Chapter 27
Beirut's Back
1005 hours, 28 May 2001, Tactical Operations Center, Unit Compound, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
"Oh my god, what the hell are you doing here?" Tony asked. The man that stood before him snapped to attention and saluted both General Morrell and Tony.
"Junior Lieutenant Christopher Lucien Galtier, Army of The Republic of Quebec, reporting as ordered" he said.
0700 hours, 18 June 1998, 20 miles east of Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec, Canada. Tony had been dodging Canadian Military patrols all night. He was exhausted, but he knew he had no choice but to carry on. He was making his way down a long dirt road when a truck carrying Canadian troops came tearing down the road towards him. "Shit" he said as he took off running across the filed next to him. the men driving the truck saw him and started chasing after him. The men jumped from the truck and opened fire on Tony. "Fuck" Tony yelled as a bullet tore into his side. "Mother Fucker" he screamed. Oh No! He thought my accent, they'll figure out I'm an American he thought in horror. He slid his sniper rifle off his shoulder and grabbed his 45. "No Surrender, No Retreat" he said to his self. "AHHHHHH" he screamed as he rose up, charging at the soldiers and firing as he went. He dropped the 1st 2 men, but that was it. Then he heard a shot ring out. But it was different. It wasn't his 45. or the AK-47s being used by the Canadians. Shot after shot rang out from this unknown source. The Canadian soldiers began dropping like flies as round after round connected with Canadian flesh. Tony dove for the deck, he had no idea who was firing, and didn't want to get hit himself. He ejected the empty clip from his 45. and inserted a new one. With several of their comrades down, the remaining Canadians returned to their truck and took off. "Thank god that's over' said Tony as he rolled onto his back. "Grrrr" he grunted as he had forgotten about the bullet in his right side. He looked up and saw 2 people approaching him. the man in front, who looked to be in his mid-forties held an AK-47 in his hands. He was flanked by a young man, who looked to be able 20, who had an H&K PSG-1 Sniper Rifle. That explains the sniper fire Tony thought. Not knowing if he could trust them or not, Tony raised his 45 in their direction.
"Easy Yank, we're here to help" said the elder man, in a heavy French-Canadian accent. Tony lowered his weapon to his side, but still kept his finger on the trigger. "Now, let's take a look at that wound" he said. Tony nodded.
"So I take it he's the new Bravo Team Leader?" Tony asked Morrell.
"Gee, what gave it away?" Morrell asked sarcastically.
"Ok, whatever" Tony said as leaned back in his chair. "Look, I have less than a week to prep my team for our next Op, so for now, just have Bravo do some target shooting or something" Tony said to Galtier.
"Anything I need to brief the President on?" Irving asked.
"No" Tony replied. "Just tell him to find someone to replace EJ. I hate paperwork" Tony told him.
"Right" said Morrell as he and Galtier left the office. Once they left, Tali walked in.
"We drew straws, Bridget will be in charge of updating the files" Tali told him.
"Sucks to be her" Tony said. "Assemble Alpha Team in the T.O.C in 25 mikes for a briefing" Tony ordered.
"Yes Sir" Tali replied as she ducked out.
"Tals wait" Tony called after her.
"Yes Colonel?" she asked as she poked her head through the half open door.
"You ok?" Tony asked as he leaned back in his chair.
"What do you mean Sir?" she asked.
"Well for starters, my name is Tony, no Sir" Tony said. "Any reason why you've been saying that lately?" he asked.
"You're in charge now Sir. With EJ gone" she said, as the sight the bullet from Tony's gun crashing through the side of EJ's head.
"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.
"Tali, if you want some time off, just say the word" Tony told her.
"Thank you Colonel… err, I mean Tony. I'm fine, and I intend to stay that way" she said.
"Ok then, because I'm going to need you for this Op" Tony told her.
"I'm your partner, you know I've always got your back" Tali assured her.
