AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey there! My story, Redemption, inspired this fiction, as did a military TV show I love, Ultimate Force. Together, both things helped me create the complex characters and universe within the story.
SUMMARY: When the ban on women serving in Ground Close Roles in the British Army lifted in 2006 (fictional account, the actual date this happened in reality was 2018), Sarah's ambitions to contribute in a more significant way ignited. With no obstacle now in her way from choosing whichever path she wanted, she knew the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment was the ultimate challenge. She applied for immediate selection to prove she was up for it. Passing selection, they assigned Sarah to Red Team, Mobility troop, G Squadron, 22 SAS, where she meets, amongst others, Chuck Bartowski, who passed his own selection three years earlier.
DISCLAIMERS: Please note that any missions described in this work of fiction are fictional and created by the author's imagination. So if they detail something classified that occurred before, then that wasn't my intention, and I did not know. I would like to state that while I don't own any rights to the property of Chuck, I do have ownership over the original characters in this fiction and the story's universe.
WARNING: This fiction is not for the faint of heart as it contains military violence and frequent use of foul language. I aim to capture the cast's raw and authentic nature of their real-life counterparts, thus portraying them as the enlisted soldiers and the cream of the crop. In order to depict the soldiers of this prestigious regiment in this way, this fiction will be filled with vibrant language for that purpose.
Who Dares Wins
Chapter One: You're in the Army Now
Tuesday, 2 October, 2007
Stirling Lines
Credenhill
United Kingdom
The sound of the clock striking eight signalled the start of Corporal Chuck Bartowski's duties at the confidential special forces base belonging to 22 Regiment SAS. As Chuck left his on-base accommodation, he took in the bustling activity around the base, visible from his barracks window.
Chuck, a twenty-seven-year-old, had dedicated eight years of his life to serving in the British Army. The same day Chuck received top marks in his A-Levels, he signed on the dotted line to join the British Army. Chuck could have attended any university in the world because of his unmatched academic record, but he opted to pursue his lifelong dream of joining the army.
His reason for signing up? Simple and with no complications. The Bartowski family had a powerful legacy of serving in the military, and Charles Irving Bartowski was no exception to that. From the moment he was born, he was steeped in a culture of extraordinary heroism and sacrifice by his father and grandfather, who regaled him with stories of their heroic exploits owed to their proud military service.
Beyond Chuck, his father and grandfather, the Bartowski family's commitment to the British Army is unparalleled, with an unbroken chain of service dating back three hundred years. Chuck's lineage had been involved in a myriad of battles including the American Revolutionary War, Battle of Waterloo, World War One, World War Two, the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the Falklands War, and the Gulf War in which his father had played a role.
Chuck knew his father's chest swelled with pride whenever he talked about his child's achievements and status as the first special forces soldier in Bartowski history. Chuck's coveted beige beret arrived three years ago, and it was a moment of immense pride for both father and son.
Although Chuck was driven with every fibre of his being about joining the army, he knew his mother and sister were hesitant and fearful for his safety. However, his determination to serve in the British Armed Forces never wavered, even though his mother and sister were vocal opponents against it. And, despite some initial resistance, his mother and sister granted their permission to do so, with the stipulation that he completed college. A few years later, Chuck completed his college education with flying colours, making him eligible to pursue his dream. Chuck's mother and sister, despite their prior agreement, encouraged him to move on to university, but he reminded them of their agreement and condition that he completed his college exams, not university exams.
Chuck's mother—an intelligent investment banker—had a strong aversion towards the army, which developed in the years after crossing paths with Stephen on a night out. Encouraged by her friends, Mary let her hair down and spent the evening in the company of Stephen and his army buddies.
While Chuck pursued his career, his sister Ellie toiled as a doctor in the National Health Service. Eleanor Faye Bartowski and her fiance, Devon, both worked as doctors in the NHS and shared a home together.
The love that Chuck had for his family was immeasurable, and he felt an enormous sense of pride in them. Chuck had always tried to visit his family whenever he could. However, since joining the Regiment, Chuck could not see them much because when his squadron carried out counter-terror duties, he was confined to the area of Hereford-Credenhill (a small village five miles from Hereford) on immediate standby for any potential action. In contrast, none of Chuck's family lived close to his base, as they were throughout the U.K. Plus, if his squadron deployed overseas on operations, then he couldn't see them at all, nor if he was on training or exercises.
The scarcity of downtime was a reality that came with being a part of what one could consider the most elite fighting force in the world.
Chuck's SAS employment entitled him to twenty-eight days of paid leave per year. Back when Chuck was still serving as a regular squaddie, he received a generous thirty-eight days of leave per year, which was more than what most civilian jobs offer. The Regiment's combat deployments that Chuck had been a part of were several months long, and the training deployments had been of a similar duration. Those deployments he had undergone were less than the standard six-month tour of duties for the regular soldier. Because of the intense nature of a special forces soldier's job, few deployments lasted longer than just a few months. However, his counter-terrorist missions did last for six months—which was the current assignment of his squadron. When a squadron of the SAS was assigned the role of counter-terrorism, the squadron would split into four troops. Two of those troops stood ready on immediate notice to move. For this reason, the soldiers of those two troops must remain within the confines of Hereford, a small city comprising just under sixty thousand individuals at all times….
"Corporal?"
Chuck snapped out of his daydream as Captain Richard Wallace called out his rank, redirecting his gaze towards him.
