As Tim emptied him shopping bags out on his counter, he began going through his plans for the first proper week on the job. Last week was spent getting the computers up to his standards, standards that were higher than those of NCIS, as well as most of the agencies. He had networked all twelve NCIS issued computers, with everyones PDAs and smartphones, as well as home computers. He then included the conference table computer, along with the teleconference computers, into this network.
For Tim, this was a necessity. If any of them were giving briefings, instead of having to return to their desks to forward the information, they could do it during the presentation, giving the appropriate person the information straight away, rather than having to wait until the end of the presentation. Within just a few days, the new computers proved their worth.
Everyone but Ric was at their desks, everyone doing their normal jobs, Tim was reading current on going reports from across the globe. Sunaina Sato, the teams probationary agent, used her first computer for everyday activities, writing and reading reports, emails, intelligence review, etc. Her second computer, she had set up as her search tool, checking NCIS archived reports, checking for patterns showing up in current intelligence. Three hours into Tims third day with the team, his first time alone with the team, Balboa giving Deputy Director Craig an update on how the team was functioning with the recent changes, Sunaina struck gold, her computer beeping, letting her know it had found something.
"Tim, you need to take a look at this." Clicking on an icon on his computer, Tim could see everything Sunaina could, and he knew it was big.
The names of the crew of an 8 man fishing hauler operating out of Rhode Island, a vessel which was under surveillance for suspected drug smuggling, had been checked, and nothing came up for criminal records. With access to the full database, the names showed something else. These eight men were currently registered as crew on a ship off the north east coast of Canada on a fishing expedition. At the same time, these 8 men were currently registered as crew on a ship off the northwestern coast of Canada on a fishing expedition.
"Check those ships names and crew with current records," Tim asked, needing as much upto date information as possible.
"Confirmed, all details correct with current data." Sunaina confirmed.
"Kei, Michael, get on the phone to CGIS, DEA, Navy Patrol, and Naval Air Support. I want these three boats tracked at all times. I'm gonna alert Deputy Director Craig and Director Shepard. We need immediate satellite and drone coverage of the three ships. Ryan, alert the Canadian Sea Authorities. Send them everything we just got. We are not losing this one. Or three. Sunaina." She looked up, "With me, please."
Tim was excited to say the least. Normally, he would have to grab his gear and run out of the building, trying to do everything on the go. Here, he could delegate. His teammates moved to put into actions his orders. Moving to the teleconference screen, he hit the icons for Deputy Directors Craigs office, along with MTAC.
Jenny Shepard came online first, probably because she was already there. "Agent McGee, whats happening?" Jenny knew this wasn't a social call, Tim preferred emails to teleconference.
"Sorry to interrupt you Director. We are just waiting on the Dep…" As Tim started speaking, he saw the screen split, as Deputy Director Craig and Special Agent Balboa came into view.
"Agent McGee, report." This was off Balboa, hoping this was very important.
"Ma'am, sirs," McGee started off very official. "A few moments ago, Probationary Agent Sato confirmed the identities of 8 men fishing off the northwest of Canada. This wouldn't trouble anyone normally. However, these same men are currently fishing off the northeast coast of Canada as well. They are also registered on a fishing hauler 4 hours out of New Bedford, Rhode Island."
"Agent McGee, how do we know this?" Director Shepard wanted absolute confirmation before authorising anything.
"Agent Sato had put in their details to the NCIS database after DEA suspected the Rhode Island ship of drugs smuggling. The search came back listing them as crews of two other ships. We have confirmed the locations of both ships, as well as their current rosters. These three ships all have the same crew, Ma'am."
"Agent McGee," Balboa needed to know Tim was ok there. "What are your next steps?"
"CGIS, DEA, Naval Air Support and Naval Patrol are being alerted, as are Canadian Sea Authorities. We require drone and satellite coverage to make sure these three ships are alone before we approach them. If they aren't, confirm the identities of the other ships, see if they are part of a smuggling ring."
"Agent McGee, I see you have this well in hand. I will contact Deputy Director Bouchard, of Canadian Navy Patrol. Keep him up to date on this. Send me everything." Tim could see Sunaina moving to the teleconference computer.
"Include me as well Agent McGee, Agent Sato." Jenny hoped her pride in her CTOC team was not too visible right now.
"Yes Ma'am."
"Good hunting." With that the Director signed off, trusting them to do their jobs,
"Tim, I'm on my way over. With your permission, Sir?" Balboa asked of Craig.
