Chapter 25
Endgame
0830 hours local time, 23 May 2001, Sheraton Hotel, Los Angeles, California.
After making sure that his M9 was loaded, Cole slipped it back into his holster and stepped off the elevator, onto the 5th floor, making his way down the hall. He nodded and gave a smile to an elderly couple that passed by him as he walked. He stopped at room 522 and knocked. "Who is it?" came a female voice from inside.
"As freedom's sower in the wasteland, before the morning star I went" Cole replied in Russian. Cole listened carefully as the women inside undid the hotel chain and deadbolt before opening the door and letting him in. Cole walked in and shut the door behind him, locking the deadbolt.
"You have the money?" the women asked in a noticeable Russian accent.
"As requested, in Euros" Cole said as he took a white envelope of his jacket pocket. "How did you slip Russian surveillance?" he asked as the woman counted the money.
"I'm not certain I did" she replied.
"Well, we appreciate the risk you're taking. Where's the information?" Cole asked. The women walked over to the desk and handed Cole a folded piece of paper. He unfolded it and rad it to himself. "That's the information?" he asked.
"An address in Los Angeles" the women said.
"Yes, I can see that" Cole said.
"To which a Russian Spetsnaz team has been dispatched. Beta Group, very secret, very lethal" said the women as she poured herself a cup of tea.
"You're sure?" Cole asked as he tucked the piece of paper into his jacket.
"How long have we done business?" the woman asked rhetorically.
"Ok, so what are Russian shooters doing here in Los Angeles?" Cole asked.
"I don't know" the woman replied, shrugging her shoulders.
"Well, we'll double the price to find out" Cole offered her.
"What good is money to a dead women?" she asked. "It's too dangerous, I'm sorry" she told him.
"Anya look, if there's going to be an attack, in America, and there are Russian elements behind it, you know as well as I do what the means. Is that what you want for your country?" Cole asked. "Cause that's not what I want for mine" Cole said. "Look, go back to your consulate, find out everything you can" Cole instructed her.
"If I go back to my consulate, they might be waiting to kill me" she warned.
"Well then I suggest you order room service and you make some phone calls" Cole told her as he walked out.
1000 hours local time, 23 May 2001, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.
It was just after 1000 when Chester and his team pulled up to the abandoned apartment building. "Is this it?" Chester asked.
"If the information Anya provided is correct, then this is the place" Deeks said as he turned off the engine.
"Ok, listen up. Phantom and Shark Bait with me. Side arms only, no need to attract any attention. Dragnet, wait here" Chester ordered as he pulled back on the slide of his 45. Cole and Weston did the same with their side arms. With Chester in front, they slowly made their way into the building. As they made their way up the stairs, they found a body on the 2nd landing. Cole bend down and picked up the man's weapon. "Kirovski, 9mm, armor piercing, Spetsnaz standard issue" he whispered to Chester.
"Guess the Russians got more than they bargained for" Chester said. Chester pointed to his eyes, and then gave the signal for around the corner. Cole and Weston both nodded. At the top of the stairwell, was another body, another Spetsnaz operative. After clearing the 1st 2 rooms in the floor, the 3 operators proceeded down the hall to the 3rd and fine door. It was riddled with 7.62mm bullet holes. Weston led the way a he pushed open the door and the 3 men crept inside. Inside the room, were 3 more Russian bodies, all 3 were killed with gun shots to the head. Chester checked the bodies while Cole and Weston cleared the room.
"Room's clear" Weston said surprised.
"Figures, these bodies are cold and rigor has set in" Chester said. "Shark, check that laptop" Chester ordered Weston.
"Which means we're no closer to finding Belknov than we were an hour ago" Cole complained.
"Whoever was here, mapped out every National Security target east of the Mississippi" Weston said looking up from the screen.
"But still, we have no idea who Belknov is working with" Cole complained.
"What about the hard drive we found?" Weston asked.
"That only proves he was here to sell some Intel. We have no idea what he's still doing here" Cole said.
"Maybe we do" Chester said as he bent down and picked up a book off the floor. "Take a look at this" he said as he tossed it to Cole.
"The Color of Fall" Cole quickly read aloud. "I don't get it" Cole said.
"Look at it again, look how 'color' is spelled" Chester said.
"C-O-L-O-U-R" Cole read.
"It's Canadian" Chester said.
"But I thought McGregor was here to kill Tony, are you saying he's here to plan an attack?" Cole asked.
"So then the Russians are trying to do us a favor?" Weston asked.
"I don't know, but they don't look very successful thus far. 5 dead Russians, no Belknov" Chester pointed out. "Whatever he's planning is still a go" Chester said. "Hey, check this out" he said pointing to a trail of blood that went down a 2nd staircase. "Come on, we got stragglers" Chester said as they rushed down the stairs.
1330 hours, 23 May 2001, abandoned warehouse, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York.
