Standing In For Dad Ch 41

I called the two LTs and Barnes to my ready room and sat down as they entered right behind me.

"Fellas, I have set up a meet with the base Marine contingent for a joint obstacle course run. However, I have some concerns."

"You are thinking they may be planning a bit of retribution?"

"The thought had crossed my mind, yes."

The LTs smiled, "Want us to treat it as an open ended appraise and react mission?"

"I think that would be prudent. I want one squad in full gear on the ship doing guard duty and the other can go play. Switch out if you want and feel it is safe. I want a sniper on the helo pad doing overwatch for the ship. Also, if threatened, you are authorized weapons hot. Hit the course with full gear, maybe those crayon eaters can keep up that way."

They chuckled and I asked, "Do we have some of those extended range Black Hornet II PRS drones still on board?"

"We do, yes. They have a one-hour flight time, and we can covertly keep two over us scanning the area. We can have coms aboard ship receive their live feeds and relay it through our helmets. That way, if we run into a sniper situation, we will have the information we need to react effectively."

"Good, I also want you packing your AP rounds. If things get deadly, I want you to be prepared. Also, let's have one of our bigger Switchblade 600 LASSO drones up to be available to take out an APC if necessary. Additionally, I want each of you carrying your personal Quantum Stealth ponchos, including the SEALs on board. Can fire control put the sea whiz in the loop with the Hornet's telemetry?"

"They can link them after our last refit, yes. How did you know about that?"

"You think I don't know what my ship is capable of?"

"Roger that, Harry."

"Let's just say, my gut says you should be prepared. We don't know if they got all the bad actors out last time. ETA is 8 minutes so get your gear on."

Both LTs were issuing commands over their secured network as they walked out the door. I went to my suite and put on my aramid long underwear over my cotton ones, donned a nice custom-tailored pair of NWU Type III in the AOR2 camouflage pattern along with a tan shoulder holster for my 45, loaded with AP, along with two spare mags. I then placed my fighting knives into special holders made into the back strap of my holster. I wore an unlined jacket in the AOR2 camouflage pattern, with my name and rank velcroed in place, which I kept open in the front.

Unbeknownst to me, Dad had dressed accordingly in AOR2 camouflage patterned cammo with his sub-machine gun, loaded with 60 AP rounds in two alternating mags, hung under his arm in a special shoulder sling that allowed for quick access and use. Dad also had half a dozen grenades and another 60 AP rounds attached to his belt. He met me at the door.

We both had our ear buds and throat mikes on, so we were in the loop with coms and the SEALs.

I looked at dad and didn't say a thing, knowing it would not matter. I simply nodded my head and smiled.

0o0

The SEAL team squad was picked up in a 3/4-ton transport and driven off to the obstacle course where they met a platoon of Marines. LT gave the signal to stay in a defensive formation with weapons at low ready. Once they disembarked, the NCOIC of the platoon smiled a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

Barnes was watching from the Bridge as he located all the Marines and an APC. "Fellas, there is an APC and about 38 Marines showing up on infrared. No snipers that we can see. I got your six, Sea Whiz is up and spinning so keep an open line of fire. I will advise if you need to move out of the way. Keep about 30 feet between you and the Marines. This looks very hostile. Over."

LT smiled, "Copy that."

The transport stopped and the SEALs disembarked and went behind the truck, putting about 15 yards between them and the mostly massed Marines. As the truck pulled off... the two sides faced each other.

"Hello fellas, looks like you came ready for a small war. Seems we both had the same idea of hitting the course with full gear." Why don't you run the course first, so we know what we are up against?"

One of the SEALs loosed one of his black wasps and had it check out the course. Just above the fourth log obstacle, there was a thin wire. The picture was relayed to all the SEAL HUDs in their helmets through the link to the ship's comms as the drone traced the wire back to a hidden Claymore mine.

The LT responded, "Who was the TUIFU Marine who set out the Claymores?"

The NCOIC laughed, "Well, shit. Still, a Marine platoon against 8 SEALs? You fellas just want to lay down and die for us to save the ammo?"

"Well, it does seem to be a bit unbalanced for a firefight. But it is not our fault you brought only 38 guns."

Just as things began to get tense, a BAE Systems Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) rolled up behind the Marines. The NCOIC then smirked, "So, you think your spec opps rifles will take this baby out?"

