Chapter 6
VALOR
0830 hours local time, 14 October 2000, U.S.S Cole, Port of Aden, Aden, Yemen
The morning sun shown brightly as Lieutenant Colonel Tony DiNozzo Jr. and Staff Sergeant Tali Colleton walked onto the dock where the Destroyer, U.S.S Cole was docked. A tear came to Tali's eye as she saw the hole in the side of the ship's hull. The Unit had been able to obtain intelligence that Al Qaeda was targeting the Cole, but the higher-ups had chosen to ignore it. The single act had been enough to tear The Unit apart. Malachi was headed back to Israel and Jack would be off the base and gone by the time Tony and Tali were back home. Up ahead of them on the dock, Tony spotted a familiar face. "I seen NCIS sent there best" said Tony with a smile. The man turned around, a cup of what was undoubtedly piping hot black coffee in his hands.
"DiNozzo" said NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jeathro Gibbs
"Gunny" Tony replied. "So, you the one who called in this lead?" Tony asked. Gibbs spun around, a slight look of surprise on his face.
"I thought it was you?" Gibbs asked.
"Wasn't us" Tony replied.
"What the hell" said Tali. Their conversation was interrupted when a 1999 BMW Z8 pulled up next to them.
"Oh good, James Bond is here" said Tony sarcastically. Tony's jaw dropped slightly when he saw who stepped out of the car. Out stepped a beautiful fair-skinned young lady who couldn't be any older than 20. She had medium length brunette hair that came down to her shoulder blades. "Mrs. James Bond, I presume?" Tony asked, jokingly.
"I'm sorry?" she asked in a very British Accent.
"Oh look Gunny, she has your sense of humor, or lack there of" Tony joked, drawing stairs both from Gibbs and the girl.
"Who are you?" Gibbs asked.
"Agent Izabella Freya Howsham, Military Intelligence, Section-6" she informed them.
"What does MI-6 have top do with The Cole?" Tony asked.
"We have a lead on the people responsible for this" she said waving her arm to encompass the blast area.
"So you're the reason we're here?" Tony asked.
"That's correct, Lieutenant Colonel DiNozzo" she said confidently.
"I see someone has done their homework, Agent Howsham" said Tony.
"Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Dominick DiNozzo Jr. born, July 7th, 1968, to Anthony and Ellen DiNozzo Sr. in Huntington Hospital, Town of Huntington, on Long Island. No siblings. Married to Caitlin Todd, October 24th, 1982. 2 children, Anthony Dominick DiNozzo III and Liat Mariella DiNozzo, the latter being adopted. Both of your children are currently employed by The Delta Force, just as you are, and your wife is a member of your 'Secret Service'. Both you and your wife graduated with Honors from Ohio State University in 1989, where you were an 8-time All-American, 4 times as a Quarterback in American Football, and 4 times as a Point Guard in Basketball. 6-time National Champion, twice in football in 1988 and 1989, as well as in basketball all 4 years. In the summer of 1988, you were the Captain and starting point guard for the US Olympic Basketball team, where you hit a game-winning 3-point shot to beat Israel to win the gold medal. You have a Masters in Military History from OSU, and your wife has hers in Criminal Justice. When through ROTC at OSU, joined The US Army as a 2nd Lieutenant, MOS Paratrooper. September 1990, joined the Delta Force. Received the Medal of Honor in the Gulf War. I can go on" she bragged.
"Agent Howsham, why did you call us in?" Gibbs asked her.
"Lieutenant Colonel DiNozzo and Staff Sergeant Colleton were the only Tier-1 operators available on such short notice. As for you, Former USMC Gunnery Sergeant Leroy Jeathro Gibbs, you were already here" she informed them.
"What's the lead?" Gibbs asked.
"A man, one of your Naval Officers, he may have had something to do with the bombing" she informed them.
"Where is he and what is his name?" Tony asked.
"Lieutenant Rex Blackadder, he was a Weapons Officer on The Cole. He has been missing since the attack. He may have given Al Qaeda the intel they needed to carry out the attack" Izabella suggested.
"He could have been kidnapped by the same people for the same reason" countered Tony.
"Where was he last seen?" Gibbs asked.
"A video rental shop in town, MI-6 has had the shop and it's owner, one Abu Kabir under surveillance for weeks" she informed them. It took the 4 of them only a few minutes to reach the video store.
"Stay here" Tony ordered as he looked at Izabella and Gibbs. "Tals, come with me" he finished. They both got out of the BMW.
"I got this" Tali said confidently as they crossed the street.
"Your show Kiddo" said Tony as he dropped back a few paces. Tali's hand dropped to her side as she drew her M9 from her holster. She stormed into the shop, which was thankfully empty. She walked over to Kabir and slammed his head down onto the counter, bending across it. She reached under his crotch and grabbed his nuts.
