World War III (28 page)

Interrogation

World War III – Day Eleven

Ridgecrest, California

After leaving the coast far behind, Captain Petrov and Lieutenant Razin joined up with a small reconnaissance unit headed north. San Diego, along with dozens of other coastal cities, had already been captured and occupied by the Communist Muslim Coalition. Yuri knew that once the forward base camps were set up, the high command would launch an assault on California’s eastern cities, pushing their way towards the Sierra Nevada Mountains. He needed to stay ahead of the main force if he was going to complete his mission in time.

Reports had indicated that his target, a rogue CIA agent code-named Condor, was currently taking refuge in the small town of Clearview, Nevada. Yuri planned to ride along with the reconnaissance unit as long as possible, and when the time was right, cross over the mountains into Nevada. He had no idea of his target’s real name or what he looked like. All he had was the code name and a location. It wasn’t much to go on. He didn’t even know what type of information the man had stolen, or why it was so important. What he did know was that it was his job to find Condor and retrieve the stolen information, and Yuri took his job very seriously.

On their journey north, Yuri and Sasha discovered several large FEMA camps. Inside the camps were thousands of civilians, many of whom were sick and suffering from dehydration and malnutrition. Yuri was shocked when he realized that the people had been locked inside the camps by their own government and then abandoned. If there had been any military forces guarding the camps they’d long since fled, leaving the civilians to fend for themselves. Yuri felt sorry for the imprisoned people, but his orders were clear. Each time he discovered a new camp he radioed High Command, informing his superiors of the camp’s location and providing an estimated headcount. He wondered if this was how the soldiers of World War II had felt every time they came across one of the infamous death camps of the Holocaust.

Captain Petrov and Lieutenant Razin continued heading north with the reconnaissance unit, leaving behind the camps and the helpless civilians locked within. Yuri felt a twinge of regret knowing there was nothing he could do for the people, but wishing he’d unlocked the gates before leaving, regardless of what High Command had ordered. He knew full well what would happen to the civilians once the main force of the army arrived. The feeble Americans were destined to become prisoners of war, and there was nothing they could do to stop it. If his Muslim brothers in arms didn’t cut off their heads and his Chinese comrades didn’t line them up in front of a firing squad, they were sure to become slave labor in one of the dreaded gulag prison camps in Siberia.

It took Yuri and his men over six days to travel just over two hundred miles to the small town of Ridgecrest, California. Scouting the town from a distance, they saw a convoy of United States Marines approaching from the north. They were driving down Highway 395 and coming from the same direction that Yuri was headed. The Marine convoy had several hundred soldiers, whereas Yuri’s unit had just over a dozen.

As outnumbered as he was, he knew that he’d lose a battle if the enemy engaged. But the mission was more important and he needed information on the terrain ahead. If he could capture one of the American soldiers, or better yet an officer, he might be able to extract intelligence on the area from which they’d come.

Yuri watched the convoy from a nearby hill, while the Marines set up camp on the outskirts of Ridgecrest. As he watched them fortify their position, a plan began to formulate. There was no need for an all-out battle. He decided to wait until dark and then have the majority of his men create a distraction, while he and Lieutenant Razin snuck into camp to kidnap and interrogate one of the officers.

It was not a fool proof plan, but it was all that he had. Yuri quickly outlined the plan to his men, using a stick to draw lines in the sand. They would fire upon the sleepy town of Ridgecrest from several locations, creating chaos and confusion. When the Marines came out to defend the town, Yuri and Sasha would make their move.

              “What if all the officers leave the camp to defend the town?” asked Sasha, when Yuri had finished outlining the plan.

              “We will cross that bridge when we get to it,” answered Yuri. “Besides, have you ever heard of an instance where all of the officers rush to the front line of battle? They usually hang back and coordinate the battle from a safe distance. There’s bound to be an officer left in the camp, but if not, we’ll grab someone else instead. If anything happens to me or Lieutenant Razin,” he said, to the remainder of the unit, “your orders are to return to the nearest forward base camp and report what you’ve seen. Does anyone have questions?” When no one spoke he added, “Very well comrades, then assume your positions, and good luck.”

