Chapter 1: The New Team
Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC.
Hey there guys! This is my first story so do be gentle, but by all means give me ways in which I can also improve. I kind of want to make this interactive for the first part and here is how. As it stands, I have three team members in mind, two of which have appeared before, the third is my OC. If you guys decide to review, include the name of a character you would like to see in this new team. No need to state the obvious but no one who is deceased or in the MCRT. Takes place in Season 8.
It wasn't often that Balboa was called to the director's office. As it stood he was currently without a team due to some recent personnel changes that were unexplained and the team leader was looking for answers. Not that he would demand them, of course. Director Vance was an intimidating person as it was without earning his ire. When the secretary told him he was clear to enter, Vance was looking out the window.
"You asked to see me, director?" he asked respectfully.
"Yes" was the simple answer as he turned. "I'll make this brief. Are you aware of the OSP?"
"Only what its acronym stands for and where it's based. The Office of Special Projects, located in Los Angeles" he answered, not sure where the director is going with this.
"What I am about to say does not leave this room, are we clear?" Vance asked and the other nodded in an instant. "The OSP is tasked with more covert operations that deals with high-end military intel and the personnel behind it. As it stands, there is only one branch. However, I have decided to set up another one here in DC"
"And why would you tell me, sir?" Balboa asked, curiosity in his eyes.
"I want you to lead it" Vance said bluntly.
"Me? Surely there are other agents, director…perhaps Gibbs and his team would be better suited for that kind of work" he suggested.
"Special Agent Gibbs is a competent agent, no doubt. However he lacks the finesse when it comes to dealing with politics and inter-agency cooperation, even if it's with basic law-enforcement. Your file indicates that you have cooperated with multiple agents from a variety of agencies, to the point that there were few jurisdictional battles" Vance said, glancing down at his file.
"What would my role be, director?"
"Operations manager and lead agent of the Washington OSP team. The team decision is up to you, for the most part. I will stress this now, Agent Balboa. Choose wisely. You need a team that can serve under stressful situations"
"Yes, sir" he nodded.
"There is a small condition. I have appointed an agent from the Secret Intelligence Service to serve as a liaison between NCIS and the GCHQ…I will also be sending you files of some recommendations but that is all they are. Like I said, you team, your choice. Dismissed"
"One question, Director…is this why I have no team at the moment?"
"Yes. They are good agents, but they are more suited to the more mundane tasks of the agency"
"I see"
"Will that be all, Agent Balboa?" Vance asked and the other nodded before he left the room.
The recommendations that were on his desk when he got back came from a variety of sectors in the agency as well as some who were looking to transfer out. He went over a list of what he would need when choosing his personnel. He'd need at least two more agents, a forensics expert, a medical examiner and a minimum of two analysts. One stood out for forensics at least, and she had worked here before.
Carol Wilson. A researcher for the Centre for Disease Control. She'd proven adept at assisting them with several cases and even had degrees in other forms of forensics. Apparently she was looking for a transfer. Balboa could have chuckled a little. He'd have his own goth like Gibbs had Abby only this one was a little more deadpan. The elevator dinged and he looked up to see a man looking around as though he were lost.
He looked to be in his late twenties to early thirties, blue eyes curious, even a little innocent. His short, dark brown hair was a little unruly, as though he had a bed head that actually worked in his favour and he wore a simple suit, the blazer left open. There was no badge so he wasn't a new agent for NCIS.
"Can I help you?" Balboa asked politely as he walked over.
"Ah, yes. I'm looking for Special Agent Balboa"
"Well as luck would have it that would be me" he smiled.
"Brilliant. I'm Agent Terrence Magnus of the Secret Intelligence Service. Your Director Vance placed me on your team, I believe" he smiled slightly, holding out his hand which Balboa took with a firm handshake.
"Well I wouldn't call it a team just yet" he smiled, leading him to his now empty section of the bullpen. "Doesn't matter what desk you take. My old team weren't granted the clearance to be a part of this new office"
"Yes, I'd gotten the memo on my way" the other sat down at the desk next to Balboa's.
"Just going over the recommendations from the Director. Our forensic experts file…" he said, giving him Carol's file.
"Carol Wilson, former researcher for the CDC…and she's worked a few cases for the MCRT?" he asked, not knowing the acronym.
"The Major Case Response Team. They've tackled bioterrorist attacks aimed at naval forces and they turned to Carol to help them identify viral strains. She has other forensic experience too, but the kind of thing we'll be dealing with could end up involving biological weapons so her expertise will prove valuable" Balboa explained.
"I'll be sure to contact her for you" Vance said, coming into the bullpen. "I have some details that I need to give the both of you. Due to the fact that you are now part of a covert team dealing with sensitive material, you are on call at all times. More so than any team here. To that end, your HQ, if you will, has quarters where you will be living for however long your tenure is. Also, not only will Agent Magnus be reporting to the director of the SIS and the GCHQ, so will you Agent Balboa. It is your responsibility to do so as operations manager as well as the lead agent"
"Yes sir" Balboa nodded before Vance turned to Magnus.
