Zero Dark Thirty, 50 miles from Mogadishu Somalia, the Horn of Africa.
Beads of sweat trickled down the center of Chief Petty Officer, Oliver Queen's back as he and five members of his covert special forces Seal team crept stealthily through the outskirts of the urban town. Night vision goggles bathed his vision in a swath of distinctive green. Their mission was to hike two clicks into the western corridor of the town, manned and owned by the terrorist group, Al Shabab - Al Qaeda's third-largest affiliate, and rescue an American teacher kidnapped from a school in the coastal region. The physical condition of the held female teacher was an unknown, but one that would only worsen as her captivity went on.
Satellite heat images had confirmed their target was located on the second floor of the three story building. Intel revealed multiple enemy combatants were left for overnight guard duty of the teacher. Night time insects and a lone dog barking in the far distance were the only sounds that could be heard as the Seals surrounded the back of the building.
"Alpha team in position," Oliver quietly spoke into his head gear microphone as he signaled his men for entry.
"Bravo team ready," came the response from the second Seal team embedded at their rendezvous point.
Entry into the building was made and Oliver and his Seals flooded the stairwell in close perimeter single file. Quick, sure footed steps were taken with rifles held at nose level and fingers on triggers. The bottom floor was cleared, but as Oliver rounded the corner of the second floor an enemy combatant met him with a raised a gun. Oliver released short muffled bursts of bullets through his rifle's silencer and the man fell to his death.
Two other combatants were immobilized as the team split off and three Seals continued up towards the third floor and Oliver and two others found the target's room. Oliver met his teammate's eyes and nodded before opening the door and stepped to the left in the room while his second in command, Petty Officer John Diggle entered to his right and Petty Officer Harper kneeled in the middle. They all swept the room with their rifles.
"Target found," Oliver said into his mic as he stepped closer to the woman tied to a chair and hunched over. Her long hair covered her face and torso as it hung from her bent head. She had not moved at their entry and Oliver slowly stepped closer.
"Elizabeth. We're Americans here to rescue you,"
A low moan came from the woman as she slowly lifted her head and that's when Oliver spotted the bomb vest on her chest.
"Bomb vest. Repeat, bomb vest." Oliver urgently relayed through his mic to his teams.
"Please," Elizabeth gasped through bruised, chapped lips as her fear filled eyes pleaded with Oliver to save her. "Upstairs."
At her words, Oliver immediately walked back towards the door and spoke into the mic, "Merlyn, third floor status."
"Two rooms cleared. Proceeding to third,"
Thumps could be heard from the ceiling above Oliver as Petty Officer Merlyn and two other Seals dealt with combatants on the third floor.
"He's triggered it. Get out. Now!" Merlyn screamed into his mic as one of the fallen enemy released a bomb trigger that was held in his hand.
"Run. Run!" Oliver screamed as he pushed Diggle through the door. Oliver could feel a wave of heat and searing pain slashing across his back as the force of the explosion propelled him on top of Diggle.
The pain was excruciating and a loud ringing noise echoed in Oliver's ears. Diggle eased Oliver off his body and started speaking to him as he checked Oliver's body for wounds. Oliver could see Diggle's lips moving, but could not hear anything but the awful ringing.
Debris, fire and smoke came from the room behind them that no longer had a ceiling nor a floor. It was one big hole. Diggle lifted Oliver up and dragged him towards the stairs.
Oliver drifted in and out of consciousness as Diggle and Harper dragged him down and out of the building. The burning building was drawing enemy from all corners of the town.
Diggle lifted Oliver over his shoulders and as Harper guarded their backs they all ran towards the rendezvous point.
######
Oliver woke from his nightmare to the sound of waves crashing on the beach. It eased the chaotic drumbeat of his racing heart. He swore he could still hear the haunting screams and smelled the burning flesh of his dead friends and Elizabeth Lance. It had been over 18 months since that fateful mission that claimed three of the best men Oliver ever knew and the innocent life of a school teacher from Tennessee.
He tried to rub the ache from his tired eyes as his heartbeat and breathing slowed. Sheer white curtains billowed on the ocean breeze that flowed through his open bedroom sliding doors. The warm wind drifted over his bare body and the scent of salt and sand filled his lungs.
He hadn't had a nightmare in a few months and thought he had left them to the past, but they always found their way back to him. It had taken up to a year for Oliver to recover from his wounds and another seven found him no longer in the field with his men. He had taken a position at the Naval Special Warfare Training Center in Coronado, California and now trained soldiers to become Seals. It was a job he was thankful for. It gave him a reason to get up each morning. It gave him a purpose. The guilt and the 'what ifs' from the tragedy never went away. His military psychiatrist as well as his friends and family spoke of time healing. They spoke of forgiveness too, but Oliver was the lead in that last mission and forgiveness...well, he had not allowed himself to have it. Four young kids would never see their fathers again because he hadn't taken care of them. He hadn't brought them home.
