Over the next two weeks, 2 more bodies dropped. Both SEALs involved in that OP in Cameroon had everyone tense and looking over their shoulders.
There was an intense feeling of dread and the tendrils of icy fear snaking their fingers down all their spines as they watched Buck and the LAPD do their thing.
One thing the 118 knew for sure was that each day they saw more of their friend the more impressed they were, though there was a hint of fear-filled awe in their expressions.
There were moments of cold calculation and icy determination in Buck's eyes that scared as much as it gave confidence.
It was on day 16 since this whole ordeal started that the 118 team was gathered in the station loft, when they were discussing the situation among themselves when they saw Buck come up the stairs, phone pressed to her phone face blank and eyes arctic.
"ay, esto debe ser bueno."(ay, this ought to be good.) Eddie muttered as he stood and made his way to the kitchen got a cup of black coffee stirred a pat of butter into the coffee and handed it to Buck as she sat down where Eddie had been seated. He joined her on the sofa and waited with the rest of the team as Buck continued her call.
"Fine Hammer. I'll see you boys in a 0500. Get some rest ladies. Because I'm gonna be hitting the ground running soon. Soon enough the fuckers are gonna make a move, and it won't be at the old recon team. Seeing as we've got the boys locked down tighter than a drum right now. Their pissed but they will hold the pattern for now and knows to stay put. Helps that they want to protect their family. Sooner or later, they will move on the original team…us."
"Copy Viper, we'll see you soon boss. And stay alive till then. Say Hi to Doc will you?"
"10-4 will do," Buck muttered and ended the call as she looked at the team and then nodded. Looking up at Eddie she said," Hammer says 'hi'. The team will be here tomorrow morning. Think Smooth should be here by 1000 tomorrow as well."
"That's good. This means you will have back-up I know will cover you. Let's just hope finding these bastards will be quick. There is already been 3 bodies. Smooth locking down the recon team means they lost their targets. Could push them to come for you quicker."
" Maybe, but we'll be prepared for it. You know how the team is and how efficient we can be if we want to be. We'll get it done."
"Whose gonna assume command? You or Smooth?" Eddie enquired.
"Both. I had command of the team four years ago. But it was Smooth's team before it. We work the same as when you were with us in Afghanistan."
"Copy."
The 118 had remained quiet up to that point all of them watching the the couple discuss back and forth. However, to them, it seemed that the two were speaking in another language.
"So, what happens now?" Chim asked nervously, as he glanced at the couple.
"Now we wait. I've got some lines in the water. I am waiting for some other leads to either burn or bloom. LAPD is also, unfortunately, in a holding wait-and-see pattern. And there isn't much they can do either as the Feds have since taken over. NCIS SOP took over due to the victims being SEALs. Lucky for us, I know both the lead agent and his partner."
"Who?" Eddie asked as he frowned thinking of the two NCIS agents who had spoken to his wife.
"You wouldn't know either of them amando. But the agent in charge is the blue-eyed guy. Hell of an agent. Legend in covert ops. Met him in Moldova. His partner was a SEAL we worked with from time to time."
"At least you know they are good and will have your back and the team, no?"
"Yip. there is that. But that's not why I am here. I need you guys to start being very vigilant. You especially Eds. I know you don't like it but I need you to start thinking of either taking PTO or start packing again. I know you said that you never wanted to touch a firearm ever again. And I can respect that. But you still have your service weapon and have kept up your CCW. Use it. Por favor."
There was a bead of silence as Eddie simply gazed at his wife with heavy and shadowed eyes before his eyes blanked and his face cleared and filled with weary determination.
"No me gusta, pero haré lo que tenga que hacer. Te cubro las espaldas, Carino. Y no seré una carga para ti o para nuestros hijos".
("I don't like it, but ill do what I need to do. I've got your back carino. And I won't be a liability to you or our kids")
"Gracias. Sé que no es lo ideal, pero es lo que tengo ahora mismo. Y necesito saber que tú y los niños estáis a salvo cuando estoy de espaldas. Te prometo que haré todo lo que pueda para protegernos a todos)".
"(Thanks. I know it's not ideal but it's what I've got right now. and I need to know you and the kids are safe when I have my back turned. I promise that I'll do all I can to protect us all.)"
Before anyone could utter a word there was a soft ping from Buck's pocket and she withdrew her phone with a grunt and glanced at the display.
Smooth→ got intel 4 u.
→fnd att below:
United States Department of the Navy
20 August 2019
MEMORANDUM FOR
TO: Adm Micheal J Mason FLEETCOM, DOD
FROM: Lt. Com Steven J McGarrette SEAL team 3
SUBJECT: After Action Report (AAR),Operation Midnight Serpent
REF:
TOP SECRET / EYES ONLY
OPERATION MIDNIGHT SERPENT
1. GENERAL INFORMATION / INTRODUCTION
2. SUMMARY
The following is information regarding the contingency itself:
Deployed Location: Yaoundé, Cameroon
Deployed Personnel: SEAL 3 under command of LT CMD Stephan J McGarrett/ 2IC SNR Chief Evalynn Diaz
Duration of Deployment: Friday, 9 August 2019-Tuesday, 20 August 2019
Contingency Purpose: In support of Safe Extraction of HVTs in the area
Scope of Operation: [ Provide a scope of the operation ]
Mission Overview: Operation Midnight Serpent is a high-stakes covert extraction mission targeting a high-value asset in the volatile region of West Africa. Our objective is to retrieve Ambassador Robert Sinclair, his family, and critical intelligence documents from the US Embassy. The ambassador's life is in imminent danger, and time is of the essence.
