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Soap or Captain MacTavish depending on who you ask, was currently straight-up not having a good time.
Graves was shifty from the beginning and Riley sorry Ghost didn't trust him for a moment. The last thing they expected however was for Graves to take over the Vaquero's base and hunt them like dogs through the streets of Los Almas. Add onto that calling him captain during his little speech all but confirming he knew about the 141. And not just the Task force Price made.
MacTavish had been shot in the shoulder but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle. He breezed his way through the city with his lieutenant in his ear and easy banter between them.
Eventually, he made his way to the church, Ghost met him outside, and together they escaped, Ghost drove them to the safe house that only he was informed of. MacTavish wasn't bitter, he wasn't it was just annoying to always be treated as a sergeant which he distinctly wasn't, but after all, he had agreed to this when Price had offered to make a team as a cover for Soap’s own. He knew that he was signing up to make himself a lower rank in this task force to cover his own team. He was still however allowed to be annoyed by it.
Jumping through the window first he hadn't expected to have a gun pointed at him but Ghost was faster. He had always been good with knives…
Rudy was the poor man who had been protecting himself, but he had pulled the knife out from where his head had almost been and handed it back to Ghost with little fanfare. They had planned, but it quickly became apparent to all of them that the three of them would not be enough to take the base alone.
Add on the fact Graves knew one of the most well-hidden secrets in the British military and he didn't have much of a choice. “Rudy, do you have a stat phone I need to call in a favor?” MacTavish asked, Rudy raised an eyebrow but complied finding one and handing it over. MacTavish grabbed it and fiddled with it for a moment before speaking into it. “OI MUPPETS! We have a problem how copy?”
Silence for a moment then, “Solid copy Captain. How fucked are you?” An Australian voice questioned, Rudy puzzled look to Ghost, Ghost however had seemingly perked up. “Shadows turned and took over the Los Vaqueros base Shepard is in on it and Graves knows.” Soap listed off quickly and methodically. silence followed but only for a moment before he added on, “Protocol 627.”
“Where are you?” the same voice asked and lots of shuffling and shouts could be heard in the background. MacTavish gave the coordinates and the last transmission through the other side was, “We are RTB we will be there soon.” Again lots of shouting could be heard in the background. It sounded as if it was utter chaos on the other side of the line.
MacTavish then turned to Ghost, “Patch me up before I pass out.” Ghost chuckled and responded, “Yes sir Captain.” Rudy may explode with how confused he looks. “Would someone like to explain what the HELL is going on!?” MacTavish chuckles, “I'm actually a captain, the youngest in British military history. I have a team called the 141 and Price helping with hiding this team by creating task force 141. With the help of Laswell and some other higher-ups, the trick works well with me occasionally helping Price as a sergeant and Ghost as his lieutenant instead of mine.”
MacTavish takes a sharp breath as Ghost yanks the bullet out of his arm before continuing. “The only problem is Shepard is one of the said higher-ups. He told his lap dog and now Graves knows one of the most well-kept secrets in the world and if he spills my whole team is fucked.”
Rudy was stunned but the more he thought back the more he realized Soap had always been a step ahead and far more skilled than a sergeant would be. It explained a lot and besides what need would he have to lie?
MacTavish by the time Ghost was finished patching him up looked exhausted. Ghost looked worried before turning to Rudy, “Do you have a cot I can put him on?” MacTavish puffed up like an angry cat, “I DO NOT NEED TO REST!” He sounded very indignant. Ghost had turned to him, giving off the vibe of a very annoyed parent. “Johnny you need to rest, Roach will kill you if he sees how bad off you are when they land.”
That seemed to calm his rage and Rudy showed them to where the sleeping area was. MacTavish was unceremoniously dropped onto a cot. Before Ghost could escape MacTavish had grabbed him by the back of his tack vest and pulled him down into the cot as well. “Fucking hell Johnny.” Ghost grumbled not sounding annoyed but trying to. MacTavish just buried his face in Ghost’s neck. “Shut it, Riley.”
Rudy was left stunned and a bit confused but left the two to rest.
Hours later Ghost had poked his head out of the sleeping area and warned there might be some yelling because he was going to change MacTavish's bandages. There was some cursing but no yelling and soon MacTavish and Ghost joined Rudy in his planning.
