Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Ghost Recon Tactical Operations Center, August 2022
LTC. Mitchell looked at the screens lining the walls. Most of the Operations conducted ended up being dry holes except for Cuba, Peru, and Kenya. Hunter Team had found information about Black Tusk's mysterious leader, a woman named Natalya Sokolova the CEO of Russian Arms Company Sokolov Concern. While the DEVGRU Assault Team and AFO Team Predator in Kenya captured a high value target and gathered plenty of intelligence from groups they provided training.
Captain Dennison approached Mitchell and started to speak saying
"Sir, Dagger 4-1 just picked up AFO Teams Alpha and Spear. They have the HVT'S and multiple lab notes as well as multiple electronic devices."
Mitchell turned to her and said "Well, at least something good came out of this shitshow of an operation."
Anna Grímsdóttir, the Deputy Director and Head of Operations at Fourth Echelon looked at the screens and was pleased that all the objections were completed.
"I'm sorry about your operator in Peru. Questions are going to be asked about what happened though. Just be prepared." She said
"I know".
Mitchell hated politics but had finally realized that Brent needed to go. He didn't follow his orders and he got someone killed. But that meant AFO Team Spear would be down two members. The unit would have to be folded into an existing team given the fact that their Ghost Lead would be benched for the foreseeable future.
Ghost Team in Peru
The remaining members of the assault team made it to the helicopter. It was a silent trip, a member of Ghost Recon had been killed and the person responsible was in the chopper with them.
Captain Brent refused to look at them. His head down in shame realizing that he had fucked up in the worst possible way imaginable.
Clay noticed this but didn't know what to do. He was numb and the rest of them didn't look any better. Nomad looked like he was ready to lunge at Brent, so Weaver was keeping him busy. Holt had his head buried in the drone he was working on. While Midas was listening to music.
His team on the other hand was in shambles. Coyote was killed, Brent kept his head down, and Dallas looked like he wanted to hit something.
They had just flown past the border and Clay saw the airfield. The Chopper where the large V8-99 Sphinx transport plane was. They all hopped out and entered the large plane. It would be a long flight back to Fort Bragg so Clay decided to sleep.
Clay felt a sudden shake as he slowly drifted to consciousness. He looked up to see Dallas. They had arrived back at the base and were greeted by LTC. Mitchell himself. He looked equally pissed and pleased at the same time. They got good intelligence but lost an operator during the mission. The first few things that Mitchell had said including leave and that Brent was to meet him in his office immediately. Of course the first thing Clay will do is see his son and kiss his wife.
Outside of LTC. Mitchell's Office
Alexander Brent in all his years as a soldier in the United States Army should have seen this coming a mile away. He was a failure after all and now he got someone killed. He still couldn't believe it, after all the blood and sweat he poured out to his country. He was done. Kicked out of the Army, out of Ghost Recon and out of options. He explained to the LTC his thought process on why he did what he did. But an official internal investigation will happen to determine what happens next in his life.
A few days later, somewhere over the Democratic Republic of the Congo
AFO Team Predator and the team of DEVGRU Operators from Blue Squadron had just completed a successful mission against Black Tusk in Kenya. Due to bad weather conditions they had to wait a few days before they could fly back to Fort Bragg. Both teams secured the compound and captured a former GRU scientist named…..
She worked on biological weaponry and turned freelance before joining Black Tusk.
Joe Ramirez, the Ghost Lead of Predator Team, looked around and smiled remembering the times he was a grunt as an Army Ranger and when he entered the ranks of Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group also known as Ghost Recon. He reminisced about his operations under Scott Mitchell himself during North Korea, Afghanistan and Mexico. He was about to go to sleep when he felt the C-130 jerk as he heard the pilots say.
"This is Talon 1-1, we have a SAM lock. Evasive maneuvers!"
He heard an explosion, as metal screeched. The aircraft started diving towards the ground.
"Mayday! Mayday! We're going down! Brace yourselves!"
The next thing Ramirez saw was black. In what seemed like seconds he woke up, but quickly realized that he had been knocked unconscious for at least an hour, maybe more. He checked on his guys and seals. His team, three of the DEVGRU Operators and the Splinter Cell operative made it out alive. The pilot's and the HVT were dead. He tried turning on his radio and he kept getting static. His Cross-Com and adaptive camouflage weren't working either.
He rested his MK 14 on his shoulder and asked the remaining operator's to circle around him.
"We need a game plan. We are unable to communicate with command and we're in enemy territory. We have two options, one we stay here and ambush the enemy QRF force or we move to higher ground to get a better lay of the land."
The leader of the remaining seals Lieutenant Commander David Mason (Section) looked at his Operator's Master Chief Petty Officer Mike Harper and Chief Petty Officer Javier Salazar.
"Well, what do you guys want to do?"
"David." Mike started to say. "We need to get to higher ground and plan our next move."
