September 26, 2014

Worth Fighting For - Entry II: Going Postal

http://freedomfighters.wikia.com/wiki/Battle_at_the_NYPD_Station
Worth Fighting For
Entry II: Going Postal
Location: Brooklyn Rebel Base
Date: Friday, June 20th, 2003

After spending a few days in the Manhattan Rebel Base resting and reorganizing, I traveled with Phil, Chris, and a handful of other Manhattan Resistance members to another rebel base located under Brooklyn. While mayhem reigned above ground, the reprieve we received allowed the Resistance to gather intelligence on the locations of Isabella and Chris’ brother, Troy. Scouts discovered that the Soviet Armed Forces were using the Brooklyn Post Office as a stronghold and supply depot to support troops advancing into the city. They also discovered that Troy was being held there as well, awaiting transportation to an Alaskan “retraining” facility. Isabella was being held in a different location, at the Brooklyn Police Station. She was probably being interrogated about the Manhattan Resistance, its numbers, and its capabilities. Mr. Jones had devised a plan, sending Phil and anyone willing to go rescue Isabella to Brooklyn while he and the remaining Freedom Fighters stayed behind in Manhattan. His goal was simple, try and keep the fight for freedom alive in Manhattan. Chris instantly volunteered to accompany Phil to Brooklyn, he was determined to rescue his brother. I decided to tag along and provide what minor assistance I could.

Once we arrived at the Brooklyn Rebel Base, Phil and Chris began to butt heads. Phil’s objective was to rescue Isabella first yet Chris wanted to save his brother right away. After some arguing, Chris decided to try and rescue Troy on his own. I wasn’t about to let him play cowboy and get himself killed. I offered to back him up and suggested we try and investigate the area before we ran in with guns drawn. Chris thanked me for my help and Phil wished us luck. While Phil had his own mission, he told us that once Isabella was safe, that he would assist us in rescuing Troy. Armed with a couple of AK-47s, Chris and I left the safety of the sewers with no knowledge of what awaited us.

Location: Brooklyn Post Office
Date: Friday, June 20th, 2003

We emerged from the sewers to find ourselves in an alley that was hidden from the street. It was eerily quiet out. The previous sounds of screams and explosions could not be heard and there was no one in sight. We snuck our way towards the post office and as we drew closer to the street, we could hear the hum of military trucks passing by. We were about to step out onto the street when a young man came running up to us. He called himself “the Kid” and told us that it would be suicide to try and enter the post office. The Kid informed us that there were literally hundreds of Reds swarming around the post office and that we’d need reinforcements to try and breach the building. Chris was about to ignore the Kid’s warning but before he could another SAF truck pulled in front of the post office and a dozen SAF soldiers jumped out of the back. The Kid suggested that we try and help the police officers that were pinned down by a sniper’s nest not far from the post office. Doing so would help Phil’s group of Freedom Fighters in gaining access to the police station to rescue Isabella. After Isabella was saved, the other Freedom Fighters would be able to provide us support. It seemed like we would have to rescue Isabella before we could save Troy.

http://freedomfighters.wikia.com/wiki/Freedom_Fighters
Location: Brooklyn Gas Station
Date: Friday, June 20th, 2003

Before I could even answer, Chris had run off in the direction of the police station. I followed close behind and yelled a hasty “thank you” to the Kid. It only took us a few minutes to find the front of the police station. It wasn’t hard to miss with tanks surrounding the building and a Russian flag flying over it. There were a couple overturned police cars and roughly six officers taking cover behind them. We cautiously approach, very aware of the snipers perched on top of a gas station roof nearby. The police chief waved us over, yelling that we were crazy to be out in the middle of the street like that. Chris asked him if he had seen any of Phil’s resistance group or if they knew about the hostage, Isabella, but the chief just shook his head. We both knew that there was no way Phil could get close to the station with those snipers firing unchecked up there. Chris assured the chief that we would destroy the snipers’ nest so they could move in and try to retake the station. The chief told us to be careful and handed us both a package of C4 to use on the gas station.

I looked wide-eyed at the dangerous package in my hand but Chris reassured me he knew how to use the stuff. A plumber that knew how to handle C4? I didn’t question him but only tucked it away before preparing to make the mad dash across the street. There, we found a manhole and climbed down into the sewers. Once underground, we could easily make our way to the back of the gas station and sneak up on the snipers without anyone noticing us, or at least I hoped that would be the case. We reached our destination and climbed to the surface again. There were three Reds guarding the back entrance of the gas station. We opened fired, my bullets sprayed wildly, missing their targets but Chris was deadly accurate. Within a few seconds the three Reds were dead and we were marching towards the gas station. The snipers didn’t seem to notice the gunfire for the police officers were doing their best to keep the snipers occupied. It took Chris a few minutes to set the C4 in the best places and start the countdown. We scurried like mice back into the sewers only to arrive just before a loud explosion rocked the air above us. The gas station had been completely demolished and the police officers were now free to move towards the police station.

