Chapter 42
Training Day
0930 hours, 18 February 2002, 5838 W 110th Street, Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York.
In the past 2 months, there had been a major escalation in gang violence north of 110th Street… in Harlem. Back in the mid-90s, MS-13 and The Bloods had been forced out by the Italians, the Corinthos-DiNozzo Family in particular. Since then, the gangs had slowly been crawling their way back.
A couple of weeks prior, there had been a large shootout on the Harlem/Spanish Harlem Border, between the 2 resurgent gangs. There were 3 deaths in the incident. Detectives McBain and Barrett had been assigned to tracking down the shooters.
After 2 weeks one of EJ's CIs (Confidential Informant), had come up with a list of the shooters. Their new Captain, a "quota baby" named Diego Machado, had assigned the 2 detectives to bring in the shooters from the Blood side of things.
"Here it is" EJ said as they pulled up in John's black 1971 Dodge Challenger. She quickly checked the clip on her police issue P226, and on her backup, a Smith & Wesson 39, which was tucked in a holster on the back of her belt. Meanwhile, John, armed with his non-Police issue AMT Automag V.
"Ready?" John asked.
"Ready" EJ replied. John and EJ quickly entered the apartment building and made their way up to the 5th floor. They quickly took up positions on either side of the door, and gave each other nods. John quickly kicked in the door, and the 2 partners rushed inside. "NYPD, hands up!" EJ yelled, her Sig drawn. In the room, there were 3 African-American males, all sporting gang colors, sitting around a coffee table. "Don't even think about" she warned, when one of the men looked down at the handguns resting on the table. He one of the men did try it, EJ fired off a round, which struck the man square in the chest, slicing through his aorta, killing him instantly. With their friend dead, the other 2 men tried diving for their guns to, only to be struck down by a hail of bullets from EJ and John. The 2 dead bodies slumped back in their chairs. Just as they were about to holster their weapons, a door down the apartment's hallway opened, causing EJ and John to quickly pull her weapons again. "Hands!" EJ yelled.
"Ight, ight" said the man as he held up his hands and walked toward them.
"Frisk him" John said to EJ as he held up his gun. EJ quickly did as relieved the man of his weapon, a 9mm, and a few baggies of Cocaine. "Hey, I know you" John said.
"Nah man" the guy said.
"Yeah we do" EJ said. "Latrell Sprewell" EJ said. "Shooting Guard for the Knicks" she added.
"Fuck" the guy said.
"Got a permit for this Latrell?" John asked as he held up the pistol.
"I don't suppose y'all are fans?" Sprewell asked.
"Motor City, born n' bred" said EJ, who was a diehard fan of all Detroit Sports: Red Wings (Hockey), Pistons (Basketball), Lions (Football) and Tigers (Baseball). The latter of which often put her at odds with her father and siblings, who were all diehard Yankee Fans.
"Philly, Sixers all the way" John said, who grew up in the small town of Llanview just outside of Philadelphia.
"I was born in Milwaukee" Latrell said.
"I hate Milwaukee" EJ said. "Wisconsin too" she added. "Fuckin Cheeseheads" she uttered under her breath. "Oh well" EJ said as she slapped the cuffs on the NBA All-star before kicking out his knees and knocking him to the ground.
"I'll call for some Black & Whites" John said as he pulled out his cell phone.
"Hold on, I got an idea" EJ said with a smile.
"What?" John asked.
"Yeah what?" Latrell asked from the floor.
"Shut up!" Erica yelled as she kicked him in the ribs. "Anyway, as I was saying" she continued as she turned her attention back to John. "You wanna make a shit ton of money?" she asked.
"What did you have in mind?" John asked.
"So far, only you and me know that Sprewell here won't be making it to the game tonight" she smiled.
"I gotta call my bookie" John said with a smile. "10 Grand outa cover it right?" he joked. "What about you?"
"I'm good, it's about pride. The Knicks are playing my Pistons tonight" EJ smiled.
"Ok, I'll stoe our friend here across the hall, then I'm gonna call my bookie, Call for CSU and some Black & Whites" John said as he grabbed Latrell and forced him out of the room
"Right" EJ replied as she slipped out her phone and quickly dialed. "Hey it's me" she said. "Just a heads up, Sprewell won't be making it to the game tonight" she said. "Ok good" she said as she hung up.
