Chapter 7
LIBERTY
0845 hours, 16 December 2000, Tactical Operations Center, Unit Compound, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Staff Sergeant Tali Colleton was sitting with her feet up on her desk, drinking her 1st Double Gulp of Mountain Dew of the day. She was reading "How Few Remain" by Harry Turtledove. She looked across the T.O.C hoping to find someone who was good with history. Unfortunately, all she could find was Chester. Aw well, you can't win em all. "Hey Chester" she called out. Chester looked up from his newspaper.
"What?" he asked as he took a sip from his morning coffee.
"You ever read this book?" she asked, holding it up.
"How Few Remain?" Chester asked.
"Yep" she replied.
"Yes I have" he replied.
"I don't remember reading about this in school" she said with confusion in her voice.
"Hardy har har" said Chester in a fake laugh. "Don't quit your day job"
"Seriously, I thought the North won your, I mean our Civil War?" she asked.
"We did…" Chester replied curiously.
"No we didn't, and by the looks of things, we didn't win the second one either" she said. Chester shook his head.
"Tals, you know that isn't a real book right?" Chester asked her.
"What do you mean it isn't real, I'm holding it in my hands" she counters. Chester slaps his own face.
"'Not real' as in it's an Alternate History. The book, its fiction, not real" Chester tried to explain.
"You've lost me" said Tali with a confused look on her face.
"AHHHH" Chester yelled as he slammed his head down on his desk repeating out of pure frustration. It was at that moment that Colonel Barrett decided to walk in, with Billy and Captain Bridget Sullivan in tow. EJ watched Chester and could only laugh.
"Cut it out Martin, before you kill off what brain cells you actually have left" ordered Colonel Barrett. Chester stopped and gave Tali a look. "Alright now listen up, that British Girl that Tony recruited; she's reporting in today" he paused and looked over at Bridget. "Red Cap, I want you to take down her particulars" he ordered. He turned to Billy next. "After Bridget is finished with her, Hitman, I want you to take her shopping, junior department; I'm tired of everybody packing heavy. Got it?" Barrett asked.
"Yes Sir" they both replied.
0930 hours, 16 December 2000, Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec.
The morning December sun shone brightly, as Ziva David's Kidon team arrived in the small Québécois fishing village of Riviere-du-Loup. "I hate this place" commented Ziva, who was sitting in the passenger seat of The Land Rover. She looked over at the driver, Mossad Officer Malachi Ben-Gidon. "Do you agree Officer Ben-Gidon, or are you still weak from your time in The United States?" Ziva asked him. Malachi remained silent.
"I find this place to be extremely beautiful" commented Mossad Officer Liat Tuvia. Only Malachi knew Liat real last name was DiNozzo not Tuvia. But they couldn't afford to risk calling her that, especially with Eli David's daughter in the passenger seat.
Ziva's Kidon team had been sent her to try and find leads and clues as to the true identity of "The Movie Buff". Liat was glad she was chosen for this mission. Despite having initially turning down Eli's offer to join The Kidon a year earlier, she changed her mind when she learned of this mission. Malachi pulled the Land Rover up in front of the local Inn where they would be staying. "I will check us in" said Ziva as she opened her door. "The 2 of you check the equipment" she ordered. Both Malachi and Liat nodded. All 3 of them got out of the Land Rover, and Liat watched as Ziva walked into The Inn. Liat quickly turned to her cousin.
"We need to get a message to my Abba" she whispered to him. Malachi nodded as he pretended to check the equipment.
"I am aware of this" Malachi assured her. "Your Abba has a great number of friend s up here. I am sure one of them will have a way for us to contact him" pointed out Malachi.
"But we must do it quickly. We need to know if there is anyone we need to take care of before Ziva gets to them" she stressed.
"My 6 o'clock, 500 meters" he said without looking. "The Green Dragon Tavern. You are looking for a man named Galtier. Lucien Galtier. He is the Commander of The St. - Antonin District. He will have a way of contacting your father" Malachi said. Liat went to move towards the tavern when Mal stopped her by putting his hand on her shoulder. "Not now. Wait until I can distract Ziva"
1005 hours, 16 December 2000, Tactical Operations Center, Unit Compound, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
"Staff Sergeant Izabella Howsham reporting as ordered Mam" said Izabella as she saluted Captain Sullivan. Bridget quickly returned the salute.