LT smiled tensely and grunted, "Target acquired," (the agreed upon signal for attack) as he gave combat hand signals, --hit the deck in five, four, three...--. When the SEALs hit the ground, the drone struck the APC just as the gunner was aiming his 50-caliber machine gun. It exploded, sending its tungsten rod into the APC which spalled the now plasma hot armor, killing it and everyone inside.

For good measure, Sea Whiz put a massive number of rounds into the APC in one second, turning it into Swiss cheese. It was firing 30mm x 173mm Armor-Piercing, Fin-Stabilized, Discarding Sabot with Tracer (APFSDS-T) rounds, and with the special barrels onboard, Sea Whiz was spitting out those bullets at well over 5,000 feet per second, due to the new barrel coating, and at a rate of 4,500 rounds per second. Basically, the gun fired at the target a mile away, in a one second burst, with the first round hitting as the last one left the barrel. The tracers were still active, so they lit up the fuel upon penetration.

In the one second of absolute destruction of the state-of-the-art APC ending in it being on fire, the Marines were stunned. The SEALs took that moment of shock and awe to jump into the undergrowth. Within seconds the SEAL squad had pulled out their light bending ponchos from an open flap in their packs and donned them as they took up a defensive position just inside the brush line.

By the time the Marines looked up, the SEALS had vanished into thin air.

0o0

Captain Barnes noted the SEALs had taken the opportunity the destruction of the APC provided and jumped into the bush: but they then vanished from infra-red, and the loitering Black Hornets could no longer track them. He quickly checked the personal locators on each team member to verify they were not in the line of fire. "Command to SEALs, hold your positions and prepare for incoming fire!"

Barnes gave the nod and Sea Whiz strafed the Marine position.

0o0

Watching 38 people literally explode in blood and gore while you watched even unsettled some of the team. "Damn! LT! They never stood a chance!"

"We didn't ask for this shit, boys. We just finish and wipe up the mess. They made their intent known and I, for one, want to get back to momma."

"Roger that, LT."

"SEALs on scene, check for survivors, Poppa Bear is in route."

0o0

Soon Dad and I were in the same interrogation room we were the first time we visited GITMO. Captain Watkins was there, along with his XO, Commodore Patty Melendez. As we sat. the four reporters were brought in and cuffed to the anchored table after they sat down.

"You fella's know who I am?" I asked.

"One of the older reporters spit on the floor and nodded, "You are Harry Walker. Owner of the lake property we tried to set up surveillance on."

Dad spoke up, "He is Ambassador Walker to you, ass wipe. And spit at him again and I will kill you where you stand." Dad raised the muzzle of his machine gun and took off the safety.

"Go ahead. Death is better than living out our lives in this shithole."

"Dad let's take it down a notch. He is just at his breaking point. He doesn't really understand he can be killed with impunity." I turned to the reporter, "What would be your dream scenario from this point forward?"

He scoffed, "You release us, we write an expose' on all this bullshit and win a Pulitzer."

I nodded. "And, on the other end, I can kill you all right now and the incident will be over and done."

The reporter replied, "We have family. There will be an investigation."

I chuckled, "I have a Presidential Pardon sitting in my safe that trumps your investigation. Even if I admit to killing you in cold blood, nobody can touch me."

One of the other members of the group asked, "Who the hell are you people? Who can lock up four men and send them to a semi black site for trespassing? And then have the right to kill in cold blood and get away with it?"

I shrugged, "You have heard of bad ass wannabes. My team and I are just bad asses. We are the people who do not go bump in the night because you will never hear us coming." I smiled and continued, "However, it seems from your statements you are more into vengeance than a way out of here..."

Just then Barnes clued me in to what the SEALs were walking in to. I looked at Captain Watkins, "Why are there 38 Marines and an APC threatening to kill my security team?"

Watkins and his XO got white as sheets, "WHAT!"

"Yes, they set Claymores around the obstacle course, which my men found. And when they confronted the Marines, they...." I paused, listening into my earbud, "Your Marines are all dead with one exception and the APC has been destroyed."

Watkins then bellowed, "Commodore Melendez, watch these men as we go investigate."

The three of us smartly walked out and got into the captain's personal jeep.

