Author note:

I'm still here. Hopefully a few of you are too. It's been a while since I wrote a mission. I hope it makes sense. Please enjoy! (See the end for a note.)

CH 133-Total Collapse

"Son of a bitch! I always feel like I'm puttin' on a full body condom with these things."

"Well, you are a giant, dic…"

"Alright, Three and Six. Stow it, both of you!"

Jason's response and Sonny's continued complaints about getting into his wetsuit were proof of the team's frustration as they got ready for yet another excursion to grab their HVT. This would be the third time they went out after Su Jin Park. The man was a Korean Mob boss turned arms trafficker. At first the CIA just kept tabs on him. But the recent chatter showed that he was no longer just a supplier of guns but had upped his game to start trading in nuclear materials and ingredients for dirty bombs. And he was now negotiating with entities in China, Russia, and North Korea. Bravo had been tasked with his capture.

So far, he had eluded them. He had been located in at a farmhouse in South Korea, supposedly waiting for a meeting with a North Korean military leader. The CIA provide coordinates and drone footage proving Park was in temporary residence at the abandoned location near the DMZ. They were able to infil undetected and converge on the lodging. But when they got there, he was gone. Next, Bravo was sent to storm the dealer's luxury yacht where it was cruising just off the coast. Although their maritime interdiction was executed to perfection, Park was nowhere to be found once they boarded. They found food, still warm sitting on the dining table and music playing through the speakers. But not a soul occupied the boat. No one had any idea how he always seemed to stay half a step ahead of them.

Needless to say, everyone was on edge.

"I'm just sayin' Jace. They better not be sending us on another wild goose chase. 'Specially if I gotta put myself out in that freezing cold water like some sort of chilled appetizer at an all-you-can-eat, sea-monster buffet."

"You afraid of some little fishies, Son?"

"Listen here, Goldilocks. Do you know how many species of shark are here-abouts?"

"I mean it you two. Zip it! Ray's gonna go over the details one more time so listen up."

All eyes turned to Ray as they finished getting geared up for their swim.

"Okay, Park has set up shop on the uninhabited island of Hashima, about fifteen klicks from Nagasaki. The transport boat will take us out and drops us three kilometers from shore. We'll swim in and regroup on the small beach here on the Northeast side. We'll hide our scuba gear behind this old retaining wall. We scale the outer wall and then, immediately to our left is a shaft down into the old coal mine tunnels running below the buildings. After rappelling down, it's a small hike to where the tunnel splits. Clay, you'll take Sonny, Brock, and Vic to the west as far as the tunnel leads. Jace, Trent and I will head further South. The signal will be three short clicks on the radio for whoever is in place first. Three long clicks is the answer. There is a set of stairs at each end of the tunnel. Once we're all in place, we'll climb those up topside. Clay, your team will start into the building, clearing it until you have Park. Jason, Trent, and I will hold security in the courtyard. Making sure there aren't any squirters and that no one makes it back to the dock for an escape. TOC will have eyes-on via satellite. Everyone clear."

The team all answered in the affirmative.

"Any questions?"

Clay spoke up.

"Uh what are our ROE?"

"Park is a capture, not kill. We need him alive. Anyone else who gets in the way is collateral damage."

"How we gettin' off this rock once we have Park?"

"His yacht is docked just off the beach where we make landfall. When we have him, we'll use it as transport back."

Sonny and Clay high fived.

"'Bout time we got to travel in style!"

"Alright boys. Settle down and screw your heads on straight. I want this guy this time. Copy?"

Everyone answered Jason in the affirmative.

The ride out to the drop point was uneventful. The team donned their masks and flipped into the water. When everyone was out and swimming toward their destination, Jason signaled their progress to HAVOC.

"Bravo One to HAVOC-passing Springsteen."

"Good Copy One."

They swam in pairs and one group of three, checking in with each other along the dark, frigid swim to ensure no one was in trouble. Soon the looming presence of the island came into view over their night vision. Jason watched as everyone made the beach and started to divest and stow their tanks and other gear.

"HAVOC, passing, Tyler."

"Passing Tyler, Copy."

Brock, who was in charge of their climbing equipment, shot the two grappling hooks up the stone embankment as the rest scanned the beach for threats. Clay and Sonny went up first and held their position while the rest of the team scaled the edifice. When the last two were up Jason communicated via hand signals to move out toward the mine shaft. Only fifty paces to their left the found the rotting cover of the shaft. Vic and Trent removed it and Brock moved in to secure their rappelling ropes. Everyone clipped in and descended in turn. All seven of them activated their nods and as they split into their assigned teams for the next phase.

"HAVOC, passing Dylan. I repeat, passing Dylan."

"Copy One."

Blackburn, Mandy, and Lisa now had their eyes glued to the screen as they watched, via ISR. They could see Bravo coming topside and then get in place. Once Jason, Trent, and Ray fanned out and had the exits covered Jason gave the signal.

"Execute, execute, execute!"

Leading the way, Clay entered the building and they started to clear, room by room. Jason waited, anxious to hear that they hit the jackpot. As Sonny indicated they were approaching the final door, an explosion knocked Jason off his feet.

