Chapter 25

Kestrel saw that Sam was devastated, although his boss had tried to hide it while exiting the control room. But right now there was nothing he could do about the twins' state, so he concentrated on what he could do, and that meant working to end the mission as soon as possible. Charlie and Grim were tracking the boat, trying to locate it, and Briggs and he were reading the files of the Seal Team 4, intent on finding Mancini's men.

Kestrel was frowning on his chair, focusing on his screen, but also wincing as pain was spreading through all his body. He had succeeded in parrying the majority of Sam's strikes, but not all of them, and the Splinter Cell knew for certain how to beat somebody up. And now that his back, ankle and ribcage were healed, he was quite put out to be aching again. He knew he would have bruises on his chest and arms, and one of Sam's blows on his upper chest had been particularly painful.

As he reached out for the coffee Briggs had made for the team, his shoulder emitted a loud "crack", and he doubled over, stifling a yelp. Briggs, alarmed, set his coffee on the desk and asked him in concern:

_ Hey, mate! Was it your shoulder? Is it okay?

_ I don't know, he admitted, feeling it gingerly.

But under his fingers, the shoulder felt dislocated. With a groan, he realized that Sam's blow had made the bone almost coming out of his socket, and the stretching movement he had made had completed the job. He sighed angrily and got up, pain coursing through his left arm and back.

_ Dislocated, he said with fury. That's the last straw! Чёрт! (Shit!)

He strode towards the training room, not wanting to go to the infirmary this time. He didn't want to be lectured by the doc, and he had spent enough time there to his taste. So he entered the vast room and went straight to a wall covered with a thick mat. He already had dislocated shoulders in his career and knew how to put them back in place alone, but it was painful. So he braced himself, took a deep breath and abruptly rammed his shoulder on the mat at the exact spot where the bone could re-enter the socket.

The pain was so sharp and intense he couldn't help the yell, and he saw stars popping up before his eyes. But at least, his shoulder was back in his right place, he could feel it. He slumped against the mat on the floor, breathing hard, and through the stars he saw Sam and Briggs on the threshold, looking at him in concern. Sam looked shameful and guilty, and he said:

_ I'm sorry, Kestrel. Is it because of me?

_ Yes, Kestrel said calmly, still breathing hard. But it's okay, Sam. My shoulder's back in place.

Sam and Briggs went next to him and Briggs held out his hand. He grabbed it with his good arm and was soon on his feet. The stars slowly disappeared, and he carefully moved his left arm. It was still aching, of course, but at least he could use it. So he went to the first-aid kit next to the locker and dug in it. He soon found painkillers and took one, gulping it down without water, then turned back towards Sam and Briggs.

_ Let's get back to work, he said calmly. Caldwell will call soon.

Briggs nodded and led the way out. But Sam stopped Kestrel before he could exit the room and said apologetically:

_ I'm really sorry. I didn't want to hurt you.

_ It's okay, Sam, Kestrel repeated calmly, locking eyes with his boss. You needed to let off the steam, I've been in the same situation not so long ago. And everything's back to normal, so don't worry. But not a word to the doc or he'll have my hide.

_ Trust me, Sam said, his mouth twitching, I won't tell him. We need you awake.

_ Let's go, then.

They followed Briggs back to the control room and Grim asked him from her computer:

_ All right?

_ Yes, he simply said, sitting back in front of his computer again.

Next to him Sam was picking up the pieces of his smartphone and tried to repair it, but he soon gave up. Kestrel heard him sighing and asking with a dejected voice:

_ Charlie? Could you give me a hand?

The tech rose from his chair and went behind Kestrel, and the ops heard him say:

_ Sorry, Sam, but your smartphone is beyond repair. I have another one for you, just keep your memory card.

_ Wonderful, Sam grumbled. Took me six months to know how to use this thing! And now I must change again...

_ It'll be exactly the same, Charlie said with an amused voice, don't worry. And next time, don't smash it on the floor! Smartphones don't appreciate being smashed.

_ I'll bear it in mind, Sam grumbled, making Kestrel smirk. About the boat?

_ It left Rotterdam on the 27th of April, Grim answered him seriously, and should arrive in Caracas on the 9th. It'll be long to find it in the Atlantic Ocean, but we'll find it.

_ And the Seals?

_ It's not the Team 6, Briggs said. Mancini is in charge of the Team 4, and in normal circumstances he shouldn't be able to order an assassination of a foreign president without the go from his hierarchy. And the Navy staff is clear, at least we think so.

_ How can we be sure?

_ We can't yet, Briggs admitted. It'll take time to check everything.

_ Time is one thing we don't have, Sam said darkly. So where is this Mancini?

_ Home, Grim said, at least that's what he said. Apparently his wife has died of cancer three days ago, he's got a leave of two weeks.

_ So he's out of the radar, Sam said. And about his men?

_ Sam, Kestrel said calmly, you know better than any of us how many men he has under his command. Too many to track them all in such a short amount of time. We need to find them quicker than with a simple digital tracking.

