Smith fires two more rounds at the driver if hits and again
The traffic clears up a bit and the closer car sees an opportunity and floors it, slamming into the back of the limo. Smith's rounds go off and one hits the man in the arm, but his eyes are locked on to you. The trunk goes flying off and the remaining part of the bumper is trailing sparks on the road. This allows the other car to close the distance quickly.
Smith lights and throws another Molotov cocktail at the closest driver and since the windshield is already broken the driver gets molten hot vodka on his body.
Macomb winces as his rearview mirror shows the trunk of the limo flying behind him. Well this isn't working. He screams in frustration.
The aggressive car revs up for another bump, but this time Smith is ready. The well thrown burning alcohol flashes in front of the driver and the burning bottle lands right in his lap. The resulting chaos causes him to swerve and crash into the side rail as the flames engulf him, his passenger and the car's interior... The other vehicle is unfazed and catches up quickly. You can see the passenger getting his weapon ready...
Smith reloads his pistol.
Nice Toss Smith. How many more bottles are back there?
Damn swat one mosquito and his friend shows up.
Macomb tries to cause the second car some collision damage.
Mac and the other driver exchange paint and one of the rear quarter panels of the limo goes flying off, causing a civilian vehicle to swerve and hit the side rails. This chase is getting worse by the moment, especially when the second gunmen opens fire with an AK! Luckily his shots only go through what's left of the rear of the limo...
Smith waits until the best moment to toss another molotov
Smith take them out before they take us out. Macomb shouts as he tries to put distance between the two vehicles.
The car speeds up to catch the limo, going for another pass at your vehicle.
As Mac steps on the gas, he suddenly swerves around the front of a large cargo truck. The driver of the other car isn't fast enough to catch up and finds himself slamming on the brakes, right into the back end of said truck.
Mac and Smith watch as the traffic piles up behind, their adversaries lost in the Parisian haze...
Damn wonder who is on to our presence here in France? Macomb asks out loud. He then passes back through the window a roadmap to Smith. Find us a safe destination while I drive.
Smith says, "Maybe Nat is compromised. Or someone is monitoring the Merc community for us."
Survival ,
He then looks at the map, "Dump the car in this parking garage. We can either steal another or just take the Metropolitain... May make sense to try to clandestinely make contact with my amis..
Well that was a close one. Excitement is over for now ladies. Thanks for being quick with those moltov cocktails but is there any bottle left back there I could use a drink.
Macomb says with a smile to the two Russian ladies.
"I was about to toss this one. Here have some brandy."
Ladies a drink to calm the nerves? Mac says after taking a swig from the bottle and offering it to the two passengers.
The woman quickly accepts the bottle and downs an unlady-like swig of it. She does not share with her daughter however. "You American. Why you help us?" Her English is broken, but understandable.
Smith smiles and says, "Rhodesian."
And then says it in Russian.
And then says, "Была заключена сделка между нашим коллегой и вашим мужем, и было необходимо обеспечить безопасность. Я солдат, и когда я даю слово, я держу его."
Russian
The woman nods as she holds her daughter close. "What is to be come of us now? Will you keep us with you to protect? I'm sure they won't stop hunting us."
Smith says in Russian, "I have some old sources that can help you find a new life in a different part of the world."
Networking
After the coast is clear, Smith guides you to an old bar in District 5 of Paris, known for some of its less than reputable places of alcohol worship. Inside, you meet with Jean Paul Poulet, an ex Legionnaire and old friend of Smith's.
"Well, you bring me beautiful woman and her daughter and I get you nothing. An horrible friend am I, no?", he takes a sip of the cheap beer you don't remember buying for him. "What can I do to make it up to you?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Mac keeps silent but has a hand on the older Russian lady's shoulder for comfort.
Smith smiles and moves in closer to him and says, "Mon amis, I hate to put you in a bind but I would really appreciate you putting these two ladies in a safe place for awhile. They are not wanted by the police but the Cheka. By the way, I have a gift for you."
Smith hands Jean Paul an Afghanka from one of the Soviets he greased while on Mission.
Jean Paul leans back, sipping more of the beer. "Safe place, eh? I can do this for you, but Cheka are the big time, mon amis. A favor or three will be owed to our mutual friends here in Paris, but they will be safe." He looks around the bar, then motions for the bartender to come over. "Pierre, mon habitude s'il te plaît." The older man nods and Jean Paul turns back to you. "The girls are safe with us. I have transport on its way. However," he nods towards the room. "You should scatter soon before any eyes find you."
