Wolves and Sheep

Silver Star - Seventh Train Car from Rear

Seeing the clenching fist, Dozer quickly moves forward, and catches the gun with his foot

Keeping her sight and sights on the far door of the train car, Beatrice added, "You might want to make this quick, we haven't exactly been quiet."

Dozer calmly puts a hand, holding the zip ties between his fingers, on the passenger's shoulder, "Easy there brother. I've got three overstuffed cars with passengers waiting for the all clear.

"You might have a beef with this guy, but I've got a time limit to deal with."

The man flinched slightly at Dozer's touch, whatever actions he was considering fading away as his previous tense posture relaxed, though his eyes still held on the young Russian with a bit of malice.
"I can put those on him for you," he said, his hand moving to the zip ties with a promising grin.

Pausing a second, Dozer nods "Carefully, please. Got enough paperwork as it is waiting for me after this."
Letting the battered gentleman grab the tie Dozer leaned down and picked up the gun, turning to hand it to Sebastian.

"Agent Milford, if you would be so kind.
"I'd suggest the seat over there," He says to the man.

Enthusiastically, the long haired man grabbed the zip tie and proceeded to not so gently apply them to the Russian. Hoisting the young thug to his feet, the abused man roughly shoved him into the seat Dozer directed with a satisfied grin.

Taking the gun from Dozer, Sebastian watched the scene unfold with a barely contained smirk.

Leaning over slightly towards Sebastian but without taking her eyes off the door, Beatrice asked, "Does that have a full mag I can use?"

Sebastian ejected the mag and handed it to Beatrice with a nod.

Beatrice pocketed the magazine without checking it for the moment. "So what is the plan for these guys?"

Watching the new guy tie up the "trendy", Dozer pulls out a second zip tie to hand the new guy "To the chair, please."
Turning to Beatrice's question, "Agent Milford, please lock down the last car."

Wordlessly, Sebastian went back to secure the previous car as the abused passenger took the zip tie from Dozer. "With pleasure," he grunted as he very roughly secured the Russian to the seat.

Turning back to Dozer and Beatrice he grinned somewhat lopsidedly, "Thanks for the assistance."

"Just doin' my job, brother.
"Speaking of, though, unless you have further business, I'd suggest... uh..."
Dozer looks back, thinking about all the downed bodies then turns forward, "Waiting over there until we've secured the train."
Motioning to Beatrice as he raised his rifle to cover the far door, "After you this time."

The man's appraising gaze took in Dozer and Beatrice, "I was heading towards the front in the hopes of reaching the Engineer's radio to call for help, once the cell phones went down." His eyed drifted to Dozer's rifle, his tac armor, and clear marking identifying him as a FBI agent. "If you all are here, why hasn't the trained stopped?"

Dozer looks at him with a raised eyebrow, "Dude, this is us literally doing that right now."
Shakes his head, "Sheesh, zipline from a moving SUV directly from HQ, and people still want you to hurry up."
Dozer then thumbs behind him, "Heck, we're only this far because that guy back there is such a crazy stunt driver."

Sebastian returned, a small knowing grin tugging the corners of his mouth at Dozer's vivid description of him. He nodded to Dozer, letting him know the car was secured. As the passenger watched the exchange, he shrugged and with a touch of questioning in his tone he said, "I could assist."

Hmm, Dozer thought, Gonna have to remember how much I pushed to allow Beatrice's help.

Sebastian leaned in towards Dozer and Beatrice, his eyes lingering on Beatrice before whispering, "He has taken a beating so the 'self defense' bit could work in theory for him as well. Though we'd obviously have to do a very brief background check ... as in verbally ask his background and try and gauge his reaction."

Dozer looks at the guy "What's your name?"

Looking at Dozer the guy smiled somewhat amused, "Yes. I guess introductions should come first. Nik. Nik Sikorsky. Though despite the last name I'm not with them." He emphasized his point with a jerk of his head towards the Russian that was bound to the chair.

