Chapter 4
The Curse of June 22
0600 hours local time, 22 June 2003, Route 11, Western Iraqi Desert, Iraq
In the hour and a half since they had set off, Delta Company had advanced approximately 60 klicks east. Their current objective was an overpass where Route 1 passed over Route 11. They were less than 1 klick from the target when Lieutenant Hagan broke radio silence. "All Delta units, this is Delta 1, were are less than 1 klick from target. Be advised, we are on our own until we link up with the British Armor coming down Route 1. Also, there has been a change to the ROE, all persons carry weapons are now considered hostile" he said.
"About damn time" Three added, said from the back.
"Comment, Staff Sergeant?" Tilden grinned.
"Just eager to finish what my old man started 12 years ago, Lieutenant" Three replied.
"We sure as shit intend to" Tilden told him.
"I just wish it wasn't today" Three added.
"Why is that?"
"The Curse of June 22nd" Three said, before taking the next several minutes explaining all the really bad shit that had gone down on previous June 22nds. "Something bad's gonna happen, you wait 'n see" he said ominously.
A few minutes later, they reached the overpass, finding it undefended. "Ok, I want 1st up top, 3rd below. Hold 2nd & 4th at a distance" Tilden ordered as they approached. It took the Rangers only a few minutes to establish their roadblock below the overpass. It took a little bit longer for 1st platoon to get setup above them. Three remained close to Lieutenant Hagan, who was had joined 1st platoon above.
"So good so far" spoke Sergeant Anthony Ramos, who commanded a squad in 1st platoon.
"It's been 11 minutes" Three said, his rifle in his arms. "If it stays this quiet until the armor arrives, then you can talk about how good it's been" he said.
"Movement right!" Someone yelled. Three quickly spun around and saw 2 vehicles moving down the highway towards them.
"Delta actual, this is Delta 4, we have 2 victors with armed personnel approaching your position form the east" squawked over Lieutenant Hagan's comms.
"Copy that, Delta 4, we see them" Tilden replied. "Corporal Perkins, Duncan, Lupo, Archer!" he yelled. The 4 men quickly moved and swung their heavy weapons towards the oncoming vehicles. "Do not fire until we verify" Tilden yelled. "They could be Peshmerga"
"Delta actual, victors are marked by black circles with gold borders on the doors and the shooters are dressed in all white, armed with Ak-47s"
"It's the Fedayeen!" Three yelled. "Fire, fire, fire!" he yelled. The Rangers didn't wait for Lieutenant Hagan to comment, and opened fire on the oncoming vehicles. A round from a Mark-19 Grenade Launcher flipped over one of the trucks, leaving the other one to withstand a hail of .50 caliber heavy machine gun fire. After about 3 or 4 dozens rounds went through the engine block, the small white pickup lurched to a halt.
"Cease fire!" Hagan yelled, waving his arm. Three, followed by a few other Rangers, slowly approached the shot up vehicles, their rifles at the ready. In total, 9 men were dead, leaving only one man, his leg blown off, crawling away. Three slung his rifle over his shoulder and drew his sidearm, cocking the hammer. The man growled something that only Three understood.
"You First" Three said, mimicking the man's language and accent, before he pulled the trigger, sending a round crashing through the man's face. He holstered his Beretta as Sergeant Ramos walked over.
"What did was that exchange?" he asked.
"He told me to go to hell" Three said. "Him first" Three said as he walked away.
0845 hours, 22 June 2003, United States District Court for the District of Columbia, 333 Constitution Ave NW, Washington D.C.
As CDS Coalition Forces begin a new offensive drive today in Western Iraq, another story is developing here in Washington. This morning, Clement Rollins, the Special Prosecutor appointed by Attorney General Alan Fisk to investigate the actions of then United States Army Captain Barack Obama, is expected to issue the 1st round of grand jury subpoenas. This case is quite different then the one that plagued the Clinton Administration only a few years ago. In this case, the President has admitted that he is guilty of Conduct Unbecoming an Officer, as well as Dereliction of Duty; however, since the Statute of Limitations has expired in both cases, the President cannot be charged for either. Mr. Rollins, who served as United States Solicitor General under President Ronald Reagan from 1985 to 1989, has now been tasked to investigate who knew what and when, as well as any actions taken by Mr. Obama since entering public office in 1999"
It was a media circus outside the Federal Courthouse as Special Prosecutor Clement "Clem" Rollins arrived. He refused to take any questions as he pushed past the small of media jackals and made his way into the courthouse. Inside the main lobby, he was ambushed by the White House Counsel, Oliver Babbish. "We've shown nothing but good faith" Babbish began.
