Monica temporarily set aside the bomb and joined the assault team—only then did they finally have just enough people.
Ghost began assigning roles. "Here's the plan: Owen and I will lead the assault. Once we eliminate the hijackers on the lower deck, Heartbeat will log their positions. Then the rest of you will use the service elevator to reach the upper deck. During the attack, Owen and I will take out the first two hijackers upstairs. Heartbeat, you're to eliminate the second pair and ensure no hidden enemies remain on the lower deck. Can Opener and IQ will follow behind Owen and me. You'll stay at the divider and secure it—make sure there aren't any hijackers disguised among the passengers. Owen and I will handle the rest."
The plan was sound, well-tailored to the current situation. Ghost also made sure each of them had a trusted person at their back—no trust issues, just execution.
"Understood."
…
Once everyone confirmed, Owen and Ghost quietly cut two person-sized slits in the fabric separating the luggage hold from the economy cabin. Just as Ghost was about to give the go-ahead—
"Wait," Owen suddenly said.
"What is it?" Ghost asked.
"Jennifer, can you get to the elevator on the second deck and stay there? If someone comes, warn us in advance."
Owen had suddenly remembered a critical oversight. They wouldn't be able to use the main stairs without being spotted, so the team had to use the service elevator near the galley. But if there was a hijacker near it, they'd be sitting ducks in that narrow space.
"Got it."
Jennifer nodded, spoke briefly with Walker, then gestured upstairs to a hijacker. Thinking she was going up for service, he waved her on without question.
At the second-deck elevator, Jennifer pretended to be working, glancing around. No one was nearby. She whispered, "Elevator's clear."
Everyone was already geared up. Hearing her signal, Ghost gave the command over comms: "Execute."
At the far end of economy class, two shadows emerged from behind the curtain.
Pfft-pfft—two silenced bursts. The two hijackers in the aisles didn't even realize what had happened before they hit the floor.
Just in case they had body armor, Owen and Ghost didn't hold back—chest and head were shredded.
"Shh…"
They raised their hands, signaling for silence. Several passengers were about to scream, but stifled themselves. Can Opener ran forward and pointed to the U.S. flag patch on his shoulder.
"Hands on the seatbacks in front of you. Please comply—do not give us any reason to mistake your intentions…"
He kept his voice low, carefully watching for sudden movements. If anyone looked suspicious, he'd shoot without hesitation.
Monica searched the bodies—no body armor. Good.
A brief panic passed through the economy cabin, but the U.S. flag was persuasive. One by one, the passengers complied, placing their hands where instructed. Relief filled their faces. No one knew how these soldiers got onboard, but it was clear—they might actually be saved.
While Monica collected the hijackers' weapons, Heartbeat sprinted to the front of the lower deck. Holding his device up to the ceiling, he began scanning.
On his display, outlines of moving figures appeared. His system flagged anything standing or walking as a likely hijacker—regular passengers weren't free to move.
He quickly marked the first target, then crossed to the other aisle and marked the second. Once tagged, the system would keep them highlighted in red, even if they moved out of range.
Heartbeat flashed a quick "OK" signal to Ghost. It was time.
Ghost nodded, and the team began ascending the narrow service elevator—one at a time.
"Jennifer, we're coming up…"
Ghost went first, followed by Owen, then Can Opener, and IQ.
Heartbeat stayed behind, eyes on both his scanner and the passengers—ready to fire on anyone who moved.
The elevator was barely wide enough for one person. Ghost climbed in, Owen hit the button, and the elevator began to rise.
But then—
"What are you doing here?"
"Uh… I'm getting drinks and snacks…"
"No, you're lying."
"It's true! You scared the passengers. They need something to calm down. Look—whiskey…"
"Stupid Americans. We MSL don't drink this filth…"
"Uhh…"
The CTU team went cold. For some reason, a hijacker had wandered near the elevator on the upper deck. Ghost was mid-ascent. There was no turning back now—they had to hope he could handle it.
"Oh, what are you doing? Please step away…"
The next words from Jennifer's earpiece made the situation worse. The hijacker was closing in on her—everyone knew his intentions.
Jennifer had been backed into a corner. Still, she worked hard to keep the hijacker's attention away from the elevator behind her.
"You don't need to do this… Plenty of women on the plane would cooperate—if you just promise to let them live…"
"And what about you?"
She kept trying to change the subject and stall, but the sound of the elevator's motor alerted the hijacker. He turned toward it—just in time to feel a sharp pain in his throat.
Whack! A precise hand strike from Jennifer hit his windpipe. The man doubled over, wheezing. She followed up with a brutal whip-kick to the back of his neck, dropping him to the floor.
Inside the elevator, the first thing to appear was Ghost's skull mask—then the man himself. Gun drawn, he stepped out. He'd heard everything and was ready to shoot, but what he saw stunned him: Jennifer had already taken the hijacker down.
"Well done," he muttered.
"Thanks. I'm a black belt," she replied.
Ghost shrugged, then fired a silenced round into the hijacker's chest. Pfft. Silence returned.
A moment later, the empty elevator descended. Owen stepped in. They repeated the process until all four were on the second deck.
The hijackers hadn't yet realized one of their own was missing—they had to act fast.
The team lined up at the galley, flanking the curtains. Owen was farthest out, weapon aimed low, ready to strike.
"Heartbeat, status report."
"Ready and in position."
"Five seconds to breach," Ghost announced. "Five… four… three… two… one…"
Pfft-pfft—
Two staccato bursts of suppressed fire. MP5 rounds tore through the hijackers. The first one jerked wildly as bullets struck him—no time to scream.
Owen appeared in the opposite aisle like a shadow. He didn't hesitate. Before the second hijacker could even turn, a full burst sent him straight to hell.
------------------
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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