              The Russian soldiers quickly and quietly deployed to their designated positions around the town. Their orders were not to attack until midnight, when most of the town would be sound asleep.

At the same time, Yuri and Sasha began to sneak up on the Marines. When they were within one hundred yards they could see several sentries on the outskirts of the camp. The guards patrolling the outer edge of the encampment gazed intently into the darkness, paying little attention to anything between them and the camp. If Yuri and Sasha could get past the guards without being discovered, their chances of success were good.

              At Yuri’s signal, both men laid flat on their bellies and began to silently army crawl towards the encampment. The sentries encircling the camp were posted twenty yards apart from one another. Using sagebrush and tree branches from the surrounding terrain as camouflage, the two Russians were able to access the outer edge of the camp without raising an alarm. They slithered under a large cargo truck, waiting patiently for their comrades to attack Ridgecrest and draw the Marines away.

              It didn’t take long before their patience was rewarded with a loud explosion coming from the nearby town. They watched with satisfaction from under the truck, as American soldiers emerged from their sleeping quarters, weapons in hand. An officer joined them and immediately began giving orders. When he was finished, he led a large group of soldiers directly towards the town, while two smaller groups headed in opposite directions, encircling the town in a flanking maneuver. Captain Petrov hoped that his men would evade capture, but regardless of their fate he had a job to do.

              Yuri and Sasha waited until most of the Marines were gone, before crawling out from under the truck and the concealment that it provided. Yuri had already located the tent serving as the command center during the day, and he now led Sasha straight for it. There was only one Marine standing guard in front of the tent and he was preoccupied with the shots and explosions coming from town. The soldier had no idea he was in danger until it was too late. Sasha silently snuck up from behind him and swiftly slit his throat.

The Marine’s legs folded, as he slumped to the ground in a pool of blood. Sasha quickly turned and signaled for Yuri to join him. The two men lifted the dead soldier’s body and quickly carried him out of sight. After concealing the body, they returned to the command tent and slipped inside. What they didn’t realize was that they’d already been seen.

Inside the tent, they found a Major and two Staff Sergeants monitoring the radio and coordinating the defense of Ridgecrest. As the Russian soldiers entered, one of the Staff Sergeants looked up in surprise. His eyes widened when he saw Yuri and Sasha standing there with their guns drawn. The Staff Sergeant made the mistake of reaching for his own sidearm, but he was too slow. Sasha shot the man between the eyes before his hand ever reached the gun strapped in his holster. Both the Major and the other Staff Sergeant spun around in shock. They glanced down at their fallen comrade and then back up at the two Russian soldiers standing before them.

“What’s the meaning of this?” asked Major Shane Conrad.

“You are the meaning of this,” replied Yuri. “I am Captain Yuri Petrov and it’s you who we’ve come for, Major. We don’t need the Staff Sergeant, so unless you wish to cost him his life, I suggest you do what you’re told. Lieutenant Razin?”

“Yes sir.”

“Tie and gag them.”

“Yes sir,” replied Sasha, before binding the Staff Sergeant’s hands and feet with rope. He stuffed a torn piece of cloth into the Marine’s mouth and then taped it shut. With that done, he repeated the task on Major Conrad, leaving only his feet unbound so that he could walk.

“You won’t get away with this,” said the Major, before Sasha taped his mouth shut.

“We shall see Major, but so far things are happening just as we’d planned. Sasha, go outside and find some transportation.”

“Yes comrade Petrov,” said Sasha, before turning and leaving the tent.

Once Yuri was alone with the Major, he quickly searched for any information that might be useful. He collected some maps and classified papers, before stuffing them into his pack. “I apologize for the inconvenience,” Yuri said to the Major, whose eyes followed every move he made, “but you have information that I need.”