"Mr. Babbish" replied the un-amused former Solicitor General as he kept walking.
"Nothing but good faith" Oliver repeated.
"You wanna speak privately?" Rollins asked.
"Why am I reading that subpoenas are about to be issued?"
"Oliver…"
"Your office has more leaks that the Iraqi Navy"
"You have a complaint?"
"Yes, and I just filed it in U.S. District, but that's not what I'm here to talk to you about"
"Oliver, the leaks aren't coming from the jurors" Clem told them as they stepped into the office he was working out of. "They don't even know why they're here" he added.
"You were able to impanel a grand jury without telling them what they were showing up for?"
"The Voir Dire was entirely fair, and if anything favored the subjects" Clem said as he shed his rain coat. "What you've been reading is the work of a few overzealous members of the conservative press in minor media outlets…"
"It's the New York fucking Times!" Oliver yelled, slapping the paper down on Clem's desk. "The White House has been cooperating fully. We're voluntarily handing over everything that your subpoenas could possibly cover. My staff has been working around the clock organizing documents"
"And if your staff feels that certain documents are protected by Executive Privilege?"
"What if I told you the President is considering waiving Executive Privilege?"
"What about attorney-client privilege? What about the unofficial military oath of silence?"
"Hey, if you wanna take on the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, you have fun with that" Oliver told him. "As for the White House, as I stated, we have shown nothing but good faith…"
"I don't give out extra credit for that" Clem told him as he made his way out, heading down the hallway towards the conference room where the jurors were waiting. He stepped down a small staircase into the room, where there was a large wooden table with the jurors seated around it. After clearing his throat he addressed them. "Good morning ladies and gentlemen, my name is Clement Rollins. I am the special prosecutor, appointed by the United States Attorney General, Mr. Alan Fisk, in the matter of Docket CRSP-00101. This morning, with your permission and on your behalf, I would like to issue the 1st round of subpoenas. These subpoenas compel both testimony and production of documents by the individuals named herein. They are as follows…" he said as he drew a list from his pocket.
- Barack H. Obama II
- Johnny Reid Edwards
- Jennifer Obama
- Megan North Martin
- Elmo Jared Franklin
- William Duncan McAvoy
- Gabrielle Dee Giffords
- Stephanie Marie McMahon
- Michael Santino Corinthos Jr.
- Rexton John Bartlett
- Olivia Talia Falconeri
- Elizabeth Leslie Quartermaine
- Anthony Dominick DiNozzo Jr.
0930 hours, 22 June 2003, Naval Criminal Investigative Service Headquarters, Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C.
Word of the subpoenas got out fast. "What do you mean I've been subpoenaed?!" Tony yelled into his phone.
"All I'm telling you is that my source at the courthouse says that you name was on the list that Rollins presented to the grand jury" Meg told him. "If it makes you feel any better, I got one too. As did your father, your mother, your son and Liz Quartermaine" she added.
"Jesus H. Christ"
"You're not gonna testify are you?" she asked.
"Fuck no" Tony replied. "After I hang up with you, I'm calling Tea and having her squash this fucking thing; that is if my father hasn't done so already" he told her. while he waited for a reply, there was a beeping indicating he had another call. "Meggy, I got another call, I gotta go. If I get the chance, I'll swing by tomorrow and give you guys a helping hand" he said as he hung up. he then switched to his second line and put it on speaker. "DiNozzo" he called out.
"Agent DiNozzo, the Director would like to see you in his office, now" said Director Morrow's secretary.