Chuck and his O.C. had built a strong rapport during his time in the Regiment. Despite being a Rupert (an officer), his Captain was down-to-earth, and the entire squadron held immense respect for him. Chuck and his teammates felt devoted to their officer, and Captain Wallace had shown a commitment to keeping them safe during their deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Chuck nodded to his O.C. "Morning, boss."
"Morning. I'm sure you're aware of the two recruits joining the team after passing selection today?" the Captain asked.
Chuck nodded. "I am, boss. I watched a little of their SERE (The Defence Survive, Evade, Resist, Extract Training Organization), and I thought they handled themselves well."
In response to the soldier's reply, the Captain returned a smile and maintained his kind gaze towards the perceptive and seasoned warrior. "It's why I've flagged you. The new recruits will arrive at the base soon. Do you think you can be a splendid chap and show them around and have them collect their gear and show them to their quarters on base before our formal introduction at eleven hundred hours?"
Chuck gave another nod. "Consider it done, boss."
"Good man!" Captain Wallace said with approval, shook Chuck's hand, and left him alone to attend to his duties.
As soon as Chuck's commanding officer had disappeared from his sight, Chuck let out a loud sigh of frustration to himself for a moment, as he had already scheduled morning plans with some of his teammates and friends at the base.
Nevertheless, Chuck's annoyance was brief and gave way to compassion, recalling how arduous it was for him when Chuck first joined the group. Upon joining the Special Air Service, Sergeant Cole Barker greeted Chuck, who became his closest friend and gave him a tour of the military installation on his first day. Chuck's gratitude towards Cole for his kindness was immense, and he was determined to pay it forward, just like Cole had done for him several years ago.
With his frustration behind him, Chuck left the barracks section of the base at a quick pace. Walking through the open air, he approached a red Range Rover, one of the troop's vehicles, and ran his hand over the smooth paint.
From there, he reached out and grasped the door handle, pulling it open and climbing inside the SUV.
Closing the door, he turned the key in the ignition, and the dashboard lit up with a warm glow as the engine roared to life.
Chuck drove in silence for a few minutes, save for the only sound of the hum of the engine.
The entrance of the base soon revealed itself as Chuck circumnavigated the vehicle through the base.
He soon arrived at the gate, parked up, and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel as he waited for his teammates to arrive.
-O-o-O-o-O-o-O-
Chuck observed from his vantage overlooking the base's main gate as his new teammates arrived at the base and cleared themselves to enter the camp by providing the armed military policemen with their new identity cards. After the rookies passed the security checks, Chuck exited his vehicle, the sound of his boots crunching on the gravel as he walked over to the gate to greet the two newest special forces recruits.
The lack of equipment for Chuck's new teammates was clear in the civilian clothes they wore as they awaited their gear from the armoury. Meanwhile, Chuck had his pager on hand and wore his customised special forces combat uniform, as his troop was one of the two troops standing to on immediate notice to respond to any terrorist threat to the United Kingdom.
Arriving at his new teammates' proximity, he extended his hand and introduced himself with a grin. "Hey. Chuck Bartowski," he said, his hand outstretched for a formal handshake, his grip firm and confident.
"Bryce Larkin," the first recruit said, smiling at Chuck as he extended his hand to meet Chuck's for a handshake.
Chuck nodded, then repositioned his arm to point towards the second recruit.
"Sarah Walker," said the second recruit, reciprocating Chuck's warm facial gesture as she shook his hand.
"Welcome to the Regiment," Chuck said cordially, holding his gaze towards the rookies.
"Thanks," Bryce said as he returned the smile.
"Thank you," Sarah said, mirroring Bryce's gesture.
Chuck lingered near the exit of his base and made small talk with his new comrades, asking, "You guys did SERE together, didn't you?"
"Yeah," Sarah said.
Nodding, Bryce signalled his agreement.
"The way you both avoided SFSG (Special Forces Support Group) was impressive. I was observing the exercise with keen interest," Chuck proclaimed.
"Thanks," Bryce said, nodding.
"We outfoxed them every step, and they didn't even get close to us, yet we still got subjected to interrogation!" Sarah was not pleased and made it known by shaking her head and letting out a sigh while complaining.
Chuck laughed at his new teammate's complaints, remembering all too well the angst of being interrogated after he too escaped the capture force. He also found it amusing how Sarah struggled to keep her frustration in check.
Oh, she's gonna be a feisty one, I'm sure!
Chuck soon shrugged. "That's the way it goes around here," he said, holding his formed glance at Bryce and Sarah. "The beret is a privilege reserved only for those who prove themselves to the Regiment."
"Yeah, I get it," Bryce said.
Sarah affirmed her agreement with a nod.
"I could not see your interrogations because of other more pressing matters. So, how were your interrogations?" Chuck asked with a mischievous smile because he already knew the answer.
They were hell!
Because Chuck went through the same thirty-six hours of interrogation himself! During the interrogations, the interrogators would subject you to flashing lights, sleep deprivation, they'd scream at you at the top of their lungs, strip you naked, insult you and your family, and if you gave anything more than your name, rank, serial number and date of birth, then your entire nine months of the most challenging training you could ever undertake would have all been for nothing because you would be disqualified and returned to your unit.
If you failed selection twice, you could not apply a third time either. You only got two chances at selection, and you must be under thirty-five, or they would not consider you for selection for this coveted unit.
"Horrible," Bryce said with a laugh answering Chuck's question, shaking his head.
Chuck chuckled in approval, his lips curling up into a smile.
"Awful. I thought I was going to lose it. My interrogators got to me," Sarah said.
Sarah's admission that her interrogators had almost caused her to crack elicited a full laugh from Chuck, who understood all too well.
