Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.

Let's get to it.

Rico: Dude, calm down. I am sometimes in a rush to post chapters with all of my schoolwork and don't always have time to read through reviews. Also, to answer your question, yes, the F-22 has started production by now, but it won't be exported. Also, I don't mind most of the pictures people post on the wiki, but I don't plan to post photos to my wattpad stories for the most past. I just don't have time to make them.

Chapter 18- Got Him

(October 3, 1998)

At the ASAT team's headquarters at Fort Bragg, Adams is carefully reading a report and looking at a series of maps. This is all centered around one topic: Operation Ryloth, the domestic campaign to root out the TLM.

Since the discovery of the identity of their leader back in July, the campaign had begun in earnest to try and capture TLM members and leaders across the country. All branches of the military had been granted full leave to conduct combat operations on US soil if requested by law enforcement.

In the last few months, hundreds of small operations had been carried out across the country. Many TLM safe houses had been raided by SWAT teams and US special forces across the country. US fighter bombers had bombed seventeen TLM hideouts across the country, and the Navy had captured two boats being used by the TLM as well as hit two hideouts with shellfire or cruise missiles. By this point, almost 1,500 TLM members had been confirmed to either be in custody. The organization was weakened, but most of their top leadership eluded the US and the rest of the Alliance.

The manhunt for Carl Altmark had quickly developed into one of the biggest manhunts in modern history. Tips about possible sighting had been coming in from across the world, most either bogus or cases of mistaken identity. Only a handful of sightings from the States were being considered as possibly legit, but none had panned out.

Altmark's continuing evasion of law enforcement and intelligence services had frustrated those taking part in the hunt to no end. It was clear how seriously Altmark was taking his security.

At this point, it was clear to the entire US that they were hanging under the shadow of a small war. In fact, some people had gone so far that this could in fact be considered the second American Civil War. However, at the same time, most of the American people said they still felt secure, as the combat was mostly attacks by the US against the TLM, and most of the violence had not truly impacted the rest of the civilian population.

Adams had spent most of the last month either at Fort Bragg or out on strike missions. He hadn't even seen his family at all for the last three weeks. At this point, the frustration of not being able to find Altmark is getting to him, and he just wants this guy to get caught so he can finally go home to his family.

As Adams continues reading the report and examining the maps, which display recent reports on TLM communications and places they've identified as locations for TLM members to go to communicate with other branches of the organization. The TLM has been known to go to areas well away from wherever they were hidden to communicate with other branches so the communications couldn't be used to track their hideouts. Monitoring these sites have given the US moderate success, but not as much as they would like.

Adams hears the door open. He looks up and sees Mofaz walking in. The Israeli just looks at Adams as he walks up, then says, "Sam, how long has it been since you had a damn shower?"

Adams just stares at Mofaz for a moment before he actually thinks about Mofaz' question for a second before responding, "I'm not sure, actually."

Mofaz chuckles a bit and says, "Sam, I know that as the team's commander, you feel a sense of duty to get this figured out and find this guy. But Sam, the entire world is searching for this guy. You don't have to devote every waking moment to try and figure out where this guy is. Seriously. Get out of here, shower, and go eat. Maybe go see your family. I'll stay here and keep an eye on things. I'll let you know if any new intel comes in. Get out of here, Sam."

Adams is quiet for a moment before he finally sighs aloud and says, "Alright." He slowly stands up. Mofaz jokingly pushes him away from the table and takes his seat. Adams chuckles a bit and shakes his head before he heads out of the room.

Adams heads to the locker room to take a long delayed showed, taking his time to relax a bit in the warm water before he finally heads up to ground level. After briefly thinking about it, he decides to leave the base to get lunch instead of just eating on base.

As Adams heads for his F-150 in the parking lot, he pulls out his cell phone and dials his wife's number. After a few moments, Eliza picks up and says, "Hey, honey. Nice to finally hear from you. How are things?"

"Pretty stagnant right now. I'm sorry I haven't called. I've just been so focused on the manhunt and just been throwing myself into it in what's probably not a very healthy way. But, Daniel finally got me to take some time to myself. I'm heading off base for lunch. Want to meet me at Texas Roadhouse with the kids?" Adams asks.

"Sounds good. I'll meet you there," Eliza says happily before ending the call.

Adams smiles a bit as he climbs into his truck and starts it up. As he backs out of his parking spot, she sighs again, feeling some of the stress from the hunt easing off.

(NSA HQ, Fort Meade)

In one of the many rooms at Langley dedicated to electronic surveillance, Ahsoka is sitting down between a pair of technicians who are monitoring their consoles. These technicians are part of one of the crews monitoring phone transmissions in the US to identify TLM members.

