Chapter 7

"History is Written by the Victor" LTG. Shepherd

Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Ghost Recon Tactical Operations Center, August 2022

LTC. Scott Mitchell, the commander of the Group for Specialized Tactics or Ghost Recon sat in the Tactical Operations Center. Mitchell was a legend in Ghost Recon, rightly so given his history with the unit. He joined the Army in 1994, served with the United States Special Forces from 2002 until 2005 when he was asked to become part of Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group the precursor to the Group for Specialized Tactics. He served as a Ghost Lead from 2007-2015 before becoming an instructor at the JFK Special Warfare School and developing the tactics and procedures that Ghost Recon uses today. He became the third commander of Ghost Recon in 2019.

The Tactical Operations Center was filled with monitors displaying the visuals from the Cross-Com and Helmet Cameras, as well as footage from UAVs. Operation Golden Lily had just begun but Mitchell was nervous. The Ghost's has never been a part of an operation so large even after the Ghost's became a separate unit in 2014, officially being designated the Group for Specialized Tactics under Joint Special Operations Command.

"Sir, Lieutenant Colonel Crenshaw is on the line". Said Major Dennison.

"Patch him through."

"Scott it's good to see you again" Said Crenshaw.

"It's good to see you too Crenshaw. Congratulations on the promotion. Are your HAWX Squadrons deployed"?

"Yes. They're deployed and ready to support your units if needed. We're even using some new aircraft that the Air Force needs testing."

"Oh. You're always testing new equipment. Well, until your promotion to being the head of the HAWX program".

"I could say the same about Ghost Recon. How many times has my squadron had to bail out you Army boys"? Crenshaw smirked

"Touché Crenshaw. A few times."

Scott Mitchell said remembering both Operation Lone Star Shield in 2014 and an off the books operation in Brazil in 2015.

"A few times too many. But we have work to do. You still owe me and my wingman a drink". Crenshaw said

"That I do. So, what planes are you testing out this time"? Asked Mitchell.

"The new aircraft is called the XA-20 Razorback".

"Well, I can't wait to see them in action".

"Same here Scott. These could be the future of air warfare". Crenshaw said in awe

"Major Dennison. What's the status of our joint Ghost and JSOC Teams"? Said Mitchell

"Sir. Most of our teams are en route to their destinations. AFO Team Hunter had just landed in Cuba. They've begun moving toward the training camp". replied Dennison.

"Copy that."

"Hunter Team. This is Ghost Command. Keep me posted on anything you find. Griffin out".

"Copy that Griffin. Hunter out".

Ecuador-Peru Border, August, 2022

The V8-99 Sphinx landed at the airfield located in Ecuador. They couldn't officially land in Peru so they landed at a military airfield located on the border of Ecuador and Peru. The Ghost Team walked in a line formation through the dense vegetation of the South American jungle. The sticky heat and sweat made their uniforms and equipment even heavier than it usually was. But they trekked on, determined to reach point alpha on the map.

Point alpha would be the makeshift bivouac and staging area for the operation. Their target named camp omega on the OPORD was located near a river. The plan was to attack the camp near the river and a hill overlooking the base. Clay and Weaver would provide cover with their long range sniper rifles. The JTAC Sergeant Dimitri Williams would stay in the high ground prepared to give air support if it was needed. The wild card of this operation would be the Splinter Cell, who while attached to the unit, had his own objectives for Fourth Echelon.

The Splinter Cell was dressed in the "standard" uniform that most Ghost Recon Operator's wear in order to blend in with the unit. The only difference was the weapon he was using. Bullpup in design, the SC-40K was the main weapon of the Splinter Cell. Compact and light. Perfect for the secretive program of the NSA.

After around 10 miles of rucking through the jungle they made it to the staging area Point Alpha. The members of AFO Alpha and Spear set up their bivouac. At that point, Nomad got out the map and compass he had in his assault pack. Everyone gathered around him and he reiterated the plan once more. Both teams would attack camp Omega at night.

Outskirts of Camp Omega

Clay was lying prone in his hide position overlooking the Camp. He and Weaver were ordered to do some reconnaissance before the two assault teams went in to capture any valuable Intel and any potential HVTs. Looking through his rangefinder and noted the positions of the guards.

"Weaver, are you getting anything?" Clay asked.

Weaver looked through the scope of his Remington MSR. He noted snipers in towers and multiple guards. In his head he was making all the mathematical calculations he needed in order to hit his targets when the time came to execute the mission. He wasn't called the professor for nothing. Though he thought that Captain Mike Kim and former ghost operator Alicia Diez were better than him.

"Yeah. Have snipers in those towers and a bunch of guards. Looks like a mixture of Black Tusk Operators and locals" Weaver replied.

"Roger that Weaver. I'll call it into Nomad and await further orders".

"Hey Dolphin. I have a vehicle headed towards the camp".

"Copy that".

"Things just got a bit more complicated." He thought to himself.