He got out of bed, pulled on a pair of swim shorts, and walked out towards the deserted moonlit stretch of beach in front of his house. So many nights ended this way for him. He ran into the cool pacific waters and dove into its depths. Its strong currents kept his body, mind and attentions on just the rhythm of swimming. His legs kicked and his arms lifted into a familiar cadence of strokes, once, twice, breathe. Once, twice, breathe.
######
Later that day, Oliver walked through the grounds of the BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training) facility headed to a scheduled weapon's class. News had swept across the teams that some new tech was going to be introduced to the ranks. New tech was always looked at with a bit of reservation until proven in the field. Until your gear worked perfectly and didn't jam, its aim true, and it brought you home...it was only another tool.
He arrived at the outdoor sniper range to see many of his fellow instructors already there talking bullshit or ruminating over the soldiers in their care. The current Seal class was in its last days of their Third Phase (Land Warfare) which included land navigation, small-unit tactics, rappelling, military land and underwater explosives, and weapons training. Within days the cream of the crop, soldiers who had made it through a grueling 7 months of the highest military training, would be graduating. Oliver was damn proud of the group of soldiers who would be going into harm's way, when called upon by their country, as prepared and ready as Oliver and his fellow Seals could make them. This was Oliver's way of giving back to the men and women who served beside him. His way of instilling and passing on a code of honor that served as a shoreline and compass that guided his Seals home. He needed his Seals to come home.
"Queen."
"Dig," Oliver greeted his fellow instructor and long time friend, Chief Petty Officer John Diggle with a smirk and handshake. "A new toy for us?"
"One of my favorite things is getting to play," joked the tall, solid wall of muscle. Dig had an impressive body, containing the biggest heart, that carried an injured Oliver two miles upon his shoulders out of a hot zone gone wrong. Oliver owed him his life and Dig would have his gratitude and friendship to the end of the line.
"Lyla is worried about you,"
"Why?" Oliver responded with great affection for John's wife. Lyla was a wonderful woman who Oliver was grateful had been willing to marry a man whose first obligation would be his country. Being married to a soldier was one of the toughest jobs in the world. He envied John and Lyla's love. It was special and it was one Oliver wished for one day. But today was not that day. Oliver was still a mess. How could he offer anyone, himself, when he was still trying to heal the broken pieces? How could he bring a person into his life when he didn't deserve to have one?
"She thinks its time,"
"Time? For what?"
"For you to start dating again. No, no, listen. I agree with her," Dig said, with teasing mischief in his eyes. "Just, maybe dip a toe into the water."
"What am I, a child learning to swim?" Oliver shook his head at the Dig's turn of phrase. He was a fraken Seal. He didn't dip his toe...he dived in with elegant precision. He just...couldn't.
"Attention!" was shouted and Oliver and the rest of the men came to sharp attention.
"At ease," Master Chief Blackthorne commanded, as he walked onto the sniper pit with a few people following behind him.
A blonde ponytail was the first thing Oliver saw as a petite, attractive woman, wearing safety glasses, came to stand beside the Master Chief. She was dressed in combat boots, tan desert military camo fatigues and a red shirt with a small logo of Arrow Technologies on its sleeve. She was beautiful. Soft curves framed by an athletic body and sharp blue eyes that displayed a combination of intelligence and excitement. Oliver could feel her low hum energy all the way from where he stood at the back of the group of instructors.
"I wanted to introduce Ms. Smoak and her weapon's team from Arrow Technologies. She will be presenting their newest sniper rifle and I'm sure you all will be as impressed as I am. Miss Smoak." Master Chief Blackthorne said as he stepped back to allow Felicity to take over.
"Hello Gentlemen,"
"Ma'am," replied the instructors in unison.
"Please, call me Felicity and my team members are Caitlin and Juliana. First, I wanted to say what an honor it is to be able to present a weapon to you that we hope will become one with your bodies, allow you to remain safe and accomplish your missions."
Her voice, melodic, precise and soothing went over some impressive statistics as her team set up a long table with several large weapon cases. She turned to open one of the cases and Oliver's breath caught and his body hardened with swift desire. Ms. Smoak had a gorgeous ass that was showcased to perfection in what was normally unflattering fatigues. He felt guilty as hell for his unprofessional thoughts and got his body and his mind quickly under control right before she turned back around and their eyes met.
Oliver felt like he was hit with a lightning bolt. Her eyes widened briefly as if she felt the intense connection too. Her gaze, brilliant blue darkening with interest, felt like a caress across his hungry senses and all he wanted to do was stroke her right back.