http://freedomfighters.wikia.com/wiki/%27Warning_Against_Reds!%27
Location: Brooklyn Police Station
Date: Friday, June 20th, 2003

We returned to the police chief, ready to rush into the station but he suggested that we use the subway tunnel and sneak into the garage before making it inside the station. He told us he would take his officers and keep the Reds occupied, giving us a chance to sneak in and rescue Isabella. Chris gave the police chief a grateful nod and we dashed our way into the subway tunnel. Once inside, we were able to easily sneak into the garage of the police station because most of the SAF soldiers had moved to protect the front of the station. Chris and I only encountered minor resistance, putting them down quickly. When we reached the main floor of the police station, we could hear the wild sputtering of gunfire. As we headed up to the higher levels in search of Isabella, I spied Phil and his fighters breaching the lobby.

It was surprisingly calm on the third floor, we had met no one on our march up the two flights of stairs. It seemed the police officers and Phil’s group were keeping the Reds occupied. We walked past a large office space, searching for Isabella but to no avail. Then we heard a commotion coming from a conference room, we could hear a Russian accent echoing through the area. He must have been interrogating Isabella. Chris motioned with his hand for me to stand near the conference room door. He approached another door that was further down the hall. Counting down with his fingers, we breached the room together and opened fire. I was able to kill a soldier that was standing in front of me while Chris took down two others. A man who appeared to be an SAF officer drew his pistol but Isabella, still tied to a chair, charged straight into his side. They fell in a heap on the floor and Chris quickly dispatched of the Red. As he untied Isabella and helped her off the ground, I grabbed the officer’s gun and handed it to her. She was suspicious about us, but all Chris said was that we were working with Phil and that he was still fighting on the lower levels.

Isabella motioned for us to follow her to the roof, she said that we were going to send Mother Russia a strong message about what we thought of them. When we arrived on the roof of the building, there were only a handful of Reds standing guard. We eliminated them easily before Isabella ran towards the front of the building. At first, I thought she was going to jump but then I realized she was heading towards the flag pole. She quickly lowered the red banner that was placed there and motioned for Chris to look around for the original flag. He did and found the Stars and Stripes crumpled up behind an air conditioning unit. He went to hand it to her but she told him to do the honors. Chris nodded and hoisted the American flag high above the police station, signaling to all that we had taken it back from Soviet hands.

Location: Brooklyn Rebel Base
Date: Friday, June 20th, 2003

After the dust had settled, we left the police officers who were once again in control of their station. We all needed time to rest and Isabella wanted a debriefing from Phil concerning the events that had happened up until this point. We took shelter in the Brooklyn Rebel Base and while we rested, Phil recounted to Isabella everything that had happened from the invasion up until her rescue. She was still suspicious of Chris and me but Phil reassured her that we were both people that could be relied on. After almost an hour of debriefing Isabella, Chris was becoming visibly anxious. Phil understood why and was the one that approached Isabella with the prospect of rescuing Troy from the Brooklyn Post Office.

After some consideration, Isabella told Chris that he would have the support of the Resistance and that she wanted him to become an official member in the fight for freedom. Isabella had seen Chris’ skill in battle with her own eyes. He wasn’t just a good shot, but a calm and capable fighter who could make the tough decisions quickly. The assault on the Brooklyn Police Station was more than enough proof that he deserved their trust. It only took Chris a moment to decide; he held out his hand to Isabella and proudly accepted her offer with a shake of hands. Phil told me that I was welcomed too, they could use the bodies. Isabella added that my firsthand account of the invasion and our fight against the SAF would be vital in the preservation of our history. Chris too chimed in, stating that he appreciated my support up until now and hoped that I would continue to offer it to him. That was when I realized Chris was much more than a good fighter; he had the makings of becoming a great leader. Thus, we entered a new chapter in our lives, as freedom fighters with the Manhattan Resistance.

http://freedomfighters.wikia.com/wiki/Red_Army
Location: Brooklyn Post Office
Date: Saturday, June 21st, 2003

Isabella led us to an abandoned office building, not far from the Brooklyn Post Office. The streets were too dangerous to travel so she recommended that we snake our way through the alleys that would eventually lead us to our destination. Isabella said that she and a few of the freedom fighters would return to the Manhattan Rebel Base and attempt to contact Mr. Jones and the others still fighting there. Phil was going to take the remaining resistance members and fight the Reds. His strategy was to ambush them at various points around the post office, before retreating and attacking them from a different location. He hoped this would keep the SAF off balance and allow Chris to sneak in to rescue Troy. As Chris and I prepared to exit the office building, two freedom fighters approached us. Billy Hurst and Miguel Bishop had both witnessed Chris’ heroics during the rescue of Isabella and volunteered to assist Chris with our current mission. With the blessing of Isabella, they joined us as we left the office building.