"Have a seat Sergeant" said Bridget as she pointed to the chair in front of her desk. She reached into her desk and pulled out Izabella's file. "Name: Howsham, Izabella Freya. Rank: Staff Sergeant. Date of Birth: 19 July, 1981. Place of Birth: London, England. Serial Number: 685-4329. Religion: Church of England. Blood Type: B-. Parents: Mother- Freya Howsham, deceased, 19 July 1981. Father" she paused and flipped through the file. "Your father isn't listened" Bridget stated.
"Yes Mam, I don't know who my father is" Izabella confessed.
"No idea at all?" asked Bridget.
"Only this" said Izabella as she pulled her necklace from around her neck. She handed it to Bridget. Bridget quickly examined it.
"Your father was a Marine?" Bridget asked.
"I don't know. This necklace was a handful of things that were in my mother's safe deposit box in The Bank of London" explained Izabella.
"Have you thought of trying to pull finger prints off it?" Bridget asked.
"I have tried that. Only 2 sets came off, mine and my mother's" said Izabella. it was then that Billy walked up behind Bridget, putting his face only inches from hers.
"Really?" Bridget asked, and then she sighed. She reached into her desk and pulled out a Hershey Bar. "Here" she said as he snatched it from her hands. "Staff Sergeant Howsham, this is 1st Lieutenant William Hazard. You can call him Billy, 'Hitman' or just dumbass, he responds to all 3" said Bridget smiling.
"Hey!" protested Billy.
"Oh shut up and eat you candy" said Bridget. Then she once again turned her attention to Izabella. "Now, there's one more thing we need to discuss; your callsign" said Bridget. "For example, Billy's is 'Hitman' and mine is 'Red Cap'" she explained. Billy taped her one the shoulder.
"Why do they call you Red Cap anyway?" he asked. Bridget shook her head. And pointed to her head.
"Seriously Bill?" she asked.
"Oh, it's the Red baseball cap you wear like everyday isn't it" said Billy, answering his own question. Bridget reached up and slightly taped his cheek with her hand.
"Oh Billy, how did you ever survive West Point" she asked rhetorically. She turned her attention back to Izabella. "Now, Sergeant, your call sign?"
"How about Papillion?" Billy suggested. "It's French for Butterfly"
"Actually, I would like that" said Izabella.
"Ok then" said Bridget as she nodded her head. She stood up from her desk. "Now y'all are gonna get the grand tour from me and the Kid" she said with a smile. Billy nodded as he wiped the chocolate from his lips onto his sleeve. The 3 of them went to leave when Bridget's phone rang. "Crap. Billy, start the tour, I'll catch up" she said as she went to answer it. Billy and Izabella walked out as Bridget picked up. "Go for Red Cap" she said. She listened to the speaker for a minute before responding. "I'm sorry, but he's unavailable" she paused again as she listened. "I understand" she paused. "Ok, I'll send someone, just hang tight" she said as she hung up. She looked across the T.O.C and saw Chester cleaning his 45. "Ironman, where's the Colonel?" she yelled.
"Personal errand" he replied without looking up.
"Where?"
"I don't know" he replied, still not looking up. "Ask Sky Train, he might know" he added.
"What might I know?" asked Three as he walked in, holding 2 Double Gulps of Mountain Dew, placing one of them on Tali's desk.
"Where's Colonel Barrett?" she asked.
"Charlotte" Three replied.
"Why?"
"He swore me to secrecy" said Three as he took a sip of his Mountain Dew.
"Whatever, fine. Your sister just called in from Quebec, get you're six up there to back her up" ordered Captain Sullivan.
"On it" he said as he placed the Mountain Dew down on Bridget's desk.
2000 hours local time, 16 December 2000, Russian Submarine Base, Arkangel, Arkangel province, Russia
"Do you have any idea what you're doing?" Tony asked Cole as he watched him work. They had only 15 minutes before the guards made their next rounds.
"None whatsoever" replied Cole as he continued to work. The torpedo he was tampering with was the "Skval 2" which was rumored to be capable of reaching 200 knots. The next day, the Russians would be testing this new torpedo, with the entire world press watching.
"You're kidding?" asked Tony.
"Look, I cannot in any way make this work, but what I can do, with 100% certainty, is make it not work" said Cole with a smile.
"Then do it" ordered Tony. "Shark Bait, this is Movie Buff. Any movement from the Guards?" he asked into the radio.
"Negative Movie Buff, all's quiet on the Western Front" replied Staff Sergeant Weston.
