Author's Note:Well, here we are. This will be the final full chapter of Chuck vs Semper Fi, and will be followed by a brief Epilogue. It's been a great privilege writing this story for all of you and I do have a sequel planned, eventually. But I will be taking a break from the universe I've created for Semper Fi to concentrate on my other story, There Is Such Thing As Second Chances, for a while. Additionally, I'm working on another unrelated Chuck story which I hope to publish in a few months.

Chapter 20

Team Intersect Headquarters

MCB Quantico

Quantico, VA

September 5, 2008

1500 hours

"Ok people, what have we got?" Harper asked as he walked into the conference room where all of Team Intersect was assembled. After the analyst section had broken the encryption on the servers from the Fulcrum base from which the team had rescued General Beckman, they had spent the last six days pouring over the data.

"Between the Intersect and other sources we've managed to identify a half-dozen Fulcrum facilities, including their main headquarters, as well as two dozen front businesses and organizations. All and all we've also ID'ed nearly 100 Fulcrum operatives and associates, and about two dozen secure bank accounts." Casey reported for the team. "I highly doubt we've found everything there is, but what we do have should be enough to shut them down for good."

Harper whistled. He had been hoping that the data on the servers would prove to be such a gold mine, but he had prepared himself to be let down.

"Locations of the facilities?" he asked.

"They've got two R&D facilities, in Los Angeles, and Chicago," Chuck said. "Believe it or not, one of them is Roark Industries. It also is the most significant of their front businesses. Besides those two, they have a training facility in Nevada, and two others, in Pennsylvania and Oklahoma. The biggest prize is their headquarters, which is an underground facility in New Mexico."

"Alright," Harper said. "I hope nobody has any plans for the rest of the weekend, because we're going to spend it putting together a plan to take these targets down, simultaneously."

"Boss, that's gonna require a heck of a lot more manpower, and firepower, than we have." Jack injected.

"Tell me something I don't know." Harper replied, grinning slightly. "I've got a few contacts that I can reach out to; Chuck has already cleared them, and obviously anyone else we bring in on it will have to be vetted."

Office Adjacent to the Chapel

US Naval Academy

Annapolis, MD

September 11, 2008

1000 hours

"You sure about this, Jack?" Chuck asked his former CO and team mate. He and Jack were currently occupying a side room of the main Chapel, Jack dressed in a Tuxedo, while Chuck was wearing his Blue Dress 'A' uniform, complete with the traditional Mameluke sword.

"Yeah, Chuck, I am. Cathy and I want to do this before the mission." Jack replied. "Besides, it's not like we haven't been planning this, sort of, for months. If I'm worried about anyone it's you and Sarah. After all, you just officially announced to the team you were in engaged two days ago. Not that it was much of a surprise."

Jack's statement was an understatement. True to what he and Cathy had said at dinner at their house more than two weeks ago, no one on the team had been surprised. Hell, there apparently had been a pool going, on when they would announce.

"Trust me Jack, we're both sure. Like you guys, we want to make it official before we move on Fulcrum, Chuck responded. "Just in case."

"What about Ellie and Devon? And Morgan? Don't you want them to be here?"

"In a perfect world, sure. But there's not really any time. And besides, if I called them up and had them come out here, Ellie would pester me about why we're rushing. And eventually, she'd get it out of me," Chuck answered. "Better to just do it now, without them. We can always have something in Los Angeles, later."

A knock on the door interrupted their back and forth. A moment later, Casey walked in, also dressed in his Blue Dress 'A' uniform.

"They're ready," Casey said. "Better get a move on."

Chuck looked at Jack. "Let's go, buddy." Chuck said, and the three men walked out of the room.

Chapel

US Naval Academy

Annapolis, MD

September 11, 2008

1030 hours

"You may now kiss the bride." Chaplain (Lieutenant Commander) John Patrick O'Brien, USN said. "Or brides, as the case may be." Laughter filled the chapel. On the altar, Jack and Cathy, and Chuck and Sarah, engaged in their first kiss as husbands and wives. A moment later they broke apart, and Chuck turned to Chaplain O'Brien.

"Thanks for doing this on such short notice, Chaplain," Chuck said, shaking his hand.

"Not a problem, Chuck," Chaplain O'Brien said. "I know better than to ask what's coming up that you felt the need to move this fast. Be careful."

"We will, Chaplain." Sarah replied.