Ever since the Navy had shut down the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the place had remained totally abandoned. Which made it the perfect place for Billy and McGregor's needs. McGregor pulled the van into one of the abandoned warehouses. He shut off the engine while Billy dragged Bridget out of the back. While Billy struggled with Bridget, McGregor's cell phone rang. "Yeah" McGregor answered as Billy tossed Bridget onto the ground. "Yeah, hang on" McGregor said as he held out the phone for Billy. "It's the Colonel" McGregor informed him. Billy took the phone.
"Yeah" Billy answered.
"I just heard from 2 of my guys in LA" Jaguden said. "A Russian Spetsnaz team just hit Belknov's safehouse" he said.
"Where are your men now?" Billy asked.
"They're heading to the backup location, but Belknov has split" Jaguden said.
"Hold on, why are the Russians after us?" Billy asked.
"That's not important right now" Jaguden told him off. "The good news is, Belknov and my men took them all out" Jaguden said smugly.
"How many?" Billy asked.
"5" Jaguden informed him.
"Russian Spetsnaz teams can operate with as much as 20 shooters, tell your men to be careful" Billy cautioned him. "But still, if there's a Russian Special Forces team on U.S soil, I guarantee The Unit won't be far behind" Billy said.
"Why do you think I'm calling you?" Jaguden asked rhetorically. "It's time for you to start earning your keep" he ordered Billy.
"I'll call you back" Billy said as he hung up. He walked over to Bridget. "Turn around" Billy instructed. When she did, Billy took the gag out of her mouth.
"What do you want with me?" Bridget asked.
"You and Tony, teammates all these years, you must have some code, in case of emergencies to get a hold of each other" Billy said.
"No we don't" Bridget replied.
"Come on Bridget, I was with the Unit for far too long, I know when someone is lying to me" Billy told her.
"We don't have one" Bridget repeated.
"No?" Billy replied. "Then I guess you're no use to me after all" Billy told her as he pulled out his Glock and pointed it at her chest.
"Even if I did, why would I tell you? You're just going to kill me anyway" she replied.
"If you don't, I'm going to kill you right now" Billy threatened.
"Think about, what If I lied? What if I doesn't work out?" Bridget countered.
"My strong advice for you, is to make sure it does" threatened Billy as he cocked the hammer on his Glock and pushed the barrel into her chest.
"The point is, you want to get Tony's attention. I'm the only way you can do that. So you need to keep me alive" Bridget surmised.
"Tony taught you well, didn't he?" Billy said as he un-cocked the pistol and grabbed her by the arm. "Get in the van" Billy ordered.
1040 hours local time, 23 May 2001, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.
The trail of blood let Chester and his team out of the building and down a back alley to beneath an overpass. "Blood trail ends here" Chester pointed out. "These footprints in the sand, this trail here" he observed. "One's on foot, dragging the other" he concluded. "Ok, I got a wounded soldier, no vehicle nearby, where would I have taken him?" Chester asked trying to put himself in the survivor's shoes.
"What do I do? I run over here, hope no one finds me, hope I don't bleed out" Weston suggested.
"I steal a car" said Cole, who pointed to a parking structure about 100 yards ahead.
"Dragnet" Chester said into radio.
"What's up Ironman?" Deeks replied.
"Parking structure, 2 blocks east, you see it?" Chester asked.
"Yeah" Deeks replied.
"Park in front, we're going in the back" Chester said.
"Copy" Deeks replied.
"Let's move" Chester ordered. They jogged down the street and made their way to the back door of the structure. Inside the door was a first aid cabinet that had been torn through and a bloody hand print on the wall.
"We're in the right place" Cole observed. "They were here" he added.
"Still are" Chester said.
"Canadian or Russian?" Weston asked.
"We're about to find out" Chester said quietly. "Listen up! If you're injured we can help you, just give yourselves up" Chester loudly instructed.
"Get down!" Weston yelled as one of the 2 men opened fire, firing 3 rounds at Chester. Chester took cover behind a car, before all 3 men returned fire. The other man had hotwired a car and attempted to escape. When he dove past, Weston fired one round through the driver's window. The bullet struck the driver in the temple, killing him instantly. The car kept going, but only until it crashed into another car. The shooter fired off his remaining rounds, none of them finding their targets. With his gun empty, he threw down the gun and threw up his hands. Chester and Cole rushed over.
"This Canuck has lost a lot of blood" Cole observed, which conclusively proved that Belknov was working with the Canadians.
"Alright" said Chester as he kneeled down next to the shooter. The shooter had been hit in the brachial artery, and was losing blood fast. He was on the ground, leaning up against a support coulomb. "We know you're planning multiple attacks. Tell me when and where" Chester demanded.
"Fuck you Yank" the man replied weakly.
"Who are you working for?" Chester demanded once again. Chester reached into his pocket and pulled out his PDA, pulling up a photo of Alexander McGregor. "Is it this man, Alexander McGregor? You don't gotta die for him" Chester said. "Come on, we can get you to a hospital, you can cut a deal" he pleaded.