"I know. But I for this one, you, and only you, can pull this one off" Tony said as he reached into his desk and pulled out a file. "Remember her?" Tony asked.
"Fatima Ali" Tali read. "Yes, we went to school together before I went Into Mossad training" Tali said.
"Well now, she's the 3rd wife to a top Hamas Commander in Beirut" Tony told her. "We have intelligence that Rokotov will be in Beirut next week, he'll be meeting with Fatima's husband. I need you to meet with her. Offer her $5,000,000 and a plane ticket to the US" Tony told her.
"Ok, when do I leave?" she asked.
"You and I will leave tomorrow" Tony said. "We'll be using a C.I.A safehouse in the city as our base of Operations" Tony told her.
"Ok then" Tali said. "And what of the rest of the team?" she asked.
"We, or rather you, will have 72 hours to make contact. Hitman will lead the rest of the team in in 96 hours" Tony said. "After Colonel Barrett's funeral" Tony said.
"Closed casket?" Tali asked.
"Yeah" Tony replied solemnly.
"He had a gun to Erica Jane's head and he had just shot you in the back" Tali said. "You were completely justified in shooting him" Tali told him.
"Still, the look on Erica Jane's face" Tony said.
"She'll come around" Tali said. "You and me both know what it's like to have evil biological fathers" Tali said, referring to her own biological father, Mossad Director Eli David, and Tony's, Anthony Dominick DiNozzo Sr. "You saved her life Tony, that's what she'll remember" Tali said as she walked out.
0715 hours local time, 30 May 2001, Beirut, Lebanon.
Dressed from head to toe in a black robe and veil, Tali waited patiently across the street from the Mosque and the people began flowing out after Morning Prayer. A few minutes later, Tali spotted her assignment. She watch as she slipped on her shoes and left the building. Tali quickly, but casually slipped across the street behind her. After a few blocks, and when she was absolutely certain she hadn't been followed, Tali got closer to her target. She quickly slipped her hand over her mouth and dragged her into a side alley. "Who are you?" The woman yelled in Arabic.
"Shut Fatima" Tali commanded in English as she aside her veil.
"Tali?" she replied. "But you're dead"
"So I am" Tali said as she leaned up against the side of the building. "We need your help, Fatima" Tali told her.
"Who is we?" she asked. "Mossad?"
"Yes, I'm not sure if you know, but my father" she said as she spat out the words, trying to hide her disgust. "Is now Director"
"What do you want to know?" Fatima asked. Tali reached into her pocket and pulled out a photo.
"What we know, is this man, will be meeting with your husband in 5 days time. We know your husband beats you and we can offer you a way out" Tali explained. "We what to know where the meeting will be held and what it is about" Tali said. "In exchange, we can offer you $5,000,000 and a plane ticket from Ben-Gurion to Detroit" Tali said.
"I can do this" Fatima replied.
"Good" Tali said.
0900 hours, 30 May 2001, Tactical Operations Center, Unit Compound, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Multi-tasking was something that every member of the Unit was good at… well, except Chester, who at the moment was trying to tie his tie while also searching his desk for the keys to his truck. "Top draw, stupid" Bridget yelled from her own desk as she didn't even look up from her paper work.
"How the hell did you know that?" Chester yelled as he opened the draw and pulled out the keys to his Dodge Ram.
"Because that's where they've always been every single time you can't find them" Bridget said.
"Really?" Chester asked as he finished tying his tie.
"Yes!" Bridget yelled as she continued going through the paperwork on her desk.
"Jesus, what's got your panties in a bunch?" he asked.
"I'm stuck updating the Colleton files" she said. The Unit's Classified Top Secret personnel files were referred to as The Colleton files, as he was The Unit's CO when they were 1st collected.
"Anything fun?" Chester asked.
"Maybe" Bridget replied. "Come take a look at this" she said holding up 2 files. Chester walked over and Bridget handed her the 1st folder.
"This is Tali's" Chester said as he opened it.
"Take a look at the certificates" Bridget said.