Apartment of Chuck and Sarah Bartowski

Blue Ridge Apartment Complex

Outside Stafford, Virginia

September 13, 2008

0630 hours

"Rise and shine, Mrs. Bartowski," Chuck said, as he carried two mugs of coffee into the bedroom. In the bed, Sarah smiled as she stretched out, trying to clear the cobwebs from her head.

"I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing that," Sarah responded, as she sat up and took one of the mugs from Chuck. "What time do we have to meet up with the rest of the team?"

"0800," Chuck said. "Our transport leaves at 0900." After the dual wedding two days ago, Harper had given Chuck and Sarah and Jack and Cathy forty-eight hours off, sort of a mini-honeymoon. Although, considering they had to stay close by to the base, it wasn't much; but still, Chuck and Sarah had found a way to pass the time.

Today, the entire Team Intersect would be taking a C-17 Globemaster III to Kirtland Air Force Base. Once there, they would meet up with a detachment of Delta Force commandos (all of whom had been vetted by both the Intersect and the team's analyst section). From there, they would board specially modified Sikorsky H-60 Blackhawk Helicopters, designed for stealth, and make the hour long flight to assault the Fulcrum headquarters bunker. They would be accompanied by several Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow Attack Helicopters.

While the team was assaulting the Fulcrum Headquarters, additional teams of law enforcement and military units (again, all of whom had been vetted) would hit the remaining Fulcrum targets. The goal was to overwhelm the organization in one fell swoop.

"Nervous?" Sarah asked as she set her mug down on the nightstand.

"Always, before a big op." Chuck replied.

Sarah stood up, took his mug from his hand, and set it down. "Well, I think we have enough time for shower, during which I'll see if I can take your mind off of things." she said with a sultry smile, before she walked out of the room.

Kirtland Air Force Base

Outside Albuquerque, New Mexico

September 13, 2008

1500 hours

"Colonel Casey? I'm Major Roberts," Major John Roberts, U.S. Army 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (aka Delta Force) said, extending his hand.

"Nice to meet you, Major. This is my XO, Major Charles Bartowski, USMC." Casey said.

"Major," Chuck acknowledged.

"Raiders?" Major Roberts inquired, shaking Chuck's hand. At Chuck's affirmative nod, the Major smiled. "Good outfit. They've backed us up on a couple of operations. Nice to be able to return the favor."

Casey then introduced the rest of the team. For the operation they were using their real names, although of course they were not telling anyone about the Intersect. Likewise, Major Roberts introduced his unit, A Squadron.

After the introductions were done, both teams got down to discussing the plan for the upcoming assault. The concept was simple enough. Using the cover of darkness and the stealth technology of the helicopters, Team Intersect and A Squadron would be dropped into the perimeter of the bunker. While A Squadron and the helicopters suppressed any above ground guard force that was present, and prevented the enemy from escaping, Team Intersect would assault the bunker itself. Once the area was secure, one Troop (or Platoon) of A Squadron would join with Team Intersect and provide additional support for clearing the bunker.

Onboard MH-60L Black Hawk

Callsign Vampire 1

Somewhere in the New Mexico Desert

September 13, 2008

2100 hours

"Get Ready!" Casey shouted to the others in the chopper. Team Intersect was split between the first two choppers in the flight, with A Squadron in the rest of them. Around him, the five other members of Team Intersect in the chopper began double checking their gear. In the other helicopters, the rest of Team Intersect and A Squadron were doing the same. A moment later the copilot turned around and gave Casey a signal.

"Go. Go. Go!" Casey shouted, both to those in his helicopter and over the radio to the other helicopters. Carina and Agent Forest attached ropes to the helicopter and threw the coiled bundles overboard. A moment later Casey and Lt. Parker were clipped on the ropes and repelling down.

Fulcrum Base Grounds

Somewhere in the New Mexico Desert

September 13, 2008

2100 hours

Derek Little stifled a yawn as he scanned the area. He was one of a handful of guards on duty above ground, and he hated the assignment. When he had been recruited by Fulcrum, he thought he would be an agent, going undercover to further Fulcrum's aims. Instead, here he was, babysitting Fulcrum command. A sudden sound caused him to perk up. At first, he wasn't sure what it was. It was only when the shapes appeared in the sky that he realized what was going on.

"Shit." he muttered, and then reached for his radio to raise the alarm. "This is Watchtower-2. We have helicopters coming in fast." He was greeted by nothing but static. "Damn. Bastards must be jamming." A moment later he saw ropes fall from the helos, and figures begin fast-roping down. He raised his assault rifle to fire at the figures, when the back of his head exploded.

