Bring on the pain

28th September 2017

The power grid of Liberia was in horrendous condition, poorly maintained ever since the Liberian Civil War ravaged the country. Whereas in first world or developing countries, you'd have lamp posts illuminating the way, in Liberia those lights were non-existent. Only travelling vehicles illuminated the streets with their headlights, making navigation a living nightmare and potential **** sentence.

For Aviel and her gathered team, this was perfect. Their designated operation area was one of those not yet covered by the renovation drive, and as such pitch blackness covered the entire avenue outside the warehouse. Perfect for concealing movement, so long as one did not overly rely on operating headlights.

Dressed in military fatigues, protected by her body armour and helmet with night vision goggles, her platoon of ex-IDF troops was in position, silenced rifles ready.

"This is Aviv-3 to all personnel, check your weapons," Aviel said into her helmet mike, "Bravo-4, any sight of the tangos?"

"Negative Ma'am, no sign of them for now," Said Tobiah.

"Understood, update me if you see anything," Said Aviel.

"Affirmative."

Aviel sighed heavily, and she felt a pat on her shoulder to see Wakeyo offering a smile.

"Happy to be back in the saddle?" Said Wakeyo.

Aviel shrugged, saying, "Not the way I would've liked it, but... yeah."

"Guess war never leaves our blood, does it?" Said Wakeyo, "Like my abba always said: 'The war never leaves you; you're never truly home'."

"Except for me, that's turned quite literal," Said Aviel wryly, "To think I'd have to don this uniform again."

"Hey, at least it's for a good cause," Said Wakeyo, "You sure about this, though? You could just leave it to us."

"...I don't know, I just have a feeling," Said Aviel, "You never know what may happen when you stir the hornet's nest."

"So that's why you had all your belongings and documents shifted somewhere hidden?" Said Wakeyo.

"Bravo-4 to Aviv-3, eight SUVs spotted!" Tobiah said into the radio.

"Copy, Bravo-4," Said Aviel, "Everyone else, standby."

All troops waited silently as the eight SUV's slowly entered the warehouse Aviel's people staked out, and as they came to a stop, out stepped several African men armed with rifles and pistols. None were from the Liberian Armed Forces (LAF) thankfully.

Tracing its origins back to colonial militia first founded by the black settlers from America, it was originally known as the Liberian Frontier **** in 1908 and retired in 1956. For much of its history, it has received training from U.S. advisors, yet like most armed forces in developing countries, it has a debilitatingly low level of effectiveness. Since Aviel's inception into Liberian politics, she has worked tirelessly with ex-IDF officials to retrain the LAF into a formidable fighting ****.

Once the lights were switched on, the goon leader let out an appreciative whistle at the sight of the fully stocked warehouse, and all his subordinates failed to mask their surprise at the sight of stacked shelves full of high-quality construction materials.

Why wouldn't they be surprised? If they took it all, they'd have enough to build several villages' worth of houses to house hundreds, maybe thousands even.

"Aviel's been holding out on us," Said the goon leader, "Alright boys, Mr. Augustine wants this stuff ready to be resold for a high price, so you'd better not damage the goods."

"Augustine?" Wakeyo asked on the radio.

"I only know of one Augustine," Said Aviel, "Augustine Tomah."

Augustine Tomah, current serving Minister of Transport in the All Whig Party, a man who was as slippery as a snake and as greasy as a pig, a man who lusted after her with wanton eyes whenever no one was looking. Bald and fat with a portly figure, his bespectacled face reflected a glimmer of evil in his eyes.

"How's the shipment?" Asked the captain.

"Perfectly fine," Said a goon, "Wasn't easy getting past that Israeli security detail, but once they were out of their hands, heh, easy to buy off the others."

"Good, good. You know, I really don't get why we have to let her take all the glory," Said the captain, "This Aviel, I'll admit she has a good head on her shoulders, and she's helped the All Whig party get the support we need, but she's making us all look bad. "

"She just needs to learn humility, that's all, boss," Said a goon, "Then when the general elections come, the boss will be hailed as the Father of Liberia."

"What a nice title, maybe the newspapers should print that," Said the captain as they all shared a laugh.

Aviel felt a spark of anger in her gut, smouldering like embers ready to erupt into an inferno.

"Aviv-3, permission to engage?" Asked Wakeyo.

"Permission granted, weapons ready," Aviel whispered, "YZ-2, switch off the lights, the rest fire on my mark, in 3... 2... 1..."

The moment the lights were switched off, pandemonium ensued, sealing their fates.

Bullets sprang free from their confines, peppering the goons in a shower of sparks and blood as they dropped like flies. The Liberian troops, despite professional training, were nothing but green recruits against the war-hardened veterans of the IDF, all sourced by Aviel's contacts.

In less than thirty seconds, all the Liberian goons dropped dead, the captain bleeding from two shots in the chest.

Aviel lifted her night vision goggles, placing a lamp nearby so the captain could see her face.

"H-H-Here to finish the job?" The captain spoke.

"It was Augustine Tomah who sent you, wasn't it?" She asked.

The captain spat blood on her face, and in response Aviel pushed a finger into one of his wounds, making him cry in great anguish.

"Was it Augustine Tomah?" Aviel asked again, her voice dangerously low.

"...So what if it is, bitch?" Said the captain, smiling with bloody teeth.

"Then he's next," Said Aviel.

And drawing a pistol, Aviel put two shots through the captain's skull.

"So what next, Ma'am?" Asked Tobiah, "We can't let Augustine sabotage us with the general elections in just a month's time."

"No, but we cannot simply kill him," Said Aviel, "Wakeyo, get our people and start digging up all hard evidence on him. Make sure that when we drop him, no one will want to defend him."

"In other words, fabricate some of our own?" Wakeyo asked.

"What else would it be?" Said Aviel.

"I gotcha," Said Wakeyo, "In the meantime, should I start planting moles in Augustine's office?"

"No, if we do that, we'll just raise suspicions," Said Aviel, "Instead, work with Tobiah to plant spies tracking their movements outside. Take whatever pictures or videos you need."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"And forward to Amos my request to purchase this warehouse," Said Aviel, "We need to secure this place and make it a hideout for our agents, in case some other jealous politician decides to stage a raid or any such felony here."