A few hours pass before the stat phone comes to life, “Inbound.” It's a British accent this time. Soap goes over to the phone and responds. “Solid copy.”
Around 10 minutes later a helo could be heard. The men inside the barn looked outside to see the helo in question. The motor was cut, the doors opened and suddenly a wave of men hurried out.
Soap and Ghost had already stepped outside to meet them, but as soon as the men spotted them, “CAPTAIN! LIEUTENANT!”
The men chorused and suddenly tackled the two to the ground. Soap cursed a blue streak and Ghost growled, “OI HE'S HURT MIND YOURSELVES!” The new soldiers froze before again devolving into chaos and questions. No one could hear anyone. Ghost stood guard in front of Soap who didn't seem amused in the slightest by his Lt’s actions.
Suddenly a short man pushed his way through the chaos before coming to a stop in front of Ghost. The man was vibrating in place and signing ? Ghost watched him for a moment before answering and signing back in turn. “Yes Grave's shot him and yes we are being watched from the window it's Rodolfo he's one of the Los Vaqueros.”
Roach nodded before shoving past Ghost to get to Soap and promptly started checking over him. Soap begrudgingly let it happen.
Slowly everyone made their way back into the barn and greeted Rudolfo. Rudy wasn't going to remember any of their names the only ones that stood out to him were the Australian man Rook and the short man Roach. He also learned that Roach was mostly mute due to damage to his vocal cords from a fire that had almost killed him. It was amazing the switch Soap made into the lead of the team, drawing out plans and sketching the layout plan after plan after plan A's B's C's all the way down the list. He was in his element and it was clear to see.
Eventually, a plan was made and everyone started to gear up, Soap had put on face paint of his own 3 dark steaks across his head. Ghost had disappeared and soon came back in a completely different outfit. Where he was once in all black now he wore a grey fleece jacket and Camo cargo pants with a matching tack vest. His hard skull plate was replaced with a skull print balaclava with sunglasses.
Roach looks up before signing something to Ghost, and a nearby 141 member translates for Rudy. ‘I know you are not that tall.’ Ghost rolls his eyes and removes his boots. Suddenly he's several inches shorter. Rudy blinks stunned as Ghost puts on another set of boots. The others chuckle amused. Eventually, everyone was set to go and loaded into vehicles, and following Rudy they made their way to the prison. The mission went off without a hitch, with the 141 and Rudy working as a cohesive unit.
Soon they had made their way into where Alejandro was being held with the other Vaqueros. Soap breached the door only to get slammed into the wall. Rudy was quick to grab Alejandro's arm and reassure him and to stop him from attacking. Alejandro blinked a few times before releasing Soap, “Soap, Rudy, Gho-” Alejandro paused at the sight outside the door. Soap smiled over his shoulder on the way out of the door, “I'll explain later but we have to go.” Alejandro didn't question it and soon the newly freed Vaqueros with the 141 made their way to their planned exit.
Before they could get out however an enemy helicopter appeared and started to fire on them. They all ducked for cover before an all too familiar voice sounded over coms. “All stations, this is Bravo-6- Get down!”
Everyone was quick to do just that as a rocket hit the helicopter taking it out of the sky. Soap shouted out disbelievingly, “It's Price.” “FUCK YEAH” A 141 member shouted in glee.
“All Bravo and Vaqueros... Top o' the wall. Get here and I'll get you out. How copy?”
“Loud and clear, Price. Comin' to ya! Be warned I brought in backup.” Soap answers back already moving. “Who is he?!” Rudy questioned aloud, Rook turned smiling, “A friend.” Alejandro chuckled, “I like him already.” Alejandro yelled at his men and everyone quickly made their way over to where Price was. Soap made his way up the wall and Price greeted him, “MacTavish.” MacTavish chuckled, “Good to see you, captain.”
Soon everyone was up the wall including the 141 much to Gaz's confusion but soon enough they were all on their way to regroup at the barn. Once in the car and Price and Gaz explained the situation Gaz had questioned who the other soldiers were. MacTavish said he'd explain when everyone was together. Once at the barn they all gathered around the table Price had his laptop on. MacTavish and Price stood side by side as they waited for Shepard to pick up. As soon as he did Price spoke, “You hid this- Why?” Shepard didn't so much as bat an eye, “We all keep secrets, Capta- Captains .”