"Go to hell" the man replied weakly again. Chester turned to Cole and gave him a nod. Cole fired a round into the shooter's chest, putting him out of his misery. Chester put his PDA back into his pocket, and then pulled out his cell phone as Deeks pulled up in the Ford Explorer.
"This is Ironman, get me Ex-Caliber" Chester said, while Weston combed through the shooter's vehicle.
"Ironman, this Ex-Caliber, what's your status?" Barrett replied.
"Blood trail led us to a dead end, both CNP hostiles are K.I.A" Chester said.
"Hey, I got something!" Weston yelled as he pulled a piece of paper from the driver's pocket. It's an address, it's the same one we got off the external hard drive, the one in the Brooklyn Navy Yard" Weston yelled. "I got something else too. It's an address here in LA" Weston informed them.
"What's the address?" Chester asked.
"2747 South Madison Dock, Building 15" Weston yelled back.
"That's 10 klicks from here, down by the harbor" said Deeks, who had grown up in LA.
"I stand corrected, we've got a lead" Chester said.
"Ironman, based on the initial analysis of this map, there could be multiple attacks in the works" Barrett said gravely.
"That's what the situation reads here too" Chester replied.
"Any connection to McGregor?" Barrett asked.
"Nothing concrete" Chester said.
"You're our man on the ground in LA, next move is yours" Barrett instructed him.
"Roger that" said Chester as he hung up. "Shark Bait, get that BNY address over to Movie Buff" Chester ordered.
"On it" Weston said as he pulled out his phone.
"Phantom, get over to the Sheraton. Meet with your source, find out what kind of game the Russians are playing" Chester instructed as he handed him an envelope. "Shark Bait will back you".
"What about me?" Deeks asked.
"You're coming with me, to the harbor" Chester said as he got into the passenger seat of the Explorer. "Let's move!" Chester yelled as Deeks hopped into the driver seat.
1105 hours local time, 23 May 2001, Sheraton Hotel- room 522, Los Angeles, California.
"Your hit team is trying to take out Canadian terrorists operating in America. Why?" Cole asked as he walked into Anya's hotel room.
"What do you mean 'trying'?" she asked as she closed and locked the door behind him.
"5 of them are already dead" Cole informed her. "Now what are they doing trying to kill people on US soil?" Cole asked again, this time in an angrier tone of voice.
"Sounds like the act of a friend" Anya said.
"Or it's a cover up, for Russian involvement in terrorist attacks on my country" Cole jabbed.
"My Government has nothing to do with any attacks, of this I am certain" she replied forcefully.
"There's a secret connection somewhere here Anya. Your country didn't secretly sent a hit team here as a favor" Cole countered.
"The team was sent here to stop something or someone" Anya said.
"Stop them from doing what?" Cole asked.
"I don't know" Anya said. "The deeper I dig, the more dangerous it gets. Why do you not understand this Jonathan?" she asked. "And please I'm telling you the truth" she begged.
"Here's the truth. You need to find out what your people are up to, or I'll turn you over to the FSB myself, with a list of every secret you have ever sold us" Cole threatened.
"You'd have me killed?" Anya asked.
"I would have you killed" Cole said bluntly. "The Devil makes me do it. It's like cigarettes. It's easy to start and hard to quite. It's called an addiction.
"Ok, ok, wait" Anya pleaded. "I have a contact in Moscow I can try" she told him.
"Who?" Cole asked.
"An Officer inside Iron-Six" she said, referring to the special branch of The FSB. "He used to work with Belknov" she added.
"Yuri Belknov?" Chester asked.
"Belknov is old school KGB, whatever is happening, I'm sure he's involved" Anya told him. Cole reached into his pocket and pulled out the envelope that Chester had given him. He pulled out some money, in Euros, and threw it down on the table.
"From those to whom much is given, much is expected. When?" Cole asked.
"1600" she said. "If I can get the information, I'll leave a newspaper outside the door" she told him.
"And if there's no newspaper?" Cole asked.
"Then you should run" Anya warned.
1500 hours, 23 May 2001, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York.
"What do ya got Partner?" Tony asked into his radio. Tali had arrived just before Weston had called with the information about the Navy Yard. It was now just over an hour later, and Tony, Three, Tali and Liat were moving into position.
"2 hostiles outside, other than that I got nothing. No cameras, however, the doors and windows appear to be alarmed" Tali observed from her sniping position.
"Inside?" Tony asked as he screwed a silencer onto his Beretta Inox.
"At least 5, maybe more" Tali replied.
"Then this must be the place" said Tony as he hustled into position.
"After what just went down in LA, they'll be expecting anything" she warned.
"Let's give em something else" Tony said as he peered around the corner. "Sky Train, Princess, where you at?" Tony asked.
"We're coming in at your 6:00, its unguarded back here" Three replied.
