Chapter 24: Kremlin

At eight o'clock the next morning our mission begins. We start by arriving at the temporary base site around ten thirty. We arrived thirty minutes late due to Honey having to eat around all the charms in her bowl of Lucky charms. She is the only person I know that saves every one until the end.

We wait at the base site and watch the guard detail for an hour then we get ready to move in with our "school group". All of a sudden a cargo truck comes out of the gate by the administrative building and rumbles down the road. I look at Conn and he looks at me. The intel we were given said nothing about active transport using this gate. Conn has us wait a few more minutes to examine the complex for anymore surprises.

"Ready team?" Conn tries to give them courage, but most already had it.

"Hold it." Commands Nicholas as another cargo truck rolls out. "That truck is carrying what we're after."

I panic. All the training and preparation for this mission and now we have to abandon it all?! "Okay follow the truck." Conn insists.

We tail the truck on foot to an abandoned open market on the outskirts of Moscow. Thank goodness they gave me calisthenics! I would have lost the truck ages ago. Coming to a halt behind a dilapidated warehouse, the truck drops it off its contents and leaves. Nick scans the area for any hidden agents. But there are only two guards by the crates.

"Guys, our job just got a whole lot easier!" I dash to the building, and scurry through a broken window, ducking for cover behind the boxes just through the window seal. It looks as if it hasn't been opened for years. There are crates of old rotting food lying around the floor. On top of the stench are many broken pieces of old market stalls.

A gigantic flower stall with dead plants stands resolute in the middle of the market. Providing a good view of the inside of the warehouse.

"I don't like it!" Declares Bea in a whisper. "It is creepy and I have this feeling we are headed for a trap! Let's get out of here and regroup!" she turns to leave but Conn holds her suit by the collar.

"We haven't completed our mission yet!" protests Honey. "We will just switch them out and head back. Cover me." She advanced towards the box with Conn watching her six. Peering over the crates and around dilapidated structures, she clears the warehouse section by section. Slowly she makes her way to the crates they just dumped. When she is in range to touch them, sirens blare. Honey steps back horrified.