0o0

Still donning their camouflage, the SEALs began to check the Marine company for survivors. The only one they found was the NCOIC of the group. His right leg was cut off at the knee so one of the SEAL team members applied a tourniquet to keep him from bleeding out. He also treated him for shock until medics could arrive.

The Lt looked around, asking the team for a count before reporting in, "This is SEAL team leader, we have one survivor who is in shock and lost a leg. We need an ambulance in route. Over."

0o0

I looked at Captain Watkins, "There is a survivor, we need an ambulance to their position at the start of the course."

Watkins got on his phone and called it in. His hands were shaking.

We beat the Ambulance there and Watkins promptly opened his door, took a look around... and threw up. Eviscerated body parts were everywhere. "Barnes, are all threats neutralized?"

"Free and clear, Harry. One ambulance in route. ETA is 3 minutes."

Watkins was breathing hard, his eyes as big as baseballs, "One SEAL team did all THIS?!"

"Basically, yes. But they actually didn't have to fire a shot. Did you boys?"

A disembodied voice spoke up to my left, "No, Ambassador. We just called in fire support after the APC showed up and began to target us. Figured since they escalated, we would, too."

Watkins' head was on a swivel and his voice was getting a hysterical edge to it, "Who is talking? Where the hell are you? Where is the SEAL team?"

"Stow the ponchos fellas."

The 8 team members revealed themselves and stowed their ponchos. Watkins' jaw literally was wide ass open and stayed there. "How is that even possible?" He eventually asked as he looked like a deer in the headlights at the 8 SEALs who had been standing in a clearing less than 15 feet from him the whole time.

The SEAL LT stepped up and saluted Watkins, "Captain, you will want a demo team out here to clear the obstacle course along with a forensic team to try and identify the dead. We know there is a Claymore over there," he pointed, "with a trip wire running over that log obstacle, but there are likely others."

Watkins was still in a bit of shock, but he did return the salute and get on his phone, calling in the necessary units to clear and clean up the place. The Ambulance showed up and took possession of the lone survivor, quickly checking around to see if there were any more. The lead medic shaking his head and exclaiming, "Mother fucker!" about every minute or so.

"LT, your boys want to have a little fun?"

LT smiled, "What have you got in mind, Sir?"

I turned off my mike, "Put your cloaks back on and turn off your personal locators before you sneak back to the ship and board her. Get some showers and then report to Captain Barnes on the Bridge before you write up your AARs. And don't get caught."

LT looked at his men, a shit eating grin on his face, "You fella's up for that?"

The men were all smiles and a "Oh hell yeah!" was all that was said.

"Job well done, fellas." I turned my mike back on, "Tell Chef I said we are eating steak tonight."

0o0

Barnes was listening and realized something was going on when the locators went offline, and the team was no longer pinging the infra-red. He called the other SEAL LT in and chuckled, "You ready for some fun?"

"Fun, Sir?"

Barnes smiled, "Well, after the shit hit the fan and everything went back to normal all the team members in situ all went off infra-red and their locators are now turned off. What do you think that means?"

"Does chatter indicate they are in trouble?"

"Nope."

LT smiled, "Then they are going to try and infiltrate the ship."

"So how do we stop them?"

LT thought a moment, "We set up an infrared emitter and receiver down the gangway and across the steps aft. They will not be able to see it and when the line of sight is disrupted by their cloaks, we will be alerted to their presence."

"Let your team know. They are a mile out, so I figure you got 10 minutes tops."

LT was giggling like a schoolgirl as he got hold of his team. He let them know how they were going to catch them then issued out the Empire Axe 2.0 paintball guns which they set to full auto. The second squad laid low, having set the trap... and they didn't have long to wait.

Second squad set their coms to a different channel and when the infrared emitter let them know the first squad was on the gangway the LT counted down from 5. At zero, 8 paintball guns, firing on full auto, showered the gangway from 8 different vectors. Soon there were shouts, cursing, and ghosts who were hit with a plethora of multi colored paint splotches.

First squad's LT uncovered and asked, "How the hell did you figure it out and how did you catch us?"

The second squad's LT answered, "When your locators all went off and you disappeared from infrared, and were not under duress, we knew. We set up an infrared emitter and mirror down the gangway and when it pinged there was an obstruction, we knew you were 'walking the plank'."