Meanwhile HAVOC was buzzing as their screens lit up and then the entire land scape we obscured by smoke and dust.

"HAVOC to all Bravo call signs!"

Jason's head was spinning as he got to his feet.

"Bravo One checking in."

The line was silent, so Jason tried.

"All elements, check in. I repeat all Bravo stations check in."

Trent was next to answer and then Ray.

"Bravo 2 checking in. What the hell happened?"

"Bravo 2 this is HAVOC. There was an explosion and we've lost visibility."

"Any eyes on the rest of the team?"

"Negative Bravo One."

"Bravo Six, how copy?"

Silence.

"Bravo Three! Sonny, how copy?"

Davis broke in on the channel.

"Be advised that according to Japanese forces, Park's yacht left the island."

"Shit! This was a set up!"

"Bravo Three, Bravo 5, all Bravo stations check in!"

Still nothing.

"Ray, Trent! At my POS now!"

"Bravo One, be advised back up and rescue is on the way. Fifteen mikes out."

"Good copy HAVOC."

HVT forgotten their only concern was finding the rest of their team. The dust started to settle, and they assessed the situation.

"HAVOC to Bravo One, sit rep."

"The building is partially collapsed. No point of entry visible."

"Do you have eyes on the team?"

"Negative, HAVOC."

"Good copy, One."

Jason was trying to remain calm while figuring out how to get to his men.

"Ray, you see any way we can get in there?"

"Negative. Let's try comms again."

"Bravo Six, do you copy?"

Again, there was no answer. Jason was going crazy not knowing how his brothers were and not being able to do anything about it. He was pacing around the perimeter of the ruins. His radio crackled.

"…Ja—"

"Say again. Who is that?"

"S'me…Jace. Yer favorite Cowboy."

His voice was weak and gravelly.

"Sonny! Sonny, where are you? Do you have eyes on the rest?"

"Dunno. Lots of dirt and concrete. Can't see."

"Bravo Three, stay with me! Turn on your lamp and tell me what you see."

"Copy, Boss."

They waited for Sonny to answer. The quiet was deafening. Finally, Sonny answered.

"In a hole…'bout twelve feet wide. Can't stand up."

"Sonny…anyone else there with you?"

They all prayed that their brothers were there with Sonny, and relatively unhurt.

"Tryin' to see. I can't…shit!"

"What, Son?"

"It hurts like fuck when I move."

"What hurts," Trent broke in.

"My side...I…hurts to breath."

Trent turned to Jason and spoke for his ears only.

"Probably have some cracked ribs and could be a punctured lung. He shouldn't move."

"I know. But we have to know what we're dealing with."

Trent nodded in the affirmative, knowing Jason was right.

"Focus Three. Do you see anyone?"

"I don't…wait..."

They heard some scrambling and grunts of pain.

"Bravo One, I found them! They was blocked by the rocks next ta me."

"Sit Rep. Sonny! Are they…"

Jason couldn't finish his question.

"Bravo Five and Seven are conscious. Brock's got a busted leg. Lopez's arm is layin' funny. Thet's all I can see."

"What about Clay?"

"He's ahhh-he ain't awake."

"Is he breathing, Sonny?"

"He's…yes! He's breathin' but sorta slow and weak. I can't see anythin' else. C'mon there Sleeping Beauty. Wake up. Ya need to open up them baby blues and tell Ole Sonny where it hurts."

There was no response.

"Jace, when we getting' outta here? It don't look too stable, And I think Blondie here needs help fast."

"Evac crew is on its way. And Sonny…keep him alive."

"Copy thet, Boss."

Blackburn then took charge, asking Sonny for location info at the time of the blast to help the rescue crew locate them. Soon they saw the helos in the distance. Once they got more eyes on, they determined that they would need an excavation crew and equipment to get them out. They would take longer to get loaded onto a boat and get over to the island. Jason knew his men might not have that much time. Motioning to Ray and Trent they huddled together.

"What's up, Jace?"

"We need to find a faster way to get to them."

"We can't move those blocks ourselves."

"I know."

"Then what are you thinking, Brother?"

"Ray, you studied that tunnel map. Was there another way in?"

"I think so, over by the dock. We can ask HAVOC to bring up the plans."

"No, Blackburn will tell us to stand down. This has to be just us."

Ray and Trent exchanged glances but agreed immediately. They knew they had to get their brothers out.

"All right, Ray, you take point. We'll follow. Let's go get our boys."

Back in Va. Beach, Emma was settling down to sleep. As always, she made sure her laptop and phone were charged and right by the bed. She hadn't heard from Clay or her dad in weeks. But she knew that they were busy. Still, she made sure she was ready for a middle of the night call or text. In spite of the late hour and her exhaustion, she couldn't seem to fall into a deep sleep. She had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She tossed and turned so much that even Koda got annoyed and opted for the floor instead of next to her in bed.

A few hours north, in Washington D.C, a burner phone pinged with an incoming text.

-It's done. -

The recipient smirked and then tossed the phone in a garbage can and continued along the street towards the Capitol.

*Sorry for the cliffhanger!