Andrew kept close to the school's exterior wall as the rest of his team followed behind.
The rain continued to pour, running down the concrete walls and pooling around their boots.
Grabbing his radio from his vest, Andrew raised it close enough to his mouth so it wouldn't be affected by the rain.
"Alpha One to Alpha Two. Confirm your position."
Static crackled briefly.
Collins answered.
"Alpha Two. We're at the school."
Andrew waited a moment.
"Are you at the assigned entrance?"
"Affirmative. We're at the gym entrance. No activity so far."
"Good. Hold position."
"Understood."
After a moment Andrew spoke again.
"Alpha Three. Confirm your position."
Hale answered.
"Alpha Three. We're in position. We've reached the eastern entrance without being detected."
Andrew glanced toward his team before replying.
"Good. Hold position."
"Understood."
Andrew lowered the radio for a moment.
The rain continued to obscure the school grounds, while the windowless section of the building kept them hidden from anyone inside.
Andrew looked toward the roof.
There was still no movement above.
He raised the radio again.
"All teams, stand by. Breaching on my signal."
Collins responded first.
"Alpha Two, standing by."
Hale followed.
"Alpha Three, standing by."
Andrew looked toward Shane and Ramirez.
"We're taking the roof."
Shane glanced upward through the rain.
"No one's watching it."
Andrew nodded.
"Let's keep it that way."
He looked toward the rest of the team.
"Let's go."
The soldiers began advancing toward the access point leading to the roof.
Across the school grounds, Collins' and Hale's teams began moving toward their assigned entrances as well.
The rain continued to fall heavily around them, masking their movements.
Thankfully none of the teams had been detected.
They were now at the final stage of the operation.
···
Moving along the wall of the building, weapons at the ready, Andrew and his team approached a section lined with several windows.
Andrew slowed.
He carefully moved toward the nearest window, keeping as much of himself out of sight as possible while trying to see inside.
The room appeared to be a classroom.
Desks and chairs filled the interior. Some had been stacked against the walls, while others had been thrown around haphazardly. Several pieces of furniture showed visible damage.
Andrew watched the room for several seconds.
Nothing moved.
He shifted his position slightly, checking the corners and the areas beneath the desks.
Still nothing.
Andrew stepped back from the window and gestured for the others to continue.
The team moved on, remaining alert as they followed the wall.
A short distance ahead, they reached the gap where two sections of the school came together.
The ladder leading to the rooftop was located there.
Four Rangers immediately took positions around the area, spreading out to cover the surrounding angles while Andrew and the others remained nearby.
Andrew looked upward.
The ladder was retracted against the building.
A padlock secured it in place.
"We need to cut that lock."
One of the Rangers stepped forward, reaching into a pouch on his vest.
He pulled out a pair of bolt cutters.
"I got it."
He looked toward the ladder.
"I just need a hand getting up there."
Another Ranger stepped beneath it and interlocked his hands.
"Go."
The first Ranger placed his foot into the makeshift step and was lifted high enough to reach the lock.
He positioned the bolt cutters around the shackle.
With a sharp squeeze, the metal snapped.
The Ranger caught the ladder with his free hand before it could drop.
He carefully lowered it into position.
Andrew stepped forward and reached for the ladder, but was stopped by Shane.
"I'll take the lead."
Andrew looked at him for a moment.
There was little point in arguing.
He stepped aside and gave him a nod.
Shane grabbed the ladder and began climbing.
Andrew followed close behind.
Moments later, shielding his face from the rain, Shane reached the top of the ladder and carefully pulled himself onto the roof.
Andrew followed, with Ramirez close behind.
The rooftop was almost completely deserted.
Rainwater streamed across the flat surface, collecting in shallow pools before running toward the drains. Several large HVAC units and ventilation housings were scattered across the roof, providing some cover.
Shane looked toward the access structure.
Then he froze.
Voices could be heard from below.
Shane immediately raised his shotgun.
Andrew looked toward the ladder.
He quickly signaled for the others to stop climbing.
Andrew pointed toward one of the large HVAC units.
Shane and Ramirez followed him behind it.
The three men crouched out of sight as the rooftop access door opened.
Two men stepped onto the roof.
They immediately recoiled from the rain.
"Jesus..."
One of them pulled his jacket tighter around himself.
"Jack's pissed."
The other looked around the rooftop.
"He's paranoid. None of the teams have reported back yet."
"Then he can come out here himself. They probably took shelter somewhere from the storm."
