Chapter 10

Jethro would not be leaving Quantico alone. Both Mike and Tony were going with him. Mike, having been called back to train at Quantico was flying as a Master Guns. Tony as an NCIS agent could fly as well. But Vance had arranged for Tony to have quarters at the VOQ in Pendleton. These two would see him off from Pendleton.

At the gate checkpoint the three teams stopped to say goodbye to their family and friends. Jethro kissed and hugged his father and spent time murmuring into his ear. With a definitive and forceful nod Jackson kissed his son again and let him go. Jethro moved to hug his friends Ducky and Tobias Fornell. Jimmy Palmer was surprised when Jethro drew him into a rough embrace as well. Ziva had stayed with Abby. He had held her and talked to her for quite awhile.

Mike drew up alongside Gibbs as they moved forward.

"Almost didn't recognize Mercer with his high and tight."

"His what?" Tony said craning his neck.

"His haircut DiNozzo. Just his hair." Gibbs said with a sigh.

"Tends to make a man know he's in for the long count when he gets that hair and head shave. I'd say he's committed." Mike growled.

Mike nodded in the direction of the gate. Myers could be seen embracing two men in the dress whites of Navy officers. Tony looked thoughtful.

"Did you think he wasn't Boss?"

"Don't know what makes a man commit DiNozzo except his conscience. Guess Jim's is clear now." Gibbs said his voice low and husky.

Gibbs moved through the checkpoint with all his gear and pack, his sniper rifle in its drag bag was over his shoulder. Tony followed closely with his duffle and Mike behind talking with one of the Marines as he slung his bag over his shoulder. Gibbs made his way over to a large pallet and put his pack down. Tony now saw the reason for the bright green duct taped 'X' on the bottom. Gibbs would know it was his when they got there. Tony watched with interest as the cargo crew quickly and efficiently tied down all the equipment and ferried it onto the plane.

He turned when Mercer's deep voice called out "Form up!" above all the chatter. The troops quickly formed into three groups but single file facing their Master Guns. Then came the command: "About Face!"

The Marines turned in one movement to face their friends and family.

Tony watched with amazement and admiration.

"Ten-hut!"

All the men stiffened to attention. Tony found he was fascinated with the Marines expressions. Gibbs stood in front of his men with Jim and Ricky. Everyone had a neutral expression on their faces. Tony had always wondered how Gibbs could be so alert in interrogation and with such a blank face. Now he understood. It came with The Corps.

"Hand…Salute!" Mercer cried in his deep voice.

The men and their Master Guns all snapped their right arms up in salute to those waiting. The giant engines of the cargo plane began to reverberate. Those watching began move in return salute. Gibbs father and Ducky, as well as Fornell all had past military service and their hands moved up almost automatically. Mercer's sons had snapped to automatically in answer. Others put their hands over their hearts. It was touching and Tony snapped pictures of both the Marines and the families. When it ended the men formed up in columns of two and boarded the plane.

Mike had moved quickly to Gibbs side as they boarded to plane together. Tony stood just a moment longer gazing at the families. He saw a small dark haired figure come forward to stand between Ducky and Jackson linking their arms.

Ziva realized Tony was looking and blew him a kiss. He answered her and wondered what it would be like if he had to board this plane and didn't know if he was ever going to see her again. Lowering his head he hurried to join the last of the boarding Marines.

As they all settled down on board Tony turned to Gibbs.

"I got some pictures Boss. I sent 'em to Abby."

"OK Tony. Thanks. Mike I need your ear for a minute."

"You got it Probie, anytime. What's up?"

"Look around. I see 36 troop, 3 NCO's and 2 visitors. I'm not counting the aircraft crew. I don't see any other troops, no other cargo than our own gear. What's the max allowable cargo capacity for a C130J?"

"Yeah, about 42,000lbs give or take I think." Mike leaned back into the seat. "An' about 92 troops with the cargo…or am I thinking' of the old C130H's?"

"Yeah, could be. Still a suspiciously low number of people on this plane don't ya think? They could'a sent us commercial."

Mike opened his eyes and looked around and then back to Gibbs.

"Ya think Probie?"

Tony did a double take at the phrase. He frowned and started to open his mouth and then shut it settling back.

"Pretty big waste of fuel, flight hours, wear and tear."

"Yup. Could say that. Wonder why?" Mike settled back and closed his eyes again.

"That's the big question isn't it" Gibbs said matter-of-factly and did the same.

Tony frowned more deeply and turned his mind to the elephant in the room. This 'mission' had been very cryptic from the beginning. Practically kidnapping three Marines, one retired, the other two in their retirement phases of their careers. Some tricked out, twisted government conspiracy? Some necessary tricked out and twisted government conspiracy? There was only one reason Tony could think of to bring together all the elements he was seeing into one mission. Assassination squads.

Tony remained thoughtful and examined his shoes very carefully as he worried at his reasoning. He wished he had Ziva and Tim here to bounce it off of. He glanced over at Mercer and Saldano. Mercer was apparently resting just as Gibbs and Mike were. He wondered if they were all really asleep or just feigning it. Saldano was reading a Bible. The rest of the Marines were talking in quiet voices or doing things with their phones or reading. He wondered if they were as aware as he was of their real reason for being there.

Who were they supposed to assassinate? That was a whole different thought. He knew Gibbs had been on 'special assignments' before. It was in his dossier, which was effectively blacked out other than early training, updated training, specialty training. His generalized deployment orders for Panama, Columbia, Guatemala and every other hot spot Tony could think of at the time to check were blacked out as well. Especially given the fact that he wasn't supposed to be looking technically…

Always Gibbs was listed as a part of some other Marine battalion deployment in those areas. DiNozzo knew Gibbs had been in Black Ops for NCIS. But now he wondered if all of them had been for NCIS or just the Marines cropping up here and there. With another sigh Tony settled back and closed his eyes. He'd probably never know. Gibbs wasn't likely to break his oaths to tell him. He fell asleep with remarkable ease.