Timothy McGee, the budding polymath of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and a skilled computer consultant for the Major Case Response Team (MCRT), was well aware that the best place to initiate an investigation was at the very beginning. This fundamental principle applied to every story, whether it was a fictional tale he had penned in his spare time or a real-life case in the realm of law enforcement. As he delved into the complex situation, McGee felt a sense of gratitude that the MCRT was still on administrative leave, primarily due to being a member short and Tony DiNozzo nursing a broken arm. With no pressing cases to take precedence, McGee decided to start by gathering every relevant document that outlined the "alliance" between NCIS and the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad. He spent hours poring over documents and contracts signed by the deceased NCIS Director Jenny Shepard and Mossad Director David, which were later followed by Ziva David's employment contract and her specified duties regarding NCIS.
As McGee meticulously read through the contracts, he began to understand the scope of Ziva's responsibilities and the limitations of her role within NCIS. On paper, it seemed that Ziva was expected to walk a fine line between her loyalty to Mossad and her professional obligations to NCIS. With this newfound understanding, McGee proceeded to examine the Internal Affairs reports of Tony and Ziva regarding Tony's confrontation with Michael Rivkin, a rogue Mossad operative. While reading both versions of the story, McGee started to realize the first problem his team was experiencing. Ziva's actions appeared to be driven by a desire to protect Mossad's interests, while also maintaining the integrity and professional integration of NCIS, a delicate balancing act that seemed to be weighing heavily on her. Meanwhile, Tony's version of events suggested that he had attempted to shield Ziva from being attached to the Rivkin situation in the first place, an effort to recreate the same circumstances that had prevented Ziva's involvement in the confrontation that ultimately led to the death of Ari Haswari, another rogue member of Kidon. As McGee analyzed both Tony's and Ziva's accounts, he became increasingly aware that he needed a third, more objective version of events: the truth. And the truth, he suspected, could only be found in one location: Ziva's home Wi-Fi network. McGee's instincts told him that the key to unraveling the mystery lay in the digital trail that Ziva may have left behind, and he was determined to follow it, no matter where it might lead.
With a silent prayer of forgiveness to Ziva, Tim McGee began the painstaking process of retrieving every bit of information that had left digital traces on her home Wi-Fi network over the last 72 hours. He knew that the key to unraveling the mystery lay in the data that had been transmitted through the network, and he was determined to leave no stone unturned. Using both the Wi-Fi assigned IP Addresses and the IP Addresses from the devices found in Ziva's apartment, Tim McGee meticulously reconstructed the list of various online activities that had taken place. As he delved deeper into the data, he found proof that Tabal's laptop had been connected to Ziva's network, with a multitude of sensitive documents uploaded and sent to various IP addresses located in Tel Aviv. The revelation sent a shiver down his spine, and he couldn't help but wonder what kind of information had been shared. He also found proof that confirmed the various conversations between Michael and Ziva, completing some of the messages found on her laptop.
Furthermore, he discovered the IP Address assigned to Michael Rivkin's phone, with logs of calls, texts, and internet-based messaging connecting him to various people of Mossad, including the Director himself, Eli David. The sheer volume of data was overwhelming, but Tim McGee was undeterred, sifting through the evidence with a fine-tooth comb. He spent hours reading messages, listening to Hebraic conversations, and slowly painting a picture of what had occurred in Ziva's apartment before the fight between Tony and Michael. As he continued to analyze the data, Tim McGee became increasingly convinced that Michael Rivkin was the key to solving what was currently happening with Ziva David. Using the information from Michael's device, Tim McGee decided to take a bold step, hacking into the devices by their IP address and breaching firewalls through stolen authorized accesses. He employed relatively benign spyware to gain access to the devices, and soon found himself inside the insidious world of Mossad through the profile of Michael Aaron Rivkin.
As tempted as Tim McGee might have been to delve deeper into the secrets of Mossad, Israel's national intelligence agency, he remained focused on his mission. With a sense of determination, he adjusted the time and date on Michael Rivkin's profile to a few days in the past, allowing him to access the information about the mission he was undertaking. As he scrolled through the messages, he discovered that Mossad Director Eli David was leading the charge to find and eliminate Saleem Ulman, a notorious Al-Shabaab terrorist responsible for the brutal murder of a Mossad Intelligence Officer. The messages revealed that Director David was not only frustrated but also furious at Saleem Ulman's ability to detect and trap his Mossad officer, suggesting that Ulman had a sophisticated network of informants and operatives at his disposal. McGee found that the information had been gathered from various sources, including Mossad Intelligence Officers who were legally and illegally planted in the United States, as well as civilian helpers from all walks of life. The sheer scope of the operation was impressive, with Mossad analysts working tirelessly to gather and filter information, ultimately leading Michael Rivkin to his targets in Los Angeles and later Washington D.C.
As McGee delved deeper into Rivkin's profile, he was severely impressed with the resources and organizational structure of Mossad, which seemed to rival those of the FBI and the CIA. The agency's ability to coordinate complex operations and gather intelligence from a wide range of sources was a testament to its sophistication and effectiveness. McGee's curiosity was piqued, and he found himself wondering about the inner workings of the agency and the extent of its capabilities. As he continued to explore Rivkin's profile, McGee stumbled upon information uploaded from Tabal's computer, which revealed the location of Saleem Ulman and his terrorist training camp. The discovery was a significant breakthrough, and McGee realized that Saleem Ulman was not only a threat to Israeli interests but also to the United States. The information suggested that Ulman had been involved in several skirmishes with the US Navy, employing Somalian Pirates to attack or harass American ships. Furthermore, the information from Tabal's computer indicated that Saleem Ulman was aware of the partnership between Mossad and NCIS, the law enforcement agency of the Navy. This revelation raised concerns about the potential consequences of Ulman's knowledge, and McGee knew that he had to act quickly to prevent any further damage. With a sense of urgency, he scanned the information to his computer, knowing that he would have to view and print it later. Time was of the essence, and McGee was aware that Mossad's firewall could kick him out at any moment, cutting off his access to the valuable information.
With his heart racing, McGee worked swiftly to gather as much information as possible, knowing that every minute counted. He was determined to uncover the truth about Saleem Ulman and his terrorist network, and he was willing to risk everything to achieve his goal. Michael Rivkin had incurred the wrath of Gibbs to get this information out to Mossad, and had even died in a confrontation with Tony. Ziva's well-being could very well depend on this information and Tim would make sure to be fully knowledgeable on Saleem Ulman, even if it came at the expense of Mossad.