Onboard MH-60L Black Hawk

Callsign Vampire 1

Somewhere in the New Mexico Desert

September 13, 2008

2105 hours

"I've got a Tango at 1 o'clock!" the pilot yelled. In the back of the chopper, Captain Jennifer O'Connor brought her rifle up and scanned in the direction the pilot indicated. Seeing the guard reach for his weapon, she lined up her sights and fired a shot. A second later, she saw him fall to the ground. Looking over the edge of the deck, she saw Casey look up from his spot on the ground give her a thumbs up. She returned the gesture.

Fulcrum Base Grounds

Somewhere in the New Mexico Desert

September 13, 2008

2115 hours

The firefight was brief, and totally one-sided. Team Intersect and A Squadron quickly overwhelmed the guard force that was stationed above ground. From there, A Squadron fanned out, securing the perimeter and clearing the few above ground buildings. Meanwhile, Team Intersect moved forward to the entrance of the bunker.

At Casey's hand signal, Chuck and Lt. Parker attached explosive charges to the bunker door. Once attached, the entire group moved back and took cover.

"Fire in the hole!" Casey shouted, before depressing the remote detonator. A second later, the explosives went off, shattering the door.

Fulcrum Base

Control Room

Level 3

Three Stories Underground

Somewhere in the New Mexico Desert

September 13, 2008

2115 hours

"Report!" Fulcrum Director Ted Roarke barked as he came into the Control Room.

"Sir, we've lost contact with the security team above ground," Judy Marks, the Duty Officer responded. "Pressure sensors indicate a large formation on the grounds, but our external security cameras are inoperable."

Before Roarke could respond, a loud boom was heard and klaxon alarms started going off.

"This is Post-1! We have a breach at the bunker door. Repeat, we a have a-" a voice shouted over the intercom before being cutoff in a hail of gunfire.

"Alert all security teams!" Roarke ordered.

Fulcrum Base

Level 3

Three Stories Underground

Somewhere in the New Mexico Desert

September 13, 2008

2135 hours

"This is Chuck. Second level is now secure." Chuck's voice came over the radio. Casey and his team were currently on the third level, having just cleared it out except for the Control Room.

"Roger, Chuck." Casey said. "We've cleared level three and are at the Control Room. Getting ready to blow the door now." Casey motioned to Lt. Parker who moved forward and placed explosives on the large steel door. He then moved back to where Casey and the rest of the team were. A moment later Casey pressed the remote detonator and a large explosion rocked the facility.

"Shit!" Casey said, peering through the smoke. The door, although damaged, had not been destroyed. "Parker, we need to hit it again."

Fulcrum Base

Control Room

Level 3

Three Stories Underground

Somewhere in the New Mexico Desert

September 13, 2008

2135 hours

"Sir, they're right outside the Control Room!" Judy shouted. "The door won't hold much longer."

"Initiate wipe protocols and head for the escape tunnel." Roarke ordered.

"Something's wrong. I've lost all control of the consoles!"

"Shit." Roarke said. Just then the room shook with a boom. "They're trying to blow the door. We have to leave now." A moment later he, Judy and the four other Fulcrum operatives in the control room had opened a hidden hatch and disappeared through it.

Storage Building #2

Fulcrum Base Grounds Near Perimeter

Somewhere in the New Mexico Desert

September 13, 2008

2145 hours

"This is Casey." Casey's voice came over the radio. "We've breached the Control Room, but it's empty. We've found a hatch inside that leads to a tunnel. A Squadron, stay frosty. They may be coming your way."

"This is Roberts. Acknowledged," Major Roberts responded. "All Delta teams, take up positions outside to cover the buildings." A moment later he and the five men with him had left the storage building they were in and took up positions outside.

Several minutes passed with no sign of the missing Fulcrum operatives or any reports from the rest of the team. Roberts was just about to radio Casey when one of his men whispered to him.

"Sir. I've got movement by the window." Roberts looked over to where the trooper was indicating, and could see several figures moving around inside the building. A moment later, six figures emerged from the building, moving slowly and alertly towards the perimeter fence.

"Fire." Roberts ordered. A moment later the troopers with him had opened fired on the figures. Three of the figures were hit and went down immediately, while the other three attempted to return fire. The Delta commandos fired again, and the three remaining figures went down. Waiting a few moments to make sure no one else would emerge, Roberts and his team then began moving towards the area where the bodies lay.

"Casey, this is Roberts." He said into the radio. "Six Tangos down. One of them is Ted Roarke.