"Good evening L.A., this is Benjamin Ortiz with Your L.A. Today. We begin tonight's program with tragic news. Earlier today, members of the L.A.P.D.'s elite Special Weapons And Tactics unit - Better known as S.W.A.T. - were injured and killed when a bomb was detonated in a house they were attempting to serve a warrant. It marked one of the largest attacks on LAPD officers in more than a decade. Our hearts go out to the families of those brave officers..."
"We interrupt this program with a World News Network Breaking News Bulletin. About twenty minutes ago, our affiliated network in Albuquerque, New Mexico reported that a massive explosion had gone off at the DEA offices located in the Downtown area. It is a massive detonation with some eyewitnesses reporting significant damage to much of the structure. It is currently unknown at this time whether or not this was a deliberate act of violence against federal agents or just a freak accident…"
"This is TVAZ News. We begin tonight's news with disturbing reports out of Phoenix where police officials report that two officers were killed in an ambush earlier. The details of the attack are currently unclear, however it is believed that the attack may have been in retaliation for a number of arrests of individuals believed to have connections to Mexican drug cartels…"
"Tragedy struck today as El Paso interim police chief Daniel Taylor was killed in a drive-by shooting early this morning. Neighbors report hearing what sounded like rapid fire weapons being fired at the chief as he went to get his mail this morning, though the El Paso P.D. has not yet commented on the matter. Interim Chief Taylor assumed the mantle of Top Cop in El Paso after his predecessor, James Bradford, died of a heart attack three months ago. The Interim Chief quickly established a major presence for the number of successful raids against the business interests of Mexican Drug Cartels operating in the United States. Chief Taylor was 54 years old, a 30-year veteran of the El Paso P.D. and is survived by his wife and children. Coming to you live from El Paso, Bethany Moore, Lone Star Live…"
The overhead projector was turned off and the drop down screen raised. The curtains automatically opened up, allowing copious amounts of sunlight into the room. The people in the room read like a who's who of Special Agents In Charge, People from Washington who had power for some reason and standing at the far end of the room was a tall, older man in a grey suit and a control in his hand, which he sat down on the table before he faced back towards the group.
His name was Alexander McCullough, he was a former C.I.A. officer who founded Grey Sword International in 2000. At first it was a small executive protection firm, but as The War on Terror raged, Grey Sword grew from a small PSD company to a large force capable of training foreign armies and conducting combat operations. They had become a favorite source of Physical and Cyber Security, as well as back end logistics, covert operations and everything in between for the U.S. government and many of its allies.
The group of people he was speaking to represented various Federal law enforcement agencies, all of whom are active in some capacity along the U.S./Mexico border. The reason for their meeting was to discuss how to address a major threat to U.S. national security coming from Mexican Drug Cartels. More specifically the Malzera Cartel, who are new on the scene but making a big impact as they forced their way onto rival cartel territory and didn't hold any regard for the lives of anyone who stood in their way.
"Every one of those clips is from within the past six months." Said the man in the grey suit.
"Mister McCullough, we're all aware of these attacks and how recent they are. Why exactly are we here?" asked a woman who was representing the D.E.A. in the meeting.
"Because I have a proposal and I can't do it without all of you." McCollough said as he walked to where the projector screen had just been.
"Okay...we're listening." Said a representative of the Department of Justice.
"As we know, The Malzera Cartel is a bunch of lawless animals. Now, that doesn't bode well for fine, upstanding agents of the law such as yourselves. Sheepdogs protect Sheep from Wolves. But what do you do when the Sheepdogs aren't enough? Simple...you send your own wolves." McCullough said.
"Are we supposed to decipher that riddle or are you gonna tell us why we're all here?" Asked a Colonel in the Texas Army National Guard.
"We are all here, Colonel, because I propose an unprecedented idea. A massive joint task force involving all of the agencies in this room and my company, assembled and deployed with the aim of destroying The Malzera Cartel." McCollough said.
The agents, officers and soldiers look around at one another in surprise and skepticism.
"You expect this many people to work together AND not leak intel?" The official from the Justice Department asked.
"I expect that in the interest of the security of this great nation of ours, you're willing to look past interservice rivalries." McCullough replied.
"Are you asking us to step aside while you do whatever you want?" An I.C.E. agent asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Obviously, I personally think that would be preferable to simply have teams of my contractors engage the cartel directly, But I'm enough of a realist that I know such an action would result in unnecessary...hostilities. This way, you'll all be in the loop and our collective resources could be put towards this effort." McCullough admitted.
"And what about local police? Sheriff's departments? There IS such a thing as jurisdiction here, Mister McCollough." Asked an F.B.I. agent.
"I understand that. But I also understand that the Malzeras don't worry about things like that. They do what they want when they want to whoever they want. The aim of this Task Force would not be to deter, but destroy the Malzera Cartel. We'll bring police and sheriff's departments in as we need to. And, in the interest of transparency, I'll let your agents tag along with my teams. All I ask is that you don't send me bureaucrats who can't clear a paper jam in a printer. Let's be clear, I am suggesting that we declare war on the Malzera Cartel. I need soldiers who aren't scared of a fight." McCollough said.
After a few minutes of discussing and laying out the Task Force's operational parameters, the group adjourned and the heads of the agencies made phone calls to whoever they needed to in order to get the ball rolling on this.
The D.H.S. representative made a call to the Los Angeles field office.
"It's me. I just got out of a big meeting. I need you to send me the file on that agent you were telling me about ...That's the one. I've got an assignment that I think would be perfect for her." He said before hanging up.