Chapter 4
Game Changer
0500 hours local time, 12 October 2000, 35,000 feet AGL, 45 miles north of Juba, Sudan.
The Op was simple. Halo jump into hostile territory, and locate an Al-Qaeda training camp. There orders were to infiltrate it, kill all inhabitants of said camp, retrieve any and all Intel, blow the camp sky high and then get the fuck outta Dodge. According to Colonel Barrett, this mission was top priority, so both Alpha and Bravo teams were being sent in for this one. "'America loves a winner and will not tolerate a loser'" said Tony.
"General George Patton" replied Billy. "West Point men will lead great armies" he asked.
"Senator John C. Calhoun of South Carolina" answered Captain Bauer. "You are The 1st Brigade"
"Major General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson" answered Chester. "Think of the children how will you raise them, you're a Catholic and he's an asshole"
"Who said that?" Billy asked.
"Master Sergeant Ernest Bilko" Chester said with a stupid smile, earning himself a head slap from DiNozzo. "Sorry Top" he apologized, earning yet another head slap.
"Don't apologize, it's a sign of weakness" Tony told him.
"Yes Sir" Chester replied as the red light came on.
"Oxygen masks on boys, and check your equipment" Tony ordered. As they did, the rear gate of the C-130 lowered and the green light went on. Both Teams approached the gate. "Brothers! What we do in life, echoes throughout Eternity" Tony said as they all stepped off into the night.
0115 hours, 12 October 2000, Tactical Operations Center, Unit Compound, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
"So Bridget, who are you gonna vote for on Election Day?" Tali asked her as she sipped her 1st 7-11 Double Gulp of Mountain Dew of the day, and it was only 0115 hours.
"Tali Girl, I'm from Texas, who do y'all think I'm voting for" replied newly promoted Captain Bridget Sullivan. Tali knew that meant Bridget was voting for Governor Bush of her home state of Texas. "What about you?" Bridget asked.
"Well, Vice-President Gore did invent the internet" Tali said. Bridget laughed.
"No he didn't" Bridget countered quickly.
"Then why did he say he did?" Tali asked curiously. Bridget went to answer, but suddenly stopped herself.
"I honestly don't know" Bridget finally replied. Tali laughed. The conversation was cut off when Bridget's phone rang. "Go for Red Cap" she said as she answered.
"Bridget, it's Liat" said Liat in a troubled voice. Bridget, who had been leaning back in her chair, suddenly sat up straight.
"Liat, are you ok?" Bridget asked her, concern in her voice. Hearing Liat's name made Tali sit up in straight in her chair as well. Bridget listened for a minute. Her eyes went wide with shock and horror. "Oh My God" Bridget said when she finally spoke.
"Bridget what is it?" Tali asked as Bridget placed down the phone.
0130 hours, 12 October 2000, Lieutenant Commander Jordan Parker's Apartment, Washington D.C
Colonel Edward James "EJ" Barrett and his girlfriend Navy Lieutenant Commander Jordan Parker were sound asleep when Colonel Barrett's cell phone went off. He moaned and grumbled as he reached over to the night stand grab it. "I thought you said we wouldn't be disturbed" complained Jordan.
"Sorry babe" he said as she kissed her temple.
"You owe me" she said as she sat up against the headboard. She turned on the lamp as EJ answered his phone.
"Go for Ex-Caliber" he said answering.
"Colonel, its Bridget" said Bridget.
"Captain, it is 0130, this better be damned important" threatened Barrett.
"Colonel, Golden Girl just checked in and I'm afraid I have bad news" she said ominously.
"What is it?" Barrett asked. He listened for a minute before speaking. "Thank You Captain, I'll be back in a few hours" he said as he hung up. He turned to his girlfriend, who was lying against the headboard, dressed in the new night gown he had bought for her. "Jordie, I have to go" he said with a frown on his face.
"I gathered that" she said, trying, and failing to not look disappointed. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Mossad Director Abraham Gold is dead" he said with a straight face.
0545 hours, 12 October 2000, Al Qaeda Para-Military compound, 20 miles north of Juba, Sudan.
"Hitman, what's your 20, over?" Tony asked. Tony had deployed Alpha Team along the northern side of the camp. Captain Bauer had deployed Bravo Team along the southern edge.
"Overwatch established" replied 1st Lieutenant Hazard.
"Copy that Hitman" said Tony. "Bandit, is Bravo in position?" Tony asked.
"Copy that Movie Buff, Bravo is in position and is ready to rock" replied Jack.
"Copy. Bandit, Bravo is responsible for the Intel, Alpha will handle hostiles. Understood?" Tony asked.
"Understood Movie Buff" replied Jack. Everything was in place.
"Time to move" Tony said to himself. "All Callsigns, this is Movie Buff, Green Light, I say again, Green Light. APOC shots only, shoot until they drop" Tony ordered.
Both Alpha and Bravo teams quickly stormed the enemy compound. The Compound consisted of 3 buildings. "Bandit, Bravo has the building to the south" Tony ordered.
"Copy" Jack replied.
"Let's Move" ordered Jack as his men breached the building. Cole was the 1st to open fire. He fired 2 short bursts from his M4, dropping 2 hostiles.
"Room clear" Cole observed.
"Phantom, Shark Bait, clear out the ground floor, I got the upper" ordered Bauer. Jack quickly made his way up the stairs. He squeezed the trigger as he gunned down he hostiles who were holding AK-47s.
"Bandit, this Phantom, Ground Floor Clear" said Cole over the radio.
"Copy" replied Bauer. "Top floor clear as well" said Bauer.
"Top, get down here you need to see this" said Cole urgently over the radio.