Major Conrad made a muffled sound, as he tried in vain to speak.

“Relax Major, there’s no need to worry. If you tell me what I want to know I will let you go free. But if you don’t, or if I think you are lying, well, let’s just say there are other ways to extract information.”

Captain Petrov glanced down at his watch. Sasha had been gone for over ten minutes and he was beginning to worry. It shouldn’t be taking the Lieutenant this long to procure a vehicle. The sound of shots and explosions coming from the town had ceased and the Marines would be returning soon. Yuri needed to move immediately or risk capture.

“Alright,” he said after a moment, “we are leaving.” Yuri pressed the muzzle of his pistol into the Major’s back and said, “Move!”

Major Conrad did as ordered and walked out of the tent, with Captain Petrov directly behind him.

Just outside the tent, they found Lieutenant Razin. Sasha was on his knees, less than ten feet from the opening of the tent. His hands were raised and clasped behind his head. Upon his face was a look of defeat.

Standing behind him with a gun pressed to his temple, was a small, exotic looking woman. She had long, dark hair with mocha colored skin and confident brown eyes. Yuri immediately realized that he’d walked into a trap, even before feeling the cold muzzle of a pistol pressed to the side of his head.

“Drop your gun,” said a voice from behind him. Knowing that he had no other options, Yuri did as instructed. “Good, now raise your hands and go join your comrade on his knees.” The man who’d been talking quickly untied the Major’s hands, as Captain Petrov did as he was told. “Are there any more?”

Neither Yuri nor Sasha showed any signs of cooperation, as they stared at the ground in front of them.

“No Lex,” answered Major Conrad, after removing the gag and rubbing his wrists, “it’s just the two that I know of. The bastards killed one of my Staff Sergeants and tied up another.”

“Ya wanna go free him while we tie up these two,” suggested Lex, with his gun still pointed at the two Russian soldiers. “Here Cleo,” he added, tossing her the rope that had previously bound the Major’s hands, “we can start with this.”

Cleo quickly secured the prisoners, while Lex kept them covered with his gun. She’d just finished the last knot, when Lieutenant Jon Sawyer returned from the town of Ridgecrest with the remainder of the Marines.

“What’s this?” he asked, when he saw the two prisoners.

“These two,” said Major Conrad, emerging from the command tent with his Staff Sergeant, “tried to kidnap me for the purpose of obtaining information. The attack on Ridgecrest was nothing more than a distraction.”

“I see,” said Lieutenant Sawyer, sizing up the two captured Russians. “Well, that explains why they didn’t put up much of a fight before pulling back.”

“Did you get any Lieutenant?” asked Major Conrad.

“Three,” replied Sawyer, “two confirmed kills, and one wounded.”

“Any casualties?” asked the Major.

“Nope,” smiled Sawyer, happy to have not lost any of the men in his command.

“Excuse me,” interrupted Lex, “but did you say that you captured one alive?”

“Yes,” answered Sawyer, “but I don’t think he’s going to last much longer, he took one in the chest.”

“I’d like to question him if I may?” said Lex.

Lieutenant Sawyer looked to Major Conrad, who nodded in agreement. “I’d like to question him myself,” said the Major, “and then we’ll interrogate these two,” he added, glancing at Yuri and Sasha. “Bring the wounded man to the hospital tent and keep these two under heavy guard.”

“He’s already there,” said Sawyer, signaling for several of his men to escort the prisoners to a secure location. He then turned and led Major Conrad, Lex and Cleo to the hospital tent and the wounded soldier. Arriving at the tent, all four were disappointed to discover that the soldier had already succumbed to his wound.

“Damn it!” hissed Major Conrad. “I wanted to talk to him.”

“We can still question the other two prisoners,” suggested Lieutenant Sawyer. “If they don’t wanna talk we have other methods at our disposal to make them.”