Chapter 2

Jethro walked through the door into Sec/Nav's office. He was standing behind his desk and walked round as Gibbs came in.

"That'll be all Lieutenant. Gibbs. Good of you to come. I think you know these other gentlemen."

He gestured at 2 other men who had risen from their seats. Both of the men were Gibbs age, one was in the uniform of a Master Gunnery Sergeant the other in a well-tailored and expensive suit. Gibbs' face remained impassive; he nodded at them recognizing both. He turned his attention back to Sec/Nav and his eyes hardened.

"Why are we here …Sir?" Gibbs said quietly but with an edge.

"Please sit down Gunny. We all need to talk."

"Respectfully Sir, every time you say that something unpleasant happens."

"Gunny, sit down."

Sec/Nav turned and brought his chair around the desk and sat down.

"I am sure you remember Sergeant's Salvado and Mercer?"

Gibbs nodded as did the others. No one said anything. Sec/Nav waited a beat and when the silence continued he spoke.

"Alright then. We have a problem, gentlemen. Because of 9/11 we are undergoing a shortage of qualified front line combat trained Warrant officers. The need is paramount for Iraq and our mission there. You each have unique qualifications and we are activating those of you who are retired, or in your cases Salvado and Gibbs, in the reserves. You can put the retirement papers on hold for now."

Mercer, who was now a highly successful businessman, spoke up.

"Sir, we have lives, and we've earned the right to live them. We each did our time. In Gibbs and Salvado's cases they stayed in because they were asked to! They train people! We're not youngsters any more. Surely the United States has enough Gunnies and Master Guns to do the job? You can't utilize the ones you have? Are you doing this to others, or only those of us who served in black ops?"

"We are of course reorganizing all of our enlisted personnel. This is why you are all here; I felt I should speak to each of you personally because of your outstanding service records and your current status. I felt that I owed it to you rather than just sending out your orders. I assure you that even the President is aware of your records."

"Begging your pardon Sir but that doesn't really answer the question." Gibbs said.

Sec/Nav said nothing. He took 3 folders off of his desk and handed them to Mercer who was sitting closest to him. Mercer took them staring fiercely at Sec/Nav and passed them to Gibbs. Both Gibbs and Salvado took out their reading glasses.

"Lasiks works gentlemen. You should try it." Mercer said with a wry smile.

"Already did." Gibbs said. "Doesn't work for my astigmatism."

"Uh hmm." murmured Salvado.

The three men opened their folders. For the next 15 minutes there was silence in the big room. Then Mercer inhaled sharply through his teeth and made a strangled sound. Gibbs turned very pale with his affect grim. Salvado looked off into the distance, disengaged, face blank.

Mercer was too shocked to show the sharp business ruthlessness he had gained a reputation for. He stood up without permission and began to pace. Sec/Nav didn't redirect him. Gradually he became verbal.

"What kind of plan is this! This is bull shit! How effective do you think we're going to be at this age! I haven't been near a uniform in almost 15 years! The closest I have come to shooting someone is target practice at my local rifle range!"

"Not true Mercer. Don't bother to lie to me. According to our sources you distinguished yourself in an operation within Afghanistan a year ago."

Mercer flushed angrily. "I was not on the line! I worked on campaign strategy effectiveness and timing! I didn't even leave the States! I do not want to be included in this. It's not going to work. I do not want to be a part of your 'singular' effectiveness program."

"If you can think of something that will work better we're open for input."

Sec/Nav waved a hand and waited for a response. He looked to Gibbs and Salvado. Mercer sat down and looked at the floor.

"First, Sgt. Salvado?"

"I'm a reservist. You apparently are choosing to activate me. I will do my duty. But I don't think it's fair to older warrant officers and non-coms. It's not fair to us!"

"Noted. Gibbs?"

"You know what I want to say to you. You know what I want to do. You have already seen what I can do. But it isn't right. You're going to get people killed. Probably us! But more importantly a lot of other people too. Surely our government can do better than un-retiring a bunch of ex-servicemen and women."

"Highly skilled and unusually gifted ex-service men and women. And some currently listed now officially 'un-retired' Master Gunnery Sergeants actually. Some of these older warrant officers are going to go into training our new enlisted, so active duty training staff can go back into the field. Others will be working with our troops in their deployment areas, as I want you to do."

"You're not planning on us guiding deployment. You're planning on us being deployed. What are you looking for? Who is it you can't kill? Since when can't the CIA sanction people properly?" Gibbs said in a low hoarse growl.

Sec/Nav frowned as Salvado and Mercer turned suddenly angry eyes on him.

"Where is that coming from Gibbs?"

"For a politician you have a poor poker face Sir. I may be older but I have a very good memory. The three of us are the best snipers the Corps has had in the last 2 decades. Our kill ratio is almost 100%. Our distance accuracy has exceeded 1800-1900 yards apiece at times."

Mercer drew in a sharp breath and stood up furious.