"Yeah, yeah" Tony replied as he picked up the phone and slammed it down. Not bothering to grab his jacket off the back of his chair, Tony exited his office and made his way out in to the main bullpen, where Special Agent Gibbs and his team were working a new case. "What'd ya got, Gibby?" Tony asked as he climbed the stairs.
"Kidnapping" replied Special Agent G. Callen, who along with Vivian Blackadder and Stan Burley, made up Gibbs' MCRT. Tony didn't reply as he headed for the Director's office. He pushed his way through the outer office, not bothering to even look at the Director's Secretary with whom he had just spoken. Tony stepped into the Director's office, closing the door behind him.
"You wanted to see me" he said as he stood in front of the Director's desk.
"You come in here, dressed like that?" Morrow growled. Tony's tie was loose, his vest was unbuttoned and he wasn't wearing a jacket.
"You're the Director of NCIS, not the President" Tony replied as he crossed his arms. "Also, I'm here on a Sunday, so bite me you fucking fanook"
"How did Tom Colleton put up with you all those years?"
"He drank a lot" Tony replied. "I have a lot of work to do, so if you brought me in here for a chit-chat…"
"I'm assigning you a Probationary Agent"
"No you're not"
"Yes I am"
"Give em to Gibbs, or Pacci, or Balboa, or anyone who isn't me" Tony told him. "I work alone" he added.
"Her name is Paris Summerskill" said Director Morrow as he handed Tony the file. "She will be assigned to you until I say otherwise. She start's tomorrow. Am I clear Special Agent?"
"Yes Sir" Tony replied. Not giving the Director anymore time to dress him down, Tony quickly made his exit, heading back to his office. He rushed down the stairs, stopping in Gibbs' bullpen. "Did you know about this?" he asked, holding up the folder.
"I did" Gibbs grinned.
"And you didn't think that maybe you would give me a heads up?"
"Briefly, but then Morrow would have assigned her to me, so… I didn't" Gibbs shrugged.
"You remember how I dragged your Marine green carcass across the fucking desert"
"I was unconscious, so I don't remember it as it happened, but go on"
"This is one of the many times I regret not leaving you there to rot!" Tony growled as jabbed his finger into Gibbs' desk.
"Well when you invent time travel, let me know, ok" Gibbs grinned.
"Fuck you, you fucking jarhead" Tony told him as he stormed off back to his office.
1800 hours local time, 22 June 2003, Route 1, Central Iraq.
Once the advancing allied Armor had reached the overpass, Delta Company had been sent to scout out a further advance on Ramadi. When they were just under 50 klicks from the outskirts of Ramadi, Lieutenant Hagan received orders to attack and secure the West Ramadi Train Station. As well as serving as a Forward Operating Base for the coming attack on Ramadi itself, it would also allow the US to move in supplies, troops and equipment via the rail lines from Jordan.
"Do we have any idea what's waiting for us?" Three asked.
"That would be a negative, Staff Sergeant" Tilden replied.
"So we're walking into the virtual unknown, with no ass and no air?"
"You seem troubled by that, Staff Sergeant" Tilden grinned.
"Only slightly, Sir" Three replied as he popped a fresh clip into his rifle.
"Not that you need it, but you have my permission to speak freely" Tilden said.
"LT, what happens if the enemy has heavy weapons or armor?" Three asked. "Humvees don't stand up to well to T-72s" he said.
"There's nothing I can do, Three" Tilden spoke candidly. "Our orders are legal, we have no choice but to follow them" he said.
"Yes Sir" Three replied. Then he got an idea. "LT, I have an idea, Sir" he said.
"Speak up then, Staff Sergeant" Tilden ordered.
"Let me take a squad and recon the train station. If Saddam's boys have any nasty surprises waiting for us, at least the whole Company won't walk into it" he said.
"Who do you want?" he asked.
"Give me Sergeant Ramos and his squad" Three said. You can drop us 3 or 4 klicks out" he said.
"You got a lotta balls for a 20-year old kid" Lieutenant Hagan grinned.
"Is that a yes, Sir?" Three smiled.
1900 hours local time, 22 June 2003, 1 klick east of West Ramadi Train Station, Ramadi, Iraq.
