A/N: here is another small offering for this weekend. I finally think I know where I am going to go with this story! From here on out, we are off and rolling~
Enjoy!
Chapter 9: Mission Control
Steve's first order of business was to meet with Admiral Winchester to get his mission started. He'd left his Five-O hat somewhere over the pacific and now it was time to dig deep and be Navy through and through. The sooner he could do this, the sooner he would be able to go back, and from the moment he set foot on the foreign soil this was his mentality.
The number one man in charge stood from behind his desk as Steve walked into the mobile unit establishment.
"So you've made it," Winchester smiled seeing Steve in his work uniform where he believed the young man belonged and looking less emotional than when he'd gotten the news of this deployment.
"Yes sir," Steve answered shortly.
"You're not here to chat are you sailor?" The man smiled.
"No sir," Steve answered, "my team is here, assembled for the mission, what are we doing?" he asked.
"Naval intelligence has been tracking Anton Hesse's organization since before the ambush and termination of that mission." The admiral began pacing, "you are familiar with his number two?"
"And the three, four and five; His brother, Victor, is dead." Steve answered.
"For good, this time?" Winchester challenged.
Anger flashed in Steve's eyes but he remained silent.
"We believe that Wolfgang Wolt has taken over exactly where Anton and Victor left off, but at the same time he is out for vengeance." Winchester explained knowing he'd struck a chord with Steve. "Your mission is to find Wolfgang and take him into custody. We need him alive to find out who his sources are and to shut down the ring indefinitely."
Steve nodded silently but in the back of his mind, after having dealt with so many more criminal informants, Steve knew deep down that Wolfgang wouldn't tell them anything. Steve's real mission was to identify and capture, or terminate, all the players in the international weapons smuggling ring. Wolfgang may have been his biggest fish at the moment, but he wasn't the only fish to be netted on this mission.
"What kind of vengeance is he seeking?" Steve asked as he scanned the file in his hands.
"Wolfgang has made it his personal mission to see his partners killers brought to justice, or whatever justice he believes in." Winchester stated.
Steve's eyes grew wide, "who are we talking about sir, Anton or Victor?"
"Both, they were like brother to Wolt, took him off the streets as a young lad and molded him into what he is now. If there is anyone more dangerous then the Hesses its Wolt for many reasons, primarily that Wolt doesn't have the self control of Victor or Anton. He will not hesitate to murder whoever stands in his way."
"You know…" Steve seethed with anger but continued to hold his stance and professionalism. "You know that I am the reason both men are dead and indirectly my team back in Hawaii."
"This is a matter of national security. I couldn't get your Five-O involved but I knew I could get you. That is why we've given you all that you need to get the jump on Wolt and his men." Winchester smiled.
"My family back in Hawaii are unprotected and in danger because I'm here." Steve stated.
"They are the best of the best Commander McGarrett, you said so yourself, they are highly trained men and women of law enforcement. You have nothing to worry about, I am sure they are perfectly capable of handling themselves should any danger arise. Besides, they have the back up of the Hawaiian police service, and you have the Navy."
Steve stood stalk still, grinding his teeth and trying to keep his composer in the face of his commanding officer.
"This mission is top secret, highest levels of command and a matter of international security. It demands the highest levels of our own security. Do you understand Commander?" Winchester asked.
"Yes sir," Steve answered shortly.
"You cannot tell anyone, not even your colleagues in Hawaii, what you are doing out here." Winchester added.
"I understand sir."
"Good, ready your men, you'll be leaving again at twenty one hundred hours. The flight will take you to sea where you will join naval intelligence to get to work on locating Wolfgang Wolt and his center of operations in eastern Asia." Winchester explained. "That will be all sailor."
5-0
Monday morning dawned and Danny was the first to walk into the very dark, very silent, very deserted Five-O bullpen.
"Well now what Steve?" Danny asked the open space as he hit the light switch and the common areas were bathed in light. Another switch and the Smart System woke up, and with one more switch Danny stood in the middle of Steve's empty office. There was a stack of files sitting in the middle of the desk, Danny reached for them, sighed to himself and then turned off the lights again and made his way to his own private space.
Chin was the second to arrive. He walked directly into Danny's office with a piping hot cup of coffee and placed it on the corner of Danny's desk as Danny signed his name at the bottom of the page before him and closed the file.
"What do you have for us, Boss?" Chin smiled but there was something lacking.
"I'm not the boss," Danny sighed, "just the stand in and I've got nothing but files to sign off on."
"We'll get through this Danny," Chin sighed and sipped his coffee.
"I know. We just need to get to work." Danny said and grabbed his coffee.
Kono arrived moments later and she too walked directly into Danny's office.
"You ok kid?" Danny asked as she fell into the leather chair before him.
"No," Kono sighed.
"Maybe if we can nab a case in the next little while you'll feel better; something to take your mind off things and get us all out of this office and back to what we do the best." Chin said sympathetically
"That's not the only reason I'm in a mood." Kono huffed.
Danny and Chin exchanged worried glances.
"It's not that either!" Kono almost yelled, "God men are so typical!"
"Was it a fight with Fong?" Chin asked.
"No, Dennings is here with some noob!" Kono stated as Dennings and another young man walked into the office. "I walked in just before them and managed to catch the announcement in the main office before I ducked and ran. The new guy is Steve replacement until he gets back." Kono explained in a hushed voice as quickly as she could before Dennings made eye contact and summoned everyone out into the common area.