The man glanced toward the edge of the roof.
"Just look around and let's get back inside."
The two quickly began looking over the surroundings of the school from the edges of the rooftop, though neither seemed particularly interested in staying outside.
Shane leaned closer to Andrew.
"We could take them."
Andrew shook his head.
"No."
Shane looked at him.
"Why?"
Andrew kept his eyes on the two men.
"Their absence would be noticed and raise the alarm."
Shane reluctantly nodded.
The two bandits continued their half-hearted lookout.
They looked toward the houses in the distance. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, they turned back toward the access door.
"Nothing."
"Good. Let's go."
They hurried back inside, disappearing through the doorway.
The door closed behind them.
Andrew waited several seconds.
He then walked back toward the ladder.
"Alright."
He gestured for the rest of the team to climb up.
···
Andrew waited until the last Ranger had reached the rooftop.
The entire team gathered near the rooftop access door, weapons ready.
Andrew raised his radio.
"Alpha One to Alpha Two and Alpha Three. We're in position and ready for entry."
Static crackled briefly.
Collins answered first.
"Alpha Two. Ready."
A moment later, Patel responded.
"Alpha Three. Ready."
Andrew looked toward the rooftop access door.
"One more thing. Having confirmed that there are captives inside the school, everyone needs to watch their shots. Make sure you know what you're shooting at."
"Alpha two, copy."
"Alpha Three understands."
Andrew looked around at his team.
Everyone was ready.
Andrew reached for the door handle.
"All teams, move."
He opened the door and stepped inside while placing the radio back in the pocket on his vest.
Then he raised his MP5 as they began descending the stairwell.
Shane followed immediately behind him, keeping close enough to support him without getting in his way. Ramirez followed next, slightly offset to the side where the narrow stairwell allowed it.
The rest of the team followed in a tight, staggered file, each soldier maintaining enough distance from the one ahead to avoid bunching up.
Andrew kept his weapon trained down the stairs, slowly checking each section before continuing.
Shane watched the area immediately ahead and to the sides, while Ramirez kept his attention toward the opposite side of the stairwell.
The soldiers behind them maintained security toward the upper stairs and their rear, ready to react in the possibility of anyone approaching from behind.
They descended slowly without anybody speaking.
Their boots made only faint sounds against the steps.
Andrew paused at the next landing.
He leaned forward slightly, carefully looking around the corner before continuing.
Nothing.
He waited a moment, listening for voice and footsteps.
Anything that might indicate someone was nearby.
Only the distant rumble of thunder and the muffled pounding of rain reached them.
Andrew continued downward.
The rest of the team followed, maintaining the staggered formation as they moved forward, reaching the bottom of the stairwell moments later.
A heavy fire door stood ahead of him.
Andrew stopped.
Before he could reach for the handle, a burst of gunfire suddenly erupted somewhere inside the school followed by several others.
Andrew froze.
The soldiers behind him immediately tightened their grip on their weapons.
The sound echoed through the building.
"They're in."
Shane whispered.
Andrew raised a hand, signaling everyone to remain quiet.
He waited.
The gunfire continued in the distance, followed by several muffled shouts.
Then came the sound of hurried footsteps.
Andrew looked toward the door.
He waited several more seconds, listening carefully.
Nothing seemed to be approaching.
He reached for the handle.
Andrew slowly opened the door just enough to look through.
The hallway beyond appeared empty.
He listened again, there were no voices or footsteps.
Nothing immediately nearby.
Andrew opened the door wider.
"Move."
The team emerged from the stairwell quickly.
The soldiers spread around the doorway, establishing security in both directions, weapons raised and ready.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The distant gunfire continued to echo through the school.
Andrew glanced down the hallway.
They had entered the second floor.
The administrative offices were nearby, along with several classrooms.
Somewhere deeper inside the building, the other teams were already fighting.
Andrew lowered his MP5 slightly.
"We clear this floor first before moving to the one below. Let's go."
Andrew moved down the hallway, raising his weapon.
Shane and Ramirez followed close behind while the rest of the team moved with them.
They had only gone a short distance when Andrew noticed another stairwell farther down the corridor.
He pointed toward it.
"Cover those stairs."
Two Rangers moved into position near the stairwell, weapons trained toward the steps leading to the first floor.
Andrew and the rest of the team continued down the hallway.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then hurried footsteps echoed from the stairwell.
The two Rangers immediately tightened their grips on their weapons.
They had no way of knowing who was coming.