"Absolutely, Agent Balboa. Agent McGee, keep me up to date please?" The Deputy Director asked, Tim knowing the man would handle the delicate, diplomatic angle.
"Of course, Sir." Like Shepard, the man signed off, letting the CTOC team to do what it had been set up to do so. Collate and analyse multiple sources of intelligence, liaise with foreign countries and law enforcement agencies and catch the criminals.
As Tim turned around, he could see Sato looking panicked.
"You ok?"
"Yeah, no, I mean…"
"Take a breath, Sunaina. You are no good to me panicking and flustered." Tim offered gently, knowing the young woman did not have that much experience.
"I've seen takedowns happen, and operations launched with minutes of information coming up. But thats usually someone elses work," she explained. " This is the first time its mine."
"We all have our firsts, Sunaina. Its what gets us our seconds and thirds. You ok to carry on?" Tim asked, knowing she was feeling an adrenaline boost right now. He would have to get her an energy bar to avoid her comedown in about an hour.
"Yeah, I'll be fine."
"Good, lets catch these guys. Give me a sitrep," Tim ordered to the group, hoping they could organize themselves rather than having to call on them one by one.
"DEA and CGIS have been alerted are moblizing their response teams," Kei shouted out, still on the phone.
"Naval Patrol and Air Support also mobilizing. Navy reports confirmed, the vessel out of Rhode Island is currently alone, following its normal fishing route, no other vessels detected approaching." Michael was patched into Naval Radar and Radio control. Everything they saw, he could see from his desk.
"Patch it through to the telescreen, Michael."
All Tim heard was silence.
"Ryan, report." More silence. Tim could see her on the telephone, and ignoring him.
"Special Agent Ryan, report, please." Tim asked again, wondering if this agent was not trained to multitask, listen to one conversation, while answering her superiors.
"Canadian authorities are giving me the run around, I'm being passed around." Finally an answer, but not the one he wanted.
"Not for long. Stay on the line for now, I'm cutting through all this red tape right now." Tim got his cellphone out and searched for a number.
"McGee, how can I help Gibbs today?"
"Special Agent Borin, I need your help." Tim realised she was not up to date with the MCRT up at the Navy yard.
"What do you need?" McGee sensed she had stood up.
"I need the name of your best contact in Canadian Sea Authorities, the one person who can cut through the red tape and get things done."
"Special Agent Samuel Knight, why are you asking Tim?
"I've got 2 ships off the east and west coasts of Canada identical to one off of Rhode Island. CGIS, DEA and navy authorites are responding, but we need Canada involved as well. These other two ships are in their territorial waters."
"I'm emailing you Sams details now. Tim, he's got teleconferencing, thats your best bet to reach him. He prefers to see who he is dealing with." Borin was all business on the phone, but inside she was reeling. What the hell was Tim up to, and where the hell was Gibbs?
"Thanks, Agent Borin." Tim ended the call, already on the move to the telescreen computers, his smartphone linked up, he accessed his emails and had Agent Knight on call within ten seconds.
Seconds later, the screen was filled with a man who Tim thought was a linebacker for the New York Giants. This guy filled the screen.
"Who the hell are you?" Obviously, this guy did not like strangers.
"Special Agent Knight, I am Special Agent McGee, NCIS, CTOC Jacksonville." Tim was all business, if this guy couldn't do the niceties, neither could McGee. As he was getting ready to tell this guy what he knew, he saw Ric running into the Assessment Centre. He could do two briefings in one now.
"Currently, the Crown Rose VII is fishing off the North East of Canada, still in Canadian territorial waters."
Special Agent Knight interrupted him, "What the hell has that got to do with an American Federal Agency?"
Tim had had enough. Time to show this team what he was made of.
"Everything, for your information. That ship, along with its Captain, First Officer, and six crewmen are fishing four hours out of New Bedford, Rhode Island. The same vessel can also be located 11 miles off the Northwest Coast of Canada. The same ship is in three places. Therefore, it has everything to do with an American Federal Agency. Canadian Sea Authorities are giving my agent the run around, passing her from one useless official to another." Tim was on a roll, and he wasn't gonna stop.
"Special Agent Borin, CGIS, told me you were the man who can get things done. American authorities have been alerted, and our drone and satellite coverage is coming online as we speak. We are going after the ship in American waters, let me know if you want help with yours?"
Tim ended the call on his cellphone, turning the screen off, leaving Special Agent Knight stunned.
Turning round to his teammates, Tim said, "And that is why I have everything networked."