"All right, get closer you 2" Tony instructed. Three and Liat, both armed with their M4 Assault rifles, moved up to a position behind some barrels.
"We're in position" Liat said over the radio.
"Roger that" Tony replied as he moved up closer to the building as Tali watched from her location on the crane platform above. "Get those 2 guards away from the stairs" Tony ordered. Three bent down to the ground and picked up a rusty old bolt. He picked it up and threw it against one of the windows. With the sound distracting the guards, Tony moved up to behind a dumpster. "On your call Freedom" Tony said to Tali.
"On 2" Tali replied as she took careful aim down her scope. "One… Go" she said as she pulled the trigger, dropping the 1st target. Tony opened fire a split second later, dropping the second. Tony moved up next to the edge of an adjacent building.
"How we doin' Freedom?" Tony asked.
"All clear so far" she replied.
"Hang on, we got company" Three said when an addition guard walked out of the target building and onto the landing of the outdoor stairs. When the guard when for his gun, Three quickly fired 3 rounds into him. "They're onto us. Pull back. Pull back!" Three yelled as he and Liat dove for cover. 2 of the men inside opened fire on them with AK-47s.
1510 hours, 23 May 2001, Apartment complex, The Bowery, Manhattan, New York City, New York.
"The Navy Yard location is taking fire" Colonel Jaguden said to Billy as he walked into the room. Bridget was gagged and bound to a chair in the middle of the room.
"Showtime" said Billy as he walked over to Bridget.
1515 hours, 23 May 2001, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York.
With the element of surprise lost, Tony and his team were scrambling to find new positions. Three and Liat laid down suppressing fire while Tony and Tali made their way to them. It had gotten to the point where they were back at where they had started, at their vehicle. "No more element of surprise" Tony said, assessing the situation. "We go in strong, before they get backup" Tony suggested. "Take as many alive as you can" Tony said as his cell phone rang. "Go for Movie Buff" he said answering.
"Hey Movie Buff, how ya doing?" asked a familiar voice with a sadistic and evil laugh.
"Billy? Where did you get this number? Where are you?" Tony asked.
"My whereabouts are not as important as the company I'm keeping. If you're thinking about taking out our safehouse" Billy said.
"Your safehouse?" Tony asked.
"A man goes where his skills are appreciated Lieutenant Colonel" Billy said smugly.
"It's not your skills we had issue with. It was your employment of them" Tony told him.
"Ancient history. I'm all about the here and now" Billy said.
"Well, you have it your way. You put your lot in with the people that are trying to destroy this country, you were never one of us to begin with. And I assure you, that trail is coming to an end right quick" Tony threatened. "Now I got work to do"
"You might wanna rethink that course of action" Billy said.
"And why would I do that?" Tony asked.
"Say hello" Tony heard Billy say.
"Tony" said a female voice.
"Bridget?" Tony asked. "Are you all right?" he asked.
"I'm okay" she replied. "Listen to me, you we're setup, by Barnes. He's dead, Sam shot him in the chest to keep him quiet. He's working for a man named Lex Jaguden" Bridget informed him.
"The CNPG Colonel?" Tony asked.
"Yes" she replied.
"Where are you?" Tony asked.
"I don't know" she replied frantically.
"That's enough" Billy said as he took the phone from Bridget. Bridget yelled Tony's name repeatedly as McGregor re-applied the gag. "If you ever want to see Bridget again, you do exactly as I say" Billy instructed. "You, or anyone from the Unit assault the safehouse, you touch anybody inside, I'll put a bullet in her brain" Billy threatened. "Are we clear?" he asked. Tony remained silent. "Are we clear?" Billy repeated.
"Oh yeah. We're clear" Tony finally replied.
"Good" Billy said.
"But as long as we're being clear, you know what happens to you if Bridget ends up with even a hair out of place" Tony said forcefully. "You feel me?"
"Yeah. Well, you have a nice day too" Billy replied smugly as he hung up.
"Change of plans" said Tony as he hung up and put his phone back in his pocket. "Billy's working with Jaguden and the terrorists" Tony said.
"That's impossible, Jaguden was killed in German helicopter attack" Three said.
"Nope, he's still kicking" Tony said. "Billy has Bridget. If we don't back off this safe house" Tony said gravely.
"What do you wanna do?" Three asked.
"The safety of Bridget does not come before the safety of this country" Tony said nobly, but in his heart, he wished he hadn't.
"If Jaguden is still alive, those are most likely CNP Guards in there. I saw them in Quebec. They are fanatically loyal to a fault" Three said. "They'll never give up what Jaguden is planning. If we want to find out, we need to get to Billy" Three said.
"Alright, we split up" Tony said. "Tals, can you and the kids hold this down?" he asked.
"Hell yeah. Go" Tali replied.
"Surveil. Do not engage until you get my say-so" Tony ordered.
"If they engage on us?" Liat asked.
"Respond in kind" he instructed. "I'll be in touch as soon as I can"
1525 hours, 23 May 2001, Apartment complex, The Bowery, Manhattan, New York City, New York.