The footsteps grew louder.
A man appeared on the stairs, climbing quickly.
He carried a shotgun.
Another man followed close behind him, a revolver in his hand.
Neither had reached the top of the stairs when the Rangers opened fire.
The first bandit was struck in the head and fell backward onto the steps.
The second tried to turn, but was hit before he could raise his revolver.
His body collapsed beside the other man.
"Stairs clear."
Andrew glanced toward the stairwell.
He then looked toward the corporl to his left .
"Corporal, take five and clear this floor."
The Ranger nodded.
"Yes sir."
The Corporal took Shane along three other rangers and began moving down the hallway.
Andrew watched them for a moment before turning toward the stairwell.
"The rest of you are with me."
Ramirez moved forward, taking the lead.
"We're heading to the first floor, watch the corners."
The remaining soldiers formed up behind him.
Andrew started down the stairs, his MP5 raised.
The gunfire from below continued to echo through the building, as they descended the stairs carefully, weapons raised.
Ramirez checked each corner before continuing, while Andrew watched over him and the soldiers behind them covered the rear.
The sounds of gunfire from below grew louder.
Then terrified screams echoed through the building.
Ramirez briefly glanced toward Andrew.
More gunfire erupted from somewhere ahead.
They continued downward.
Voices shouted over the chaos.
"Get down!"
"They're coming from the hall!"
Another burst of gunfire followed.
Ramirez reached the bottom of the stairs and stopped just before the opening.
He leaned forward and checked the first floor.
"Clear!"
He moved out.
Andrew followed immediately.
The soldiers emerged from the stairwell and quickly crossed the exposed area, moving toward the nearest available cover.
Some took positions behind walls and doorways while others moved toward overturned tables and other solid objects that could provide protection.
Andrew pressed himself against the wall and looked down the corridor.
Muzzle flashes flickered in the distance.
A bandit fired wildly from behind a doorway before ducking back into cover.
Andrew raised his MP5.
"Contact!"
The Rangers returned fire.
The hallway erupted with gunfire.
Andrew fired controlled bursts toward the muzzle flashes while the soldiers around him engaged targets farther down the corridor.
Somewhere beyond them, more screams echoed through the school.
Slowly the bandits began falling back realizing that they are as good as dead if they keep fighting.
Andrew's team advanced carefully, moving from one piece of cover to the next.
More gunfire erupted somewhere to their left.
Then another burst came from the opposite side of the building.
Andrew paused.
"That's the other teams."
Ramirez nodded.
"They're hitting them from both sides."
Another exchange of gunfire echoed through the corridors.
The bandits were caught between the three assault teams.
Some tried to move deeper into the school.
Others fired blindly from doorways before retreating.
Andrew continued forward.
Then, from somewhere ahead, he heard shouting.
Not the frantic shouting of men exchanging gunfire.
But something else.
Then someone began screaming for help.
Andrew immediately raised his fist.
The team stopped.
Everyone listened.
A moment later another scream followed.
Andrew's expression hardened.
"They're using the captives."
••••••
Jack slammed the door behind him and turned toward the remaining men.
"How many?"
Dave looked around the room.
"Six of us, maybe seven if we can find anyone else."
Jack's jaw tightened.
"How do we get out?"
Dave shook his head.
"Front's blocked."
He pointed toward the opposite side of the building.
" They cut any way out of the building."
Jack stared at him.
"The rear?"
"Blocked."
"Windows?"
Dave hesitated.
"We'd have to smash one."
Jack stared at him for several seconds.
"Then we'd have to run through the open."
Dave nodded.
"Yeah."
Jack cursed under his breath.
More gunfire echoed through the building.
Jack's expression twisted with anger.
They had lost the school.
His people were being killed or driven back, and there was nowhere left to retreat.
Then his eyes moved toward the frightened students and teachers gathered nearby.
An idea occurred to him.
"Call everyone back."
Dave looked at him.
"What?"
"Anyone who's still fighting. Get them back here."
Jack pointed toward the captives.
"And bring some of them with you."
Dave stared at him.
"You want hostages?"
Jack's voice became colder.
"I want something that'll make them stop shooting."
He looked toward the windows.
"Once they're here, we use them to get out."
Dabe hesitated before nodding.
"I'll get them."
Jack then looked toward the hallway as another burst of gunfire echoed through the school.
He clenched his fists.
••••••
Andrew moved through the corridor with Ramirez and the remaining Rangers close behind.
The gunfire had largely died down.
