Breakdown of Reality

               Frank looked up from the digireader in his hand to check the road. It was still clear, no ATF presence to speak of. As a large billboard with a heavily armored ATF soldier and the words Tobacco Kills whizzed by Frank returned to the map on his digireader. The implants in his eyes and brain showed the status of his team members as well as the other three team leads for the mission. He was currently in the command board room for transmission. Bob and James were the team leaders for the demo teams picked for this mission, and Luke was the team leader for the heavy squad. Frank’s own team was a light combat team, known as the Ghosts.

               “We’re coming on the stopping point now, Frank,” Bob said, “Getting ready to set up the fireworks.”

               “Acknowledged,” Frank said, “We’re about five out, Luke, where you at?”

               “About five behind you,” Luke said, “What’s the ETA of the target?”

               Frank hit an icon on the screen of his digireader and it switched from a local view to a target view. One of the Brotherhood’s satellites had targeted the convoy. It was just leaving Yacolt.

               Frank had been sitting in his office reading reports when Selina had walked in with the mission information. Seems one of the upstart gangs out in Yacolt had gotten their hands on a large shipment, and gotten hit by the local sheriff. The sheriff’s office wasn’t equipped to deal with that much contraband though, so the ATF had been brought in. They’d picked up the stash and were now moving from Yacolt into Portland. Frank, Bob, James, Luke, and their teams were going to stop that shipment as it came in and take the goods.

               2030 was when the ban was passed. Tobacco and nicotine became illegal. It started off subtle but now just having a single cigarette was enough to get you jail time. Gangs formed quickly but the real power in the tobacco industry was now the Brotherhood. Based out of Portland, Oregon, the Brotherhood was more than just a bunch of thugs, they had purpose, they had training, and they had the equipment.

               The founder was something of an Anarchist, but that was just about all that was known of him. Fight the power, which was all he really said. So, Frank and his men fought the power. Instill a little bit of chaos here and there, make the officials lives miserable, and maybe kill an ATF member or two. The public thought the early drug wars were bad, they didn’t know what hit them when the Brotherhood strode onto the scene.

               Frank’s vehicle started slowing down as it neared the intersection of North East Kelly Road and North East Yacolt Mountain Road. According to the Brotherhood’s source in the ATF, this is where the convoy was supposed to pass through. As the car pulled over to the side of the road Frank stepped out. He was wearing light ballistic armor, giving him enough protection to take a few shots, but still giving him maneuverability. His whole team was dressed similarly. The last to exit, Gregory hit the camouflage button on the vehicle as he stepped out. The light manipulation field took effect and the vehicle virtually disappeared. The demo teams had done the same to their vehicles. The Ghosts had a similar field for their armor, didn’t provide absolutely invisibility, but it made them harder to pin down.

               Bob and James were nodding appreciatively as their men finished planting the explosives in the road. Bob turned and grinned at Frank as he approached the pair. All three stared at the field of explosives they knew were there, but couldn’t see.

               “EMP in the center?” Frank asked.

               “Of course,” Bob replied, “And before you even ask, the explosives will disable the vehicles, not blow them to shreds.”

               “Good,” Frank said, “We want the goods they’re carrying; intel places the worth around fifty mil.”

               James whistled at that, surprised.

               “How the hell’d a two bit operation get a hold of a stash that big?” James asked.

               “Beats me,” Frank replied, “We’re looking into it.”

               James nodded as Luke’s team pulled in, two large trucks. They pulled off to the side and dismounted. Luke’s team wore heavy suits of mechanized armor known as exoskeleton and carried rifles the length of a man’s body. Luke’s men looked big, bad, and scary but they were more for deterrence than anything else. They took care of the big stuff while Frank’s Ghosts got in for the kill. Report put the count at three exos on this ATF force, and Luke would be the one responsible for them. Luke’s men circled the attack point, far enough away that they wouldn’t be hurt by the EMP blast.

               Frank checked the digireader, looked like the ATF should be here in a few minutes. Bob and James’ men all took cover while the Ghosts positioned themselves. Frank took in a deep breath of pine as he sat and counted down.

               When he started at ten the ATF convoy rolled over the crest of the hill and began to descend down to their location. When he hit five they were halfway to the explosives. Large explosions emphasized his zero and every vehicle slid to a halt. The Ghosts stalked forward as men without exoskeletons poured out of the vehicles. Rockets streamed from Bob and James’ locations and hit the heavy mechanized infantry vehicles, taking out their big guns.

               Frank targeted an ATF soldier with his rifle as he made his way to the attack point, he dropped and so did four of his friends, courtesy of Frank’s fellow Ghosts. All of them switched targets and ATF soldiers continuing to drop. They switched on their smart goggles but the circuitry in the Ghost’s armor still made it hard for the heart and heat sensor to lock onto their signatures.

               The exoskeletons burst out of their vehicles, their systems having reset from the EMP pulse. Luke’s men stepped out from the shadow and started targeting them. Frank and his Ghosts cut a swathe through the unarmored ATF soldiers and began assisting in the takedown of the exos. Finally the smoke cleared and only the Brotherhood was standing.

               They made their way to the transport trucks and pulled them open to check their haul. Even Frank was impressed. Four trucks full of cartons of Marlboro scentless. This really was going to fetch them a pretty penny on the market.

               Frank jumped on the headquarters board and quickly gave his sitrep to Selina.

               “Sounds good Frank,” Selina said, “Looking forward to when you get back.”

               “Maybe we can find out where a small gang got this kind of haul,” Frank responded.

               Selina laughed, a deep, sensual laugh, “Yes, yes we can,” she said, mirth obvious in her voice, “After I jump you that is.”

               “Well,” Frank replied, “Of course after that.”