Lore/The Renegades

***December 3rd - 17:00***
***Mountain Office***
*The team studies their planning board, and Oliver leads the meeting with Geoff.*

Oliver begins, “Right then, let’s get started. David, you’ll be our only Air Support for this op, so don’t screw up.” David gives him a mere thumbs up while he fixes his beret, and Oliver continues, “Dexter and Quinn, you two will be our sniper support. As you can see here,” says Oliver as he points at the pictures, “you two will perch up at these designated positions, here and here. Dexter, you’ll take the higher ground and Quinn can take the lower point. Use whatever you want, but we’re looking at roughly 500 meter minimum engagement distances.” Dexter nods and Quinn states, “We got your back.”

Geoff says, “Good. You’ll need to cover the entrances/exits, rooftops, and possibly any windows. Oliver and Nate will go in and get Billie West. Nick and Efe will be our escape vehicle drivers. Once we extract Billie West from the compound, we will place her in Nick’s vehicle. Nick will drive her to the switching point, where she will be moved into Efe’s vehicle.” Nick gulps and asks, “Alright, bu-but what if we got people chasing us? All of this seems too risky.” Oliver gestures towards David and says, “That’s what he’s here for. David will take out any stragglers before you get to the switching point. Once the switch happens, everyone will meet at the rendezvous position and we’ll exfil. Any questions?” Nick slowly begins to slide towards the door and nervously says, “I’m sorry Oliver, but I uh- I, I can’t do this. Please don’t kill me!” Oliver looks confusedly at the others and replies, “Uh, I guess it’s fine. You can go if you want, I won’t kill you… unless of course you mutter a single word of what you’ve seen or heard in here, got it?” Nick nods quickly and scurries off.

Everyone looks at each other with concern when Efe finally speaks up, “You know, all of this sounds simple on paper, but in reality… Oliver I’m worried that some of us might not come back from this, especially since one of our drivers just bailed.” Nate steps up and claims, “Alright alright, that’s enough mate; it’s obvious, I’ll be the driver.” Oliver looks around at everyone’s worried faces and replies, “Fine, Nate can replace Nick, Efe you stay with Geoff to secure the rendezvous point. Everything else goes according to plan.” David argues, “Like hell it will, you still need backup inside. I can’t always save your ass McQueen.” Dexter states, “He’s right Oliver, you’re good but we don’t have enough intel. Last time you tried something like this, I almost died, remember?” Oliver nods and says, “... How can I forget? Prep for the op, I’ll find us someone else.”

***December 3rd - 18:00***
***Ular HQ***
*Oliver flies to Ular HQ and finds Shaman Yoshiaki Yasuo.*

Yoshi welcomes Oliver into his office and says, “Greetings Mr. McQueen, it’s been a long time since we’ve spoken. How may I be of assistance?” Oliver studies Yoshi for a moment and responds, “I’ll be blunt. I don’t have time for small-talk, I need help finding someone. Someone who helped build and maintain the Ulars for a long time.” Yoshi’s face tenses as he asks, “Alright, who is it then?” Oliver responds, “I need to find Alexov.”

Surprised, Yoshi explains, “That’s impossible. Alexov has been missing for a long time. Hell, he’s even presumed dead.” Oliver requests, “I know, but can you at least tell me where he was seen last?” Yoshi responds, “Sure, he was last seen at the nearest temple in the mountains.” Oliver begins to leave as he says, “Thank you.”

*As Oliver leaves, a young boy walks into the Shaman’s office, shouting, “Hey you’re not Mr. Shaman sir!” Oliver takes a helicopter to the nearest Ular Temple in the mountains. As he investigates, Oliver finds a small, unnatural crack in the temple floor. He takes out a mysterious purple powder and pours it down the crack. After reciting an ancient prayer, Oliver watches as the crack begins to glow and the ground rumble. Thunderous clouds begin to surround the temple and immediately a lightning bolt strikes the crack, animating a projection of Alexov.*

Oliver hesitates as he asks, “Uh, Alexov…? I-is that you? I need your help.” The voice replies, “That stuff is dangerous, ya know.” Shocked, Oliver exclaims, “Alexov, it really is you!” Alexov nods and says, “Absolutely my friend. You’ve brought me back to this world, what can I do for you?” Oliver gulps and asks, “I need your help rescuing Billie West.”

*The thunderous clouds disappear and the projection begins to fade away. Just as Oliver starts to walk away with disappointment, lightning strikes the crack once again and right in front of Oliver, the projection materializes into the embodiment of Alexov Gorbajovski.*

Oliver shakes his hand and states, “Welcome back.” Alexov smiles and asks, “When do we begin?”

