Chapter 29
Measure of Men
Part Two
0900 hours, 27 June 2001, Main airstrip, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
"Come on, come on" Tony muttered as he checked his watch for the umpteenth time in the past 20 minutes. Then, Chester's Ram and Billy's Thunderbird came barreling through the gate, pulling up next to Tony's 67 Mustang. "Let's move" Tony yelled as Chester grabbed everyone's gear from the bed of his truck. As he handed Billy and Izzy's their packs, Tali came flying through the gate, riding her 1972 BSA Lightning Motorcycle. She pulled to a stop next to Chester's truck and kicked down the stand. She peeled off her helmet and whipped around her dirty blonde hair. "You're late" Tony yelled.
"Only fashionably" she replied as Deeks pulled up in his baby blue 1958 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner.
"Move it Dragnet" Tony yelled.
"On your Six Top" he replied as he grabbed his gear from the trunk.
"Hey Top, where's Sky Train" Chester asked as he stepped onto the ramp of the C-130.
"I'm sitting him out on this one" Tony replied.
"Any particular reason?" Chester asked.
"Don't worry about it" Tony said. "Let's go, we're wheels up in 2 mikes" Tony yelled.
1100 hours, 28 June 2001, Situation Room, West Wing, White House, Washington D.C.
"Any news?" Captain Bridget Sullivan as she walked into the room.
"Alpha was wheels from Midway 2 hours ago" replied Staff Sergeant Three DiNozzo.
"Three? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with Alpha?" she asked.
"My Dad ordered me to stay behind" Three said.
"Why?" Bridget asked, very confused.
"He didn't say" said Three. "But I get the feeling he didn't want me going on this one"
"I can't imagine why" Bridget said as she placed her briefcase down on her chair.
"So, how was Port Charles?" Three asked.
"I'm sorry?" she replied.
"Port Charles" Three repeated. "Chester mentioned you were spending your leave there" he explained.
"Oh yes, it was very nice, thank you" she said, trying not to let on the reason she was really there. "So what's this rumor flying around that we have a new CO coming in?" she asked him.
"It's true" Three said. "My dad told me yesterday before he took off" he told her.
"Any idea who it is?" Bridget asked.
"No clue" Three responded.
"Captain Sullivan, Staff Sergeant DiNozzo" said one of the Marine Guards at the door. "General Morrell said that there's a Chopper coming in and he wants the 2 of you to meet it" he said.
"Thank you Corporal" said Bridget. "Think it's him?" she asked as she turned back to Three.
"Only one way to find out" said Three. With that, they left the situation room and climbed the stairs to the 1st floor. "Who do you think it is?" Three asked.
"Look, as long as it isn't Colonel Bell again, I'll be fine" she said.
"Was he really that bad?" Three asked as they made their way outside.
"You have no idea kiddo" Bridget said.
"There it is" said Three in a raised voice, yelling over the roar of the chopper blades. The UH-1 Huey set down on the helipad and a US Army Colonel, dressed in his Class-A Uniform, stepped out. "Holy Shit" Three exclaimed.
"Welcome Back Colonel, never thought we'd see you again" Bridget said as she and Three saluted.
"It's good to be back" The Colonel replied as he returned their salutes. The Colonel reached into his pocket and handed a folded piece of paper to Three. "Staff Sergeant DiNozzo, take this to The French Embassy, you are to collect one Sergeant DuBois of the French GIGN Special Forces. I called in a favor on the way in and had The Sergeant temporarily transferred to the Unit as a Intel analyst.
"One Sir" Three said as he took off.
"Is it as bad as The President indicated?" The Colonel asked.
"Yes Sir, Staff Sergeant Cole reported that it was NOT, an RPG round as the media is reporting. It was an Artillery shell" Bridget informed him.
"Do we know if Objective Indigo was involved?" he asked.
"Unclear as of yet" Bridget said.
"Ok, I need to meet with POTUS, once Three returns with Sergeant DuBois, I want you and the Sergeant to start combing through everything we've got" he ordered.
"Yes Sir" Bridget replied.
1135 hours, 28 June 2001, French Embassy, Washington D.C.
After presenting his id and credentials to the guards at both the front gate and door, Three approached the front desk in the main lobby. "Can I help you?" the man at the desk asked in his heavily French-accented English.
"Yes, my name is Staff Sergeant Anthony DiNozzo, I am here to collect a Sergeant DuBois" he said as he handed the paper to the man.
"Ah yes, Mousier DiNozzo, Sergeant DuBois is waiting for you" the man said as he picked up the phone. "I'll inform the Sergeant of your arrival" he said.