Taking Sergeant Ramos and his Squad with him, Three, his face wrapped in a shemagh, moved towards the train station. They were spread out in a line across the open desert as they approached. As they walked along, they heard a rumbling in the distance. "Shit" Three growled as riffed the shemagh off his face and immediately dropped his. "Hit the dirt, we trouble coming!" he yelled. "Keep low!" he yelled. "Miller, prep a LAW" he ordered. The Corporal did as he was told as the enemy approached. Led by a BMP-1 Armored Fighting Vehicle and BTR-81 Armored Personnel Carrier, 3 trucks and a jeep rolled up carrying Iraqi troops. "Cover!" Three yelled as the BMP opened fire, the round landing behind the Rangers. By now, the Rangers were engaged in a full on firefight, taking cover behind some small dirt mounds. "God damn it, Miller! We need hat LAW now!" Three yelled as he fired off 2 short bursts from his M4A1.
"I'm on it, I'm on it!" Miller replied as he got up on one knee. He fired, but the projectile bounded off the BMP's turret's front glacis plate.
"Hit 'em again, Miller!" Three yelled. Corporal Miller quickly prepped another M-72, the Rangers continued to fire on the Iraqis across the field. The BMP fired off another round, this one landing in front of the Rangers. "Miller, they've got us fucking bracketed, we need that LAW now!" he yelled.
"I'm on it!" Miller said, as he popped up, the LAW on his shoulder. He fired off the rocket, this one striking home just underneath the front glacis plate this time, blowing up the turret. At the same time, another Ranger, PFC Newton, fired off another Law, this one taking out one of the trucks, sending it into a fireball, taking out several enemy soldiers with it. As the Rangers began to turn the tide, the Iraqi BTR moved forward, its heavy machine gun hammering away at the Rangers. Three knew he had to act quickly. He flicked up the sight and ranged the M-203 grenade launcher on his M4. He fired off a round, sending it crashing into the front of the BTR, killing the driver, co-driver and gunner; stopping the vehicle in its tracks.
"Advance by rushes!" Three yelled as he ejected the spent grenade casing, inserting a new one. With the men covering each other, Three lead the men forward, killing more enemy soldiers in the process. As he reached the small ridge the enemy was occupying, Three fired off another grenade, this one taking out the Iraqi jeep. By the time the rest of the Rangers reached his position, Three had also taken out another truck, as well as several more enemy soldiers. "Cover me" he yelled as he rushed towards the knocked out BMP, which was still being used as cover by several soldiers. As he ran over, he grabbed an M-67 off his web gear, pulling the pin. He counted to 5 and tossed the grenade in an open hatch. The grenade's explosion killed whoever was remaining inside, as well as blow off the turret, cooking off the remaining ammunition. Three dove for cover, crawling behind a large rock, as bullets cracked off of it. As the remaining Iraqis tried to retreated, 3 fired off another 2 grenades, taking out the remaining truck and another group of Iraqi fighters. The firefight continued to become more and more one-sided for the next few minutes until it finally died down. Three fired off a few more rounds as the last Iraqi fighter made a break for it. "Stay alert, them fuckers might be playin possum" he warned them. Three was proven right, as the Rangers killed 3 stragglers who original injuries were not as bad as they had been portrayed. "Get me Lieutenant Hagan" Three ordered.
"Yes Staff Sergeant" replied Sergeant Ramos. "Horton, snap to, front & center" Ramos ordered.
"Yes, Sergeant" replied PFC Horton, who was carrying the squad's radio. Horton quickly rushed over, radio pack on his back, mic in hand.
"Raise Delta Actual" Three ordered. as PFC Horton attempted to raise Lieutenant Hagan, Three reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of smokes. He lit one up and blew out a puff of smoke through his nose.
"Staff Sergeant, I have Delta Actual" said PFC Horton as he held out the mic.
"Delta Actual, this is Sky Train. How copy?" Three said into the mic.
"Solid copy, Sky Train. Send traffic" the Lieutenant replied.
"Delta 1-1 has made probing contact with advance enemy recon unit. 6 vehicles, including light armor destroyed, 50+ EKIA" Three said.