"Yeah. I remember mine. I still have nightmares about it three years on," Chuck, still haunted by the memory, joked with the rookies, a smirk on his face, his laughter subsiding.
Smiling at Chuck and holding her gaze at him, Sarah said, "I can see why. I'll be the same way!"
Chuck nodded before turning his attention back to Bryce.
"The female instructor didn't stop ridiculing my you know what," Bryce said, glancing down at his pants with a smirk, amusing Sarah.
Chuck's mind became muddled with confusion, his expression turning into a frown and his brows narrowing. "Is that all?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "They let you off lightly then! They spent god knows how long yelling all kinds of nastiness about my mum and my sister!"
Bryce jumped in, "Oh, they did the same thing to me as well!"
"That's more like it!" Chuck exclaimed, his voice brimming with approval.
If I had to go through it, so should everyone else! I hope they weren't too harsh on Sarah though. Although I am now a seasoned SAS soldier and part of the finest regiment in the world, I will always consider myself a gentleman. It's upsetting to me when men mistreat women, regardless of whether I know her.
Chuck redirected his gaze towards Sarah, hoping to read her thoughts. "What about you? What happened in yours?" He inquired to uncover the answer to his unspoken thoughts.
Sarah laughed awkwardly and shook her head before she recounted, "I got stripped naked, and a group of male interrogators spent many, many hours explaining to me in vivid detail why they thought I was a lesbian and why I wasn't into men, amongst lots of other nasty things!"
Chuck found himself in an awkward situation where he didn't want to offend his new teammate. So he laughed it off, assuming that his teammate was doing the same thing.
Chuck's attention moved from Sarah to Bryce, who had also joined Chuck in a laugh.
The laughter between the new comrades soon faded, and Chuck said, "Ahh, splendid show! Despite I disapprove of their conduct, it's essential to acknowledge that the enemy will be MUCH MORE brutal if they catch us on ops, so what's a little shouting and name calling in comparison?"
Sarah nodded. "Agreed."
"Yeah, well said, mate," Bryce said.
"You know what, though?" Chuck said. "I'd love to get revenge and get a crack at interrogating one of the group that did it to me and see them squirm!"
Bryce nodded in agreement, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Too bloody right, mate!" he exclaimed.
"Same here!" Sarah agreed with just as much zest as Chuck and Bryce.
"So anyway, why I'm here boring you both to death is because I have the unlucky task of welcoming you both and explaining your responsibilities today," Chuck said with a humorous sigh.
Bryce and Sarah showed their sympathy towards Chuck's misfortune by smiling.
"Even though I'm sure you don't need me, you both seem competent enough to find your way. Plus, you've spent the past nine months learning everything about the Regiment. But if you'd like to follow me, then I'll give you a tour of your new home?" Chuck asked, his smile conveying a sense of warmth and hospitality.
His new teammates nodded in approval and followed him to the Range Rover, the leather seats creaking as they settled in. The engine of the Range Rover soon roared to life as Chuck turned it around and headed back the way he came.
"I'll take you to the Regimental Quartermaster first and have you both collect your gear. I'm sure you were both informed about our current counter-terrorism operations during the CO's visit after your SERE training?" Chuck said while giving a quick glance at Bryce in the front seat and Sarah in the rear-view mirror.
They both nodded.
"I'm assuming you've both had operational tours before?" Chuck asked, taking a quick glance at them before continuing to drive the vehicle.
"Yep," Sarah said.
"Yeah," Bryce agreed.
"Which regiments were you in?" Chuck asked.
"Fusiliers," Bryce stated.
"Sarah?" Chuck asked, stealing another glance at Sarah in the mirror.
"Royal Green Jackets," she said before adding a further comment, "What about you?"
Glancing at Sarah through the rear-view mirror, Chuck smiled. "Grenadier Guards. So, what role did you both serve in?"
"Infantry," Bryce replied.
"Medic," Sarah stated.
Chuck acknowledged his two new teammates with a nod and a warm smile. He drove the SUV for a few more moments before speaking again. "I don't mean to freak you out, but I have a question that might seem a little crazy. I can assure you I'm not a psycho, and although I have never asked this question before, they expect it in this environment, so I will ask. Have either of you killed before?"
Bryce gave Chuck a nod and replied with a simple, "Yeah."
"Sarah?" Chuck then asked, giving her another look.
"I'm not sure if a personal question like that is any of your business," she said with extreme reservation.
The veteran Corporal remained stoic, unfazed by her reservations or abruptness. His eight years in the military had exposed him to far worse than that!
As I said, feisty...
Chuck's voice remained steady as he maintained unintimidated eye contact with Sarah. "I want to assure you I'm not trying to be insensitive or make you feel uncomfortable. I had the same reservations about that question on my first day when my best mate asked me the same thing. But I soon learned to understand why he'd asked it, and so will you. You can trust me on that! If you don't have your teammates around to back you up, then when you face the certainty of having to take a life while you're with us, you'll freeze, which will get all of us killed. And not me, nor any of the lads you're about to meet will allow you to get any of us killed. There is no room for feelings in the Regiment. You won't last long here, and you'll be returned to your unit faster than you can say, Jack Robinson, if you can't come to terms with what the Regiment is now going to be paying you to do."
"Well said, mate," Bryce said, giving Chuck an approving nod, impressed by his rebuke.
Sarah's eyes flashed with anger as she shot a quick look at Bryce for his comment before turning to face Chuck. "Well then, no, in answer to your question, I haven't!" she fired back, her tone dripping with attitude, no doubt because Chuck was trying to tell her what to do and how to behave, and because of Bryce's support of Chuck.