"I agree with Mike." Salazar said
Mason looked at Ramirez "that's what we want to do
LTC. Mitchell's Office
The Lieutenant Colonel was typing away on his laptop to issue reports of the current operations to General Shepherd, the head of SOCOM. Some of these missions failed while others were a gold mine whether it was intelligence or the capturing of HVTs. All of the teams have come home except for AFO Predator and Blue Squadron. That was to be expected given that the weather ground their C-130. A few hours ago he had spoken to Sergeant Benjamin "Ben" Jones known as Fixit about being transferred to Nomad's Team, specifically the second element which was made up of the members of AFO Spear. The conversation went well as can be given the circumstances. Just then he heard a knock on his door and entered the final member for the new 8 man unit commanded by Nomad.
"Ah, Sergeant David Ryan also known as Viper. Please take a seat."
The Sgt responded "Thank you sir, though I'm a little confused as to why the Army wants a leatherneck like me?"
"You come highly recommended from Lieutenant General Lyons and Sergeant Marcus Griggs during your operations with the Tier One unit known as the Demon Dogs, an elite unit of the USMC. Specifically Operation Sepulcher caught my attention. You're just the kind of operator I need in my organization."
"I still don't understand Sir. What unit is this? I don't know of any Army unit besides CAG that takes members of the other service branches." Viper responded
"Well, let me formally introduce myself and this unit. I'm LTC. Scott Mitchell, the commander of the Group for Specialized Tactics. This organization is an elite and highly classified tier one unit that takes the most classified missions. Our nickname is Ghost Recon." Said the LTC.
"I'd be honored to join this unit." Said Viper
"Welcome to Ghost Recon."
Just then the door opened and Captain Dennison walked in unannounced.
"Sir. We have an urgent situation that requires your attention at the tactical operations center." She said
"Sorry about cutting this meeting short."
"It's understandable Sir. No rest for the weary in our line of work."
"You'll meet your new team soon. So, head to the barracks and get settled in."
Viper left and closed the door. Not really understandable what he signed up for. But he was ready and prepared for what comes next.
Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Ghost Recon Tactical Operations Center, August 2022
The technicians and intelligence personnel were rapidly typing away and getting reports about what had happened. LTC. Mitchell and Captain Dennison.
"Give me a situation report. Do we know when exactly we lost contact with Predator and Blue Squadron?"
One of the technicians said "sir, we lost contact an hour ago. The plane was over the Democratic Republic of the Congo."
"Shit. Do we have any QRF in the area or supporting assets in the area?"
Dennison went through a series of files and checked. "Sir. We have a unit of Demon Dog Marines and 2 AH-64E Guardians designated Outlaw Two-One and Pirate Five-Zero under the command of Lieutenant General Lyons."
"Patch me through to General Lyons immediately!" Mitchell said
The video technician opened his mouth and said "LTG. Lyons is connecting to the video feed now."
"Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell. You better have a good reason for contacting me on such short notice." The General said impatiently
"It is ma'am. About one hour ago I lost contact with a Ghost Recon team call sign Predator and an element of Navy Seal's from DEVGRU's Blue Squadron. We believe they were shit down around your AO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I'm about to get a team, but I'd like to support them with your element of Demon Dog marines and those Apache helicopters." Mitchell explained
"I'll provide you with my Demon Dogs but not the Apaches. If your men were shot down, I can't risk the choppers. I'm hunting Al-Qatala and ADF in the region." Lyons responded
"I understand General. Any support will be appreciated." Mitchell replied
The video feed cut off and Mitchell started barking out orders. He was calling in all his favors for this rescue operation including involving Fourth Echelon.
"Get me in contact with the Deputy Director and Technical Operations Officer of Fourth Echelon."
Spenser Household, North Carolina: outskirts of Fort Bragg.
Inside a nice house, Clay Spenser was awake. He had gottenback a few days prior. While he was good at keeping his job and personal life separated. He had told Stella that one of his teammates died. It was hard knowing that even the best of the best could die. He told her that the funeral would be over the weekend. Just then he heard the baby, his son Brian start to cry. He got up to check on his son. He was happy to be home and he missed his brothers from Bravo Team.
He walked into his son's room and held him until he fell back asleep. He heard the door creaking open and saw his beautiful wife Stella.
"Everything alright?" She said whispering
"Yeah. Thought I'd take the load off of you while I'm home."
"I was thinking. Why don't we host a barbecue for Bravo and the members of your new unit?" Stella asked
"It'll be nice to see them again. Sure. Let's make a shopping list".
As he was discussing plans for the barbecue. He heard a buzzing sound from his pocket. The one where he kept his pager. This meant that he had another mission with Ghost Recon. Whose missions are approved by the President himself. This wasn't good.
"What's wrong Clay?" Stella asked worriedly
"My pager went off. I have to go back to Fort Bragg. I'm sorry".
"Go. It must be pretty serious. Your unit only gets deployed in the most extreme circumstances."
Clay handed Brian over to Stella and kissed both of them. He quickly got dressed, put on his Jolly Roger basketball hat and headed toward his truck. As he was driving he turned on the radio, he would soon regret the decision.
"This is World News Media with a special report. There has been unconfirmed explosions in Washington DC, Los Angeles, and New York. More information will be given at a later date."