"Do that" Three said. "Fucking froggies" he said under his breath.
"Sergeant DiNozzo?" said someone as Three felt someone tap his shoulder.
"Well hello beautiful!" Three said as he gave her his best DiNozzo-smile. "Oh gee, I'm really sorry darling, but I waiting for this Sergeant DuBois here, and it's kind of important" he said.
"Well, you found her" she said.
"I'm sorry?" Three asked.
"Sergeant Karine Christelle DuBois, GIGN" she said as she extended her hand.
"Staff Sergeant Anthony Dominick DiNozzo III" he replied as he shook her hand. "Three" he told her.
"Three?" she asked.
"Three" Three replied.
"You are not surprised that I am a women?" she asked in her heavily accented English.
"Not one bit" Three replied as they left walked outside.
"Then there are women in your 'Unit'?" she asked.
"Too many" Three replied.
2255 hours local time, 28 June 2001, USS George Washington, Task Force 83, Indian Ocean.
"Ten-Hut" Chester yelled as everyone snapped to attention, including Tony when Captain Samuel Carsten, A former US Navy Seal and Captain of The USS George Washington walked into the room.
"At ease" Carsten commanded. "Let's make this quick DiNozzo, Admiral FitzWallace wants this Op underway post ricki-tick" he said as he took a seat at the table.
"I'll make it short Sam, I need a Ch-47, 2 Cobras, and a Huey" Tony said.
"Why the Huey?" Carsten asked.
"Need to know" Tony replied.
"Will I be getting it back?" Carsten asked.
"I'm gonna be honest here, probably not" Tony said.
"Who's gonna be flying it?" Carsten asked.
"Myself. Staff Sergeant Gibbs will co-pilot" Tony said.
"Are you UH-1 qualified Staff Sergeant Gibbs?" Sam asked her.
"Yes Sir" Izzy replied.
"Will anyone else be accompanying you on this little joyride?" Sam inquired.
"1st Lieutenant Hazard" Tony said. "Master Sergeant Martin, Sergeant 1st Class Colleton and Staff Sergeant Deeks will handle the actual rescue"
"And what is it the 3 of you will be doing?" Sam asked.
"Working on our sun tan" Tony replied.
"Very well, you take off in 30 minutes" Carsten said.
0000 hours local time, 29 June 2001, US Embassy, Jakarta, Indonesia.
"Move, move, move" Chester yelled as the remaining members of The Marine detachment loaded the wounded onto the CH-47 Chinook, which included both Junior Lieutenant Galtier and Master Sergeant Gardocki.
"All loaded up Ironman" said Cole as he came running up to Chester. "Where's Top?" he asked.
"I don't know" Chester said. "Now load up" Chester ordered.
"Copy" Cole said. Chester looked over his shoulder onto the Chinook. The remainder of Bravo Team and Deeks were on board. Tali. Chester thought. Chester quickly unslung his M-16 and ran back into the now abandoned Embassy building.
"Freedom?" he called out with no response. Chester quickly hustled up the stairs, into the now deserted Ambassador's office. "Tali" he said when he finally saw her. Taken by surprise, Tali quickly drew her P99 and pointed it at Chester. "Whoa, easy girl, it's just me" Chester said as he put out his hands. "What the hell are you doing?" Chester asked.
"My Job" Tali replied as she finished collecting the evidence.
2045 hours, 28 June 2001, White House Situation Room, West Wing, White House, Washington D.C.
"Ten-Hut" someone yelled as The President entered the sit room.
"Be seated" President Bush said as he took a seat at the head of the table. "Situation report" he said.
"The Delta Team as evacuated the embassy, no further casualties" General Morrell said.
"Ambassador Shaw is dead?" The President asked.
"Yes Sir" Morrell replied.
"And the Delta Boys?"
"The Team leader was critically injured, but should be ok, and the team Senior NCO got a little scratched" Morrell said.
"Do we have confirmation on the munitions?" Bush asked.
"Yes Sir, according to the evidence gathered by Sergeant 1st Class Colleton, it was an artillery shell that hit the embassy" said Morrell.
"Well then, what do you recommend Tom?" Bush asked as he turned to the Delta Force C.O.
"Sir, I think I should have Sergeant DuBois explain what she uncovered" Tom said. Everyone sitting around the table, turned to Sergeant DuBois.
"Mr. President" she began. "With the help of both Sergeant Colleton and Capitaine Sullivan, I have been able to trace the command to fire on your embassy" she said.
"Is it who we suspected?" President Bush asked.