"Copy that, Sky Train" Tilden told him. "Interrogative: What do you think Three?" he asked.
"Well, I'll withhold final judgment until I see the target, but evidence would suggest that we're likely to receive a hot reception" he cautioned.
"I hear ya" the Lieutenant replied. "Wait at present location until we reach you, I'd like to gets eyes on myself"
"Understood Sir, will rendezvous at 2000 hours" Three replied. "Sky Train out" he finished.
2000 hours local time, 22 June 2003, West Ramadi Train Station, Ramadi, Iraq.
"That's quite the welcome wagon" said Lieutenant Hagan as he lowered the binoculars from his eyes. Below them, the Iraqis had entrenched at least a division of Republican Guard, supported by several Reserve Brigades.
"We could take them" Three said. "It'll be bloody, but we can take em"
"We'll need the tankers for that" Tilden said. The 2 of them had dug themselves into a hillside a couple thousand yards from enemy positions that surrounded the station. "We're too exposed up here, let's get back. We'll figure out what to do from there"
"By your lead, Sir" Three said as they slowly got up, moving into a low sprint back over the crest of the hill and down the other side. When they got back to the convoys, the Company's 4 Platoon leaders waiting for them.
"We'll need support to take the station. If we try and strong point it with just our Humvees, we'll get slaughtered" Tilden said.
"We also can't stay here either" Three added.
"So what do we do?" asked 2nd Lieutenant Lewis Comstock, the Platoon Leader of 1st Platoon, as Three rolled out a map on the hood of the Humvee they had gathered around.
"Here" Three pointed. "Al-Khalaf. It's a small isolated village about 25 klicks northwest of here"
"What if there are Iraqis there?" asked Lieutenant Comstock.
"I wouldn't bet on it" Three said. "It's far too small to be worth defending it with anything we can't handle, if at all"
"What if it's some sort of LP?"
"I doubt it, it's too far off our axis of advance and they know that. And LP would be worthless to them there" Three assured him. "It's your call, Sir" Three said. Tilden carefully thought it over.
"Move out" the Lieutenant nodded.
"You heard the man, let's move, let's move, let's move!" Three yelled.
1400 hours, 22 June 2003, Oval Office, West Wing, White House, Washington D.C.
"The Rangers have spearheaded forward and are fast approaching Ramadi" said General Clark as he sat on one of the couches in the Oval Office.
"How far behind are the armored units?" asked the President, who was sitting adjacent to him in an arm chair.
"We sent the Rangers out as the vanguard of the offensive. The Tankers are having a heard time keeping up" said Jack Reed, the Secretary of Defense. "The Brits report that that the Royal Guards are at least 36 hours away from Ramadi, and that's if the weather holds" he said.
"The Navy's meteorology service is reporting a 65% chance of a sandstorm sweeping our axis of advance along Highway 1" Wes spoke up.
"You're the expert Wes, if that sandstorm does hit, what happens to the Brits?" the President asked.
"Even in a light sandstorm, it'll slow the tankers to a crawl. Anything heavier than that, and navigation will be completely impossible, and they'll be forced to stop" General Clark explained. "Which leaves our Ranger boys out there with their fucking dicks in the wind" he added.
"1st Lieutenant Hagan is a hell of a soldier and a fine officer. Not only that, but Three is with him" Meg said.
"Why?" asked the President.
"Colonel Colleton assigned him" Meg said. When both Wes and SecDef gave her a look, she quipped "Chester told me"
"If we can, get word to Lieutenant Hagan. Tell him to find a place to hunker down and weather the storm" the President ordered.
"Yes Sir" the General and SecDef nodded as they stood up and left the room.
"There are some days when I wish somebody else had this job" the President said as he stood up and moved back to his desk.
"Well you could quit, let Johnny Boy take over" Meg said as she took her seat in the chair next to the President's desk.
"The fringes still screaming their heads off?" the President asked as he leaned back.
"Oh yes" Meg grinned. "Tancredo has been hammering you with it every chance he gets" she said.
"Is it true that Farwell Jr. is throwing his hat into the race?" the President asked.