_ What do you mean? Briggs asked him, frowning.

But Kestrel saw that his boss had understood what he meant, and he was obviously thinking about it. Suddenly the SMI beeped, and Grim said, rising:

_ The White House calling.

She pressed a touch on the console as Sam went before the screen, his team around him, and soon Kestrel saw a conference room full of generals and admirals wearing more stars than he could count, and Caldwell in the center of the large table. He noticed the presence of General White, director of the NSA and Robert Tibbs of the CIA, and knew that the situation was very serious.

_ Mr Fisher, Caldwell said, we're ready for the meeting. What do you have?

_ The boat sent by Leblanc is in the Atlantic Ocean, Sam said calmly, not impressed by all eyes on him. It should reach Caracas on the 9th, only one day before the coup. And we know Commander Mancini will order the assassination of the President Perez, but we don't know the men who'll do it.

_ I can't believe it, a four-star admiral said, and Kestrel recognized the commander of the American Navy. One of our most trusted Seal officers would do such a thing? Do you have any proof, Mr Fisher?

_ I have testimonies, Sam answered, from two CIA moles. Special agents Tomlinson and Dawson, and you'll be able to interrogate them. I don't like this situation anymore than you do, Admiral, I was a Seal myself.

The admiral stayed silent, and Tibbs chimed up:

_ You've done the CIA a great favour by uncovering the three moles, Mr Fisher. We're on the MSS tracks, and we'll help you as much as we can to find info and support you if you have to go to Venezuela.

_ Thanks, Sam said. But the priority is stopping the Seal mission. Is it an order from the Navy staff?

_ No, it isn't, the admiral said rather stiffly. My staff is clean, Mr Fisher, but about Mancini and his subordinates I can't be sure.

_ I didn't mean to offend you, Admiral, Sam sighed, we haven't time for small quarrels like that.

_ You're right, Caldwell said. So how do we stop him?

_ Mancini has just lost his wife, the vice-admiral commanding the Seal Forces said grimly. I went to the funeral just yesterday, and personally gave him two weeks of leave and promised him not to disturb him in any way. I can't call him back now, it would be highly suspicious.

_ What could make him come back without him raising an eyebrow? Sam asked him seriously.

_ Only a serious issue within Little Creek, the vice-admiral answered. But if some corrupted men are there, we can't organize such a thing without knowing who to trust, especially with the beginning of the new recruits' training starting tomorrow.

Silence fell, but Kestrel had the strong suspicion that his boss was thinking the same way he did. That was too perfect an occasion to miss. And indeed, Sam said:

_ What if my two ops infiltrate Little Creek as new recruits?

The vice-admiral thought about it, and finally said:

_ That's a possibility, but they'll have very little time to make Mancini come back. And of course, they'll have to pass themselves off as Navy soldiers. Will they be physically apt?

_ No problem there, Sam said with confidence, making Kestrel and Briggs smile in pride. My ops are the best, maybe even better than your Seals, Admiral.

_ I wouldn't bet on it.

_ So that's settled, Caldwell stated calmly. Mr Fisher, your men will have to go to Little Creek straight away. The NSA will create fake identities for them immediately, and they'll have four days to make Mancini come back and find the other men involved.

General White nodded grimly, and Sam said:

_ All right, Madam President. My men will create chaos and collect data, you can trust them. And we'll keep an eye on the boat. It'd be better if we could neutralize it while he's still out at sea.

_ I agree, Caldwell said, but we can send the Team 6 for that as soon as you arrest Mancini.

_ Yes, Sam approved. I know the Devgru will do a great job.

_ Indeed, Mr Fisher, the vice-admiral said with a small smile. You can't have all the fun.

Sam smiled, and Caldwell said:

_ Right. To work, everybody, and keep me posted.

Sam nodded, and Charlie cut the communication. Then Sam turned towards his two ops and asked:

_ Ready to start your training as Seal recruits?

_ I don't think we're left with much choice, Briggs complained. But I'm ready.

_ It'll be fun, Kestrel said, smiling.

Sam couldn't help his smile and said:

_ You're gonna spit your guts, boys. The Seal training is the most difficult in the world. Eighty percent of the recruits quit before the end of the six months.

_ That's because they're wimps, Kestrel said calmly. You should see the training in Voron, but they don't boast about it.

_ Just shut up, mate, Briggs said dejectedly. I don't know if I'll be up to it, honestly.

_ You'll be up to it, мой друг (my friend), don't worry. I'll carry you through the obstacle course if I must, but you'll stay with me and do the job.

Briggs shot him an astonished look, but Kestrel meant what he had just said. He knew he would certainly withstand the nightmarish training and lack of sleep thanks to his exceptional physical abilities, but he also knew it would be more difficult for Briggs. And he would help his teammate as much as he could. And Briggs nodded gravely, shooting him a grateful look. Sam patted them on the back and said seriously:

_ You'll have three days maximum to wreak havoc, on the fourth Mancini must be arrested. How will you do that?