Still, as Chuck had told her, Cole asked him the same question on his first day too, and he soon learned to understand why Cole had asked it during his first days in the Regiment, and Sarah would too. When she faces the certain reality of having to take a life during her career in the SAS, Sarah would need her teammates to help her come to terms with that, and now that Chuck knew she had killed nobody before, he made an instant mental note to help her when that day comes.
Because it will come.
And it WON'T BE very pretty.
It won't be very pretty in any way.
Which is why Chuck—a seasoned three year SAS veteran—said what he did.
To help her.
She just doesn't realise it yet.
But she will...
Chuck let Bryce's comment go and instead nodded at Sarah, signalling the end of their conversation. He drove in silence for a moment before parking the SUV outside one of the many buildings on their base.
"Here we are. Let's get you your gear then," he said, turning off the ignition and stepping out of the car.
Entering the building, Chuck heard the clatter of Bryce and Sarah's shoes against the stone floor fill the hallway as they rushed after him, matching his pace towards the armoury.
-O-o-O-o-O-o-O-
Chuck, flanked by Sarah and Bryce, walked into the armoury.
Dressed in his No.13 barrack dress uniform, the Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant stood at the ready.
Chuck met the glance of the senior NCO, and nodding at him, he said, "Gary," as he moved to shake the hand of the veteran soldier.
"Are these the new recruits for Mobility troop?" the senior NCO asked.
Straight to the point, no messing around. That's how we always do things here, while on-duty at least... Chuck thought to himself.
Chuck gave a quick nod in reply to the question. Then, turning his attention toward Sarah first, he introduced her. "Sarah Walker."
Sarah received a nod from the Quartermaster Sergeant before Bryce stepped forward and introduced himself. "Bryce Larkin," he said, offering a handshake to the senior NCO.
Gary shook Bryce's hand before turning his attention to the equipment about to be issued to the Regiment's latest personnel.
Gear was standard issue for new recruits. However, because Bryce and Sarah were now part of a specialised unit, they could acquire their own equipment at the expense of the Regiment if they so chose. Because G Squadron was the chosen squadron assigned counter-terrorism duties in the United Kingdom, Bryce and Sarah's new kit comprised the requirements to carry out those duties. They were each supplied with an ac100 armoured helmet, an sf10 gas mask, standard army boots, body armour, flame retardant undergarments, a flame-retardant assault suit, fireproof knee and elbow pads, stun and tear gas grenades, an abseiling harness, a radio harness and a SIG Sauer P226 pistol and Heckler and Koch MP5 submachine gun.
The two weapons provided both fired off 9mm rounds which were ideal for CQB (Close Quarters Battle) situations as they rarely passed through a target or a wall which was vital to minimise the risk of collateral damage in any kind of hostage situation that the elite team may face on their duties. Nevertheless, many seasoned individuals in the unit favoured a lengthier barrel that used 5.56mm NATO standard rounds. The soldiers who chose this option did so to provide more firepower to their respective units.
While remaining idle in the armoury, Chuck observed with fascination as his team members gave their firearms a thorough examination. He found it comforting that his new teammates were behaving just like he did when he first joined the Regiment three years ago.
Chuck's first mission with the Regiment was in Iraq in 2004 to carry out counter-insurgency operations. Therefore, the equipment he was assigned differed from what Bryce and Sarah received from the quartermaster today. Despite this, Chuck had spent years customising his equipment to suit his specific preferences since his first day in 22 Reg.
After Gary finished handing out Sarah and Bryce's equipment, Chuck said, "Gather your gear, and place it in the rucksacks provided. Then I'll take you to your quarters on base so you can stow away your gear. After that, I'll give you a tour…"
-O-o-O-o-O-o-O-
Chuck led Sarah and Bryce out of the barracks that G Squadron called home, where he had just taken them to so they could store their gear.
For two minutes, they walked together down the corridor, the sound of their footsteps echoing until they reached a door.
"Here is the best place on the base," a mischievous grin accompanied Chuck's declaration as he looked behind him, "the cafeteria."
His newest teammates smiled at him.
As Sarah, Bryce, and Chuck entered the military cafeteria, they heard a clang of utensils and chatter of soldiers filled the air.
Chuck's eyes darted around the room, noting everyone inside the facility.
There were around two dozen people present in the large dining area.
As Chuck looked around, he recognised several administrative and senior military figures in addition to the numerous members of his squadron and troop.
Chuck finished his observations and led Sarah and Bryce further into the cafeteria when three team members approached them.
"Hello, Chuck," Sergeant Cole Barker—Chuck's best friend—cheerfully greeted him.
Chuck's closest bond elicited an affectionate grin from him. He greeted Cole with a soft-spoken, "Hi, Cole."
"We were wondering where you were at, you bastard. But now we know," said a Scottish SAS trooper in a deep Glaswegian accent, his friendly gaze belying his sturdy demeanour. His eyes flicked from Chuck to the rookies standing behind him, sizing them up as his glance met them.
Chuck gave a brief nod and chuckled at the Scot's remark. "Yeah. Wallace put me on babysitting duties. Heh."
A towering English SAS trooper joked, "Better you than me, fella."
Chuck nodded, finding one of his closest friend's comments amusing.
Stepping to the side, Chuck let his friends take center stage and introduce themselves to their new teammates.
"Cole Barker," Cole said with a warm smile as he stepped forward and shook Sarah's hand.
