Battle of New York City

The Operatives are assigned to their first true battle, where Andrew makes some pretty heroic moves. They meet their new adversary, the Special Operations.

October 21st 2006 "Flight Day"
Andrew sat in the c#%$& of the dropship. Ship was definitely the perfect word to describe it. The c#%$& was designed with two seats. One for the pilot and one for a co-pilot. In the rear of the c#%$& pit there was a square room with two small porthole window and seats and weapon holders lining the walls. The seats, which was a total of 24, 6 per wall, were meant for troops. Additionally there was room in front of the seats for twelve more soldiers to stand waiting for drop. The way someone got in and out of this contraptions was that the floor of the troop bay lowered and rose to allow personnel to enter and exit while the ship stood by ready to take off when needed. The ship flew with 4 powerful jet propulsion systems which allowed rising vertically, hovering, moving up to 200 mph horizontally, and stopping on command. This all culminated into a vehicle code-named the Phoenix. Andrew prepped for takeoff. The boy Andrew had rescued the other day, Alex now sat next to him in co-pilot. They were given clearance to take off and that's exactly what they did. 

Andrew flew the Phoenix through the air at incredible speed with near perfect control. Alex aimed the main Gun and with enviable accuracy hit every target in the course. Upon landing Captain S. Mactavish arrived to congratulate them on their first flight. In a heavy Scottish accent he exclaimed "Good show Lads!" before sending them to lunch.

Andrew and Alex ordered their meals and sat down at a table.
"You’re an incredible shooter." Andrew said.
"It's something I could do only with an incredible pilot" Alex claimed. 
"We should practice together more often." Andrew said.
"We should, it's a good idea." said Alex.
As they continued to eat and talk Delta an Cortana arrived.
"We have revived a message!" Delta stated.
"And your gonna love who it's from and what it's about." Cortana added.

Andrew and Alex rushed back to the flight deck. Operatives were rushing to Phoenixes and loading in. Vehicles and weapons were being loaded up as well. Mrs. Phillips rushed over to Andrew and Alex.
"You missed the meeting we just had" She said "The Special Operations are about to launch a massive attack on New York City. We need you to get into a Phoenix, fly to NYC, and stop them."
"Understood." Andrew said grabbing Alex's arm and leading him to a nearby Phoenix. Andrew put his mask on, grabbed an assault rifle and sat down.

The Phoenix was filled with operatives asking the same question. "What is the Special Operations"? After about five minutes Andrew told everyone to quiet down and placed Delta into a central projector which broadcasted his voice and image to everyone. Andrew asked him to play a description of the Special Operations.
"The Special Operations is a codename for an uprising here in the United States. After the U.S lost the war in Iraq and almost its entire military force with it the Special Operations rose to overthrow the U.S government. Originally considered less than a threat the special operations proceeded to gain followers and enlisters through use of fear and propaganda. They are the number one reason that Operation School was created. To counteract the special operations."
Everyone was silent as Delta started a mission briefing.
"You will be dropped in front of the city just on the border. You are to dig bunkers quickly and efficiently. The Special Operations are advancing from the bridge you can see below us now. Keep them out of the city at all costs. The Phoenix's will be providing air support. Good Luck."
Andrew moved to the projector and removed Delta from the projector. Andrew sat down and silently waited for the Phoenix to come to a stop. Alex leaned over and whispered "Good Luck." 
Andrew just sat there waiting. Gun in hand.

The center of the Phoenix slowly started to fall out towards the ground. Andrew waited to here the metallic clang of metal hitting Earth. Andrew could here sirens to alert operatives it was almost time to leave. He could also here everyone c#%$& their guns ready to fight. Andrew heard Cortana say to him "Go now." Andrew grabbed a shovel and ran out the center. Alex right behind him.