1845 hours local time, 18 February 2002, U-234, 269 nautical miles south of the Icelandic Coast, Northern Atlantic Ocean.
With U-234 now within 50 miles of the G-7, she dropped down to periscope depth. "Captain Hotchkiss" yelled on of the Ratings.
"What is it Warren?" The Captain replied.
"Radar contact, bearing 0-7-0,"
"Very well. Mr. Webb, with me" he ordered. Under orders of fleet command, the entire crew was in captured Spanish Navy uniforms. This helped, since they had to use the signal lamp on the conning tower to signal their target. Clay and Captain Hotchkiss quickly scrambled up the ladder and onto the tower; all the while, a massive rain storm blew in around them. The Captain raised his binoculars to his face.
"I have a signal lap off the starboard bow" Webb called out as he used the U-234's lamp to reply.
"I see it" Hotchkiss said. "Pass the word: Submarine spotted off the starboard bow; stand by to man battle stations" he ordered.
"Aye Sir" one of the ratings replied.
Once the Order was given, the boarding party, was assembled below. The men were armed with various small arms, mostly Mac-10s. "Ok, I last time" Webb began. "Lieutenant Clark's raft gets the conning tower aft. My raft gets the gun crew. And no one, I mean, no one, shoots until I shoot 1st. understood?" he asked.
"Aye Sir" the group replied.
"Lock n' Load"
Meanwhile back on the Con, the crew's navigator finished his estimates. "Captain, I estimate the Spanish resupply sub has a 14-knot speed of advance. My calculations puts them at 12 hours out sir" the navigator said.
"Very well, Mr. Larson" the Captain replied. "Lieutenant Walsh" he called out to his XO.
"Sir?"
"Prepare to launch the boarding party" Hotchkiss ordered as Webb walked over. "Mr. Webb, if things go south, I will blow that Spic tin can right of the water"
"Understood Captain" Webb replied.
Meanwhile, as she prepared to disembark, Sam removed her academy ring and slipped it onto her dog tags.
It was just after 1930 hours when the boarding party disembarked.
As the 2 rafts approached the G-7, the American sailors paddled nervously through the rain and wind, ever mindful of the eyes watching them from the enemy craft. Next to same, who was at the front of her boat, she saw one of her men check his pistol. "Easy lads, we're almost there" she cautioned. "We'll bushwhack 'em real good" she added.
Meanwhile, in the other boat, Clay did some quick observations. "All right, we got 12 men topside, 3 on the bridge, 4 on the foredeck, 5 aft" he stated. "Now Remember: both rafts need to be tied up before we move" he said, a feat which wasn't easy in the dark of night in good weather, let alone in a huge storm like they were in.
"Holy shit, they got machine guns" one of Sam's men gasped.
"Easy boys, wait for the signal" she cautioned.
"Ah!" yelled a man from the G-7, presumably the captain. All the men froze, as most of them knew very little Spanish, and those that did, had a terrible and unconvincing accent. "Ah! Beinvenido!" the man yelled again. "tenemos un trabajo para ti". The Americans remained silent. "Quien de ustedes son la mecanica?" Without even thinking, Sam finally decided to speak up.
"Nuestros somos todos mecanicas. Nuestros somos todos muy habiles" she yelled out. "Tendremos que marcha antes del amanecer" she continued. Thanks to Sam's quick thinking, the Spanish sailors were easily satisfied, and tossed lines to the 2 rafts. Once they were both tied up, they made their move.
"Now!" Clay yelled. The men quickly opened fire, killing all the men on deck. "Take the tower! Move! Move!" he yelled. Unfortunately, the sailors inside the sub had managed to seal the top hatch and were preparing to crash dive the sub.
"Open it" Sam yelled as she inserted a fresh clip into her Mac-10. One of her men, a Petty Officer Crawford, managed to get the hatch open, following which Sam fired several bursts inside the tower. Sam and her men slipped inside the tower and quickly got to work on the 2nd hatch. Once again they finally got the hatch open, and both Clay and Sam dropped in grenades. After the grenades exploded, the hatch was opened again and Sam was the 1st one down. While Petty Officers Crawford and Flaherty held onto her ankles, Sam dropped down head 1st and fired off the remainder of her clip before dropping down. Sam and her men quickly overpowered the remaining Spaniards in the control room, before dividing into 2 groups. "Chief, your section has forward, mine aft" Sam yelled.
