Chapter 2:

0950 hours Zulu

Wednesday 23, November, 2022

American Embassy

Beirut, Lebanon

When Harm spotted his twin brother and his team he asked, "Anything you can share?"

Dalton nodded briskly as he said in a clipped voice, "Follow me."

Once they were in a secluded spot Harm asked, "What's going on Green Beret?"

Dalton replied, "Well flyboy we'll be working together for the foreseeable future. The US government is our client once again."

Mac asked what he was talking about and Maurice filled them in on the 6 canisters of a Hemorrhagic fever/plague hybrid that were smuggled across the border with Mexico.

Harm was stunned as he asked, "Do we know where the canisters are now or who is responsible?"

Jason answered his brother-in-law, "It was Lashkar-e-Taiba and as for a pos not as of this moment."

Vic said, "Sir, Ma'am you know what we know."

Both Harm and Mac fixed the former SF sniper with hard looks as Harm asked, "Is that true Dalton?"

Dalton ground his teeth in frustration; he really hated when Harm and Mac were like this. They could all see the volatile and often mercurial former Delta sniper was about to lose his temper so Mac said, "Forget about it."

Dalton nodded briskly as he said, "Let's get the hell outta sand land and back to vah beach."

They all nodded as Webb said, "I got us a ride. We're going to Langley."

Dalton nodded as he said, "Then you can pay us for the last job and for this one. What does Christians In Acton (CIA) owe us Maurice?"

Maurice replied, ""200k each."

Vic groused, "I coulda answered that."

Dalton snarked, "Naw ya couldn't you ain't got that many fingers and toes jarhead."

Everyone with the exception of Mac, Vic and John chuckled. Then Dalton barked, Pack your trash we're outta here."

15 minutes later they were all in a sleek silver GULFSTREAM G700. Harm and Dalto both walked up to the cockpit and discovered their half-brother Sergei Zhukov sitting behind the controls. Harm asked as he dropped into the copilot's seat, "What brings you out here Sergei?"

Sergei replied as Dalton took the navigator's chair, "Mr. Webb."

As they talked Dalton lamented on his life; he joined the Army in 77 and was assigned to the 101st Airborne and served with them until mid 78 when he went to the 4th BTN 75th Ranger Regiment. In early 81 he joined 7th group, then in 90 he was transferred to the 5th SFG then in 95 he joined Delta Force. He finally left the Army in 2017 after a CIA case officer that he'd worked with in the past tempted him with a very enticing job offer; form a mercenary group that could conduct deniable operations with no ties to the US government and be paid in cash for their efforts. Dalton only had to ask where to sign and that had been the genesis of Specter Security. He was decorated in South America, Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq. he was decorated for special operations conducted after the Khobar Towers bombing, the Embassy bombings in Tanzania and Kenya, throughout the Balkans, Yemen, and after the bombing of the USS Cole. He had great prowess in hand-to-hand combat and was an excellent marksman with a rifle, pistol, shotgun, SMG and LMG. He was snapped out of his reverie by Harm asking him, "You got our brother to join your little unit?"

Dalton defended himself as he lit a Parodi, "Webb offered him a job you self-righteous sanctimonious prick."

Harm glared at him as he thundered, "Do not speak to me in that way Command Sergeant Major (CSM)

Dalton retorted, "I'm retired so eat me flyboy."

And with that he stalked into the main cabin. Sergei said as he began taxiing down the runway, "This will be fun."

Harm chuckled as they took to the sky.

Same time

Wednesday 23, November, 2022

Dilapidated warehouse

Reston, VA.

Imad Akhtar glared over at Joaquim Ramirez; head of The Norte del Valle Cartel as he said, "You will get your money."

Ramirez growled, "I better. I don't care about your twisted religion or your stupid jihad. All I care about is getting paid."

The disgusted Akhtar to him his very core; all the man seemed to care about was money and the poison he trafficked into America. Akhtar ground out, "You will."

Ramirez gave a brisk nod as he left the room.

1255 hours Zulu

Wednesday 23, November, 2022

Gulfstream G700

51,000 feet

Dalton had been working on his Panasonic TOUGHBOOK 55 for the last three hours when Harm dropped down in the seat across from him. After several minutes Harm said, "I'm sorry jumping on you."

Dalton didn't even acknowledge him as he continued to read the latest intel dump. After several more minutes of tense silence Harm exploded, "Are you just going to sit there and ignore me?"

Dalton chuckled as he lit a Parodi, "That's the plan flyboy."

Harm seethed, "I apologized dammit; what more do you want?"

Dalton was quiet for several minutes then he growled, "Watch your tone flyboy."

Then in a tightly controlled voice he continued, "What I want is for you to quit treating me like damned dilettante and acting so damned superior. News flask you no load puss nutted geek asshole I was killing Farc terrorist while you were still chasing pussy at Annopolis."

Harm just stared at him for several minutes the got to his feet and stalked back to the cockpit. Dalton ignored the stares as he continued to read.

1845 hours Zulu

Wednesday 23, November, 2022

Navy Yard

Norfolk, VA

SAC Kelly Gibbs had just entered the bullpen holding her ubiquitous cup of very strong black coffee when her father Director Leroy Jethero Gibbs said, "We're need in MTAC."

Kelly asked, "What's going on Dad?"

Gibbs replied as the rest of her team joined, "Congratulations on busting that car theft ring."

Senior Field Agent Timothy "Tim" McGee said, "Thanks Director.

SA Nick Torres asked, "What's up Gibbs?

Gibbs replied once they were all in MTAC, "CIA Director Bobby Ramirez has vital Intel to Share."

Then Gibbs turned to the former Delta Force commando turned spook and said, gruffly, "What ya got Mr. Director?"

DCI Ramirez succinctly told them of the 6 canisters of a Hemorrhagic fever/plague hybrid that were smuggled across the border with Mexico. Gibbs asked, "Who is responsible?"

DCI Ramirez replied, "We believe with a very high degree of certainty it was Lashkar-e-Taiba."

SA Jessica "Jess" Knight had a perplexed look on her face as she commented, "I thought LeT was focused on attacking India?"

DCI Ramirez replied, "While that is indeed very true make Laskar hates us a helluva lot more than they do India."

Kelly asked, "What are we to do?"

DCI Ramirez responded, "I have a team flying to Andrews AFB; you are to link up with them and accompany them to Langley. Oh, and bring Miss Hines and Dr. Palmer with you."

Gibbs said, "We'll be waiting. Meanwhile do you have any leads we can follow."

DCI Ramirez replied, "I have already dispatched one of our SAD operatives. she should be arriving momentarily."

The words had just left his mouth when CIA SAD operative Ziva David entered MTAC With Kacey and Jimmy.

Didn't se that coming huh? Thanks to chainguns for the idea of using Kelly Gibbs as the SAC MCRT. Next chapter the two teams meet.