Outside Andrew and Alex immediately began to dig a bunker hole. The hole had to be 5 feet wide and 3 feet deep. Despite being the first to start they were making the least progress because of they only had two workers while other teams had 3. 
"Nicole" Mrs. Phillips said "Go help Andrew and Alex." 
Nicole quickly made her way to the two boys. 
"Hey" Nicole said.
"Hey" Andrew answered "you and Alex should bring the bunker over I'll finish the hole."
The Phoenixes had delivered the actual building part of the bunkers. They were broken up into walls and roof. Alex and Nicole brought the walls over to the whole first and then went back and hot the roof. As Andrew finished the hole, Alex and Nicole attached the pieces together. When Andrew finished he went over and joined in placing the bunker over the hole. They then secured the bunker into the ground and when they finished went inside closed the door and waited.

Inside Andrew placed his assault rifle on the floor and sat down against the wall. He checked his watch for what the time was. 1:30 pm. They had only left the school 3 hours ago. "When are they getting here?" Andrew asked.
"I don't know but it would seem they were nearing that bridge that D mentioned." Alex replied.
"Who's D?" Andrew asked
"Delta, I just thought it be easier to give him a nickname to refer to him by." 
Suddenly there was a knock on the side of their bunker. 
"Weapons." a boy said. "Here you go. Rocket Launcher and Sniper." Andrew looked over the OSSRLS4 Sniper Rifle. It was equipped with night vision and heat sensors. However Andrew knew that neither would really be needed right now for it was pure daylight. Andrew then looked at the OSRAK3 Rocket Launcher. It had four barrels. Something Andrew found extraordinarily unnecessary. Why four? Why not one or two? He thought to himself about how it was at least convenient that he didn't have to reload every five cones to fire one rocket. "I'll use the sniper" said Nicole.
"I'll take the launcher." Alex said. 
Fine, Andrew thought to himself. He was fine using the Assault rifle. It was his favorite weapon after all.

Andrew removes his mask and leaned against the wall and closed his eyes waiting for the battle to start. Nicole loaded the Sniper and Alex loaded the Rocket Launcher. Then they heard it. The alarm that told them when the battle would start. It was sounding now.

Andrew, Alex, and Nicole all ran to the hole in the front of the bunker. Aiming their weapons out the front they watched as several soldiers and tanks moved towards the bunkers.
"Holy Crap Tanks" Alex said.
Just as he said it the roar of the phoenixes jets sounded. The dropships flew by, dropping bombs on the tanks blowing them apart. Andrew and Nicole opened fire on the infantry. Andrew could hear bullets whizzing past the bunker. He watched as some shots hit the outer walls of the bunker. He even saw one or two hit the wall behind him. Andrew aimed mostly for soldiers holding Rocket Launchers. Nicole concentrated on all forms of infantry, mostly those attacking their bunker. A few more tanks started to arrive. Alex aimed his launcher at the tank. He watched it fire and blow apart another bunker. Alex took his shot and then pulled Andrew and Nicole under the opening.
"Someone has to get to that bunker!" Alex screamed over the bullets and rockets flying by.
Andrew stood for a second, fired, and crouched back down. 
"Are you crazy?" Andrew said "That’s suicide you would be killed in seconds by the gunfire!"
"I agree" Delta calmly stated "It is an extremely risky thing to try and the odds of survival are not very likely."
"And that is why Andrew is going to do it." Cortana calmly stated.
"What!?" everyone shouted at once.
"We just had a discussion about how no one is going to go." Nicole said.
"We all know how Andrew saved Alex from the Helicopter crash. He can do it again." Cortana argued.
"Fine. I'll do it. It's that simple" Andrew said "Nicole keep the infantry off me. Alex keeps those tanks away from everyone. I'm gonna go rescue some soldiers."

Andrew exited the bunker he ran across an opening listening to bullets rush by his face. He made it to the back of a nearby bunker and had no sooner stopped when he heard a metallic clank. He looked down and saw a grenade next to the bunker. He grabbed it and quickly threw it back at the Special Operations soldiers resulting in a few of their deaths. He ran across a second opening to the next bunker. One away from the destroyed one. He prayed to himself no one was killed. When the Helicopter pilot had died a private funeral for Operation School members only was held for him. His parents were lied to and told he had been caught in the crossfire that took place at the school. The shooting received mass media coverage and the kids had to act like he didn't exist for several days until the press finally backed off.

