on his left shoulder, a voice belonging only to their leader, Anaximander, rings into the large room.
"All right people, shouts the Emperor, two minutes left, so hurry up and get over here!"
So, with a bit of hurry, the two men finish to strap all their gear on their person, before moving to an end of the room, where the rest of the Squadrons are assembling.
"All right everyone, says Anna, the Empress, once everyone have arrived, put your lens on."
With tha said, each of the Alphas takes a small box from a chest pocket, and takes out two contact lens, who are in reality Smart Contact Lens, allowing them to have a Heads Up Display directly in front of their eyes. Once they all have put it in their eyes and have linked them with their Data Glove Paired on their left forearm, they turn back to their two leaders, who are standing with Colonels Pavel and Alicia Morozov.
"All right, linkstart! exclaims Pavel, before in front of the group, the image of a yacht is projected by means of their contact lens. For them it's as if the're seeing it like an hologram, but for an external observer, he would be seeing nothing in the space the image is supposed to be.
-All right, starts Anax (the Emperor having a bit changed since his last meeting with the Kyrenaians, his hair now being longer, and tied into a manbun), this is the Alshaahin, Prince's Damir Yacht's. As you know, she entered Chesapeake Bay this morning at Two Dark Fifteen (2.15 AM), escorted by three Meninx Class Destroyers who have then been sent to Norfolk. There, the Coast Guard National Security Cutter SEIS Legend, and the Offshore Patrol Cutters SEIS Dakota and Portland took care of the Yacht's escort, and have just confirmed their presence over the coast of Quantico. Now, our goal tonight is to board the ship by Fast Rope Insertion, inspect her and then have dinner with our guests. Remember, this is supposed to be cool. Even if we all know they do not consider the Empire like a suprpower, tonight is not the time to settle this, so everyone is cool tonight.
-Now, continues Anna as she runs a hand through her head, who now reach to the middle of her back, just like Alicia. This ship has eight decks, the most important ones are Deck 6 and 7, where the Cabins and Bridge are located. The girls and I will fastrope ot the bow of the ship, while you boys and Anax take care of the aft."
As she speaks, small red arrows appear on their HUDS, highlighting said zones.
"So, any last questions? asks Alicia, who is in the process of attaching her hair in a hairbun.
-No Ma'am! answer the rest of the group.
-Good, replies Pavel So grab your gear, we're leaving! Yuri, Patrick, get Gopnik and Cairo! he shouts to the two leaders of Alpha Two and Three.
-Roger that!" shout the two men in answer.
And now, with everything prepared, the Alphas proceed to put on their trademark balaclavas, each one painted with a white skull over the black fabric, before putting on their Ops-Core Future Assault Shell Technology (FAST) Helmet, with Night-Vision Googles attached. They supplement the set with their trademark HUD shades, before grabbing their weapons and backpacks, and leaving the room, going through corridors before stepping outside, where a group of 9 Okhosh M-ATV trucks are waiting.
"So, here we finally go, says the Emperor as he takes the wheel of the lead M-ATV, putting his SCAR A1 to the side. Excited?
-You bet! replies his wife who has chosen to ride shotgun, her KAC M110 Snipr rifle in her lap. Do you think they're going to be happy to see us? she asks zs she takes off her helmet and balaclava to rearrange her hairbun, before putting them back on, and attaching her neckerchief around her neck. In the past few months, she had taken to wear her husband's gift more often.
-All right! exclaims Anax with a happy tone, and a smile behind his balaclava. What about you Pavel? Ready to finally get back at Damir? he asks to his friend sitting behind him, as the convoy starts to roll to the Helicopter Base Area.
- Ooh, I've been waiting for this moment for a long time, answers the male Morozov as he caresses his Mk 48 LMG, him being the only one, with Fanny Shaw, to carry a Light Machine Gun tonight.
-Just be sure to don't rough him too much, says Alicia, with a mischevious smirk she's sure her husband can hear.
-Meh, remember his burned scar? asks Pavel. If he's survived to this, a simple push to the ground won't do that much damage."
Finally, the convoy arrives to the landing pads, where the Squadrons proceed to disembark, and board the helicopters. While Anaximander board the helicopter with Alpha 1 and 2, his wife, as well as Lieutenant Colonel Yuri Petrenko, go each to one of the AH-6 Little Bird helicopters. They will provide sniper overwatch for the rest of the crew, while they conduct the Yacht's inspection.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Leonheart, and Patricia Petrenko, help their two grey Appalachian Wolfdogs, Gopnik and Cairo, board the Black Hawks.
Once everyone is safely strapped onboard, the rotors starts to spin, before the 6 helicopters take off in the night sky, their lights becoming little more than colored specks in a few minutes.
Potomac River, 5 miles East of Quantico
"Legend to Alshaahin, the Alphas have taken off, I repeat, the Alphas have taken off from the Imperial Compound, they will be inbound in 20 minutes, over." announces the communications officer of the Scarlet American Coast Guard National Security Cutter.