"You sure about this?" Jaguden asked Billy.
"Oh, yeah" Billy replied confidently. "He'll do anything to save her" Billy said. "This way, we not only get our shooters back, we take out the guys coming after us too. Just like any snake, you cut off its head, the body dies.
"Ok then, our men are in position" Jaguden told him.
"Then let's get a move on shall we?" Billy said as he turned to face Bridget. "Get up" he barked.
1230 hours local time, 23 May 2001, 2747 South Madison Dock- Building 15, Port of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
"Move" Chester said quietly as he and Deeks entered the building, their side arms drawn. They fought the 1st floor of the warehouse was deserted and quickly moved towards the 2nd. What they found shocked both of them. On the 2nd floor of the warehouse was what appeared to be where the Spetsnaz team had setup their HQ. "Freeze" yelled a voice in a heavy Russian accent. Chester turned and saw 2 Spetsnaz operatives, both armed with AK-74s, aiming at them. The Russians had gotten the drop on them. Seeing no other choice, Chester and Deeks raised their hands. Suddenly, 5 shots rang out, and the Spetsnaz soldiers dropped to the floor dead. From behind them, a man walked forward, an FN Five-Seven pistol in hand, and an eye patch over his left eye.
"That was a green-shirt mistake Ironman" the man said as he walked towards them.
"Rabbit?" Chester asked. "Holy Shit, what are you doing here?" he asked.
"Who's Rabbit?" Deeks asked.
"Former Master Sergeant Barry Hopper, call sign 'Rabbit'" Chester said. He was on Bravo Team a number of years back" Chester explained.
"Tali told me you guys could use a hand" Hopper said as he walked forward.
"Good thing we don't need an eye" Chester joked. "Barry, this is Staff Sergeant Martin Deeks, call sign 'Dragnet'" Chester said introducing Deeks.
"Nice to me ya" Barry said as they shook hands.
"Likewise" Deeks replied.
"So it looks like the Ruskies have setup basecamp on US soil" Barry observed.
"It would seem so" Chester concurred.
"Ironman, we got company" Deeks said as he looked out the window and saw 3 Land Rovers pulling in. the Land Rovers screeched to a halt and a dozen Spetsnaz operatives jumped out, armed to the teeth with AK-47s and 74s.
"We've been compromised" Chester said. He looked over at Hopper, who was pulling out a sat phone. "What are you doing?" Chester whispered.
"Calling the only guy in LA who can help us" Hopper said.
35 minutes later-
"Reloading" Chester yelled as he ducked behind an overturned table. Barry jumped up and fired several rounds. In the 35 minutes of the gun battle, the 3 men had managed to kill 4 Russians. But they were now running low on ammo.
"Ahh!" Deeks yelled as he fell backwards, blood trickling down his torso, he had been hit in the shoulder.
"Stay down Dragnet!" Chester ordered. Off the distance, Chester could hear the faint sound of chopper blades. Chester popped up and fired several more rounds at the Russians, all of them failing to find their mark.
"Just hang tight kids, Cavarly's here" Barry said as he popped a fresh clip into his Five-Seven. Within seconds, several helicopters passed overhead. Men inside the choppers were firing down of the Russians. At the same time, 8 SUVs with government plates pulled up in front of the warehouse. SWAT Teams poured out of the vehicles.
"Federal Agents" rang out several times as the SWAT Teams rushed the buildings. However, in true Spetsnaz fashion, the Russians refused to surrender and went down fighting. With the Russians dead, Chester, Barry and Deeks, who was clutching his shoulder, made their way down stairs, where they found Cole and Weston waiting for them.
"Rabbit called you guys?" Chester asked.
"Not exactly" Cole replied with a smile on his face.
"CTU this is Agent Bauer, area secure, 12 hostiles down" said a man dressed in a Counter Terrorist Unit windbreaker.
"Jack Bauer" said Chester with a smile on his face.
"I see my boys arrived just in time" said Bauer as he shook Chester's hand.
"Nah, we could have lasted for, oh, 10 more minutes at least" Chester joked.
1605 hours, 23 May 2001, Brooklyn Bridge- Manhattan bound, New York City, New York.
"Papillion, this is Movie Buff. I need you to track somebody for me. How quickly can you do it?" he asked Izzy as he drove.
"Depends. Who is it?" she asked as she put her desk phone on speaker.
"Billy Hazard" Tony said.
"We've been looking for him for a month. We're nowhere" she said. "What's going on Movie Buff?" she asked.
"He's got Bridget, and he's working with the terrorists" Tony informed her. "Tell Ex-Caliber I need all available resources" Tony said.
"Hold on" she said. "Colonel Barrett was given me a direct order not to tell you anything. He said he's handling it" Izzy told him.
"I have some serious concerns about The Colonel's judgment" Tony said.
"As do I" Izzy agreed.