"Sarah Walker," she replied, and Cole nodded as he shook Bryce's hand.
"Bryce Larkin," Bryce replied, and Cole nodded at him.
"John Murray," the Scottish SAS trooper said as he shook Bryce's hand, followed by Sarah's, and they shared a warm glance.
"Daniel Thomas," the English trooper said as he shook Bryce and Sarah's hands.
"Otherwise known as Big Dan," Chuck quipped.
"Yeah, 'cause of the size of the bastard!" a friendly English SAS trooper said as he approached the small group and introduced himself. "Jamie Hughes."
"And you're next, you bastard!" Chuck's sudden statement while pointing at Jamie caused everyone to burst out laughing, while Jamie formed a fixed frown.
"Huh, I'm next for what, mate?" Jamie asked, bewildered.
"For giving the rookies the tour around the base, fella!" Big Dan said.
The towering SAS soldier earned multiple points of approval from Chuck as he pointed at him. "Bingo," he replied, grinning.
"You can get to fuck, mate!" Jamie said while chuckling and shook his head at Chuck. "I'm not gonna be showing anyone around the base, mate, not even if Senor Rupertessa (Captain Wallace) commands it!" he said through fits of laughter.
"Jamie, he's behind you right now," Cole Barker suddenly said, devoid of any sinister undertones.
Jamie's laughter ceased abruptly, and he squinted his eyes, but he hesitated to turn around and face whatever was behind him.
"He's winding me up, isn't he?!" Jamie asked, struggling to keep a straight face as he looked at the group of soldiers, his laughter barely contained.
Jamie's heart sank as he watched each person in front of him shake their heads in unison.
And as soon as the newbies shook their heads, his friendly demeanour disappeared, and everyone noticed how anxious he became.
With trepidation, Jamie began to turn and face whatever was behind him.
As soon as Jamie turned round, the group now behind him burst into uncontrollable fits of laughter.
With a quick movement, Jamie snapped around and faced his scheming teammates, shouting in anger, "You horrible cunts! I just proper shit meself then!"
The sound of raucous laughter filled the air as Jamie's anger towards them hit its mark, prompting the newbie Bryce to look at Cole with admiration and say, "You bloody legend!"
Cole Barker's sadistic chuckles only grew louder as he revelled in his deeds.
Big Dan, meanwhile, appeared awestruck. "You got him good there, Cole, fella. I must admit, I'm very impressed 'cause it's usually me doing the winding up first thing of a morning."
"And the afternoon," Chuck said, his mind replaying every time he'd seen Big Dan wind up someone since he met the big Geordie a few years ago.
"Yeah, and the fucking evening as well!" Jamie muttered under his breath, shaking his head, but he soon chuckled again.
"I heard that one, fella!" Big Dan said, pointing at Jamie.
"You can hear this one as well, mate!" Jamie said, taunting Big Dan by sticking two fingers up towards him.
"Ooh! Touchy!" Big Dan said as a laugh of approval came from him.
The sound of laughter swelled once more, causing several team members, including the newcomers, to shake their heads to stifle their amusement.
John Murray, who had been staring intently at Jamie, continued the conversation, saying, "Och! You should have seen yer face."
"Yeah, mate," Jamie said, chuckling away, "it looked like your sister's after a night with me!"
"He's really touchy today, isn't he?!" a snort accompanied Big Dan's reply.
"So would you be, mate, if you'd been out on the piss last night with that gobshite!" Jamie laughed, nodding over at John Murray as he spoke.
"Ya wee tosser!" the Scot said back, still laughing himself.
"How come I didn't get an invite?" Big Dan asked.
"'cause no one likes you," Chuck said, smirking as he spoke.
A series of winces followed Chuck's remark, including one from Big Dan, who turned to look at Chuck and exclaimed, "Ooh! Fucking hell! What's in everyone's water this morning?"
The Geordie's latest comment caused the team to erupt in laughter once more, with Cole's subsequent remark only amplifying the amusement when he said, "I don't know, Dan, but it's some bad stuff because you're quieter than you've ever been!"
"I think I'm going back to the Paras if this is the treatment I get from my own teammates!" Big Dan joked.
"No one wants you back there either, mate!" Jamie laughed.
Jamie's comment elicited a roar of laughter from the rest of the group.
"Fucking hell! Then I may as well be done with it, do you all a favour, and kill meself!" As he shouted back, Big Dan's face was twisted in amusement, clear for all to see.
The group's laughter crescendoed as Big Dan's witty reply hit its mark, which they shared for a moment until they calmed.
Changing the topic, Jamie turned to Chuck and said, "Mate, I came to your room in the barracks this morning, but you hadn't arrived yet."
Chuck nodded, his eyes filled with warmth as he gazed at one of his closest friends. "Yeah," he said as a smirk escaped. "I had a bit of a late one myself."
"No surprises there," Big Dan muttered, barely audible.
The sound of muted laughter filled the air for a moment as Chuck pointed in contempt at Big Dan.
"So, what did you get up to, Chuck? On the lash like Jamie and me?" John Murray asked with a smirk.
Chuck looked to the Scot to respond, but Cole Barker's voice cut through the silence. "Playing Call of Duty 4 all night, that's what he was doing," Cole said.
As soon as the statement was made, the team erupted into ironic scoffs, arguing among themselves. Jamie Hughes was the only one to respond. "How would you know that?"
"Because he was playing it with me!" Chuck interjected.
The scoffs continued while John Murray said, "Come on, fella. I've known you since our selection together. There's no way you are playing games all night. Maybe for a wee bit, but nae anything more than that."
