Insurgency Read Online Free PDF

accompany General Dratshev, but because I do not trust him. If you happen to retrieve Black’s body then so be it. Do you understand, Sargent?”
    Gonzalez nodded, satisfied. “Yes Sir.”
    As planned Styles was the last Delta operative to be tested. Dratshev nodded at Vaha, who immediately shut the door.
    ***
    It had been more than twenty five years since Hakim had sensed their presence, their smell, their cold touch. He had grown older and had assigned their abilities to advanced Soviet training programs, to drugs and technology. He had convinced himself to forget but knew deep inside that it had all been a lie. A quarter of a century ago he had witnessed Hadama attacks and had fought back. He self-consciously touched the scars on his chest caused by the flames he had used against them. At that time he had cared little for his own safety, thought little of his own mortality and had acted. It was revenge for the loss of his family, the loss of his world. He had been the one to lead the raid against the cave; he had been the one who swore that the Soviet soldiers had been buried alive in a burning tomb. But like his memories they were not dead, merely buried. Hakim stared out of the bared window in what at Firebase Python was loosely referred to as ‘the stockade’. The Delta operative was one of them. It was proof that they still existed. In the past the other ANA members had humoured him when he had told them his story. Some of them too had heard rumours about the invincible Soviets, stories thrown around camp fires but unlike him they were from different provinces only he had seen them and knew that there was indeed no smoke without fire. Hakim touched his chest again. No one would believe him, no one would help him. He had to escape and he had to stop them.
     
    Usually by now he’d be safely tucked up in his cot but Rockbridge’s day had been long and was not over yet. He was scanning the most recent Intel intercept when he sensed movement outside and looked up from his desk. Dratshev stood in the doorway.
    “Major, I have finished screening your operatives.”
    “And?”
    The Russian shook his head. “I am afraid that one has been infected. The rest are in the clear.”
    “Styles?” Rockbridge already knew the answer.
    “Correct.”
    “So what can be done?”
    “I have some drugs which may slow the onset of the virus but if he is to stand any chance he must be transferred into my custody and taken to our tropical disease clinic. They have the project’s research notes and have been working on a strategy.”
    “You know that I cannot authorise that. Styles is a serving member of the United States Army, he must be treated in a US facility. Your centre must transfer their research to us.”
    “My government would never allow that, it would be tantamount to confirming that the project took place, against the Biological Weapons Convention. Leaks happen Major; you and I are both old enough to have experienced this. Your man’s only hope is to be taken with me to Moscow.”
    Rockbridge ran his hand through his bristly grey hair. “Let me talk to someone. These drugs you have with you, they will slow the virus?”
    “Yes. If I administer them now we may be able to delay the progress of the virus for a day or so. He must however be immediately placed under quarantine conditions.”
    “Hell General. Look around, this is a firebase not Camp Leatherneck. We don’t have anywhere to put him.”
    “Use the stockade.”
     
    Miller and Eaton carried a sedated Styles on a stretcher to the stockade. Both had been ordered by Rockbridge to wear masks. Captain Osman, the CO of the ANA had Hakim in handcuffs and was leading him away. They crossed on the threshold. Hakim’s eyes went wide at the sight of Styles and he shouted at Osman in Pashtun. Osman shouted back and pushed him away. Styles started to groan; Miller and Eaton hurriedly took him inside and placed the stretcher on the bunk. In a well drilled movement