"So . . . Nik. What business brought you onto this train today?" Beatrice added, taking her attention away from the door long enough to gauge his reaction and looking for tells ... a hesitation, nervous tic, averted gaze.

Nik's eyes swept across the trio, narrowing slightly as he clearly was carefully considering his response before replying. His gaze settled on the two FBI agents before the features of his face relaxed. "It was brought to my attention that the Russians were holding an auction ... sometimes I like to liberate items of value from the irresponsible."

Turning to Dozer, "Well, he has more Intel than most and I like the idea of given these thugs more targets to shoot at besides me," she replied.
"But what's in it for you? What do you want out of this?" she directed to Nik

Smirking and looking at the bound thug, "The chance to piss off the Russian mob and hurt their bottom line is pleasure enough."

Dozer gives a small chuckle "I hear that."
He then indicates himself "Agent Bill Barnum"
Thumbing towards Sebastian "and Sebastian Milford."

"Agent Sebastian Milford," Sebastian corrected before turning to Dozer, "So ... I guess we're giving another civvie a gun?"

Beatrice shrugged but didn't "correct" him. She didn't want to rehash her fake backstory all over again so she let it go.

"Hmm," Dozer grunted, "I guess we might be."

"Before we move on, there's is something you both need to see, though. Dozer, you have that door covered?"

Dozer lifts his rifle, "Covering."

Beatrice safes her weapon and unslings her backpack. Opening the zipper and pulling out the Dossier on the hacker, she retrieves his picture and shows it to Sebastian and Nik.

Hmm, well if she wants to do that, I won't stop her, thinks Dozer.

Beatrice added handing the picture and folder to Sebastian; "It's imperative that we do whatever possible to take this man uninjured. We need to know how the item he is auctioning today came to be in his possession."

Sebastian took the folder and leafed through it with the efficiency of a federal agent digesting a case file, whereas Nik glanced over the agent's shoulder to look at the picture with an 'okay whatever' shrug. Sebastian handed the folder back to Beatrice before pulling one of the pistols taken from the Russians to give to Nik.

Just before Sebastian could hand the gun over, Dozer let go of the grip of his rifle and held up his hand. Reaching down, he works the holster on his hip, "Alright, Nik. Nearest I can tell, you're probably as freelance as you say you are."

Dossier back in her hand, Beatrice returned it to her backpack before pulling it back on.

Pulling out his M9, Dozer steps toward Nik, holding the gun up by the barrel, "But this is my gun. And while my rifle's running rubber, this gun is running as live a round as you can get.
"By taking this gun, you accept the responsibility, and the repercussions of using it."
Leaning in, his expression turns dark, "And if you make me regret giving you this, I'll see just how many 5.56 rubber rounds it takes to crack a man's ribcage.
"Am I understood?"

Beatrice thinks to herself, "I'm glad I found a weapon before I met these guys."

Sebastian leaned in, "You don't think there'd be less paperwork involved just giving him one of the Russian's guns?" He shrugged, "We can explain that away as 'self defense' or 'the Russians turned on each other'."

Nik's eyes moved between the agents, "I only plan to use it on dirty Russians ... your geeky looking man is safe from me." He held out his hand to grasp the grip of Dozer's sidearm, waiting for agreement between the two before taking it.

Dude, Dozer thought, You're ruining the moment.
"With the way she's hoovering up the ammo?"

Sebastian met Dozer's questioning gaze, snorting a slight laugh at his quip before offering a short nod of agreement as he jerked his head towards Nik as to say 'give it to him'.

Letting go of the gun, Dozer tapped his pouches
"Nine-mil. The thugs are running .45s," reaffirming to Nik "Let's hope that adds a bit of weight to your trigger pull, yeah?"

Smirking, Nik expertly checked the magazine and chamber, before tucking behind his waist.

"All right, it's time to move. I believe I was going first this time," Beatrice said as she leveled her weapon on the far door, stepped out from behind the seat and into the aisle and cautiously moved forward, Sebastian was already following, his own weapon leveled at the far door as he cautiously moved down the aisle.