"Thank you for responding to the call Agent Magnus, though I am curious. What does MI6 want with NCIS?"
"Britain doesn't have an official branch of NCIS as of yet. Rogue members of the Royal Navy are thus exploiting that and have fled here. I'm the test agent for an overseas British NCIS branch that will likely take on duties that you do only our jurisdiction lies mostly in the Royal Navy unless you say otherwise" Terrence said, a little nervous in the face of the director. "My being here will allow the OSP to handle British cases even though it's a division from the Washington branch"
"How long is your placement with us?" Balboa asked.
"Permanent. I am the official liaison between NCIS and all British intelligence agencies…my director said it was about time we began to cooperate"
"He said as much to me, Agent Magnus" the director said before heading off.
"Surprising…" Balboa said and Terrence rose a brow, urging him on. "NCIS has branches across the globe, but not in the UK"
"NCIS handles American forces. The kicker is creating an agency that handles both British and US naval forces. That's why I'm here. To determine if such cooperation is possible. If it is then not only will a British team be sent here, but NCIS will establish a base that handles all criminals from both our naval forces and that of the US"
"Definitely a good thing that Gibbs isn't leading this team then…"
The next day, Balboa decided to take a look at the British agents file…
Full name: Terrence Magnus
Age: 29
Date of Birth: 25/6/1981
Height: 6'1
Weight: 75kgs
Eye Colour: Blue
Hair Colour: Dark Brown
Blood Group: A+
Occupation: SIS field agent. Liaison with NCIS Office of Special Projects.
That was just the basics page. Terrence's father used to be a member of the Royal Navy and he was Welsh whilst his mother was a doctor, and she was English. He had a sister who worked in MI5 and she was his contact. Balboa thought they were in control of their emotions if they could work in an agency together. Such a thing would be frowned upon at NCIS, but it would likely be allowed as long as it didn't interfere with their work.
"Reckon that's the file of one of his new teammates?" Tony Dinozzo asked as Ziva and Tim got in that morning. The senior field agent had been watching the team leader since he had seen him with that British man yesterday and he found his curiosity piqued. Balboa's team had been transferred so quickly, it was unbelievable.
"Why are you so interested?" Ziva asked as she looked up from her report.
"He's just nosey" Tim said, before receiving a headslap from Tony.
"I prefer to think of myself as curious…nosey is such a harsh word Timmy" Tony said as he sat back down at his desk.
"His team did transfer out of here quickly…and why was Balboa left?" Ziva had to ask.
"And that there is the million dollar question" Tony said.
"Well unless the director thinks that we need to know, it's none of our business" Gibbs came in then as he put his cell phone back in his pocket. "What is our business is the dead petty officer in North Virginia. Grab your gear" the seasoned agent said.
Balboa watched as the MCRT left on yet another case before returning to the file, before noticing that the MI6 agent was in, once more dressed in a suit with a new Sig-Sauer on his belt alongside his SIS badge. He closed the file for the time being, turning to smile at the newest addition to the agency and apparently his newest partner.
"Morning" he greeted.
"I'd say good morning but the jet lag has caught up with me" Terrence said as he sat down.
"Thought you'd be used to it, seeing as you're an overseas agent" Balboa grinned, pouring a cup of coffee and handing it to the other.
"Whilst I appreciate the gesture, agent Balboa, drinking coffee is way below my standards" he smiled and the other chuckled.
"Wow. You are Brit to the core"
"And proud of it. So…what's on the agenda?"
"Not much. Just preparing things for the move to our new home I suppose. The director e-mailed me this morning to explain that they had almost finished setting it up. They're just waiting to finish wiring the computers into the NCIS network. Wish McGee was able to help with that" Balboa said as he sat back down.
"Who?" Terrence asked with a raised brow.
"Agent McGee is the technical expert. He once wired the network for this whole office during a heatwave because the contractors refused to work in the heat" Balboa explained. "He's part of the MCRT"
"I see. Any luck with the rest of our team?"
"A lot of the recommendations that Vance gave me are good agents. That's what makes the choice so difficult. And that's without looking at the support staff" Balboa sighed as he put the file down. "And I know a bunch of good agents who would be perfect for the team as well, which makes it even more difficult"
"Maybe you should take a break, at least for ten minutes, just to think of what it is that you are looking for"
"Yeah, maybe…"
For Balboa, it seemed easier when his team was chosen for him…
This is where you guys come in now. Just to remind you, there need to be two more agents, two analysts and a medical examiner. I'll go over any reviews with character recommendations and then the new chapter will be made when I have the full team prepared. Thanks for taking the time to read this!