"Aye Mam" replied Senior Chief Petty Officer Bobby Dougherty.
"Move" Sam yelled. While the Chief's team moved, so did Sam's. With PO Crawford watching her back, Sam dutifully took the lead, her service weapon, a Beretta M9, drawn. As they passed through the crew's quarters, Sam timidly pulled back the curtains on one of the bunks. When she did, she found a Spaniard behind it. The man fired, and Sam quickly ducked and fired back. Her bullet struck him right in the forehead, killing him. They then made their way to the aft torpedo room, where they were met with sidearm fire. Sam quickly fired and dispatched the 2 defenders. "Quickly, check the bilge for a scuttling charge" Sam ordered as she quickly reached in and grabbed the heavy bag, which contained the sub's secret papers. While Sam used blankets to dry the ink on the code books and other such documents, PO Crawford checked the bilge.
"No Charge" he yelled.
"I got the Enigma" Clay yelled from forward.
"I got the code books" Sam replied.
While the American wounded was transferred back to U-234, Clay, Sam, and her team took pictures of everything, and prepared scuttling charges. "Fuses burning Lieutenant" said PO Flaherty, who was the last man to get on deck.
"Good, let's move" said Clay, who held the enigma machine in his hands.
It was in the coda of a Spanish sailor to die fighting, and as such, there were no prisoners. Back on the 234, Captain Hotchkiss looked on as the rafts when back for the last of the men. When he turned back to look off the starboard side, he saw a wake running through the water. "Shit" he yelled as the wake, a torpedo, slammed into the side of U-234, blowing the boat sky high.
The explosion was so massive, the shockwave knocked down the remaining members of the crew who were still on the G-7. "The Enigma" Clay yelled as the box slipped overboard. Clay quickly dove into the water after it.
"Everybody below deck, now!" Sam yelled. "Chief, take her down" she added as PO Robertson pulled Clay, and the Enigma from the water.
Once all the men were inside the G-7, Sam took one last look, when she heard her name being called out. "Sam! Sam!" she recognized the voice. "Go!" the voice said. It was Lieutenant Commander Hotchkiss, the crew's Captain. Sam nodded and jumped down the hatch, sealing it behind her.
Inside the sub, the men were quick to disable the scuttling charges they had just set. Once that was done, Sam, realizing she was the only officer left, was quick to step up. "Sabatino, Griggs, get to the Forward torpedo room, Flaherty, on the helm, Crawford, the planes, Stinson, radar" she ordered. "Get us moving Chief" she yelled. "Tank, I need speed, get the batteries powered up" she yelled. "Sabatino, find out how many fish we got in the tubes, and get ready to launch 'em" she kept yelling.
"I can't read this" Tank yelled.
"Clay!" Sam yelled.
"On it" he replied as he took off running.
"I got the Christmas tree" Sam yelled as she quickly checked it. "Bien, bien, bien, bien" she repeated to herself. "Todos es bien!" she yelled as she grabbed the mic tube. "Tree is green, no holes, prepare to crash dive!" she yelled.
"Opening Ballast vents!" yelled Chief Dougherty.
"Opening midship valves!" yelled PO Crawford. "Opening midship vents!" he added as the ship began to slip below the surface. Once Clay helped PO Tankerton, aka "Tank" read the Spanish, the young Petty Officer got the batteries powered up and the got the propellers turning.
"Lieutenant, everything is in meters" said PO Crawford. "Passing 15 meters" he added.
"Recommend shutting main vents!" yelled the Senior Chief.
"Make it so!" Sam yelled. "Make depth 20 meters" she ordered.
"Depth 20 meters, aye" Crawford echoed.
"Chief, take the dive" Sam ordered.
"I have the dive" he echoed. "At 20 meters" he announced. "Bow planes at zero, Control your depth with the stern planes" he told Crawford, who echoed the same.
"Lieutenant, All ahead full, batteries are flat and draining fast" Tank yelled into his mic tube.
"Lieutenant!" yelled PO Stinson from the soundroom, which was just off the control room. "I here the U-234 breaking up, and I have a submerged contact, 0-1-0" he yelled. "Real close, inside 1000" he added.
"It's the fucking re-supply sub" Sam cursed. "What's our heading?"
"2-8-0, Mam" Flaherty answered.