---

Florida State Highway 9 - Miami Gardens, FL

Agent Cho's eyes flicked nervously between the train off to his left and the car traffic around him on Rt. 9, the little Rogue's engines screaming to keep up with the train as the black SUV's sirens blared. The vehicles onboard data center indicated an incoming call, "Cho," he said in answer to the unknown caller.

"Agent Cho. Agent Eleanor Thompson of the Office of Special Assignments. Special Agent in Charge Witting tells me you are following a suspected hijacked train and that you have agents on board?"

Grunting agreement as he swerved around a vehicle to the annoyed honk of its horn, Cho replied, "Yes, but I have lost radio contact. The hijackers must be using a jammer. I can't reach them by cell either"

There was a pause as Ellie considered the information before responding, "I have an HRT squad ready and waiting at Hollywood Station ... out of sight for the moment so as not to spook the hijackers. We have the train 8 minutes out. Let me know if your team establishes contact."

"Yes ma'am," Cho replied before ending the call.

---

Silver Star - Seventh Train Car from Rear

Beatrice and Sebastian paced forward, weapons trained on the forward door as Dozer covered and Nik nonchalantly stalked up the aisle. Beatrice and Sebastian were nearly to the door when it slid aside, a smart dressed man pausing in mid-entry, his eyes widening in surprise and shock. "Idioty," he growled to the men in the next car, "FBI." He stressed his point by grabbing the nearest thug and shoving him towards the open door, barking orders to the other three.

---

"Well, at least we won't have to introduce ourselves!" Dozer noted as the smart dressed man shouted to the other thugs.

That said, the sharply dressed man had made a tiny mistake: He showed competence, followed by shouting orders.

The next, more major, one was using his own thugs as cover.

Dozer flicked a pair of bursts at the boss.

Silver Star - Seventh Train Car from Rear

The quick, successive, suppressed coughs of Dozer's rifle responded to the Russian boss's orders and stopping them short with a grunt as the rubber bullets bounced off his shoulder. Picking up where he left off, his orders came in earnest through gritted teeth.

Sebastian's first shot took the staggering thug he had been pushed forward, dropping him to the floor as the second caught another who had just stepped in front of his boss in the chest.

Holding his shoulder the well dressed and seemingly leader of the crew took off at a run towards the next car, yelling very loudly and very angrily for reinforcements.

The two remaining Russians, drawing their weapons and firing. Dozer heard a round whiz by and Sebastian flinched as another embedded itself in the door jamb.

---

"Yeah, borscht, borscht," Dozer called mockingly as the 'boss' shrugged of the rounds to spout Russian to his lackeys, "'Look at me, I had my Iron Curtain Wheaties today!'"

As a return round zipped by, Dozer barely even flinched.

"You'd better hope your grunts did the same, 'cause I'm gonna chew my way through all of 'em!"

Silver Star - Seventh Train Car from Rear

Reaffirming her stance on being first moving forward, Beatrice found protection behind a seat and fired at the two remains Russians. Both were short, yet built, and reminded her of club bouncers ... dressed the part to. Her first shot thudded harmlessly into the seat closest to one while the other struck the second tough's shoulder, illicitting a grunt.

Moving forward slightly and taking cover across from her, Nik raised his borrowed sidearm and fired. The Russian Beatrice had clipped fell to the carpet, a rapidly spreading wet patch in his chest to match the one in his shoulder. The only remaining gunman roared in rage and challenge, his large bicep bleeding from the hole Nik had put in it.

---

"That was too close, you get to go first from now on!" Beatrice yelled back to Dozer as she popped up and squeezed off a couple rounds.

"Aw, come-on ya big baby, it's only bullets!" Dozer yelled back.

As the last (current) thug roared, Dozer decided to reply...

Silver Star - Seventh Train Car from Rear

Dozer answered the burly thug's challenge with bullets, his first burst peppering the cloth backed seats before his last shot punch through. The Russian grunted in pain and collapsed into the seat he had taken refuge behind.

The 'boss', made it to the far end of the car in retreat, roaring orders as he passed through the doors.