Mission Parameters:
Target: Ambassador Robert Sinclair and his family (US Ambassador to Cameroon)
Location: WF2X+3RW, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Threat Level: High (Heavily armed paramilitary guards)
Assets: SEAL Team Splinter (ST-S), supported by Nightstalkers (160th SOAR)
Insertion: HALO jump at 0200 hours
Extraction: LZ Bravo, awaiting Black Hawk extraction
Rules of Engagement: Neutralize hostiles only if necessary; prioritize stealth and extraction
Intel Brief:
Ambassador Sinclair has been held secure in the Embassy for 2 weeks. The US Embassy is fortified with reinforced walls, surveillance systems, and a network of underground tunnels.
The ambassador's family (wife and two children) are also inside the US Embassy.
Intel suggests a mole within the ambassador's security detail leaking information to the rebel forces led by General Nkembo Tchinda closing in.
ST-S Objectives:
Infiltrate the US Embassy undetected.
Locate and secure Ambassador Sinclair and his family.
Retrieve classified documents related to regional instability.
Identify and neutralize the mole.
Exfiltrate via LZ Bravo.
Nightstalkers' Role:
Provide air support, including extraction and close air support (CAS) if needed.
Maintain communication blackout until extraction.
Monitor enemy movements and provide real-time intel.
Challenges:
Dense jungle terrain limits visibility and complicates movement.
Hostile patrols are unpredictable.
The mole's identity remains unknown.
Mission Timeline:
Day 1: Infiltration
HALO jump into the jungle.
Move silently to the compound.
Day 2: Extraction
Secure the ambassador and family.
Retrieve documents.
Identify the mole.
Await Nightstalkers' extraction.
Day 3: Extraction Continues
Evade enemy pursuit.
Reach LZ Bravo.
Extract via Black Hawk.
8. POINT OF CONTACT
POC Lt Cmd, Stephen J McGarrette/ Senior Chief Evalynn Diaz
POC stephan. /
POC Phone Number(s) +1 (555) 123-4567/+1 (555) 987-6543
You:
← Hell. Thx Boss. this hlps. U sre tis is da aar re knight?
Smooth→Affirmative. Info is green.
You:
← 10-4 cya on da flip side.
Smooth→ copy. Cya kid. Keep ur head on a swivel. B thre sn.
" Ok looks like we got some traction. Smooth just sent me the AAR for the mission in Cameroon. Now we know who we are dealing with and we go from offense to defense."
"That's good right. You have a jump point to operate from now and can get a plan on board, right?" Bobby asked, brow furrowed in concern as he gazed at the young woman who had become like a daughter to him and made their team even more of a family.
" Right. That's very good Bobby. Better to know one's enemy and how to strike."
At a glance at her watch, Buck stood up and nodded at Eddie who stood up and joined his wife who with a nod at the team headed for the stairs on silent feet.
"Well. am I the only one who thinks it is kinda scary how different Buck has become since this whole nightmare started? I mean she's almost cold right?" Trent asked as he gazed at the spot Buck and Eddie just vacated.
"That's true. She is different. There are moments when she seems like a complete stranger. And the same goes for Eddie. They both seem so different from what we usually see, sometimes it almost seems like we don't know them at all." Hen murmured softly.
Before anyone could respond they saw Eddie step into the loft and noted the awkward silence that fell over the team.
With a raised eyebrow he simply looked at them in question as he crossed his arms over his chest and settled on the couch
"Well?" he groused.
"Nothing. We were talking about how good it is that Buck got an idea of who is gunning for her. And her team I guess." Chim said quickly hoping to distract from what they were speaking about just a moment prior.
"Really Chim? Don't ever lie. You suck at it." Eddie smirked as he shook his head.
With a moment of easy silence, Bobby said gently, "We were simply saying that it is a little unnerving sometimes how different Buck seems. Like she is something of a stranger to all of us and so are you a bit. There are times you both seem to be strangers to us."
" Bobby. Sometimes walling off the military aspect of it all is more to protect the people we love. The things we saw over there weren't a picnic and were sometimes brutal and inhumane. There is no reason to taint the life we fought and built here and now."
Eddie sighed as he gazed off into the distance and got the same 1000-yard stare both he and Buck were seen sporting sometimes. More so the last couple of weeks, and waited as Eddie sighed again and finally shook his head as though shaking off the memories.
No further conversation followed as the team heard the bell toll and moved to the trucks to go save LA from themselves.