"Right full rudder, make flank speed, set course for 0-1-0" she ordered.
"Mam?" shouted Flaherty
"Shut up and do it!" yelled Chief Dougherty, who knew what the young LT had in mind.
"Tank, starboard back full" Sam ordered, as the sub swung right into the path on the enemy submarine. "Sabatino!" she yelled into her mic.
"We got 4 fish. Tubes are flooded, but I can't open the doors until I'm equalized" he yelled back. "I can't find the valve"
"Enemy Submarine close abroad, Torpedo in the water, Torpedo in the water!" PO Stinson yelled.
"Webb, hot foot it to the torpedo room!" Sam yelled.
"Passing 2-3-0" PO Flaherty yelled.
"Turn, baby, turn" Sam said to herself.
"Passing 0-0-0"
"Swing, you bastard, swing" Sam said as a loud screech passed the ship.
"Torpedoes missed, they're in our baffles" PO Stinson yelled, but then he held up his hand. "2 more torpedoes in the water!" he yelled.
"Tubes Equal!" Sabatino yelled from the forward torpedo room.
"Get ready to fire a spread!" Sam yelled. "Tubes 1 & 2, zero gyro. FIRE!" Sam yelled.
"1 & 2 away" yelled PO Vostanik Sabatino. "Lining up tubes 3 & 4!"
"3 & 4 FIRE!"
"3 & 4 away"
"All fish running hot, straight and normal" informed PO Stinson. Meanwhile, the 2nd pair of torpedoes fired by the enemy sub flew past, missing again. At the same time, the 1st 3 fish fired by the now US-Controlled G-7, missed. The 4th, however, did not. "Target breaking up, bulkheads collapsing, target destroyed" Stinson concluded.
"Surface the boat" Sam ordered.
While the crew searched the water for survivors of U-234, Sam needed to do something quickly, with the subs batteries nearly completely drained. "Any luck with the diesels?" she asked. POs Sabatino and Griggs, who were working on them.
"Starboard is a wreck, we need the dry dock to fix it" said Griggs. "But I think I can get the portside up and running" he said.
"Ok Griggs, do what you can" Sam ordered.
"Yes, Mam"he said solemly.
"Sabatino, how many fish do we have left?" she asked.
"Just one, but its stuck in the stern tube; can't be moved to the bow" he said.
"Ok, keep working".
Once the search had ended, bearing no fruit, Sam assembled the crew. "I've decided on a course. Its just under 800 miles to the Irish coast" she said. "We need to move quickly. Once that supply sub doesn't report in, The Spanish will swarm this area with their entire fleet" Sam said.
"Mam, why can't we just use the radio?" asked PO Flaherty. "Fire off a Mayday and wait for rescue?"
"That's impossible" Webb spoke up. "If we transmit, the Spanish, or even their Canadian allies will direction-find our position to a grid section where they are missing 2 U-boats. If they even have the slightest suspicion we have the Enigma, they will change their entire coding system. That would completely negate the purpose of our mission" he said.
With one diesel out of commission, the U-boats top speed of 17 knots would be cut in half, meaning the best she could possibly do would be 10 knots at the best. At that rate, it would take nearly 3 days to get to Irish waters. The only thing Sam and her men could do, was pray.
0900 hours local time, 21 February 2002, Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, Germany.
Tony now had a new mission, one that he had less than 2 weeks to complete. In order to use Austin in a way that could hurt the enemy, Austin would have to be in place by the time Operation Anaconda began on 1 March. Tony knew that if anyone could handle the job, it was this kid. He had no parents, no siblings, no family or friends to speak of, he was it. The fact that he was a Ranger too, made Tony's job just a little bit easier. He was already fluent in Arabic, Farsi, Dari, Pashto and Hebrew. He was a marksmen with several weapons, proficient in knife and hand-to-hand combat, and he could use several types of radios with little difficulty. But now, Tony needed to teach him the most important part of the trade.
So, Tony and 2nd Lieutenant Austin Joseph "AJ" Kearns, headed to Berlin. "Technology gets better every day, and that's fine" Tony told him as they walked along the River Spree, which ran through the very heart of Berlin. "But most of the time, all you need is a stick of gum, a pocketknife and a smile"
"That's disappointing" said Austin, as they crossed the street towards a coffee cart. His mind darting back to their earlier breakfast in a busy restaurant.