"I saw you flinch just now Sir! He's right! You're going to send us to combat you son of a bitch! Jesus! Gibbs is the youngest of us! I haven't been in action for decades! None of us have! At least for them they've continued in planning accurate military deployments. I've specialized in planning board room takeovers!

"I've done all I could to forget the things I've done. I've done penance, I've lived a moral and upright life, fulfilled the Corps values they instilled in me. I established and built charities as my church instructed. I adored and worshipped my wife. I raised my boys right. They're in the Navy serving honorably. I don't want to kill people anymore! Do your hear me? I'm done! I don't want to kill anyone anymore!"

"Sit down Gunnery Sgt. Mercer."

Mercer continued to pace, murmuring prayers under his breath. His face was flushed, eyes wide, almost in shock. Gibbs and Salvado looked at each other. They slowly rose together and intercepted Mercer as he came back towards them. He literally walked into Gibbs' chest. Gibbs didn't budge and looked Mercer in the eye.

"Jim, you gotta sit down. Keep it together. We gotta figure out what's going on here."

Mercer put his hands on Gibbs shoulders and his voice was tight and higher with emotion.

"LJ, you know what's going on. We're being set up, again ! I am NOT going back into another Panama. Not again. Never again!"

Salvado stepped forward then and laid a gentle hand on Mercer's shoulder.

"Jim. You need to calm down. We need your head Jim. You've always been our failsafe, our go to guy for deliberation. You were the one we talked it all out with. Worked out the kinks with,looked behind our stoicism and made us think out of the box. We learned it all from you. From you Jim. From you."

Gibbs nodded when they looked to him. Mercer turned pale, his face grim. He walked to his chair and sat down, head in hands. Gibbs went to him and knelt down on one knee, talking in a low voice while Mercer continued to murmur in a hoarse voice.

"Oh my God…I can't do this…Please don't ask me to do this…"

"Alright." said Sec/Nav. "Let's talk."

Gibbs looked up from his friend, rose and walked over to Sec/Nav. His eyes had turned to clear crystalline ice. Sec/Nav recognized who was coming toward him and he instinctively leaned back. Étienne took a long deep indrawn breath from Sec/Nav's shoulder to his ear. He spoke into his ear, hands on the chair. Sec/Nav swallowed hard.

"Vous baisant le bâtard! (You fucking bastard.) Je peux sentir la peur sur vous! (I can smell the fear on you!)

You stinking piece of immoral slime. This was your idea wasn't it? I can just see you presenting it to President Bush and Cheney. I've been wrong about you. I let our past relationship cloud my thinking. Je suis un imbécile. I've always given you benefit of the doubt. Pas d'importance! You have no heart.

"It must be nice to send other poor bastards into the front lines to die, safe and happy here at your desk. All this power…I bet your dick's so hard you can't keep up with it. The President had better have your back, but I wouldn't count on it if I were you. He just isn't bright enough and the Vice President is a lying, cheating cocksucker just like you. If I make it back I'm gonna wipe that condescending smirk off your face with my foot."

He whirled and went back to his seat. Sec/Nav stared and opened then shut his mouth. He rose and went behind his desk. It took two tries for him to clear his throat.

"Gentlemen I assure you all the documents enclosed are legitimate, your re-activation paperwork is signed by the President himself. Your orders and mission will be given to you before your deployments. You are all to present yourselves to Quantico for physical training and weapons upgrades in one month's time. Gibbs, Salvado I have your latest training course runs and they are well under our standard times. Mercer I have your last physical and your club times. Pretty good. A few weeks and you should be ready to run with the others."

"You got my private medical records. You sonofabitch. You supercilious prick." Mercer growled.

"You all may be older, but your records show that men follow you and find you inspirational. Your past trainees, past squad members and commanding officers would follow you into Hell Gibbs. Yours worship you at Pendleton Salvado. And no one can say enough good about you at your corporation headquarters and branch offices Mercer.

You are all indeed what we've been looking for gentlemen. The President expects you all to understand that this country is once again going into War. In times of War the people have the right to expect the highest forms of sacrifice from the Corps and our Armed Services. You are all again on the line. Good Luck and God Bless. You're dismissed."

Sec/Nav hit a button on his desk. Mercer stood up and took one step toward the door. Gibbs and Salvado paused as he suddenly turned and returned to the desk. Sec/Nav looked up.

"Respectfully Sir…"

"Yes Mercer." He looked up expectantly at the man who was standing stiffly in front of him.

"I've always been a careful planner. But impulse is a good thing too."

Just that fast his fist came up and struck Sec/Nav's jaw knocking him back out of his chair and into the wall. One of his commendations fell off the wall and smashed onto his head. Mercer turned and strode to join Gibbs and Salvado at the door.

"I figured I had one shot Gibbs. I won't go to Leavenworth 'cause he needs us. I had to do it. It needed to be done."

Gibbs patted him on the shoulder and then guided him with gentle pressure out of the room.

"Yeah, I know Jim, I know. Thanks."

"Oorah Mercer!" Salvado murmured.