Kestrel had an idea about that, and of course he didn't like it at all. But he said grimly:

_ I think I'll be the antisocial hothead, if only because any instructor will have a tough time breaking me. A hint of racism on top of everything and I should be immediately hated.

Sam half-smiled and said with an amused tone:

_ You know you'll have a nice haircut, and you'll have to shave your beard?

_ I'll gladly have the haircut, Kestrel said, my hair is far too long to my taste. But I'll keep the beard.

_ You won't be able to, Kestrel, Sam shook his head calmly. Only seasoned Seals can wear one.

_ I won't shave, Sam, Kestrel said with a decisive tone. I keep the beard for Alpha, I vowed never to shave again. And I'd like to see the man who'll force me to do it.

Kestrel saw his team shooting him a sad look, but he would hold on on that matter, it was too important for him. So Sam said:

_ Good luck with that, sonny. Now you should pack your things and go to Little Creek. We'll call you as soon as we have news from the NSA with your papers.

Kestrel nodded, but he saw Sam hesitating, and asked him calmly:

_ Anything else, Sam?

_ In fact, his boss confessed, Sarah wanted you and Grim to come with me. She told me Ben and she had something to tell us. That's what I couldn't promise her.

Kestrel saw Grim pursing her lips and the Splinter Cell looking worried, but he masked his own concern and said calmly:

_ Don't worry, you tell them we'll talk as soon as I come back from Little Creek in four days. In the meantime, say hello for me and wish the twins well, please.

_ I will, Sam said gravely.

Kestrel exited the room and went to his cabin, where he packed a few clothes and his toiletries in a small bag. He knew the staff at Little Creek would give them Navy uniforms, and he wasn't too worried about the mission. But what worried him was the role he'd have to play. Maybe he'll have fun playing the jerk, but more probably it'll be hard, especially towards Briggs and African American soldiers. It'll be only for four days, Kestrel, he told himself, and it'll be for the greater good.

He sadly took out the chain from his neck and set it on his nightstand with his OPSAT, then went out of his cabin and knocked on Briggs' door. He heard his teammate telling him to come in and pushed the door open. Briggs was obviously ready but was staring intently at the photo of his girlfriend Molly on the nightstand. Kestrel closed the door behind him and waited. At long last, Briggs looked at him and asked:

_ Do you truly believe that I can do this?

_ Yes, Kestrel said earnestly, locking eyes with him. I know you can. But are you ready to do it, that's the question, мой друг.

_ I don't know, Briggs shook his head in dismay. I really don't know. I have so many thoughts jostling in my head about the mission, Molly and her pregnancy, our future together and with a baby... I'm so confused, mate.

Kestrel strode towards him and knelt in front of him.

_ Isaac Briggs, he said seriously, making his teammate look at him in surprise. What do you want?

_ What? Briggs asked, nonplussed.

_ What do you want? Kestrel repeated calmly. What is your vision of the future for Molly and you? What do you want to do with your career?

Briggs stayed silent for long seconds, obviously thinking about it. And then Kestrel saw a spark of determination litting up in his eyes, and the ops said:

_ I want Molly to marry me. I want to live with her in Washington or Baltimore. I want to have the baby with her, and learn to be a good father. And I want to stay in Fourth Echelon and work with you, Sam, Grim and Charlie. That's what I want.

_ And it's up to you to do it, Kestrel said with a kind smile. You can have all of it if you really want it.

_ Yes, his teammate nodded, smiling a little too. I know I'm a lucky man.

Kestrel simply nodded, and got up, holding out his hand for Briggs. He took it and embraced Kestrel, murmuring:

_ You're my best friend, mate, you know? Thanks for everything. You know how to comfort people.

_ So I've been told, he said calmly, forcing down his emotion as they pulled apart. But you know that I'll have to be a slimy piece of shit for a few days. I'll have to insult you and others, and be a complete racist bastard. So please forgive me in advance.

_ You're forgiven, mate. Don't worry, I know.

_ I hope so. But now, are you ready, мой друг?

_ Yes, Briggs nodded calmly. This time I'm ready.

_ Good, Kestrel smiled. Let's go, then.

They exited Briggs' cabin and made their way back to the control room. Sam was eyeing them with a wistful expression on his face, and Kestrel knew their boss was proably recalling his first day as a Seal recruit. He said:

_ The NSA contacted us. One of their agents will be waiting for you on the parking lot of Little Creek with your papers. Briggs, you'll be Petty Officer First Class Jason Marler, from the USS Eisenhower, and you're 26. Kestrel, you'll be Petty Officer First Class Slavek Yarmolenko, from the USS California, an attack submarine, and you're 28. The NSA checked that no other recruit is from your supposed boat, so it should be all right. Ensign Otis will be waiting for you at the gate of Little Creek and give you your uniforms. Ready?

Kestrel and Briggs nodded, and Sam said simply:

_ Off you go, then. Bring me this bastard.