"Every building, every room, every situation is a snapshot" Tony said. "While I'm sitting here talking to you, I'm also checking the room, memorizing it. The people, what they're wearing. Then I ask the question, what's wrong with this picture?" he explained. As he did, Austin's eyes scanned the room. He took mental notes of the old couple fighting in the corner. "What's wrong with this picture? Anything Suspect?" Tony continued. "You've gotta see it, assess it, and dismiss most of it without looking, without thinking"
"Without thinking?" AJ asked.
"It's just like breathing. You breathe, don't you?" Tony said as he took a sip of water.
"Always carry cigarettes and a lighter too. Great ice-breaker" Tony said. "Eine kaffee, bitte" Tony said as he ordered a cup of coffee.
"Zwei" AJ said as he held up 2 fingers. "So when do I get my 1st assignment?" he asked.
"When I decide you're ready" Tony said.
"The Suit in the kitchen" Tony said without even moving his head or eyes. AJ turned and saw what Tony was talking about. "Threat?" Tony asked.
"Wait, how'd you see that?" AJ asked. Tony smiled and tapped the Silver coffee pot on their table, which clearly showed a reflection. "AH!"
"The Guy reading the menu" Tony said. "Don't look" Tony instructed when AJ began to turn his head.
"He wasn't reading the menu" AJ said.
"He wasn't reading at all. Threat?"
"Only to the hostess" AJ replied, as Tony smiled.
"You see that Apartment building there?" Tony asked as he pointed across the street.
"Yeah?" AJ replied.
"Know anyone who lives there?"
"No" AJ said as he shook his head.
"Within 5 minutes, I want to see you standing on one of those balconies" Tony said.
"Come on" AJ laughed in disbelief. "Why don't we discuss this over coffee" AJ suggested.
"You just lost 10 seconds" Tony smiled as he sipped his coffee.
"Fuck" AJ said as he zipped up his windbreaker and took off running. Now it was Tony's turn to recall the events of the past, as he thought back to their 1st day in Berlin, on the bridge that spanned the river.
"Solicit Information from someone" Tony instructed as the 2 men leaned against the side of the concrete bridge. AJ smiled as he stared at a young fraulein wearing a very short skirt.
"Gladly" AJ said as he got up. When AJ got back, Tony talked him down.
"You just gave her 4 pieces of personal information, for 1 dubious, impersonal fact" Tony said.
"I was just trying to find out where she got that dress" AJ said.
"Ok, looked what you told her just by asking that. 1- You're straight, 2- you're engaged, 3- tomorrow is your girl's birthday and 4- you have no taste in women's fashion" Tony said, causing AJ to chuckle. "What if she were an asset?" Tony got serious. "You told her 4 lies that now have to be true.
"Ok" AJ said.
As Tony took another sip of coffee, he caught a glimpse of something in his peripheral vision. He saw an old man open the French doors on the building he had just sent AJ into. The man began pointing and talking, but he was way too far away for Tony to here, but could make out enough by reading his lips. He was showing off the sights. Then Tony smiled, when AJ, coffee cup and saucer in hand. AJ smiled as he held up his cup. "I'll be damned" Tony said quietly to himself.
2000 hours local time, 21 February 2001, Das Hotel Bar, Berlin, Germany.
"I thought spies drank martinis" AJ said after Tony ordered 2 scotches as they took seats at the bar.
"Scotch, never less than 12 years old" Tony corrected him.
"Is that right?" AJ asked jokingly. "Army Rules?" he joked.
"My rules" Tony said. "Rule #2 to be exact"
"So what else? What else do I need to know?" he asked.
"Put away some money do you can die someplace warm" Tony said. "Don't ever touch it, not for anyone. Ever" he told him.
"Ok" AJ said. "That it?"
"Don't ever, and I mean ever, under any circumstances, risk your life, or your career for an asset. There is no exception to that rule. If it comes down to you or them, send flowers" Tony said as he took out a laptop from his bag. He opened it, pulled up a file and showed it to the young 2nd Lieutenant.
"My service file" AJ said. Tony reached over, and pressed the "delete" key. Suddenly, the file was gone.
"2nd Lieutenant Austin Joseph Kearns, serial number 245-5525, no longer exists. Austin Joseph Kearns, no longer exists" Tony said as he snapped the laptop shut and put it back in his bag.
"Ok" AJ said.