"Actually, I believe this is The Eastern Front" joked Tony. Then he turned back to Cole. "How much longer Phantom?" Tony asked. Cole tightened one last screw before answering with a thumbs up. "Good, lets rock n' roll" said Tony
2125 hours, 17 December 2000, Green Dragon Tavern, Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec
Liat was nursing a beer, of the non-alcoholic variety, as she waited for her contact to well, make contact. It had been a rough couple of days. While she had been able to get word to the Unit, she was too thrilled about how she had accomplished it. Malachi had fucked Ziva's brains out in her Hotel room. Liat sighed. Both her and her brother knew about their father's feelings for Ziva. She had decided not so say anything about it. She took another sip from her non-alcoholic beer as someone sat down next to her at the bar. "About time" Liat commented. The man let out a small laugh.
"It's nice to see you too, Sister" retorted her brother Three. Liat let out a small laugh.
"How is Abba?" she asked.
"You see the news?" Three asked.
"About The Russian Submarine Vladivostok? Yes I did. Why?" she asked.
"It appears one of it's owe torpedoes is what sank her" said Three with a small smile. "Whoops" he commented.
"Abba has been busy" said Liat as she took another sip of her beer.
"Indeed he has" said Three. "I've spoken with Old Man Galtier, he'll keep his men out of sight until this all blows over" Three informed her.
"Good, the last thing we need is Ziva finding anything" commented Liat. "So how is everyone?" she asked.
"We had a new girl report in today. Staff Sergeant Izabella Howsham, ex-MI-6 Agent. Our father recruited a few months ago" said Three.
"And Aunt Meg?" she asked.
"For a women who is 6 months pregnant she's doing A-OK" said Three. "Oh and one more thing I just remembered. I hope your not doing anything this spring" said Three with a humongous grin.
"Why?" asked Liat, letting out a small giggle. Three leaned over and whispered something in her ear. Her face lit up like a Christmas Tree. "Really?" she asked. Three nodded. "When?" she asked.
"Christmas Eve" said Tree with a smile.
2030 hours, 24 December 2000, Marshlands Plantation, St. Matthews, South Carolina.
After a fruitless investigation in Quebec, Ziva and Malachi had headed home; hand-in-hand, much to Liat's disgust. She had decided that she definitely wasn't going back with them yet and had made her way to The Colleton Family Plantation in South Carolina. Three had gone with her, and had witnessed the same things she had. They were both disgusted. They didn't know who they could turn to. Certainly not they're Parents. And definitely not Tali either. So they turned to their Uncle Chester and Aunt Meg. They explained everything. "What do we do?" Liat asked. Meg pulled Liat into a warm embrace.
"Nothing, because it's only gonna cause them pain" said Meg as she turned her attention to her husband who also nodded. "Come on, It's Christmas Eve, we should be thinking happy thoughts" said Meg as she hustled the 2 DiNozzo Children back inside.
At 2030 hours sharp, everyone gathered in the dinning room. This year's guest list was different than in year's past. Tom Colleton, who was still retired, was of course there, along with his daughter, Staff Sergeant Tali Colleton, and his brother, 1st Lieutenant Jacob Colleton and his sister Anne. Tony and Kate where present, along with their 2 children, Three and Liat. Chester and Meg, as well as Billy, Izabella, Cole, Weston, Bridget. At the end of the table were a few new faces. Former USMC Force Recon Scout Sniper and NCIS Special Agent LJ Gibbs, was in a deep conversation with Colonel EJ Barrett, his daughter, Erica Jane and girlfriend, Navy Lieutenant Commander Jordan Parker. At 2045 on the dot, EJ stood up and kiss his gal on the lips as he banged his knife against his glass. "I have something to say" he said. "for the past year and a half, I have had the honor and privilege of being The Unit's CO. and in that time, I have had the chance to serve alongside all of you wonderful people. But in that time, something else happened. After Erica Jane's mother died, I honestly never, ever thought I would fall in love again. But that all changed when I met Jordan. For the past 14 months, she has been the absolute love of my life" he said as his hand slipped into his pants pocket as he dropped to one knee. "Jordan Parker, will you marry me?" he asked as he opened up a red velvet box, containing a beautiful engagement ring. Everyone, was shocked; except for Tony, Three and Liat, who had known this was coming. Everyone remained silent as they waited for answer. Jordan's eyes welled up with tears as she took in every word.
"Yes"
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