"Listen to me clearly. All communications going forward are between you and me. You get me?" Tony asked.
"Affirmative" she replied.
"All right. Can you get me what I need without raising alarms?" he asked.
"I think so. What do we have to go on?" she asked.
"Almost nothing" Tony confessed. "But I'm pretty sure Billy called me from a cell phone" he told her.
"Billy's too smart for that" Izzy said.
"Yeah I know, I trained him. Or maybe he didn't have time to take precautions" Tony judged.
"There's no way he didn't disable the G.P.S. But if he didn't have time to mask the call, we may be able to tap into DCS-NET" Izzy told him as she typed. "Give me a few minutes, I gotta go" she said as she ended the call just before Colonel Barrett walked in. Before Bridget could hang up, Barrett grabbed the phone.
"Tony, I know it's you" Barrett said.
"What do you want Colonel?" Tony spat out.
"Are you going after Hitman?" he asked.
"Yes" Tony replied simply.
"Fine. Your orders are shoot on sight. Clear?" Barrett asked.
"Understood" Tony replied.
Tony continued driving when his cell phone rang. "Go for Movie Buff" he answered.
"Tony, it's Abby Scuito over at NCIS" said Abby really fast. "I have some important information about the attack on Gibbs' daughter" she rambled on.
"Not now Abs, I'll call you back later' said Tony as he hung up, trying to keep the line clear for Izzy. Another few minutes later, his phone rang again. "Movie Buff" he said answering.
"I got him. Jackie Onassis Reservoir, Central Park" Izzy said. "Tony" she said nervously. "This feels like a trap" she said.
"Oh I know it's a trap" he replied.
"So what's your next move?" Izzy asked.
"Spring the trap" Tony replied as he hung up.
1600 hours local time, 23 May 2001, Sheraton Hotel, Los Angeles, California.
Cole stepped off the elevator and walked towards Anya's door, where a newspaper was sitting in front. Cole stopped and picked it up. Folded up inside was a key card to the room. Cole removed it and checked the hall before using it. There was only a room service guy, pushing a cart. Cole had just inserted the card into the slot when a bullet came cracking past his head. He quickly dropped the paper and drew his M9. He fired 2 shots into the bellhop, who was holding a Makarov pistol. He then fired 3 shots into the door before kicking it in. behind the door was the body of another Russian, dead as a doornail. Cole quickly entered the room, side arm at the ready. He fired 2 more shots at another awaiting Russian. With the rest of the room clear, Cole bent down and grabbed the wallet out of the 3rd Russian's jacket. Inside was a security card for The Russian Consulate in Los Angeles. Cole quickly pulled out his cell phone. "This is Phantom, get me Ex-Caliber" he said.
"Phantom, this is Ex-Caliber. Go" said Colonel Barrett a few seconds later.
"I've got an exponentially increasing body count and I need clean up post ricki-tick" Cole said.
"Roger that" Tony replied. "What's your location?" he asked.
1645 hours local time, 23 May 2001, Russian Consulate, Los Angeles, California.
"Yes I understand" Anya said as she spoke in Russian with her superiors in Moscow. "No, I took care of the situation as best I could" she assured them. "Yes, alright" she said as she walked into her office. "Alright, goodbye" she said as she hung up. She placed her phone down on her desk when a hand clasped over her mouth and she felt cold steel press against her spine.
"Shh. I'm disappointed in you, Anya. After all we've been through, you just break up with me like that" said Cole as he pressed him M9 into her back. He removed his hand from her mouth and pushed her away.
"How did you get in here?" she asked.
"Well, I doubt they're looking for a dead man" Cole told her.
"I don't understand" she replied.
"You sent men to kill me" Cole spat out as he took the id card he stole out of his pocket.
"No. No, you must have been followed" Anya assured him. "Belknov's people-" she said before Cole cut her off.
"I promise you I wasn't followed. You sent me to kill me" he repeated. "You know what that is, darling? It's insincere" he said sarcastically.
"It was your life or mine, I'm sorry" she pleaded with him.
"As am I" he replied. Anya suddenly felt a sharp pain in her stomach. She looked down and saw Cole's switchblade dragged into her stomach. Cole quickly covered her mouth again and slowly lowered her back onto her desk, where she bled out. Cole quickly clicked the knife closed and put it back in his pocket. He then grabbed Anya's laptop and a box of her files before exiting the room.
2000 hours, 23 May 2001, Jackie Onassis Reservoir, Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York.
The Sun had just dipped below the horizon as Tony walked around the small body of water. On the far end, under the stone overpass, was a group of small tables. At one of them, sat Bridget. Tony walked over to her. "Tony" she said holding up her hand.
"I know" he replied. "How many?" he asked.
"A least one that I can see" she told him. Tony quickly identified 3 more when his cell phone rang.
"What?" Tony answered, knowing it was Billy.
"What are you doing Movie Buff?" asked Billy, who was watching from a high vantage point in the distance. Next to him, McGregor had a WA2000 Sniper rifle trained on Tony and Bridget.