---

"Alright, alright, I'll take point next time, sheesh," Dozer said, taking the quick quiet time to think.

With the enemy boss running off, it looked like any element of surprise was going completely out the window.

"Hey, anyone know how to uncouple these cars?" he asked the others as a thought hit him.

Dozer shook his head as he blanked on how to actually work the mechanism.

Guess I should have paid closer attention to Uncle's model trains.

"Never mind, had an idea, but it's probably not worth it at the moment."

Carefully walking up to the next door, "Speaking of ideas, they definitely know we are here. Might be time to throw a curveball."

He glances at Sebastian, "Still up for that open air stroll, Agent Milford?"

"Because if they hadn't already taken over the engine, they more than likely are going to now."

Walking over to the unconscious thug with the bleeding arm, Dozer points at the ceiling.

"We need someone to clear and secure that engine, and there won't be enough time to fight through all of those thugs to do it. We need someone to walk the roofs.

"I'd do it myself, but a.) this grapple gun's a lot harder to use than in the movies, and b.) we need someone to divert their attention, and I've got the biggest gun here."

Pulling out a zip-tie to bind the thug, Dozer nods towards one of the side doors.

"Go out there, walk the roof, try not to get spotted, enter and secure that engine. By that time, the rest of us'll probably have made it to either the third or second car. If you haven't drawn their attention by the time you've secured it, wait for us to breach the front car before you support from your direction.

"Hooah, Night Stalker?"

Silver Star - Eigth Train Car from Rear

Sebastian's eyes widened at Dozer's suggestion in an almost feverish excitement, his voice nearly cracking before he gained control with a calming breath.

"Hooah," he replied, with barely a moment's thought. He then quickly began to confirm everything was secure, his gaze drifting to Nik. Nik caught his glance, hands coming up as he stepped back.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa ...," he exclaimed, "Train surfing's not exactly my thing." He turned to Dozer, who was binding the unconscious thug, his eyes drifting to the gun in his hands, his mind remembering the beating he had been given curteousy of said thug's associates, before turning to the side door consideringly. "Though it can't be anymore dangerous than getting shot at suppose," he thought out loud. His eyes narrowed, clearly not excited about either prospect yet to proud to say he was fine sitting the rest of the journey out after already offering his help. With a resigned sigh he made a 'go ahead' motion towards the side door as he secured Dozer's weapon in his waist band.

The train car filled with the whistle of the air rushing in, Sebastian cautiously peering about before satisfied nothing was going to knock him off he side of the train. Giving one last look to Beatrice and Dozer he grinned, a dangerous glint to his eye as he began to ascend the service ladder to the top of the car. Nik, looking less thrilled, offered Beatrice a confident wink before following the FBI agent.

---

Looking at Beatrice's face as the other two went out the side, Dozer couldn't help but laugh.

"I did say he was a stunt driver. From a whole family of 'em, it turns out."

Pulling out one of his half empty magazines, he double-stack grabbed his current magazine.

"By the way," he said as he deftly transferred some rounds over, "I've had my armor personally tailored."

Clicking the now fuller magazine back in, he put the lighter mag back into the 'used' pouch, "Probably would get in your way more if you tried to wear it."Giving the rifle a once over, tapping the mag into the well, tapping the plug, double checking the zero, he glanced up.

"Alright, that should give 'em enough of a head start. Shall we go?"

I-65 Heading North - North Miami, FL

"What the ...," Agent Joe Cho swore as he momentarily took his eyes off the busy highway to monitor the train as he had been doing since depositing two agents on the train. Quickly finding Agent Thompson's number in the recent call list he pushed the call button to dial up the Office of Special Assignment's field team leader.

"Agent Thompson," he said in greeting, "You're not going to believe this ..."

---

Silver Star - Eighth Train Car from Rear

Cautiously, Beatrice and Dozer stalked the aisle towards the far door that would take them to the ninth train car from the end. Whether from a shadow or change in lighting it was clear that the Russians gathered, and waiting, in the next car sensed their approach. However, being trained operatives the pair were the quicker to react.

---