Recruit (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare fanfiction)

11: All Ghillied Up in One Shot, One Kill

Captain John Price
British Special Air Service
Northern Azerbaijan

"I was just a 'Leftenant' back then... doing some wetwork," Price explained to his team. "Chernobyl. Christmas for bad guys. Even a decade later, a lot of 'em still used it to get their hands on nuclear material. A lot of 'em.... including Imran Zakhaev," he could taste the bitterness as he spoke out Zakhaev's name. "Of course, we couldn't just let that happen. Cash for spent fuel rods?" Price scoffed. "That's one hell of a recipe for destruction," he paused for a moment, resisting the urge to blabber his rants. "It was the first time our government had authorized an assassination order since the second world war. I was under the command of Captain MacMillan."

The memories of him 15 years ago wearing a Ghillie suit with Captain MacMillan had begun to flood Price's mind. It seemed as though everything that happened 15 years ago was still fresh in his mind. He remembered how sneaky and how they blended well on their surroundings. 

The incident happened exactly on Christmas. It was the first time that he wouldn't be able to spend the holiday with his daughter. Price could still remember Jodie's worried face as he proceeded to his mission. He wasn't allowed to communicate with their other teammates; it was a top-secret mission. Jodie has left no choice but to wait for his father to come back.

One wrong move, then their mission would turn into a failure.

----

Lt. John Price
British Special Air Service
December 25, 1996
Pripyat, Ukraine

It took three days for Captain MacMillan and Price to wait at the top of the hotel for Zakhaev. As the day comes when they have a sight on Zakhaev, they didn't hesitate to kill the bastard one way or another.  They were positioned on the top floor of a hotel across the target area.

"Leftenant Price, the meeting is underway. Enemy transport sighted entering the target area," MacMillan said, looking through his binoculars. 

Price looked through the scope of his M82 .50 Caliber sniper rifle. He zooms into the target area where Ultranationalists have gathered. They were 896.7 meters away from the Ultranationalists. 

"The wind's gettin' a bit choppy. You can compensate for it, or you can wait it out, but he might leave before it dies down. It's your call," MacMillan remarked. "Remember what I've taught you. Keep in mind variable humidity and wind speed along the bullet's flight path. At this distance, you'll also have to take the Coriolis effect into account."

Imran Zakhaev appeared, coming out of a vehicle with a briefcase filled with gold. 

"Okay... I think I see him. Wait for my mark," MacMillan ordered. "Target acquired. I have a positive ID on Imran Zakhaev."

Zakhaev could be seen making a deal with the soldiers, wanting stashes of weapons and nuclear material for the gold. Price decided to not use the Coriolis effect, but instead to wait for the wind to tie down. But the unexpected happened, a chopper flew in front of them, blocking their sight on Zakhaev. 

MacMillan furrowed his eyebrows. "Ach, where did he come from?" 

After a matter of seconds, the chopper flies away, giving them a sight of Zakhaev. The target could be seen talking with his dealers, but this time, he raises his arms in frustration as if there was something wrong with the deal. Price knew this was the opportunity to kill the target. 

"It's now or never. Take the shot!" MacMillan ordered. Price did what he was told,  firing the bullet at Zakhaev, but it tears off Zakhaev's left arm. Blood could be seen coming right out of his arm. MacMillan was confident enough that would make him bleed to death. Zakhaev collapsed to the ground, leaving MacMillan satisfied. "Nice shot. I think you blew his arm off. Shock and blood loss will take care of the rest."

Their little celebration got crashed when a chopper flies in front of them. "Shit! They're on to us!" Price exclaimed then he fires at the chopper, killing the pilot and it goes down on flames.

"Great show, Leftenant! Now, let's go! They'll be searching for us! It's time to move!" MacMillan and Price rappel out of the hotel as a second helicopter fire and blows up at the top floor. They began to make their way towards the LZ. "We'll have to take a shortcut! Follow my lead!"

They only got twenty minutes for them to reach the extraction zone. They encounter enemy troops and they engage. Adrenaline rushed all over Price's body as he killed every enemy that comes in their way. They went through an apartment. As they climb a small alley to another apartment, a dog barks up the fence. Price muttered a few curse words as he killed it. They move through the apartment despite the enemies outside. 

MacMillan and Price come out into a grassy ally. Luck wasn't in their side this time as another helicopter appears. Price shoots the helicopter and the pilot, leading the helicopter's rotors to be damaged as it spun around. The helicopter hits the apartment, firing its missiles, and crashes towards MacMillan. They both ran for their lives but MacMillan falls to the ground, injuring his leg. Price looks back and watches in terror as he saw the helicopter crash to the ground, its rotors stopping just inches away from MacMillan.

"Bollocks! My leg's all messed up! I can't move!" MacMillan looked at Price. "Sorry mate, you're gonna have to carry me."

Without any hesitation, Price helps up MacMillan. He continues to carry him through the extraction point. He puts down MacMillan somewhere safe when he needed to engage in enemies. They both head into another apartment. They reach the second floor of the apartment. Price puts down MacMillan to clear out the rooms of enemy troops and dogs. Once it was all clear, Price picks MacMillan up again and continues to run outside of the apartment and continues towards the extraction point. A Russian loudspeaker can be heard from a distance.

----

Finally, they reached the extraction point, which was in the Pripyat Ferris Wheel and the Palace of Culture. Their helicopter was standing by at a safe distance. Price placed MacMillan behind the Ferris Wheel where he could provide sniper support, then Price proceeded to put claymores all around the area. He set up some C4s around the area as well. He then finds a spot to snipe and prones.

"Alpha Six. We have a fix on your position. Hang tight. Big Bird out."

Enemies started to come out of the area. They both begin to snipe out their enemies. The claymores explode as the enemies walk past them. Price detonates the C4s he placed in the area.  As enemies were eliminated, helicopters arrive and drop more troops. 

"Big Bird, we are heavily outnumbered. Where are you?" MacMillan exclaimed over the radio. 

"Copy that, Alpha. We'll be there ASAP. Hold tight." Price was slowly accepting his fate as he gave his all, killing all the enemies surrounding them. For over four minutes, Big Bird finally arrives. "Alpha Team, this is Big Bird. Get your ass on board, over."

Price felt a sense of relief. He rushed to MacMillan to carry him inside the helicopter. As they were safely on board, Price let out a deep breath. It was one of Price's stressful and intense missions. He still couldn't believe himself having to survive that.

He grabbed a photo from his vest. It was a picture of Jodie with her military uniform with a salute. A smile crept up on Price's face.

"I'm coming home, darling."