"Listening to you, now let's hear it" Tony replied.
"Do what I say and you both can walk away from this" Billy told him. "Now I have 5, repeat 5, 5 men walking out of our safehouse. They are not to be harmed, they are not to be followed. If they are, you know what happens" Billy threatened. "If they're not, then when they're safely in the wind, you and Bridget can go on your merry way" Billy told him.
"I know you have me in your sights, Billy. Why would I believe you'd just let us go?" Tony asked.
"What happened to trust?" Billy said sarcastically and rhetorically. "I want whoevers there, to dump their weapons in the street in front of the safehouse. I want their hands up where my men can see them" Billy instructed. "Make the call" he said as he hung up.
Tony put his cell back into his pocket. "Freedom" he said into his earwig radio.
"Go ahead Movie Buff" Tali replied.
"You will be having 5 hostiles exiting that location" he said, referring to the abandoned warehouse.
"Roger that" Tali replied.
"You are to drop your weapons in the street and raise your hands" Tony said, relaying Billy's instructions. "Repeat, you are to drop your weapons. Do you receive?" Tony asked.
"Loud and Clear" Tali replied. Tony reached across the table and took Bridget's hand in his, giving her a comforting smile.
"I'm so sorry about this Bridget" Tony said with a tear in his eye.
"He's not gonna let us go. So what are we going to do?" Bridget asked.
"When I give the word, I want you to get down behind me" Tony instructed.
2005 hours, 23 May 2001, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York.
Following Tony's instructions, Tali, Three and Liat all walked out. Three and Liat placed their M4s on the ground, while Tali did the same with her R700 Sniper rifle. They all then laid down their side arms and threw up their hands. Once that was done, the 5 Canadians exited the warehouse and began walking to their minivan. "Movie Buff, I have 5 hostiles head for the vehicle" Tali said.
"Freedom" Tony said over the radio.
"They're getting into the radio now Top" she replied. "On your call"
"Do it" Tony ordered. Tali released the dead man's switch in her hand, triggering the C4 charged Liat had placed under the minivan. The explosion ignited the vehicle's gas tank, sending it up a foot into the air, killing everyone inside.
2010 hours, 23 May 2001, Jackie Onassis Reservoir, Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York.
"Now!" Tony yelled as he pushed over the table and drew his 45. He quickly fired on the 3 men Billy had used to surround the area, killing all 3. "Move" Tony yelled as he pushed Bridget as they ran.
McGregor only got off one shot, that missed. "Leave it" Billy said as they took off running after Tony and Bridget.
"Keep Going" Tony yelled as he ejected the spent clip and popped in a new one. They ran under one of the various stone bridges that called Central Park home. They ran under it, where they came face to face with McGregor and Billy, both of whom had their side arms drawn.
"We'll shoot Bridget dead!" Billy threatened. "Drop it Tony!" Billy demanded. But Tony didn't. He stood his ground, aiming his pistol at McGregor. McGregor moved in front of Billy and went to fire when a shot rang out. Blood began pooling in McGregor's mouth. He dropped to his knees, before keeling over. Standing behind where McGregor was standing, was Billy, smoking still coming from the barrel of his Glock. Billy placed the pistol on the ground and slid it over to a shocked Tony. "Make it look good" said Billy as he held up his hands. Tony cocked his 45 and fired one grazing shot in Billy's arm.
"Come on" Tony said as he grabbed Bridget's arm and they took off running.
2300 hours, 23 May 2001, Tactical Operations Center, Unit Compound, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
"And this is my favorite part of my office" said Colonel Barrett as he pointed to the large panoramic window that allowed him to watch over the rest of the T.O.C. he was giving his daughter Erica Jane the grand tour.
"How not many kids can say that their father runs the world's most elite Special Forces" Erica Jane commented.
"And neither can you" EJ told her.
"I know" she replied with a smile. EJ then looked out through his window and saw Tony walking in.
"Honey, why don't you wait outside for a second" EJ told her.
"Ok" she said as she walked out. Tony stormed into the room, grabbed EJ by the lapels of his shirt and slammed him up against the wall.
"If you don't want to face a Courts Martial for insubordination, Lieutenant Colonel, you'd best get your hands off me" EJ threatened. But Tony didn't let go. He tightened his grip on EJ's shirt and threw his across the room, sending him flying through the large glass window. EJ slid across the floor of the T.O.C, shards of glass now laying everywhere. Tony stepped through the now shattered window, grabbing his Bowie knife from its ankle sheath in the process. With his left arm, he picked EJ up and slammed him against the wall, holding the knife against EJ's throat with his other hand.
"It was you" Tony spat out. "After we initially suspected Billy, Tali sent the imprint to Abby Scuito as NCIS" Tony told him. "Oh it was a West Point ring all right, but Tali was wrong. It wasn't 1996… it was 1976" Tony said as he pressed the knife against EJ's throat. "Billy's undercover. He's been working for you all along, hasn't he?" Tony stated. EJ remained silent. "Answer Me!" Tony demanded.