"Where is Lieutenant Blackadder?" she demanded in Arabic. When Kabir didn't answer she squeezed down even harder. "Tell me where he is you pig bastard or I'll rip your fucking balls off and shove them down your throat" she threatened him again in Arabic. The man screamed even more.
Tony patiently waited outside for Tali to finish. A minute later, a gunshot rang out and Tali walked outside, holstering her weapon. "Well?" Tony asked.
"We're good" Tali said confidently.
2130 hours local time, 14 October 2000, 25 miles north of Aden, Yemen.
According to the info given to Tali by the video store proprietor, the hostiles, who were members of Al Qaeda, would be arriving at an abandoned compound about 25 miles north of the city at 2200 hours that night. The team of 4 had split up into 2 vehicles, 2 black Ford Explorers commandeered from The US Embassy in Aden. Gibbs and Tali were in one, with Agent Howsham and Tony in the other. "So Agent Howsham, how long have you been with MI-6?" Tony asked her.
"I began training at 13, as I was a ward of the state. I have been working as a Field Agent since I was 16" she explained. "I'm 19 now" she explained.
"So, how long have your friends been keeping tabs on me?" Tony asked. He knew that in order for Agent Howsham to know that Liat was his daughter, she had had to do some serious digging.
"How long have you been friends with Sheamus McKevitt?" she countered. Tony laughed.
"And what makes you think I'm friends with him?" Tony asked. "Yes, on one mission 4 years ago, he helped me rescue the 6 year old daughter of the US Consul General in Belfast. She had been kidnapped by Unionists" Tony explained.
"Being a Paddington I had you pegged as Anti-IRA" she stated.
"I'm not a Paddington, I'm a DiNozzo. And either way, I was disowned by my father when I was 16. The only family I have is my wife and 2 children. And the of course The Unit, but you know what I mean" Tony explained.
"That is why you beat Chrispian Paddington to death, all those years ago?" she asked.
"Chrispian Paddington was a worthless piece of shit. He kidnapped that 6-year old girl for 1 reason, because she was a Catholic, and he had deemed her 'un-pure'" explained Tony as he spat out the words.
"And you and 'Trinity'" she said, using Sheamus' code name. "You and Commander McKevitt are more than just 'business acquaintances'. A few months ago, you shipped him a mint condition 1964 ½ Ford Mustang" she said, jabbing her finger into his chest. "A car that you stole from Eli David, correct?" she asked.
"How can you possibly know all these things?" Tony asked.
"We have our sources. You've pissed a lot of people off in your day" she said with a smile.
"So has MI-6" he retorted, replicating her smile. "Any other secrets you know about me?" Tony asked her.
"You are The 'Movie Buff' aka The 'Riviere-du-Loup shooter'. You have begun your own private war against The Mossad. Oh, and my personal favorite" she paused as leaned over the center console and whispered something in his ear. The memory made Tony cringe. "The official cover story was suicide was it not?" she asked.
"It was for the benefit of his daughter, not him, I can assure you of that" Tony answered. Just then, Izabella's sat phone rang, and she quickly answered.
"Go" she said.
"Agent Howsham, this is Deputy Director Saunders" said the voice on the other end.
"What can I do for you Deputy Director?" Izabella asked.
"You are currently teamed up with 3 Americans correct? A Special Agent of The Naval Criminal Investigative Service and 2 Delta Force Operators?" he asked.
"That's correct Sir" she answered.
"Your orders are simple, you are to disengage now, a Special Air Service Team is en-route. They will handle it" Deputy Director Saunders ordered.
"But Sir, we are in place and ready to go now" protested Agent Howsham.
"The Americans had their chance, it's our turn now" said Saunders forcefully.
"Sir, Lieutenant Blackadder is an American" she added.
"You have your orders Agent Howsham" as he hung up. Tony tapped Izabella on the shoulder.
"Target has arrived" he said pointing to the house. "You ready?" he asked. Izabella thought about it for a moment. She nodded her head.
"I'm ready" she said as she pulled her Glock 22 from her shoulder holster. Tony put his radio into his ear as the group of 4 approached the house.
"Gunny, take the back, Freedom, take their vehicle" Tony ordered. The 2 split off from Tony and Izabella. Tali screwed the silencer onto her M9 as she approached the Isuzu truck driven by the hostiles. It was pitch black out, and the 2 men in the front seat of the truck never saw Tali coming. She threw open the driver door and put 3 shots into each of their chests.
Tony and Agent Howsham approached the front door. "Gunny you in position?" Tony asked into the radio.