"And right you are, John, fella," Big Dan said, nodding. "He and Cole engaging in orgies with Sophie and whoever else they have around, maybe, but sitting in front of a TV to sweat it out all night playing games and eating cheese puffs? That's a bit of a stretch, even by my large standards!"
Big Dan's joke once again sparked immediate, boisterous laughter, causing Chuck to point at Big Dan and he said, "Leave Sophie out of this!"
"He'd better!" Cole said, his jaw set in determination.
"See what I mean?" Big Dan said, smirking while glancing around at his teammates.
"Well, lads, you're all mistaken anyway, because that's what we did," Chuck said.
Scoffs broke out again until Cole boisterously said, "But maybe we went out and got lashed afterwards!"
"Oh, so the truth's coming out, Cole, is it?" Jamie joked.
"I'm surprised they're both standing if they went out and got lashed last night," Bryce said.
Bryce's contribution was well-received by some of the team, who turned to look at him and offered gestures of approval.
However, all eyes were on Big Dan as he interrupted the exchange and spoke up, "Fellas, fellas! Are we seriously believing their lies? "
Big Dan pointed between Chuck and Cole, his voice brimming with confidence as he continued, "They were engaging in more sinister activities! I'm telling you right now they were at Cole's place swinging!"
Chuck and Cole snorted along with the rest of the team, unable to contain their laughter.
"Aye, though I think Dan has a point. Those two spend way too much time together," John Murray said.
"They do, but why are you so surprised?" Jamie asked. "Chuck's going to be his best man."
Chuck and Cole were quick to endorse Jamie Hughes, but Big Dan interjected before they could elaborate, "When Cole gets the bottle to set a date for his wedding!"
"Any more of that," Cole said, changing his pointing of approval at Jamie, to pointing in scorn at Big Dan instead, "And you're off the invite list."
Grinning smugly, Big Dan boasted, "I'll just get Chuck to put me on his invitation list to it instead, fella."
"I'd rather offer the Taliban an invitation than you, Dan!" Chuck said.
The group burst into laughter as Cole switched his pointing to Chuck in approval and said, "That's why he's my best man, partner in crime, and why I'd take a bullet meant for him before I let anyone hurt him. And anyone who did, I'd not stop until I settled the score."
"He's marrying the wrong person!" Jamie laughed strongly. "It should be Chuck and Cole marrying each other! Not Cole and Sophie!"
Jamie's joke caused a ripple of laughter to spread through the area the teammates stood, with Jamie's deep belly laughs leading the way.
Chuck turned to look at Jamie. "Jealous are we?"
"Of course he is!" Cole said, laughing. "Because he's got no mates!"
The teammates laughed on, but Sarah and Bryce—particularly Sarah since she was the only woman—felt uncomfortable with the exchanges because they were new to the team. The others had already formed a tight-knit group, and it was apparent in how they talked with each other.
After a moment, Chuck asked, "So, where's the last piece of our team at then?"
"He's preparing something for the rookies, fella," Big Dan said.
The cafeteria seemed to fall silent as all eyes diverted to Big Dan.
Sarah and Bryce's unease was palpable, making the atmosphere tense.
"What's he planning?" Bryce asked, his voice shaky with nerves.
As he scanned his teammates, Big Dan's eyes crinkled with amusement, lingering on the rookies before he spoke. "He's preparing to have you and Sarah sing in front of the entire squadron, fella, as part of your introductions."
Sarah and Bryce's faces fell to the floor in sync with Big Dan's revelation, overcome with embarrassment.
However, laughter erupted amongst the remaining teammates, though on seeing just how nervous Bryce and Sarah—but mostly Sarah—now was, Chuck composed himself and said, "He's winding you both up."
"Now why would I ever do a thing such as that, fella?" Big Dan asked with a straight face.
"Because you're a sadist," Cole said.
"Amen to that, mate!" Jamie said, chuckling.
Big Dan's cruel smirk showed his approval of their comments.
"So, where's Chris?" Chuck asked. "And Dan's not allowed to answer."
"He's in Ops Room Charlie, fella," John Murray said. "We've all just come from there."
Big Dan nodded. "There's a live op right now, so we entertained ourselves seeing them sweat it out for a little while."
Chuck glanced at Big Dan. "Who is it?"
"D Squadron, Mobility troop, in Afghan, mate," Jamie said.
Chuck nodded.
"Doesn't one of their lot owe you something, Chuck?" Cole asked.
Chuck, along with the rest of his teammates, turned to query Cole's question.
Raising a hand to rest on his chin, Chuck's brows narrowed as he entered into brief contemplation. Soon nodding, Chuck said, "You're right, Cole! One of them does! I lent Ray Jones something, and he still hasn't given me it back, the bastard!"
Some of Chuck's teammates' brows quirked at the revelation until Jamie said, "You'd better hope he doesn't buy it out there before he gives you back whatever he owes you, mate."
"He could always get it back anyway, fella," Big Dan said.
"Yeah, before Blue Team does!" John Murray added.
Chuck shuddered at the mention of Blue Team. "I've already turned queasy at the thought of Blue Team getting their measly hands on my property!" Chuck said half-jokingly, half-serious.
Laughter erupted until Jamie disturbed it when he said, "I wonder what Chuck lent him then?"
"I don't know, fella," Big Dan said. "Because with Chuck, I wouldn't be surprised because it could be anything!"
Chuckles persisted as John Murray quickly suggested, "It was a sex toy, fella!"