"Ok, the 1st I take it is the original, as it lists Eli and Rivka David as her parents, and the 2nd is our official forgery, which lists Tom as the father and Tom's deceased High School girlfriend as her parents" Chester observed.
"Take a look at the DoBs" Bridget said.
"They're the same, 11 June 1979" Chester read.
"Now here's Tony's" Tali said handing him the file.
"Same thing. The 1st lists his parents as Anthony Dominick and Rebecca Lily DiNozzo Sr. The 2nd lists his parents as Michael Santino Corinthos Jr. and Olivia Falconeri. Just like Tali's, his DoB is the same, 21 July 1968" Chester said as he placed the files down. "So what?" he asked.
"Now take a look at Liat's file" she said as she handed it to him.
"Ok, her forged file lists her parents as Anthony Dominick and Caitlin Alexandra DiNozzo Jr as her parents, DoB 16 March 1983" Chester read.
"Now here's the problem, take a look at her original" Bridget said.
"The names the parents have been blacked out" Chester observed.
"Recognize the DoB?" she asked.
"26 May 1983" Chester read. "That's Three's birthday" he recalled.
"And here's the freaky part" Bridget said as she pulled out Three's file. "Both certificates are signed by the same doctor" Bridget said.
"How is that possible?" Chester asked. "Does Tony know about this?" Bridget asked.
"No way, Tony hates paperwork with a burning passion. And this is the 1st time we've updated the files since Liat joined the Unit" Bridget said.
"Look, I have to go to EJ's funeral" Chester said as he threw on his jacket. "And we can't confront Kate until we have actual proof"
"So what did you have in mind?" Bridget asked.
"While I've never met the man, if there is anyone who knows anything about Liat's paternity, it has to be Sonny Corinthos" Chester said.
1000 hours local time, 4 June 2001, C.I.A safehouse, Beirut, Lebanon.
Since Beirut was practically in the Mossad's backyard, Tali and Tony had to be left out the takedown of Vasily Rokotov. They had been left behind at the safehouse so that Tali could setup the interface between the ground team and the white house situation room. Also, once the Op was complete, they would need to swoop in and pick up Fatima from her apartment.
"We're ready here Whiskey Hotel" Tony said into his secure sate phone.
"Copy that Movie Buff" said the familiar voice of Brigadier General Irving Morrell, who was standing by in The White House Situation room along with the President, his chief of Staff, the Joint Chiefs of staff, the National Security Advisor, the director of the C.I.A. and the Secretary of Defense. "Movie Buff, you may inform Ironman that his team is cleared to proceed" Morrell said.
"Copy that Whiskey Hotel" said Tony as he looked out the window, which overlooked downtown Beirut. Not that he could see it, but he knew that somewhere up in the skies above Lebanon, the C.I.A had one of their new drones overlooking the Operation. Tony picked up his secure radio and clicked the mic. "Ironman, this is Movie Buff. You are cleared to proceed with scenario Alpha" Tony said into his mic.
1005 hours local time, 4 June 2001, downtown Beirut, Lebanon.
"Copy that Movie Buff" Chester replied into his radio. Himself, along with Three and Deeks, were taking cover on the ground floor of the building next to where Fatima Ali had said her husband was meeting with Vasily Rokotov. Again due to Beirut's proximity to Israel, Tony had ordered her to return to Mossad HQ in Tel-Aviv. He want her there when the Op went down.
About 800 meters away, Billy inserted a 10-round clip into his Dragonov SVD Sniper rifle. Under Tony's strict orders, Billy had left his K98k at home. At the same time, Chester's team was armed Micro Galil assault rifles, Uzi submachine guns and Jericho 941 pistols. General Morrell had given Tony strict orders that The US could not, under any circumstances, be tied to this operation. After all the crap Eli David had pulled in Quebec, Tony had every intention on dumping the fallout right of Mossad's doorstep. "Hitman, this is Ironman. We have a green light for scenario alpha, I say again, we have a green light for Alpha" Chester said into his radio.