Soap snarled, “Why the hell weren't we informed?” Shepherd rolled his eyes, “Consider yourself well-informed now, boys.” Price took a breath and chuckled under his breath, ”Oh, that's really fuckin' helpful, General. Thank you. But, you're a day late and a missile short. There's three of them- we only found two. Also now your dogs know one of the most classified things in the SAS.” Shepherd snarled, “Then, point yourself in that direction and fix it. Besides I'm the one that allowed that little pity project. I can tell who I damn well wish.”
Mactavish puffs up and growls out his response, “And who fixes you, eh?”
Shepherd shot back. “I don't need fixing. I'm a patriot protecting my country.”
Price snipes back, tone sharp. “You're protecting your own ass.” Shepherd undeterred continues, “I do what needs to be done and no one holds me down with a roll of red tape. I know what's best for the cause.” By the end, he sounds indignant.
Soap chuckles darkly, “You've lost your mind, General.” Shepard rolls his eyes again. “And you've forgotten what you're fighting for. To do good, you gotta do some bad. When we shit, we bury it, that's how it works.”
Price sneers back, “Yeah... But we don't bury each other with it, do we?” Shepherd bowls on, “You need to turn off that side o' your head and face down the real enemy.”
MacTavish speaks again, tone menacing. “You need to call off your Shadow and leave my team alone.” “Graves...?” Shepard asks amused. “Yeah.” Price confirms. Shepherd laughs mockingly, “He's a dog with a bone, and I highly recommend you don't try and take it.” “This is your last chance to change your mind.” Price warns seriously. Shepherd sneers, “Then what?”
MacTavish draws close to the computer and snarls, “Then after we go for him. We're coming for you.” With that, he slammed the computer shut. Price turned and nodded his head to the gathered group and off they went. When they walked through the door Alejandro called his men to attention. MacTavish did the same, “OI 141 ON ME!” Once at the table, Gaz had demanded an answer and MacTavish gave one. “Really mate you didn't even tell me?!” Gaz complained. Everyone chuckled before snapping back to attention as Price began to give his speech.
“Alright, listen - We are taking back your HQ. We are getting our prisoner. We are killing Commander Graves.” Rodolfo raised an eyebrow, “When?” Mactavish answered “Now, this is a fight against our own. We are not task force 141, 141, and Los Vaqueros on this. We're a team.”
Ghost empties a bag full of skull masks onto the table, “Ghost Team.” The teams were divided and soon they were shipping out. The 141 had been decided between the teams as support while the Vaqueros were leading, and the task force was focused on specific tasks. Together taking back the base was laughably easy.
The 141 were terrifying; they were almost like a hive mind with how in sync they were. And MacTavish controlled them completely. Eventually, Valeria was secured. Archer called it in as he, Scarecrow, and Peasant secured the area. The break-off team consisting of Worm, Royce, Meat, and Ozone with a few Vaqueros were sweeping the ground of the compound. With MacTavish, Ghost, and Rudy. Rook, Roach, Chemo, and Merlin had tagged along with them. They were hunting Graves. Mactavish’s team watched as Price's helicopter was shot out of the sky. Ghost branched off with Rook, Chemo, and Merlin. That left Roach, MacTavish, and Rudy to take down the new tank that had appeared.
In the end, MacTavish had run circles around the tank and needed little help to blow the tank up to high hell. Rudy was about to confirm the kill before MacTavish held up a hand to stop him. Only a moment later Graves came crawling out of the tank, MacTavish stepped forward before scruffing the idiot and dragging him out of the flaming tank rumble.
“You….” MacTavish growled, sounding a moment away from choking Graves with his own intestines. Graves looked up at MacTavish terrified. Roach came up next to the captain and looked down at the Commander.
Without further comment, MacTavish grabs the knife from Graves' tack vest. Then he ripped the tack vest off completely and stabbed him in the chest. To add insult to injury he threw Graves back into the fire.
Roach reached to the tack vest and ripped off the shadow insignia before he too through the tack vest in the fire. “Fucking bitch.” Roach's croaked voice was scratchy with an Irish lilt.
“MacTavish to Riley I'm with Rudy. Graves is KIA. How's Price?” Ghost sounded amused as he answered, ”Angry. Lost a good cigar in the crash... Pilot's okay, too. Out.”
Rodolfo also gave his report, ”Alejandro La basa está asegurada.” With that, they group made their way back to the others.