"You work for me, and only me. You report to me, and only me. You tell no one of your true identity"
"Is that why you chose me? Because I have no family, no one who'll notice I'm gone"
"You really want an answer that?" Tony said. AJ shook his head. "Tomorrow, 0600, roof of the Fujifilm building" Tony said.
1900 hours local time, 21 February 2002, Irish Sea, off the coast of Ireland.
"Scuttling charges set Mam" said PO Crawford, as he exited the conning tower.
"Good" Sam said as he took a look around on last time. They were now only a few miles off shore, inside Irish Territorial waters, guaranteeing the Spanish couldn't search the area for their missing U-boat.
Lieutenant Samantha Clark had done her job. She had gotten her crew home. "Lieutenant, Mam" spoke up Senior Chief Dougherty. "You ever need a Chief, just gimme a ring" he said.
"Me too" echoed the rest of the crew.
"Thank you" she said. "Abandon ship" she ordered. Within a few hours, the survivors where on a flight back to the States, Enigma and code books in hand.
1800 hours local time, 21 February 2002, 2002 Olympic Ice Hockey- Gold Medal Game, E Center, Salt Lake City, Utah.
A lot had changed in the world of Ice Hockey in the past year. Since the end of the Northern War and Operation Frozen Fury, The NHL Owners Association had forced all of the Canadian-based teams out of the NHL. The only non-American team to remain in the league was the Montreal Canadians, which had been renamed the Montreal Screaming Eagles, in honor of the men of the American 101st Airborne Division that had died liberating the city.
The expulsion of the Canadian teams from the NHL, had also lead to the mass-defection of Canadian players from US Teams, and vice-versa.
The 2002 Olympics also marked the 1st time that Quebec was represented at the Olympic Games. The Quebecois had done quite well at the games, making it through to the medal round, where they were defeated 3-2 by Team USA.
And now it was time for the Gold Medal Game. Team Canada, led by Captain Chris Pronger, formerly of the St. Louis Blues, and Team USA, led by Captain Rex Bartlett, considered the best amateur player in the nation.
The 1st 3 periods flew by, with neither team able to score. Due to the rules, it was now set for one final period: Sudden Death overtime. And that, is where we begin.
"Hello, and for those of you just joining us, I'm Al Michaels, along with long time Dallas Star, Mike Madano, here as we begin this Sudden Death overtime period. And the teams are back on the ice now, Peca from team Canada, and Bartlett from Team USA head to center ice. The Referee, puck in hand, skates to center ice. And here we go" the TV Announcer said as the referee dropped the puck. Rex and Pronger fought for the puck, with Rex eventually kicking it loose. And now, it was one. One goal to the finish. And this, is how it finally went down.
"And Pronger takes it up center ice, he passes it to Shanahan, now Shanahan, reaches back, slap shot… kicked away by Richter. The rebound, picked up by Leetch, he takes it down the middle, crossing center ice. And skating up behind his is Bartlett. Leetch passes it over to Bartlett. Bartlett has it on a breakaway. Bartlett, shoots… kicked away by Brodeur, Bartlett picks up the rebound, Slap Shot… GOALLLLLLLL!. Bartlett scores! Bartlett Scores! The United States! Has Won! The Gold Medal!
And so he did it. Rex Bartlett, at age 18, led the US to the Gold Medal. In a time where his country needed a victory, Rex delivered.
In July of that year, Team USA won the ESPY award for Best Team. The Gold Medal Game also won the award for Best Game. Rex won the Awards for, Best Play & Best Moment (for his game winning goal).
In 2006, Rex, now 22, would Captain Team USA once again, and just like he did in 2002, Rex would lead Team USA to the Gold Medal, but that's another story.
0600 hours local time, 22 February 2002, roof of the Fujifilm building, Berlin, Germany.
Despite it being a corporate owned building, the Fujifilm build is a lot smaller than you would think. The roof, was even smaller. Tony sat at a small table, drinking a cup of Coffee when AJ walked up. "So where am I going?" AJ asked. Tony slide a manila envelope across to him. AJ slide out a plane ticket, passport and some other documents.
"Tel-Aviv" AJ read from the ticket. Then he looked at the passport. "Marcus Sharon" he read. "So now I'm an Israeli" he said.
"Just follow the instructions and burn after reading" Tony said as he stood up. "Oh, and know this, if you screw up, if you pull some stunt and go off the reservation, I won't be going after you. Clear?"