"Oui Monsieur President" Karine replied.
"Tom, is your asset in position?" Bush asked.
"Yes Sir" Tom informed him.
"Give him the green light" Bush ordered. Tom turned to Bridget, who handed him the secure sate phone.
"Movie Buff, this is Marshlands, you are cleared to prosecute target" ordered Colonel Thomas Colleton.
0900 hours local time, 29 June 2001, Jakarta, Indonesia.
"Copy that Marshlands" Tony replied as he brought his sniper rifle up to his shoulder. "Hitman, do you and Papillion have eyes on target?" Tony asked into his radio.
"That's affirmative Movie Buff" Billy replied from his position across the street from the target building. Billy watched as a black Mercedes-Benes limo pulled up. "Movie Buff, target vehicle just pulled up, target is on the move.
"Copy that, I got em" said Tony as he watched as the target exited the building. Tony took in a deep breath and held it as he pulled the trigger.
0600 hours local time, 29 June 2001, Liat DiNozzo's Apartment, Haifa, Israel.
It was just after sunrise when Liat returned to her apartment from her morning run. She walked through the door, slamming it shut behind her. With her A/C blasting, she plopped down on the couch and turned on the TV. Getting US television via satellite in Israel was very expensive, but fortunately for Liat, Grandpa Sonny had deep pockets when it came to his grandchildren. She turned on CNN and watch see saw caught her by surprise.
This is Wolf Blitzer reporting from the Situation Room. Reports are still flooding in from Jakarta, but we can now confirm reports that Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has been assassinated at 9:04am local time this morning. As of now, Indonesian Officials have not released any further information, but this killing, coming only days after the US Embassy in Jakarta was overrun, US/Indo tensions have never been higher. The White House and President Bush have already released a statement condemning the assassination, and the President is expected to address the media sometime tomorrow morning.
"Oh Abba, what have you done know?" Liat asked rhetorically to herself. She turned off the news and leaned back into the couch. For a reason she couldn't explain, she hadn't gotten much sleep the night before. She was just starting to doze off when her secure sate phone rang. "Go for Princess" she said groggily as she answered.
"Princess, it's Red Cap" said Bridget.
"What can I do for you Captain?" Liat asked.
"I need you to catch the next flight home. We need to talk" Bridget said.
"Ok, I'll be on the next flight. Is everything ok?" Liat asked.
"Just be on the next flight" Bridget ordered.
"Yes Mam" Liat said as she hung up.
2310 hours, 28 June 2001, Tactical Operations Center, Unit Compound, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Bridget placed her phone back on its cradle and looked over to Colonel Colleton who was sitting on her desk. He gave her a pat on the back as he stood up. "You're doing the right thing here Captain" he said as he began to leave. "I just hope it's for the right reason" he said as he walked out of the T.O.C.
"I hope I'm doing it for the right reason too" she said to herself as he picked up the phone once again to make her next call.
2320 hours, 28 June 2001, National Mall, Washington D.C.
It was almost Midnight as Three and Karine walked along the reflecting pool. "It was quite the adventure working with you today" Three said.
"Yes, I had a good time too" she said.
"It's a shame we can't do this more often" Three told her with a smile.
"Oh, but we will my dear Trois" she said, using the French word for Three.
"What do you mean?" Three asked her.
"I spoke with Colonel Colleton, and he told me that it is not unheard of for a Foreign Agent to work with the Unit. So I have put in for a transfer" she said. Before Three could respond, his cell phone rang.
"Go for Sky Train" he said answering.
0900 hours, 30 June 2001, DiNozzo residence, base housing, Fort Bragg North Carolina.
After finishing his debrief with Colonel Colleton and The Unit's new intel analyst, Sergeant Karine DuBois, Tony pulled into his driveway next to Three's Mustang Mach I. what he was surprised to see was Bridget's Purple 1971 Dodge Hemi Barracuda parked on the street out front. With his bag slung over his shoulder, Tony walked through his front door and saw his entire family: Kate, Liat and Three sitting on the couch. Sitting across from them was Bridget, with some papers in her hands. "Hey everybody, what's going on?" Tony asked nervously as he dropped his bag by the door.
"Have a seat, Tony" Bridget instructed. "We need to talk" she said ominously.
PLEASE REVIEW!
A/N- Next Time on "28 Seconds: Strength & Honor"- When Kate's secret comes out, will it be end of TATE as we know it. Meanwhile, With Tom Colleton back at the helm, Tali and Chester bring him up to speed on what he's missed in the past 3 years. Finally, Clayton Webb makes a surprise appearance after one of his Ops goes south.