Chapter 4: Ready to lead, ready to follow
"We expect to lead and be led. In the absence of orders I will take charge, lead my teammates and accomplish the mission. I lead by example in all situations."
United States Navy Seal Code
During the long nine and a half hours of flight, Steve wondered repeatedly if he had said good-bye to everyone. Thinks of Lynn. He has not spoken with her in more than two months. That relationship had ended because it was not going anywhere. They had always been casual, went to dinner and she stayed overnight from time to time, friends with benefits, without compromises. However, a few weeks ago she told him she wanted more. Steve feels that she deserves more, a permanent commitment, perhaps marriage and a family. However, he simply cannot give her anything more, so he let her go.
He tries to sleep, but the uncomfortable seat of military aircraft doesn't help, so he continues thinking, until he feels that his head is a huge whirlpool. Finally, the captain voice by speaker informs him that they are about to land. Steve exhales a sigh of relief and prepares himself.
On getting out of the aircraft, a young marine approaches, greeting him with formality. "Commander McGarrett, Sir", Steve tilts his head slightly. "I have orders to take you to the office of the Chief of Naval Operations of the Navy, sir. Follow me please". They get into a black vehicle, without badges. Twenty minutes later, at 1300, the car stops opposite the naval complex in Washington DC. They register at the checkpoint of access and walk to the office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
The marine takes him to a simple boardroom and ask him to take a seat. While he waits, Steve adjusts his clock to the local time. A few minutes later, the door opens again and Admiral Green, Chief of Operations of the Navy, enters into the room. "Commander, welcome" says with deep voice, Steve stands up and takes a firm stance "Sir..." The Admiral points out the chair and asks him to take a seat
"As you imagine, it's an extremely delicate situation. President Huxley has requested you specifically for this mission", he pauses, while he gives Steve a black folder and starts his explanation. "Four days ago, during the President's visit to Israel, an unidentified group stormed the Hotel where he was staying with his family and kidnapped the President's daughter, Miranda. She had dinner with her parents the night before, and retired early to her room because of a headache. The next morning, when her assistant went to wake her up, found her empty room and there were no traces of her".
Steve is shocked and confused, "Miranda?" says in a low voice. He met her briefly when she was about eight or nine years old. A beautiful girl with brown and curly hair, cheeks dotted with freckles and green eyes. Cheerful and mischievous. "She is now about twenty years old", he says to himself.
"Excuse me Sir, but how did they evade both intelligence services of US and Israel? Steve questions after a few seconds.
"That is still a mystery," said the Admiral, "security camera images did not show any activity during the night, so systems were hacked to remove the real images. Guard security personnel didn't notice anything strange. There wasn't a single shot. Miranda simply vanished". The Admiral made a short pause and then continues. "Some of the hotel staff, reminded of a group of four or five tourists who met at the gates of the hotel previous evening, to get some photos. However, the members of the Secret Service quickly evicted them. We have reviewed the images from the cameras at that time, and they were also replaced" ends the Admiral.
Steve cannot contain himself and asked, "Sir, it may seems a silly question, but how can we know that it is a kidnapping?"
"Two hours after the assistant discovers that Miranda wasn't there, a text message arrived to the President's private cell phone. They sent two photographs in which we can see Miranda". Admiral points the folder, as telling him to open it. When Steve does so, he looks at both pictures printed in color. A girl's curly hair, apparently unscathed, with a bandage on the eyes, hands tied behind the back, and sitting in the corner of a room with white walls and red-tiled floor. A text comes with the images "Now you'll know what is losing someone you love".
"Immediately, Secret Service agents were put in motion, to try to locate her, without they have had success until now", the Admiral goes on to explain. "One of them appeared in the parking lot with cut throat." Steve looks with sadness the third picture in the folder, which shows the agent, with a gash in his throat in the middle of a blood puddle. "The news has not given to the media. For the whole world, Miranda returned yesterday with her family".
"Would you mean that the President returned to the United States yesterday?" asked Steve without hiding his surprise.
"Indeed, Commander. The presence of the President at the meeting of the General Council of the UN, this morning, was unavoidable and vital to national security".
Two minor knocks on the door interrupted the Admiral, who wakes up from his chair to open and immediately move to the left to let enter a group of six sailors who carry the unmistakable SEAL Trident, and who, like Steve, dress up their work khaki uniform. Steve immediately recognized two of them; they had served together in some missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, just before Steve transferred to the reserves. Sam "Crackerjack" Jackson, an expert in explosives and Jim "Lynx" Brenner, a clever SEAL, elusive and stealthy like the demon.
He slowly gets up and approaches them while the Admiral says, "Commander, this is the team that will work with you in the mission. I understand that you already know some of them". Steve first approaches the tall and blonde Lieutenant, who has a visible scar that crosses his right cheek. The guy wrapped him in a hug saying "Smooth dog!" A very long time..." Steve returns him the hug "Crackerjack, you haven't change". Then turns towards the small and slim official. Almost shaved hair, green eyes and a mischievous smile, "Hey Lynx! What about you?" greets him with a hug, "Not better than you Doggie, you look great!", the guy answers.
The Admiral waits for the greetings to finish, while introduces the rest of the team "These are lieutenants Gordon, Anders and Evans, and Lieutenant Commander Aaron Lehrer, your second in command". Steve shakes the hand of the four men who look him almost with reverence. "It is a great honour Commander" says Lehrer, "You are a legend among the SEALs", Steve responds with a shy nod.
While they talk briefly, the door opens again and two men dressed in dark blue suit and tie enter the room. Admiral Green says "Attention!", recognizing them, the seven SEALs immediately stands firmly. "Mr. President!", says Admiral Green "didn't know you could join us today".