"At least he has sex toys, fella, unlike you!" Big Dan rebuked back without delay.
John Murray's comment caused a notable increase in the volume of laughter, which was further amplified by Big Dan's witty trademark retort.
Once the laughter died down a bit, Jamie got out his words through chuckles. "Yeah, but he only has those sex toys because Cole lent them to him!"
As Jamie's latest joke unfolded, it had a far-reaching impact, with Chuck and Cole shaking their heads in disbelief and amusement, besides sharing the laughter of their teammates.
Chuck, soon changing his glance to Sarah and Bryce, said, "You've only known the team for ten minutes, and they've all exposed their true selves already."
Cole, now pointing at Bryce—who had been in fits of laughter during most of the entire exchange since the introductions—rowdily said, "He loves it already!"
Bryce nodded emphatically, causing additional chuckles from amongst his new teammates.
"Right then," Chuck said, composing himself. "I'll take Sarah and Bryce to the ops room for a brief sit-in, then I'd better be off and show them some additional things before I run out of time."
"In a bit," Big Dan said.
"Catch you soon, Chuck," Cole said with a smile, his eyes twinkling with fondness.
The teammates shared a last glance before parting ways, Chuck leading the way out of the cafeteria with Sarah and Bryce in tow.
The three teammates walked in silence for a few minutes until Chuck came to a stop.
"Here we are," Chuck said, turning to Sarah and Bryce, who had halted just behind him. "One of our ops rooms."
Sarah and Bryce nodded.
"Let's check out what's going on today," Chuck said as he strode into the ops room, with Sarah and Bryce following.
Inside Ops Room Charlie, the hum of machinery and the glow of computer screens greeted the three teammates. The room was a flurry of activity, as officers and technicians huddled around the monitors and TVs, analysing the live footage of the mission that Mobility troop, D Squadron was undertaking. In amongst the dozen military personnel within the Ops Room was Red Team's team leader, Staff Sergeant Chris MacDonald.
Chuck, leaning behind himself, nodded Sarah and Bryce over towards their team leader, then said, "Our team leader. Chris MacDonald."
Sarah and Bryce exchanged a nod with Chuck before turning to face their team leader.
As soon as Chris noticed them, he gave a simple nod to acknowledge their presence and went back to his activities.
They realised that his welcome was much less receptive than the one Cole, Dan, Jamie, and John had given Sarah and Bryce minutes before.
Which, to Chuck, was no surprise...
"Let's see what's going down then," Chuck said as he shifted his focus to the monitors, and Sarah and Bryce did the same.
For a few minutes, the three teammates observed the screens, observing the live operation of their sister Mobility troop and sister squadron.
"It looks like we came just in time," Chuck broke their silence, his glance fixated on one specific screen as a firefight erupted between his comrades in the engagement and a Taliban force in the area of operations.
"That looks juicy, mate!" Bryce suddenly said. "I can't wait to be part of it myself when we get ourselves into something that goes down!"
Chuck, detecting the excitement in the tone of his newest teammate, suppressed laughter and nodded in approval.
However, he soon stepped to Sarah's side, intent on watching how they both reacted to the unfolding military engagement.
From his vantage point, Chuck could now see both Sarah and Bryce, as well as the engagement taking place. He observed as Bryce's excitement grew with each passing moment.
But for Sarah, her reaction to what she was watching was less than enthusiastic.
Chuck could sense her unease over the escalating intensity of the operation, now a full-on firefight with air support called in by their sister troop.
After a few minutes of intentional idleness, Chuck concluded that his newest teammates had mixed reactions to the unfolding operation. Despite passaging time, his conclusion remained unchanged from his initial observations at the start of the engagement.
For Bryce, the sheer excitement emanating from Bryce's persona was at extreme levels. To Chuck, that spelled out only one thing: a psycho...
Chuck's conclusion was concerning, but not unexpected, given his eight years of experience in the military, where he had encountered many comrades who shared Bryce's eagerness to fight and kill the enemy. However, it was essential to keep that aggression in check, channelling it just enough to accomplish the task at hand—never beyond that.
Meanwhile, Chuck concluded that Sarah's reaction was because of the overwhelming intensity of the SAS operation, as well as her disgust with the barbarity of the firefight.
I can relate to her reaction to this. I had always admired my dad and grandad's military service, and following their footsteps by joining the army was always my greatest aspiration. However, the moment of first contact on my deployment with the Guards in Iraq will stay with me forever. I remember the confusion, the anarchy, and the sound of gunshots ringing out everywhere… It was the most intense and bloody experience of my life! The delayed shock afterward, puking my guts everywhere. It wasn't pretty... It's why I asked her in the car if she'd killed before. Some people, like Bryce, are just made for this shit, which is why I can't knock him. In fact, in the eight years I've been in the military now, I've even become seasoned and almost immune to the barbarity of the job myself and have probably reached the point that I too love the intense ops that we get sent on... Oh, how times have changed since the night I cried myself to sleep after my encounter with the Guards and couldn't bear to look at my hands, knowing what they had done… But, as they say, time heals many wounds and scars, and so do the most amazing friends and brothers in arms. It healed mine…
As Chuck watched, Bryce turned towards him, his face still lit up with excitement.
Chuck simply nodded at him.
Bryce shifted his gaze towards Sarah, who remained fixated on the screen. The intensity of the operation had left its mark on her, clear from the shock etched on her features.
Bryce picked up on Sarah's unease. "Come on, Sarah! Surely this is exciting? It's why we joined!"