"Copy that" Billy replied. "Papillion, you all set on the scope?" he asked his partner, who was also in a prone position next to him"
"All set" Izzy replied. "Wind is 8 miles north, northwest"
20 minutes later-
"Ironman, this is Freedom, I have 3 vehicles on approach" Tali said into her radio as she watched the live feed from the UAV on her computer screen.
"Copy that Freedom" Ironman replied. "Get ready" he whispered to Three and Deeks. Before anyone knew what had happened, the street in front of Chester's position became flooded with Hezbollah militia.
"Holy shit" Tony observed. "Whiskey Hotel, this is Movie Buff, we have massive hostiles flooding target area. Recommend switching to scenario Bravo" Tony said into the secure sat phone.
"Understood Movie Buff, we see it too. You are authorized to switch mission profiles. Scenario Bravo is a go" Morrell replied.
"Understood Whiskey Hotel" Tony replied. He then picked up Tali's radio. "Hitman, this is Movie Buff, we are switching mission profiles. Scenario Bravo is a go. I say again, scenario bravo is a go. You are cleared to fire once target is acquired. I say again, fire at will" Tony said before placing the radio down. "Grab the radio Tals, we gotta get in position" Tony yelled as he grabbed the keys to the Land Rover he had stolen.
"Ironman, this is Hitman, target vehicles are 100 meters out, lay low until the heats off. Myself and Papillion will me you at the LZ" Hitman said into his radio as he took careful aim with the Dragonov.
"Copy" Chester replied. The 3 vehicles pulled up in front of the target building. The Militia seemed even more jumpy than ever. Guards swarmed around the vehicles as a man stepped out of the vehicle and shook hands with Fatima Ali's husband.
"Movie Buff, this is Hitman target in sight, repeat, I have Vasily Rokotov in site. Do not have a clear shot" Billy said into his radio. Suddenly, Rokotov's driver took a phone call. That's when all hell broke loose. "Hold on Movie Buff, something's up, I think we've been compromised" Hitman said frantically. "Taking the shot" he said as he fired off several rounds.
"Papillion, this is Movie Buff" said Tony into his radio as he and Tali grove along. "Status of target over" Both he and Tali waited patiently.
"Movie Buff, this is Papillion, 4 hostiles down, Target has fled, repeat, target has fled" Izzy said ominously.
"Damn it" Tony yelled as he slammed the radio down on the dashboard.
"Now what?" Tali asked from the passenger seat.
"We carry on as planned" Tony replied.
1305 hours local time, 4 June 2001, 10 miles north of Israeli/Lebanese border, Lebanon.
"As promised, $5,000,000 US, and a plane ticket to Detroit" Tali said as she handed Fatima the briefcase. Fatima took the case and gave Tali a warm hug.
"Thank you so much Tali, for everything" Fatima said as she released the hug and got into the car.
"Anything for an old friend" Tali said as Fatima started the black Mercedes Benes.
"You will come visit me in Detroit, yes?" Fatima asked.
"Of course" Tali said with a smile. "Goodbye old friend" Tali said as Fatima drove away. Tali walked back over to Tony, who was leaning up against the Land Rover.
"No one can know that Tali David is still alive" Tony said as he lit a cigarette. After Tony had taken a puff, Tali reached up and grabbed in from his mouth, before throwing it to the ground.
"I know" Tali said as the Mercedes exploded into a fireball behind them.
"Tis the price we pay" Tony said as he and Tali got into the Land Rover.
Please Review.
Next time on "28 Seconds: Strength & Honor"-
Bridget ventures to Port Charles, where she questions Tony's father about Liat's Paternity. Meanwhile, with the Unit still in need of a Commanding Officer, Tony heads to White House to speak with The President. While there, Kate and Tony have it out over Tony's job. Finally, when Rioters in Jakarta attack the US Embassy in Indonesia, the Embassy falls under siege, trapping Bravo Team inside.