"Copy". The Gunny's was sweet and sort, but right to the point. Tony nodded to Izabella and she nodded back. Tony took a deep breath.
"Go!" Gun in hand, DiNozzo kicked in the door. With DiNozzo-like precision, delivered 3 head shots. Izabella added to more kills of her own. Tony quickly scanned the room for more hostiles. When he got to the far wall, it was if all the wind had been taken out of his sails. "No" he moaned as his arms dropped to the side and he stepped back, sliding down against the wall. Against the far wall, US Navy Lieutenant Rex Blackadder was tied to a chair. His body, badly beaten and bloody, his throat slit from ear to ear. "We were too late" Tony mumbled as his head collapsed into his hands.
1600 hours, 18 October 2000, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington Virginia.
Former USMC Gunnery Sergeant Leroy Jeathro Gibbs watched on in Silence as Lieutenant Blackadder received his 21-gun salute. The only family the young Lieutenant had had was his younger sister, Vivian, who was a Probationary Agent with The FBI. Rex's coffin was draped with The Red White and Blue. It was determined by Tony that Lieutenant Rex Blackadder was tortured to death and that he never broke his code of silence; he never betrayed his Country. Along with his POW Medal and Purple Heart, Lieutenant Blackadder was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, for demonstrating Valor, even in the face of extreme adversity. Standing next to Gibbs was his partner at NCIS, Special Agent Stan Burley. As the funeral broke up, Staff Sergeant Tali Colleton, who was dressed in her dress Uniform, walked over to the 2 men. "Staff Sergeant" said Gibbs as he nodded his head.
"Gunny" she replied simply.
"I thought Tony would be here" Gibbs observed, noting the Lieutenant Colonel's absence.
"There's something he had to do 1st" she replied.
2030 hours local time, 18 October 2000, Office of Military Intelligence Section-Six Deputy Director Stephan Saunders, MI-6 Headquarters, London, England.
"How dare you defy me!" screamed Deputy Director Saunders as he slammed his fist down on his desk. "You intentionally violated my direct order!" the screaming continued. "You whored yourself off to The Americans!" Saunders continued.
"With all due respect Sir, The SAS team was hours out, by that time, the hostiles would have been long gone" she explained. "Sir, have you ever served in the field?" she asked him. Saunders remained silent. "I take your silence as a no" she said. Saunders stood up and slammed his fist down once again.
"Agent Izabella Howsham, you have disobeyed a Direct Order. Clean out your desk, hand in your gun and badge. You are hereby relieved of your duties with Military Intelligence". Izabella snapped to attention.
"Yes Sir" she spat out. She turned around and went to leave the office.
"I hope it was worth it… becoming pals with 'Movie Buff'" he commented with a smirk on his face. Izabella stopped in her tracks and spun around on her heal.
"For your information, Lieutenant Colonel DiNozzo has more Honor in one fingernail, than you have in your whole body" she said confidently as she stormed out. She ran down the nearest stairwell down top her desk on the 3rd floor. she spent the next few minutes cleaning out her desk: dumping the contents into the garbage. The only thing she kept was one thing, a necklace. It was made from a dog tag chain, and had the US Marine Corp emblem at the end. Growing up in an orphanage, it was the only thing she could call her own. She was told by the Nuns who ran it that the necklace had belonged to her father, whoever that was.
She put the necklace around her neck and continued dumping the contents of her desk into the garbage. When she reached the bottom draw, the 1st thing she pulled out was a file that read "TOP SECRET: FILE ONE". It was a file composed by MI-6. the subject: Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Dominick DiNozzo Jr. of The US Army's Elite Delta Force. For your information, Lieutenant Colonel DiNozzo has more Honor in one fingernail, than you have in your whole body. her own words rang through her head. She grabbed her lighter and lit it. "Good luck Tony" she quietly whispered as she lit the corner of the file with the lighter's flame. She dropped the file back into her desk draw, not really caring if the desk it self caught fire. so that was it. She was done with MI-6. she walked out the front door into the cool night air. Who she found waiting was the last person she expected.
"I hear you got canned" said Lieutenant Colonel DiNozzo. Izabella gave him a look of confusion. "It means fired" said Tony, explaining the American idiom.
"Yes, it appears my superiors didn't like my lending you a hand" she said with a small smile.
"Their loss, my gain" he said as he slapped a piece of paper into her hand. He slapped her on the back as he walked away.
"What the bloody hell is this?" she asked.
"You're gonna need a job aren't ya?" he asked. She looked down at the paper in her hand. Lieutenant Colonel Anthony D. DiNozzo, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
"Are you offering me a job?" she asked as she looked up, but he was already gone, vanished into the night.
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