One of the technicians sighs as he leans back in his chair. "Ugh. Still nothing. These guys are good. They know how to escape notice," he says.

Ahsoka nods as she slumps back in her seat. She's been heavily involved in the manhunt for Atlmark and his lieutenants the last few months, and it's been tough for her to not see Dakota or her other friends, including the Adams family, the last few months very much.

"Starting to wonder if we'll ever find these guys," Ahsoka mutters under her breath. The technician who spoke before nods in agreement.

Suddenly, the other technician clicks his mouse a few times before leaning forward, tapping his earphones as if he's listening intently to something. They can also see on his screen that he's recording the audio of the call. This instantly draws the attention of his colleague and Ahsoka, wondering what could be the cause of this.

For almost a minutes of silence, Ahsoka and the first technician just watch the man as he listens intently to something. Finally, the man breaks out in a huge grin as he almost rips his headphones off. As he gets to his feet, he says, "We got him!"

"What?!" Ahsoka asks in confusion.

"We got him! He slipped up, and we've got him!" the technician says with a grin before he races out of the room to inform his boss. Ahsoka only hesitates for a moment before she follows him.

(Fort Bragg)

Adams hurries into the conference room. He had just wrapped up lunch with Eliza, Calvin, and Kelly, and was talking with Eliza about something else they could go do with the kids when he got a call from Mofaz that the NSA had just made a break in the hunt for Altmark. One that could possibly break the case wide open. President Clinton had called for an immediate video conference between various agencies and individuals involved in the hunt to discuss this new break. Eliza had told him to hurry back to Fort Bragg while she took the kids home.

Adams rushes into the conference room. Mofaz is there waiting for him. On video screens in the room are the various other individuals involved in this situation, including President Clinton, the Joint Chiefs, the heads of the CIA, NSA, FBI, and even MI6, the Jedi Council, and Lieutenant General Cedric Delves, current commander of TSOC.

As Adams enters the room, President Clinton says, "Well, now that you're here, Adams, we can get started."

Lieutenant General Kenneth Minihan, director of the NSA, now speaks up. "Just an hour ago, one our electronic surveillance teams monitoring phone communications got a lucky break. Our technicians intercepted and recorded a phone call that came from one of his couriers. Apparently, one of Altmark's lieutenants suffered a bite from a rattlesnake, and they didn't have the proper medical supplies to keep him from dying. They didn't have time for one of the couriers to drive far enough from his hideout to send out a call as they're trying desperately to keep him alive. One of the couriers called someone within the TLM to request medical supplies be brought to a meeting point for a courier to pick up to take back to the hideout."

"Were you able to track it?" President Clinton asks.

"Yes, we were. The call only lasted 42 seconds, but out technician was able to track it. While we haven't yet pinpointed it to an exact location, we managed to narrow it down to a stretch of land in the Guadalupe Mountains in Texas about 18 square miles in size. At this point, I imagine it won't be too difficult to find the exact location in an area like this," General Minihan says.

Clinton thinks for a moment before saying, "Alright. I need us to pin down the exact location. General Minihan and Director Tenet, I want both of your agencies to employ all surveillance technologies on that land. I want as many satellite photos as possible ASAP. General Ryan, I want multiple reconnaissance runs made over that piece of land, but as inconspicuous as possible. I want that hideout's exact location in the next 72 hours."

"Mr. President. I assume you want us planning a strike in the meantime?" Adams asks aloud.

"Of course, Admiral," Clinton says, using Adams' new rank. Adams had been promoted to a one star rear admiral earlier that year given his time he'd already spent with the rank of captain and his position as commander of the ASAT team.

CLinton continues speaking. "I want this hideout hit as soon as we can fix it's location. We need to get to Altmark before he flees. I want that son of a bitch in custody. General Delves, I'd appreciate it if you take over planning the operation. You are free to request units from the US Armed Forces to take part in this operation as well as foreign special ops team to use in this operation."

Mace now speaks up. "We are ready to help in this operation any way needed. Any request for Jedi assistance in this strike will be granted if it is possible."

Adams feels a big grin coming over his face. At last, they've pinpointed Altmark's location. At last, they have the TLM's top leadership in their sights. All they have to do is find the precise location, and they'll finally be able to deal the final blow they've been waiting for for years.

And, I'll end the chapter there.

So, they've finally found him. Some may think this was too easy, but honestly, as we saw in the hunt for Osama bin Laden and what finally led us to him, all it takes is one tiny little mistake to bring someone down.

Next chapter will be the raid on Altmark's hideout to bring him down. It should be up within a week or so. Until it is, please leave a review, and stay tuned!