"Clear" AJ answered.
"You probably think the hardest part is going to be trying to remember what's the truth and what's a lie. But I'll make real simple for you. There is no truth, there is no lie. Don't worry about keeping cover. You are the cover. That's it" Tony said.
"How will I know what to do?" AJ asked.
"You have your instructions" Tony said as he slipped on his hat, a gray fedora. "You report back to me whatever you think is relevant via the safe deposit box in Haifa. The mission ends, when you decide it ends.
"Jawohl, Herr Oberst" AJ said. Yes Sir, Colonel.
"No knows who you are, no one but me.
"Good Luck Lieutenant"
"You too Sir" AJ said as he began memorizing the papers.
2100 hours, 26 February 2002, Conference Room, NCIS Headquarters, Washington Naval Yard, Washington D.C.
Before he could head to Afghanistan to take part in Operation Anaconda, Tony had to attend a briefing at NCIS HQ. In attendance was NCIS Director Tom Morrow, NCIS Deputy Director Jenny Shepard, Admiral Chegwidden, and some other people from the CIA, FBI and some of the other alphabet agencies. "Colonel DiNozzo, my question is simple. Does the Unit have any undercover personnel in the Middle East?"
"My people are out there. They're like fuckin Indians. You're not gonna see 'em, you're not gonna hear from them. And you will never know the identity of my people. The only way you're gonna hear from em, is from me, and me alone. That's mostly because your agencies have more leaks in em than the fuckin Iraqi Navy".
"Fuck yourself" said Director Morrow.
"I'm tired, from fucking your wife"
"Oh yeah, how's ya mother?"
"Tired, from fucking my father" Tony retorted.
"Jesus Christ Colonel, do you have anyone undercover inside Mossad?" asked Jenny, hoping to get a quick answer.
"Maybe, maybe not. May fuck ya self. My rule about Feds is a simple one. Treat em like mushrooms: Feed em shit and keep em in the dark" Tony said.
0900 hours local time, 27 February 2002, Mossad Headquarters, Tel-Aviv, Israel
It was just after 0900, as Dana and Liat were talking at Liat's desk over their morning coffee. "Can I ask you something?" Liat asked.
"Sure" Dana said as she sipped her coffee.
"You know that I was adopted by Mariella right?" she asked, referring to her childhood adoptive mother, Mariella Tuvia.
"Yep" Dana replied.
"And you know how Mal isn't his mother's son, that he was the product of an affair?"
"Yep" Dana replied. "And since it was your adoptive mother and Mal's Stepmother who were sisters, you and Mal aren't related in any way" Dana said. "Why, you wanna sleep with him or something?" she joked.
"No" Liat said shaking her head. "I just don't want it to seem weird when I tell you I think you should go after him.
"Well then" Dana said. "Isn't Mal still with Ziva?" she asked. Liat smiled and shook her head.
"Somebody say my name?" Mal asked as he walked up.
"James Bond much" Liat commented. Mal was dressed in black loafers and slacks, a white button down shirt, a black tie, and he had his shoulder holster on, his Jericho resting in it.
"Grow up" Mal said as poured himself a cup of coffee. "So what's up for today?" he asked.
"here" Liat said as she tossed him a stack of cash.
"EJ is awesome" Mal said as he slipped it into his pocket. "How did your sister know that Sprewell would be a no show?" he asked.
"She's a DiNozzo" Liat smiled.
"Officer Ben-Gidon" said a women who came up behind him. "Officer Hadar needs to speak with you" Malachi groaned, placed down his coffee, and made his way over to Officer Hadar's office.
"What do you want?" Mal said, not bothering with any formalities.
"Sergeant Major Ben Gidon, that is your correct rank" Hadar said.
"Yes, why?" Mal asked.
"This is your new team leader" Hadar said pointing to the man.
"Captain Marcus Sharon" the young man said as he extended his hand.
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(Malachi's voice)- Next time on "28 Seconds: Strength & Honor"-
In Afghanistan, The battle for The Takur Ghar begins. As the battle rages on, Tony, Chester, Three, Colonel Manning, AJ Quartermaine, and Deeks are pushed to the limit. Meanwhile, in Israel, Austin begins moving the pieces into place. Hollis Mann, makes one last attempt at taking down the Unit.