What remained were scattered shots from deeper inside the school, followed by shouted orders from the soldiers securing the building.
Andrew rounded a corner and saw Collins and Hale waiting farther down the hallway.
Both men lowered their weapons when they recognized him.
"Report."
Collins stepped forward.
"We've secured most of the school."
Andrew nodded.
"Casualties?"
"A few wounded. Nothing that we couldn't handle."
Hale glanced toward the end of the corridor.
"But we've got a problem."
Andrew looked at him.
"What kind?"
"The remaining bandits."
Collins continued.
"We've pushed them into the library."
Andrew frowned.
"How many?"
"Six or seven, maybe. The name of their leader is Jack."
Hale shook his head.
"They're not alone."
Andrew's expression hardened.
"Captives?"
Collins nodded.
"They grabbed several when they realized they were losing."
Andrew looked toward the library.
"How many?"
"We don't have an exact number yet."
Hale glanced toward the corridor.
"Most of the people they were holding have already been secured. These are the ones they took during the retreat."
Andrew was silent for a moment.
From somewhere ahead came the muffled sound of voices.
Then a frightened shout.
Andrew raised a hand.
Everyone stopped.
"Have they made any demands?"
"Not yet."
Collins shook his head.
"They're probably trying to figure out a way out."
Andrew looked toward the library doors.
"Any exits?"
"Two doors. Windows on the exterior wall."
Hale paused.
"The windows are probably their only way out."
Andrew nodded slowly.
"Then we don't give them one."
He looked at Collins and Hale.
"Keep both exits covered. Nobody gets out. And get a team outside. Have them cover the windows."
Hale nodded and immediately began assigning soldiers.
Andrew waited until they were in position before approaching the library.
He stopped several meters from the nearest entrance.
"Jack!"
For a moment, there was no response.
Then someone shouted from inside.
"Fuck you!"
Another voice followed.
"You ruined everything!"
Andrew remained where he was.
"It's over."
"Over?"
A bitter laugh came from inside.
"You bastards destroyed everything we built!"
Another bandit shouted.
"This was our home!"
Andrew glanced briefly toward the doors.
"Your home?"
He looked toward the soldiers covering the entrances.
"You murdered people. You took others prisoner. You turned a school into a place where people were afraid to sleep."
The shouting inside became louder.
"You don't know anything!"
"We had everything here!"
"You took it away!"
Andrew kept them talking.
He could hear movement inside, and see through the window of the door that the weapons that had been pointed toward the captives were no longer trained directly on them.
Andrew spoke again.
"Let the hostages go."
"Go to hell!"
The bandit shouted again.
"This was our paradise!"
Andrew heard a faint crackle over his radio.
The outside team was in position.
He waited.
Then another voice shouted from inside.
"We'll never let you take this place!"
Andrew gave the signal.
Gunfire erupted from outside.
Several rounds tore through the library windows.
The bandits inside were caught completely off guard.
At almost the same moment, the two teams covering the entrances moved.
The doors were breached from both sides.
Soldiers flooded into the library, weapons raised.
The remaining bandits scrambled for cover and returned fire.
The hostages screamed and immediately threw themselves onto the floor.
Andrew moved through the entrance behind the first Rangers.
Gunfire echoed through the library as the remaining bandits desperately tried to fight back.
The soldiers advanced from both directions, forcing them away from the hostages.
Being hit from multiple directions, the remaining bandits were quickly dealth with. The last shots echoed through the library.
Then silence.
Andrew kept his MP5 raised for several seconds, watching the remaining bandits.
None of them moved.
"Cease fire."
The Rangers lowered their weapons.
"Library secure."
Andrew looked around the room.
Several of the hostages were still lying on the floor, covering their heads.
"It's over."
One of the soldiers moved toward them.
"You're safe. We're not going to hurt you."
Slowly, the hostages began to get back onto their feet.
Some were crying.
Others simply stood there in shock.
Andrew looked toward the far side of the room.
None of the bandits survived.
Andrew turned to Hale who stepped next to him.
"I want another sweap of the highschool, we don't want surprises."
Glancing at the corpses on the ground he added.
"As well, ensure that no reanimation takes place."
"Understood."
Hale imidietly unholstered his handgun and dealth with the corpses that presented a risk of reanimation.
Outside, the storm continued to hammer against the windows, while inside, soldiers moved through the corridors, checking rooms and gathering weapons while others began helping the rescued captives.
Now the highschool was under their control.