Andrew made the last dash and jumped into the hole in the side of the ruined bunker. Inside were three Operatives. One boy and two girls. Andrew asked them if they were all right. The girls said they were but the boy was unconscious. Andrew told them to run down to his bunker. The third one down from this one. They left and Andrew picked the boy up and carried him on his back. Running back Andrew could have sworn he felt bullets sweeping through his hair or just off his clothes. He protected the boy as much he could. Hiding the boy’s body from the bullets by turning sideways every now and then. Finally Andrew returned to his Bunker. He sat for a second and laughed at the fact that he could have just sent them all to the closer bunker and not his. He realized he was thinking illogically because he was under pressure.

Andrew rejoined the fight. The two Girls also began fighting with the others because they simply could. They fought for awhile. At one point Andrew crouched down to reload and saw something fly over his head. While watching it the object exploded and Andrews’s vision went White. Andrew staggered around the bunker and turned back to where he thought the window was and saw someone coming in. Andrew found his way to the bunker exit and let his eyes heal there. When they were re-adjusted enough Andrew saw that smoke grenades had been thrown into the bunker and Nicole, Alex and the other Girls were exiting. Andrew saw a man still in there and remembering the boy was unconscious fired into the bunker. The figure got knocked to the ground. It drew a Handgun and fired at Andrew. Andrew took another shot at the figure killing it. However Andrew felt an explosion of pain in his leg and realized he had been shot. Falling to the ground Andrew remembered the boy inside. He crawled back in. He passed the dead body and moved to the boy. Andrew found that he was alive. He took him in one arm and used his other arm to pull both of them out of the bunker.

Andrew climbed out. Alex took out his assault rifle and used it to fire at the enemy while he pulled Andrew back. Nicole pulled the boy to an evac Phoenix. Alex helped everyone in and the Phoenix took off towards Scarsdale. Alex laid back and rested.

Andrew woke up in the recovery room. At least he thought it was the recovery room. He didn't know what to call it. He tried to move but felt extreme pain in his leg. 
"Woah calm down" he heard Cortana say "You need to rest."
"Cortana? What happened?" Andrew asked. 
"You got shot in the leg trying to exit the bunker. They got the bullet out of your leg so that problem is solved. Your cover story for your parents to think is you fell and slipped on a sharp rock that punctured your leg. Don't say anything about that story being unbelievable. It took me, Delta, Alex, and Nicole more than 3 hours to think that up."
Andrew laughed.
"Get some sleep. Seriously it's two in the morning."
Andrew closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Andrew woke up to the T.V on in the room. It was the news and it was explaining the events of the previous day. "Yesterday at around 12:00 pm strange ships were seen flying towards New York City. The ships landed and dispatched masked soldiers into the area. The soldiers dug in bunkers and held off a full scale Special Operations assault on the city. Incredibly all o he masked soldiers appear to have survived though some were injured. The origin of the soldiers is unknown and how they knew about the invasion is also unknown. However they did save the city and for that we thank them." The news report was a big uplift for Andrew. Suddenly he felt pain in his leg again and shifted until it stopped hurting.
"The boys gonna make a full recovery" Cortana said "However you will be out for a week."
"A week!" Andrew said surprised "I thought it would be longer."
"It would have but Operation School is supplying you with experimental recovery programs."
"Good." Andrew said. "Is it true no one was killed?"
"Yes but the boy and girls could have been easily killed had you not recued them from the bunker."
"And what about Alex and Nicole?"
"There the ones who brought you here! You wouldn't be alive if not for them." 
"Alright." Andrew said.
Andrew grew tired and went back to sleep.

Andrews’s parents picked him up that day. He was told he would miss school the next day but would have to go back the following day. Andrew agreed and got into the car.