"Oh yes, Sir" Meg grinned.
"God help the country if one of those fucking morons wins this thing" the President said.
"Nickels ain't that bad" Meg said.
"True" the President told her. "But I like my job" he grinned.
"The Partial Birth Abortion ban should be on your desk within the next few weeks" she said.
"With the exemption for life of the mother?" the President asked.
"We've made it quite clear to both Delay and Specter that you'll veto it unless that provision is present"
"Let's move they're smart enough to get the message then" he replied. "What about Medicare?" he asked.
"We managed to snake it out of committee, and it'll come to a full floor vote next week. It's gonna be tight" she said.
"Keep your eye on it" the President ordered.
"Of course Sir" the Meg nodded as she stood up and walked towards the door to her office.
"Oh" the President said as he picked up an envelope off his desk. "And squash this fucking subpoena!" he yelled.
2200 hours local time, 22 June 2003, Al-Khalaf, Iraq.
"Al-Khalaf" said Lieutenant Hagan as he looked over the small village through his binoculars. "Looks deserted" he added.
"Yes Sir" Three nodded.
"Lieutenant!" said 2nd Lieutenant Comstock in a loud whisper. "Sir, one of my guys spotted a vehicle on the far side of the village. It's a Humvee" he said.
"What!?" Three replied in disbelief. He raised up his rifle, using his scope as a makeshift telescope. "Well I'll be damned" Three said as he lowered the weapon. "It really is a Humvee" he said.
"We're supposed to be most forward allied unit" Tilden said. "So what the hell is a Humvee doing down there?" he asked rhetorically.
"Well, only 2 things" Three paused. "Either it's captured or… well… it's my team" Three said.
"Your team?" asked Lieutenant Comstock
"Zip it Lew" Tilden ordered. "Why would they be down there?" he asked.
"I haven't spoken to them in nearly 2 weeks" Three said. "For all I know, they could have been assigned a forward recon of the area" he said.
"Wouldn't CENTCOM notify us we were to expect friendlies in the area?" Tilden asked
"Maybe, maybe not" Three said. "General Buchanan is funny like that" Three said.
"So what do we do?" Tilden asked.
"Let me go down there and scout it out" Three said. "If it is my guys, they'll see me before I see them" he said. "If it's the enemy, you hear it" he said.
"What if the ragheads get the drop on you?" asked Lieutenant Comstock.
"Then shwack the fucking village" Three said. "Got it?"
"Good luck, Three" the Lieutenant nodded.
20 minutes later, Three was slowly moving up upon the village. "Yeah, this was a good idea" Three muttered to himself as he gripped his rifle tightly. The village was both dead quiet and pitch black. Given the conditions, Three very much doubted that there were any hostiles around. However, given his training, Three wasn't going to take any chances. What troubled him the most was the complete lack of any noise at all. As the old saying goes, it's quiet, too quiet. He decided that his best shot at finding out what the hell had gone on here. He cautiously made his way through the village to the far side, where he and Lieutenant Hagan had spotted the Humvee. When he found it, he first carefully scanned the area. Once again, he found nothing. He slowly approached the vehicle and as he did, the state of the vehicle became clearer. It had been badly shot up, and had several large bullet holes in the engine block. The wind shield had been completely shot out and there was blood pooled on the floor and staining the seats. "Jesus Christ" Three whispered as lowered his weapon. "Delta Actual, this is Sky Train. How copy?" Three said into his radio.
"Solid copy Sky Train. Send traffic" Lieutenant Hagan replied.
"Sir, you better get down here" Three said.
PLEASE REVIEW!
A/N- Sorry that the chapter is so short, and that it took forever to get out this update. I really hit a wall with the writer's block. I decided just to put out this chapter and start fresh with the next one.
(Allen's Voice)- Next time on "28 Seconds: Blood & Iron"-
As the walls begin to close in on the White House, Meg begins to feel the true stress of her job. In Iraq, Three rushes to find his friends before it's too late. Finally, Tony puts his new probie through her paces. Introducing 24's Kim Raver as Probationary Agent Paris Summerskill.