"Fuck! If we had just kept our IR sets up, we would have seen it!"

The second squad all laughed, "Come on fellas, we will help you clean up."

0o0

"Um, Ma'am, what is this about?"

"I am Commodore Melendez. My information is the Ambassador has full authority over the dispensation of your case. He can set you free, he can leave you here, he can put you into his custody, or he can shoot you dead and bury you at sea."

The photographer bowed his head, "Shit. And Alvin's quip about an expose' screwed us."

Commodore Melendez nodded, "Well it didn't help. Fellas, what you don't know is that man just initiated, planned, executed, and completed a war with Mexico and won the war in about 30 minutes with only 20 fatalities. He killed the Mexican President, all the crime lords, stopped the drug and sex trades, and set up a new government in Mexico. As far as the public and the politicians are concerned, he walks on water."

"So, he really is untouchable."

She just nodded her head. "From what I can gather, Ambassador Walker did all that because the Mexican President was involved in the death of his father. And when you set up your cameras you put his family in jeopardy. You have really pissed off the wrong man."

"But he called the other man here, Dad. What gives?"

"That man is his father-in-law, and he is the highest-level field operative in the CIA. He is a living legend in their organization."

"How do you know all this?"

Melendez laughed, "Because I am Captain Watkins' XO and also the lead CIA agent on this base. I was sent here to clean up a big ass mess those two men uncovered last time they were here and arrested the previous base commander."

"So what you are really saying is we just thought we were in over our heads but we really don't have a clue."

"Yep, that about sums it up."

"What would happen to us if we tried to run an expose'?"

"You would be assassinated, the very fact of your existence would be erased from the surface of the earth, and if your loved ones made too much fuss about it they would disappear."

"He would do that?"

"No, he would never know about it. The Agency has some dirty laundry in all this and they don't like loose ends."

"If he leaves us here, are you going to kill us?"

"That remains to be seen. I am sure that decision is being discussed well above my pay grade. But if that order comes down, you would not be able to hide from us."

"Why are you telling us this?"

"Because you knowing doesn't matter. And, honestly, I am not looking forward to slicing your throats. It is believed the Ambassador has some plans for you and, frankly, we owe him and his father-in-law the favor if he decides to use you four. You see, he will be running for President when he comes of age. The prevailing thought is he wants you fella's to document his legacy for that presidential run... but he has to be able to trust you know the difference between support and treachery. Support he will empower. Treachery, well... his past actions should tell you all you need to know."

"Just how deadly is he?"

"All reports indicate he could kill you dead just by touching you with his little finger if he chose to do so."

"Bullshit."

"No shit."

"You are full of shit."

At that, Melendez picked up a television remote and clicked it at the television. "What you are watching is a demonstration by Ambassador Walker when he was on board a U.S. carrier."

The four men watched as Harry walked up to a steel I-beam...placed his hand on it, and lightly slapped it... breaking it in half.

"Is that REAL!?"

"Yep."

The men sat in silence for about an hour, awaiting their fate. When the door opened with some force, all four of them jumped.

0o0

Dad, Watkins and I walked back into the room and Commodore Melendez, with her hands on the table, slowly stood and acknowledged us, "Ambassador, Sir, Captain Watkins."

"At ease." Watkins smiled.

I took one look at the four men and realized we were in a much different place. I looked to Melendez, "What did you tell them?"

"Nothing that isn't public knowledge, Ambassador."

Dad looked at her and said one word, "Agency."

She nodded, "Yes, Sir. I was sent here to clean up this mess and to cut off any loose ends."

Okay, serious alarm bells and red flags: this woman just got my full attention. "Captain, who set up the meet with the Marines?"

Watkins was looking sheepish with all the bombshells, "Commodore Melendez did."

I let my anger show, "You intentionally put my people in danger?"

"Intentionally, no Ambassador. What I did do was give those men the opportunity to hang themselves, which they obviously did. I have also studied you extensively and I knew you would set it up so your men were protected."

I let my chi manifest in dragon form, "I am not amused, Melendez. Who authorized this?"

"It came directly from the head of operations, Ambassador. We knew the danger to you and yours would be minimal, you have proved that over and over."

I got deadly serious with her, "Let the chain know this is to never happen again under any circumstances. I will not tolerate it."