"Yes" EJ spat out. "I did what was necessary" EJ said.
"We needed someone to infiltrate the terrorist organization, someone with a legitimate axe to grind" EJ said.
"Just one problem. Billy didn't beat up Izzy so badly she couldn't even remember it. You did" Tony said. "Then, after you realized it had worked, you sent me after him. If I killed him, you were in the clear. But that wasn't your plan was it?" Tony said. "You were banking on McGregor killing me, so that you could lay off Billy's actions on me. Is that what you've been doing with Hollis Mann?" Tony asked. EJ's jaw dropped. "Yes, I know all about it. Bridget has kept me well informed" Tony said.
"I regret Izzy's pain, but I did what had to be done" EJ said.
"Do you realize the extent of the damage you've done?" Tony asked.
"My job description is to do whatever is needed to protect this county, Lieutenant Colonel DiNozzo" EJ yelled. "And it worked, Billy is on the inside, and whatever's left of Jaguden's people are on the move. From now on, we'll know whatever he knows" EJ said confidently.
"Congratulations on a job well done" Tony spat out.
"I can deal with your contempt, Lieutenant Colonel, and your insubordination to this point. I will remind you I am in charge here" EJ reminded him.
"You know what the sick truth is here?" Tony asked. "I don't believe you're capable of comprehending just how far you've gone" Tony said, answering his own question.
"Thank you for your opinion Lieutenant Colonel. But it's about sacrifice" EJ said.
"Oh yes it is" Tony replied as he backed away, removing the knife from Barrett's throat and placing it back in its sheath. "But this time the sacrifice is going to be you" Tony said as he got right back in EJ's face. "Under the authority of Brigadier General Irving T. Morrell, you are relieved of command pending the outcome of an Article-32 investigation" Tony said. "You're done EJ" Tony said as he turned to walk away.
"Never" said EJ as he drew his Desert Eagle handgun from his holster and aimed at Tony's back.
"Dad no!" Erica Jane yelled as EJ fired a round into Tony's back, the force sending Tony crashing to the ground.
"Freeze Colonel!" Tali ordered as she appeared in the doorway, her P99 pistol in hand. EJ quickly grabbed Erica Jane, ducking behind her, using her as a human shield.
"Don't make me" EJ said frantically. A shot rang out, and both Erica Jane and Tali feared the worse. Then, EJ's gun dropped to the ground as he slumped back against the wall, a hole in the side of his head. Tali looked over to Tony, who was now sitting up, smoke coming from the barrel of his 45. Tony unbuttoned his shirt and peeled it off, revealing a very thick bullet-proof vest. With a grunt, Tony stood up and walked over to EJ's body.
"Sorry old friend" said Tony as he picked up EJ's gun. Not knowing what to do, a frantic and devastated Erica Jane ran to Tony, wrapping her arms tightly around him. "Shh, shh, it's ok" Tony said as he tried to comfort her. Jesus Christ, what do you say to a kid who just watched you shoot her father in the head Tony thought to himself.
0005 hours, 24 May 2001, Unit Locker room, Unit Compound, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
"So until The President names a replacement, I'm in command" Tony said to everyone as Bridget wrapped up his ribs. "Oww" Tony said when Bridget hit a bad bruise.
"Quit complaining and hold still" Bridget instructed.
"You're worse than my wife" Tony joked, drawing a laugh from the group. "Ok, enough joking around. Phantom, what did you get from your source in LA?" he asked.
"I gave it to Tali to decrypt" Cole said. Tony looked over at Tali.
"Cryptanalysis has just finished decoding the Intel" Tali said as she pulled the laptop Cole had swiped.
"What is it?" Chester asked.
"Transfer and sale authorization" she said.
"Of what to whom?" Tony asked.
"The who we don't know. It's been redacted, there's no way to find out" Tali said. "The what, is what we have to worry about" she said as she pointed to the screen. "Look, 37 kilograms of enriched U-235 weapons grade uranium. That's what Belknov sold to Colonel Jaguden" she said.
"37 kilos, that's enough for multiple bombs" Tony calculated.
"Oh easily, even 3 or 4 if they stretched it" Cole added, as he was The Unit's resident "Munitions King"
"Well then" Tony said. "Time to go big or go home" Tony said.
A/N- PLEASE REVIEW! I know it's a lot to ask for, but come on, this is the longest chapter I've ever written. I would love to get to 200 reviews with this one. But I only ask because y'all are the greatest fans in the entire fan fiction world. So please, review!
Next time on "28 Seconds: Strength & Honor"-
With his undercover assignment nearing completion, Billy's moves closer and closer to the edge. And it's a race against time as Tony and the Unit rush to stop a major terrorist attack on U.S soil. Finally, Izzy confronts Billy about everything that's happened.