As Bravo team took the southern most building, Alpha Team split up to take the northern 2. "Blue Star, Ironman, take the building to the left. Sky Train, with me, we got the one to the left" ordered DiNozzo.
Tony and Three went to the door of their building. Tony nodded as he pulled a grenade from his web gear. Three big booted the door in and Tony pulled the pin and tossed in the grenade. They both moved back as the grenade went off. "Move" Tony ordered as they both entered. They opened fire, killing the remaining hostiles.
"This is Sky Train, target building clear" said Three into his radio. Tony shot him a look. "Snooze you loose Dad" said Three with a smile.
"This is Blue Star, building clear" said Malachi over the radio.
"Copy that" said Tony. "Hitman, any other hostiles we missed?" Tony asked.
"Negative on that Movie Buff, all targets suppressed" Billy informed him.
"Good, then get your six down here" Tony ordered.
"On my way" replied Billy.
"Movie Buff, this is Bandit, you need to get over here post ricki-tick" said Bauer over the radio.
"Copy that Bandit, on my way" replied Tony. He looked over at his son "Let's go" he said. The 2 men quickly hustled out of the building and ran towards Bauer's position. As they did, Tony checked his watch. 0600. the sun was starting to rise, which meant they needed to hustle. Tony and Three entered Bauer's building and found him looking at Photos pinned up on the wall.
"Take a look at these' he said pointing. "You recognize that boat?" Jack asked.
"The U.S.S Cole. She's currently in port refueling" said Tony.
"Where?" Three asked.
"Port of Aden, in Yemen" said Tony. Then it hit him like a ton of bricks. "Fuck, they're targeting the Cole" said Tony. Then he turned to the rest of the men in the room. "Bandit, get word to The C.I.A asset in Yemen, warn him of the attack" Tony ordered, then he turned to Cole and Weston. "Shark Bait, gather all this up. Phantom, plant the C4 charges and let's move Tony ordered. Bauer nodded and pulled out his sat phone.
"Yes this is Captain Jack Bauer, access code Charlie-Tango-Ultra-0-2-4, I need you to put me in contact with your asset on the ground in Aden, Yemen" said Jack.
"One moment Captain" said a voice.
"Officer Cruz" said a voice.
"Office Cruz, this is Captain Jack Bauer, Delta Force. We have actionable intel that AQ is targeting The U.S.S Cole in the Port of Aden. At the moment, The Agency is the only one reachable with the authority to order the Cole back to sea, I need you to do that" ordered Bauer.
"It will be done" Officer Cruz assured him.
2000 hours, 12 October 2000, Tactical Operations Center, Unit Compound, Fort Bragg North Carolina.
Everyone was happy as the 8 men of Alpha and Bravo Team walked into the T.O.C. it had been a successful mission, and it appeared that The Unit had foiled another Al-Qaeda plot. When they walked through the doors, they saw Colonel Barrett standing there, and boy he did not look happy. "Red Cap, turn on ZNN" he ordered.
"Yes Sir" Bridget replied as she walked over to the TV and turned it one.
"This is Stuart Dunston reporting live from The Port of Aden in Yemen. Let me recap for you what we know thus far. at 11:18 local time this morning, The Destroyer U.S.S Cole was attacked by a suicide bomber. Thus far, the official body count is 17 Dead, 39 wounded. The radical Islamic terrorist group known as Al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility for the attack"
Bridget switched off the TV. "What the fuck happened? I gave The C.I.A 5 hours notice. Why the fuck was The Cole still in port?" Bauer asked.
"I believe I can answer that" said a voice from behind Colonel Barrett. A US Navy Captain walked out from behind Barrett. "Captain John McGee, Pentagon" he said, identifying himself. "And to answer your question Captain Bauer, The C.I.A Officer on the ground as well as the ONI officer felt that your Intel was not actionable" said Captain McGee.
"So 17 men are dead because you didn't think the Intel was actionable" asked Bauer rhetorically. "Fuck this" said Bauer as he tossed his pack across the room and stormed over to his desk. He reached into the bottom draw and pulled out an envelope. He clicked a pen and quickly signed his name. as everyone watched this transpire, Malachi's cell phone rang and he left the room to take the call. he walked back over and shoved the paper into Colonel Barrett's chest. "I hereby resign my commission in The United States Army, effective immediately" Bauer informed him. "I'll have my desk cleared out by morning and I'll have my family moved off the base by the end of the week" said Bauer as he saluted Colonel Barrett and stormed out of the T.O.C. Tony chased after him.
"Jack! Jack!" he yelled. "You can't just walk away" Tony yelled after him.
"Watch Me" Bauer yelled back as he kept on walking.
"Damn it" Tony yelled as he kicked the wall. He walked back into the T.O.C where everyone was still standing there.
"Tony" said Colonel Barrett. "As I've just informed everyone else, Mossad Director Abraham Gold died of a massive Myocardial Infarction, basically a massive heart attack. Eli David was sworn in as The New Mossad Director a few hours ago" Barrett informed him.
"And that is not all" said Malachi as he walked through the door. "I just received a call from Mossad Officer Illan Bodner" he said ominously. "Director David has ordered me back to Israel, I leave tomorrow night" said Malachi.
A?N- Promise Delivered. By the way, does anyone know why AL Gore said he invented the internet?
I promised you 2 chapters, and I delivered.
Feel Better Amy!
NEXT TIME ON "28 Seconds: Strength & Honor"-
With Malachi being recalled to Israel, the men of the Unit reflect on how the mystery man from Israel touched all their lives. Meanwhile, Tony struggles to say goodbye to the man who went from stranger, to teammate, to Best Friend, to Brother, and will Tali finally be able to tell Mal how she feels before he leaves for Israel?"
Stay tuned for the next exciting Chapter of "28 Seconds: Strength & Honor"