Smith hands over his contact details and the different Poste Restante addresses he uses and says, "MOn amis, you need help, Smith has got your back! Vive le Morte, Vive Le Guerre..." as he clicks his beer against Jean Paul.
He then smiles to Mac and says, [b]"We should get back to it."[
Yeah, but I will sleep better knowing these ladies are safe.
Macomb takes a long sip of his wine before continuing. It's been a long time since I felt really good about doing this job. There's always so much killing it is so nice to know that these two are going to continue breathing because of what we did for them. I mean yeah we can think in the abstract that what we do saves lives. And I do and it is the only justification that keeps me going but it helps to actually for once have a concrete set of faces and smiles that are there because of our efforts. I don't know if any of this makes sense to you Smith. I think we are wired completely different but I needed to get it off my chest to clear my head. Thanks for listening and thanks for saving our asses back there in the chase. Mac takes another sip of his wine. This is my favored form of cocktail though.
Smith says, "I despise people who knowingly not keep their promises intentionally. Sometimes, things are out of your control but man that Majors is a scheisster of the highest order. Mac, I am a soldier, been in and out of warzones since I was 17. I prefer whisky. But almost anything will do."
Smith says, "Those people may be waiting on us at the airport, we should fly back in theater by way of Frankfurt."
So you're sure you want to try and track down a high ranking Russian officer. And then what torture information out of him about a project we assume he was involved in?
Mac shakes his head slowly. Your call on the next step Smith but I think that cave still has secrets.
During your time in Paris, discussing the next move, Smith receives a coded message from one of his contacts in France. It is a hastily written note that when decoded reads:
They are still here looking for you. Suggest exit. North or South. France compromised. Help window closing. Going to ground with packages. Contact on the Wind.
Smith says, "We could make that choice upon arrival, unless we want to visit Gogol's stomping grounds."
Smith says, "The competition on look out. France is too hot. Bus or car?"
Smith writes, Understood, will contact later... Salazar bound... out...
Eventually the two of you find a bus route that takes you into West Germany and on to a CIA safehouse therein. Natalie, it appears, had been keeping tabs on you and has done her best to help, but you know that once you arrive back in theater, her options are more limited. You find in this safehouse a full dossier on Ourumov, Aleksander, General, KGB...
Looking over the dossier, you find that General Aleksander Ourumov has a long family history of being in the Communist Elite, affording him special rights and privileges in his position. His career spans the military from Platton Commander in the Soviet Forward Army, Mechanized Infantry Division to Company Commander of Spetsnaz Group Alpha to KGB Intelligence Director of Assets to Director of Middle East Operations, Special Services Group. In essence, he knows his stuff and has a lot of resources.
What you find missing however is that his record is practically spotless, but there have been few medals awarded and even fewer commendations.
Smith smiles and says, "At least he does not run Zenit, those guys are the Soviet crem de la crem. Should we try to infiltrate the Lubyanka? " as he chuckles.
He then asks Nat, "Where is KGB HQ in Kabul?"
The communique from Natalie that eventually reaches you tells you that the KGB set up a temporary headquarters in Tajgeb Palace in Kabul after they ousted President Amin a few months ago when this whole war started. As far as the intelligence community is aware, they are still there.
Mac looks up from the scatter documents on the table before him.
So Smith let's run by your plan here for a second. The two of us somehow make our way to Kabul. Locate Gen. Ourumov. Somehow capture the General in the middle of hostile territory. Question the General while remaining hidden in Kabul with a heavy KGB force searching for us. Is that about right? Can you share any details of how you see this operation succeeding?
He crosses his arms and leans back in his chair as he waits to hear the plan.
Smith smiles and says, "The idea is, stakeout the KGB HQ in Kabul and wait for him. We then follow him to his local residence, break in at night interrogate him get the information, grease him and leave the city before anyone misses him."
Ok that's assuming a lot I think such as the General doesn't live on an army base. What do we do in that case? Macomb says stroking his chin. Just trying to get a game plan together before we get in a firefight with the KGB. Also what information are you hoping to get from the guy exactly?
Smith says, "He is not a military general but one in the KGB. Those guys do not live in barracks. But even if it were the case, we could kidnap him on the way between the two."