***December 3rd - 19:00***
***Mountain Office***
*Alexov and Oliver walk into the office, and Quinn Liddy sheds a tear as he runs to embrace Alexov. Everyone shakes Alexov’s hand, mostly to see if he’s truly real or not.*

Alexov says, “Thank you everyone for the welcome, but I believe we have work to do. What’s the job?” David states, “Something about rescuing Billie West from an entire army.” Nate says, “Hilarious, Cage. It’s not an army… right?” Oliver interjects, “Yeah, listen. Everyone will still do their jobs. Alexov, you and I will infiltrate the compound, Nate will be our escape vehicle driver, Quinn and Dexter will be our sniper support, David will be our Air Support, Efe will secure the rendezvous point, and Geoff will be our transport in and out of Medici.” Efe says, “I do appreciate Alexov coming along, but we’ll still be going up against an army.” Nate whispers, “Nobody said anything about a damn army!” Oliver responds, “I chose this team specifically for a reason. All of you have a special set of skills, and I’m banking off of those. Look, if it makes you feel any better, I’ll figure out a backup plan. For now, let’s just work on getting the supplies.”

***December 3rd - 20:00***
***Various Locations***
Geoff states, “Quinn and Dexter, get all your equipment but stay under the radar about it, we don’t need people asking too many questions. Also, this will be a night-op, so get stealthy gear.”

*Dexter and Quinn sneak into their HQs. Dexter takes his L-96 AWM bolt-action sniper rifle with a suppressor and 8x optical scope, along with his throwing knife set. Quinn steals a JNG-90 with a suppressor and 10x optical sight, and sheathes his katana. They both pick up a few extra magazines and some rappelling gear.*

Oliver says, “Alexov, get us some standard weapons. Assault rifles with suppressors and some nice optical sights. Efe, help David set-up his K-24.”

*Alexov gets greeted by the young boy, who screams “Mr. Shaman sir!”, while sneaking into the Ular Armory to secure the weapons. The young boy helps him steal the weapons, claiming he “learned from the best” at thieving. Efe and David begin armoring the K-24. They attach additional guns as well as a rocket-pod.*

Geoff studies the planning board and says, “I’ll get us a Bering. We can use Reaper HQ to load up and take off, but I don’t have that sort of clearance anymore.” Oliver smirks and says, “Yeah, but Nate does.”

*Geoff goes off to bargain for a Bering, while Nate goes to Reaper HQ to lie to Commander Jane about securing a runway for them.*

Oliver states, “I’ll work on that backup plan.”

*Oliver sends out two emergency messages and flies to Reaper HQ.*

***December 4th - 0:00***
***Reaper HQ***
*The crisp midnight air cracks as the Bering lands at Reaper HQ. David flies in with his modified K-24 and lands next to the Bering; Alexov, Efe, and David begin loading it in. Quinn and Dexter arrive shortly after and move their gear in as well. Just as everyone is settled in, Nate comes running from Jane’s office towards the Bering in a panicky mood.*

Nate yells as he runs, “Abort! Abort! We’ve awoken the beast! Abort the mission!” Geoff scratches his head as Nate gets close and asks, “What the hell are you yelling about?” Nate, out of breath, explains, “It- it’s Commander Jane! Sh-she woke up when you landed. This is not good Geoff!”

Jane angrily walks up to the Bering just as Geoff puts on headphones and screams, “What the hell is this!? It’s midnight, why is there a Bering here?!” Oliver parachutes down to Jane from his Pell and quickly says, “Heeey Commander Jane, what’s up? How’re things going? How come you’re up so late?” Oliver speaks quickly and hand-signals Geoff to prep for take off. “Are you taking a nice romantic walk with the husband under the moonlight? Huh, I never took you for a romantic, always thought you were all rules and regulations.” Jane tries to respond back but Oliver quickly talks over her, “Look, we won’t disturb you, you’re clearly very busy.” Oliver gets into the Bering and says, “Off you go now, Commander!” Jane scratches her head as she turns and asks herself, “Am I really all ‘rules and regulations’...?”

As Oliver walks around the Bering to make sure everything is accounted for, Quinn asks, “We still don’t have a name, any thoughts?” David says, “I already suggested Alpha Team.” Alexov adds, “Yeah, I like that, it’s sufficient.” Efe and Dexter shrug, while Nate looks at Oliver and says, “C’mon McQueen, use that flare.” Oliver states, “We’ve put aside our set of principles to do this operation.” He looks around and continues, “We are The Renegades.”

*The Renegades take off from Reaper HQ and head toward Medici. Operation Save The West was underway.*