"It's not why I joined," Sarah said, her tone unsettled, her glance still locked onto a specific screen now showing deceased bodies.
Bryce scoffed, shook his head, and suppressed laughter as he caught Chuck's glance.
"It's better to not enjoy it than to enjoy it too much," Chuck cautioned.
However, Bryce continued to scoff, then said, "Come on, mate! It's why all of us signed up! To fight and scrap!"
"That's not what I signed up for at all!" Chuck said, shaking his head, Bryce's comment having set off frustration for the veteran Corporal. "I signed up for comradeship, for brotherhood. To be part of an organisation where hundreds of thousands of people share the same united goal and mission, and support each other through thick and thin. That's why I signed up, mate, not for killing! Although I have strong reservations about taking a life, I recognise that eliminating terrorists and others seeking to harm us is necessary to ensure the safety of others. It's a price you pay to be standing here right now, and I accept that. I've never once lost sleep for killing a terrorist, but it's nasty and barbaric business at the same time and if you don't get it under control, it will eat at and destroy you. Half the bloody army has PTSD, mate. It's a serious issue and nobody should be eager and love it unless you want to end up six feet under like all those who have fallen before you."
Nodding, Sarah broke from looking at the screens, turned to look at Chuck, and said, "I agree with Chuck. Like you, I didn't enlist to cause harm or take lives. It was a sense of duty that led me to sign up... To serve and try to protect my country, and the innocent people part of it."
Chuck gave several emphatic nods of agreement. "Exactly. Duty and brotherhood over violence. Violence is just a consequence of what we do. And as long as we have each other, we'll always come through it."
As Sarah maintained eye contact with Chuck, a smile spread across her face. "I couldn't agree more with you. And you were right... About what you said in the car," she said, but paused as she drew in a gulp. "I'm sorry for how I reacted to what you said because I already now understand how it's gonna be here and why you asked us that question... To prepare us."
Chuck nodded, his eyes holding against Sarah's in a warm exchange that lingered. "Yeah..." he said, drawing off his words.
"I get that," Bryce said. "Count me in for all of that, too. I just enjoy a good scrap as well!"
Chuck finally broke Sarah's gaze, turned to look at Bryce, suppressed laughter, and said, "You'll get on just fine with a lot of the lads here because most of them do as well."
Bryce nodded, sharing the muted laughter with Chuck.
After a moment, Chuck sighed to compose himself, then said, "Ok, let's be off for the last part of the tour then..."
Sarah and Bryce nodded in agreement, the smell of stale coffee lingering in the ops room as they left and made their way to Chuck's red Range Rover.
-O-o-O-o-O-o-O-
After leaving the ops room, Chuck gave Sarah and Bryce a tour of the base's training facilities, highlighting the cutting-edge equipment and resources available. There was a Killing House where the SAS practised hostage rescue and close-quarter battle training. The facility trained SAS operatives to enter a room with speed, precision, and accuracy in identifying and shooting any potential threats. For new recruits who had never killed before, the building was a crucial asset for training and preparation. It helped prevent them from freezing from pulling the trigger for a split second too long, which could have drastic consequences. It was a two-storey building that could be customised and had four rooms on each level. The building resembled a traditional structure, complete with furnishings, artwork, bathroom facilities, and even televisions. And was equipped with rubber-coated walls to absorb live ammunition, extractor fans to remove fumes, and cameras in every room to record and assess the action. The Killing House was a top-rated facility, with a reputation for producing the best soldiers. Throughout the years, the facility had the honour of hosting many high-profile individuals, such as Prince Charles, Diana, Princess of Wales, and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
America's Delta Force was so impressed with how successful the Killing House was; they adopted and incorporate it into their training facilities. Delta Force, by no coincidence, first formed when a U.S. Green Beret served as an exchange officer with 22 Reg and exposed the U.S. Army's vulnerability to not having a similar SAS-type unit in their army.
After their visit to the Killing House, Chuck took Sarah and Bryce to a storage area where a part of a Boeing 747 aircraft was kept. The SAS made use of a portion of the Boeing 747 to create a realistic training environment for storming aircraft.
Chuck didn't guide them through the locations, since they would do later it within the next few days. Chuck had just paused outside the sites as he briefly explained the training facilities' features to his newest teammates.
Once the introduction was over, Chuck took his new teammates to their base lodgings.
Afterwards, he headed to meet up with his friends for some social activity before Sarah and Bryce were to be officially introduced to Chuck and the rest of his troop at 11:00 hours.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I hope the conversations, thought processes, and explanations in the opening chapter have provided enough justification for why Chuck is a special forces soldier. Chuck's canon characteristics remain intact, but he exudes a newfound confidence that stems from both his environment and the unwavering trust and belief of thousands of people he encountered and worked with since joining the military. For Chuck, violence is a last resort, but he will not hesitate to use it to protect his safety, his friends, and the innocent people he has pledged to defend from the enemy. Chuck never requests to be deployed to specific locations, while the antagonists deliberately position themselves in those areas, seeking to hurt the people of his nation, leading Chuck and his colleagues to respond. Although Chuck Bartowski's character will evolve in later chapters, his fundamental core traits are already on display in the opening chapter through his dialogue, actions, etc.
NEXT CHAPTER: Sarah (with some of her background disclosed) and Bryce's formal introductions to Red Team, Mobility Troop, G Squadron, along with their first day.
FOOTNOTES: So then. Does anyone wish to share this Charah military story with me? I'm eager to hear. I value your opinion and would appreciate it if you could leave a review. Even if you are reading this in 2023. I love reading your comments :)