It was already dark when we started our mission to rescue Chris’ brother. The four of us were able to easily sneak through the alleys and weave our way closer to the post office, that is, until we reached a construction lot. The large, spacious lot was filled with pylons, debris, and SAF troops. The Reds had mounted guns on top of the shipping containers that dotted the area and turned the concrete beams into makeshift barricades. There was no way around the construction lot except to traverse the highly patrolled streets. Chris quickly surveyed the area and mapped out a plan for us. He was going to scale one of the containers and lay down covering fire so Billy and Miguel could move up and take cover near a couple of large pylons. I was going to stay on the ground and provide support, making sure that no one snuck up on us before everyone got into position.

Miguel boosted Chris on top of the container and Chris quickly hid behind a few metal beams that were lying on the container. He motioned for Billy and Miguel to move forward and they did just that, as stealthily as they could. I kept my eyes wide open, the first sign that any of us were spotted; I was to fire as many bullets as I could at the Reds. Things were going smoothly until Billy leaned against a pile of pipes, knocking them to the ground. Their loud clatter put every soldier on high alert. Chris and I opened fire as the Reds scrambled to take cover. Billy was in trouble, pinned down by enemy fire and nothing to shield himself from the bullets that were constantly flying at him. Chris looked at me and I nodded, I knew what his plan was. He provided cover fire as I sprinted from pylon to palette, sliding and dashing my way across the construction lot. I did everything I could to reach cover before running again, towards a new spot to find safety. I couldn’t reach Billy but I could flank the soldiers who had him pinned down. I finally reached my destination, a large stack of bricks across from Billy’s location. I was shocked to find I had made it across the gauntlet that was the battlefield, but I had no time to think about it. I steadied my aim and opened fire, knocking one Red to the ground. The other two that were near him, turned their attention to me. As I ducked back down, Billy was able to take out the other two Reds and get to better cover. By this time though, Chris and Miguel had eliminated the rest of the SAF in the area. We had survived our first true battle as members of the Manhattan Resistance.

When we finally reached the post office, we could hear Phil and his group fighting nearby. The plan had worked; most of the guards were off fighting Phil, leaving the post office poorly defended. We killed two guards as we busted down the double doors of the post office. Once inside, it was a run-and-gun sort of affair. The corridors of the back offices were too narrow for us to traverse together so Chris sent Billy and Miguel down one floor as he and I searched another. Once we cleared the first floor of Reds, we heard Billy and Miguel call out to us. We raced up the flight of stairs and found them on the second floor coming under fire from a heavily armored soldier. Chris took out his pistol and fired a bullet right at the Red’s head, hitting his target with deadly accuracy. In the room behind the dead soldier, we found Troy tied up and bloody. He was ecstatic and surprised to see his brother but we had no time for a happy reunion. By this time, Phil had joined our attack on the post office and had cleared out the remaining SAF. I pulled out an American flag from my pack and handed it to Chris. He gave me a skeptical glance but I told him that Isabella had ordered it and that it had become a tradition for him to raise the flag. Troy, as battered as he was, followed the four of us to the roof. Chris lowered the Soviet flag and raised the Stars and Stripes, announcing to the rest of the SAF that we were now in control of the Brooklyn Post Office.

Location: Brooklyn Rebel Base
Date: Saturday, June 21st, 2003

We all met back at the Brooklyn Rebel Base. Troy was able to get medical aid and the others were able to eat and rest. Phil and his fighters also returned with us, though he did lose two people in the fighting. We were only going to spend a night at this base before returning to Manhattan to find Isabella, Mr. Jones, and the other Manhattan Resistance members. Miguel spent a few minutes fiddling with a shoddy TV until he finally got a signal. Of course it was Tatiana Kempinski of the SAFN; that was the only channel in America now. She was denouncing the “rebel attacks” on the good officers who were protecting the Brooklyn Police Station and Brooklyn Post Office. She even went as far as to declare that we blew up the gas station to stop citizens from getting fuel. Soon, General Tatarin was on the screen, reporting that there were many innocent casualties in the attacks. He even called us out by name, stating that Chris Stone and Isabella Angelina were the leaders of the terrorist group that was wreaking havoc across the city. Then the screen cut to pictures of the Soviet Armed Forces rounding up civilians and offering them aid. A new voice spoke through the speakers, General Bulba, the leader of the KGB. He officially named Chris Stone a terrorist, enemy of the state, and a murderer of innocent people. Bulba promised the people that this “Freedom Phantom” would be brought to justice. Everyone in the base turned to Chris in surprise with this news. Phil just laughed and told him that “Freedom Phantom” was a catchy nickname.