"Nomad this is Dolphin. It looks like the base is covered with both Black Tusk Operator's and Locals. We also have a vehicle headed towards the camp with a possible HVT".

"Roger that. Hold position and await further orders" Nomad said

Makeshift bivouac

Nomad just finished the sentence when he turned to Holt, one of the men he fought with during Operation Kingslayer.

"Holt, bring out the drone for ISR. I'll be able to see the visuals with my Cross-Com".

"Roger that Nomad". Holt replied.

The drone slightly buzzed as it moved toward Clay and Weaver's position. They were marked in green signifying friendlies while red marked hostiles. The UAV found the road and marked the enemy jeep.

"Enemy vehicle in sight nomad".

"Good. There may be an HVT in the vehicle".

The drone followed it as it went past the checkpoint and it made a sudden stop. A man in Black Tusk garb walked out of the vehicle and went into a building.

"Griffin, this is Nomad. Are you getting the footage?"

"Affirmative Nomad. Our analysts are working on an ID for the unknown hostile."

Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Ghost Recon Tactical Operations Center, August 2022

"Sir. We have a positive ID on the individual". Said Major Dennison.

"Who is it"? Replied Mitchell.

"Ellis Galveston, a former member of Task Force Red of the United States Army".

"I see. Black Tusk is made up of a lot of Americans. I don't like that one bit".

Makeshift bivouac

"Nomad, this is Griffin. We have a positive ID on the HVI. His name is Ellis Galveston, former Army. Capture alive if possible".

"Roger that Griffin. Nomad out".

"Geez. These Black Tusk fuckers are mostly American! Guess their more loyal to the dollar than the country they used to serve." Replied Holt adding "What do you think Midas"?

"Well, for starters this is a fucked up situation. Definitely different from Operation Kingslayer".

Nomad interrupted the conversation saying "Cut the chatter guys. The sun is going down. Brent you and the rest of your team will assault from the river. Sgt. Williams you will link up with the sniper element. While the spook will be with my team."

The spook he referred to was the Fourth Echelon Splinter Cell attached to the unit. He just nodded and walked away. He held his ear piece and received his orders. He was to capture any HVT's with knowledge of the Green Poison and bring him to Fourth Echelon's black site in Peru for interrogation.

The sun went down 20 minutes later and the go ahead was given to conduct the operation.

Camp Omega

Ellis Galveston walked out of the vehicle and into a compound where some scientists were working out the final kinks for their operation .

"Dr. Vitaly Tchernenko, how is the research?".

"My team is working as fast as possible Mr. Galveston" replied the Russian virologist

"Well, my superior needs your research as soon as possible. The operation must happen on schedule."

"Of course the United States will be crippled for a time before its Phoenix rises from the ashes stronger".

Kremlin, Moscow, Russian Federation

Russian Oligarch and CEO Alexey Sokolov had just finished a meeting concerning a new partnership between Sokolov Concern and the Ministry of Defense. The contracts his company were specifically chosen for would make him even richer and an asset to the new government of President Volodin. His contract includes equipping and arming the secretive unit officially known as Special Training Unit 500, or its unofficial name Bodark, the elite unit of Raven's Rock, a subdivision of Megiddo. One of his scientists had reversed engineered Skell Technologies' PHANTOM VG52 model of optical camouflage for Bodark's use.

He got out of his armored limousine, and went into his penthouse. He walked towards his office and told his guards to not disturb him. With his laptop turned on he entered the meeting of high profile Raven's Rock Members. Which included him, Military Generals, Oligarchs, Politicians, Arms Dealers and the most important member of the group Colonel General Sergei Izotov the head of the GRU.

"Gentleman, Phase one of Megiddo's plan for the Russian Federation has been accomplished. With Putin dead and a new leader chosen, we are able to influence the president for our goals. Russia shall be great once more. The American branch of Megiddo codenamed True Patriots is on schedule for the attack on the United States" said Izotov.

Alexey Sokolov started to speak "My daughter and her Private Military Company are currently preparing for the planned attack on the capital of Washington DC as we speak"

"Remember, we'll meet again next month." Izotov said.

The links indicating that the members had left the meeting except for Izotov and Sokolov

Izotov spoke once again "Alexey, I heard from my Intelligence sources and SVR's Voron that American Special Operations units are currently aware of Black Tusk and its operation. I do not tolerate failure nor does Megiddo".

Alexey spoke calmly "What the American's know is not relevant. They can't stop the attack and even if they do manage to stop it. We have the Forgotten Army as well as the Chinese branch of Megiddo."

"True. I always have contingencies, especially for loose ends. You've been a valuable partner in our plan but your usefulness has come to an end. Your daughter on the other hand still has a use. Don't worry we'll make it look like an accident."

"What are you talking about!" Shouted Alexey.

Just then he heard the door to his office open and his former bodyguards actually GRU agents grabbed him and threw him out of the window. "You won't get away with this Izotov!" As he was falling he realized that he was only a pawn for Megiddo. To be discarded once his usefulness was up. Thus another oligarch was killed in the Russian Federation.