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Grey Sword PMC (Private Military Contractors)

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As the team approached the plane, Gordon got the team together and made sure they performed yet another check of their gear. He checked that the armor plates in their plate carriers were properly and completely inserted and that mag and gear pouches were secured to them as well. Once Nick and Connor arrived, Gordon reported to him.

"Gear's checked. The team's prepped and ready to go."

Nick simply nodded at his friend's report before he spoke.

"Alright team, circle up." Nick said before looking at Michael. "Mister Donovan?"

"Alright, bow your heads. If you're not the prayin' type, just take a moment to go over the op." Michael said before he bowed his head and began.

"Dear God, we come to you as humble souls thankful for all the blessings that you have bestowed upon us in the form of our friends, family and health. We ask you to guide us to success and victory as we head into the unknown yet again. We ask that you give those who wait for us at home the strength to carry on with their lives as we risk ours. If we should fall today Lord, we ask that you forgive us of all of our trespasses so that we can walk beside you in the Kingdom of Heaven. All this and more we pray in your name. Amen."

With that, Michael headed toward the ramp and patted each of his passing teammates on the shoulder, counting all the while.

"All accounted for, boss." Michael said, before Nick nodded at him and he went to his seat.

"So we've got a callsign on this op. It's "Gunslinger". So let's get it on, team." Nick said as he made his way to his seat.

Grey Sword PMC (Private Military Contractors)

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"I thought there were rules against the deployment of Private Contractors on American soil." Gordon said.

"There are. Y'all can't deploy without supervision." Said a gruff Southern accent from the back of the room."

"Team, this is Senior Special Agent James Connor, D.H.S. He'll be attached to your team for the duration of this operation." Duke said, trying not to let his disapproval of the circumstances be too noticeable in either his voice or his face.

"Are you S.W.A.T. qualified at least?" Michael asked as he turned to the man in the back of the room.

"Yeah. I can handle a long gun if I've gotta." Connor replied.

"There is the OTHER matter that we discussed." Dietrich said, looking at Duke.

The large former Delta Force operator took a deep breath before he spoke.

"The CIA have this person, callsign "Mongol", they say his combat aptitude tests are off the charts, but he says he's never been in combat before. Since Langley is contracting us, they've insisted that he be on the team. It's not my call and it's not up for discussion."

This led to some eye rolls amongst the team, but no further grief.

"When do we leave?" Lexi asked.

"Within the hour." Duke said.

"Alright then, if there's nothing else, we can get kitted up and make our way to the airfield. Connor, you can follow me to the quartermaster and get your gear." Nick said as the group adjourned and headed for the elevator.

Grey Sword PMC (Private Military Contractors)

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"I'm sorry, who exactly are you supposed to be?" Dietrich said, clearly not pleased at how she was interrupted.

"Steve Westbrook. Team's heavy weapons guy." he said while looking over the map with dots over the largest ports in Mexico.

"And what is it that you think makes YOU an expert on how things work on the Border?" Dietrich said.

"Because I was born near that border. I know people on BOTH side of the law on BOTH sides of the border." Steve said, a little attitude now in his voice.

"Tex grew up with a lot of people that grew up on and around that border, I'd trust what he's got to say on this." Nick interjected from his seat at the table.

"Go ahead, son." Duke said.

"Thank you, sir." Steve said before going on.

"Now, it seems obvious that Ayad would've gone through Matamoros and crossed over into Brownville, Texas. But that's the last place we should look because of just how obvious that would be. Now, has The Agency intercepted any intel on a possible target in the U.S.?" Steve asked looking at Dietrich.

"Just three letters that have kept popping up in a few calls and messages that we've intercepted from phone calls made by men in Ayad's circle: JTH. But we have no idea what it means."

The hearing of those three letters made Steve freeze in what looked like a mix of surprise and terror.

"Steve, you got somethin'?" Michael asked, concerned for his friends.

"Colonel James Thomas Howell. He was the C.O. of the Ranger Regiment when I was in the Army. He was at my court martial. He told me that when he got out of the Army, he wanted to run for the U.S. Senate. He figured that if he made it on the Armed Services Committee, he could push funding requests for advanced combat tech that allows less U.S. troops to be in immediate danger." Steve said.

"Oh my God. Colonel Howell retired from the Army a couple of months ago it looks like he might win the seat too." Dietrich said, a hand over her mouth as she processed the realization.

"They're gonna hit him at the victory celebration. A whole bunch of cameras will be down there. Ayad wants whole country to see an American Senator get assassinated." Ace said.

"The Department of Homeland Security, along with the CIA have contracted Grey Sword to provide additional security to the Senator." Duke said.

Grey Sword PMC (Private Military Contractors)

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"What makes you think he's plannin' somethin' now? Lots of terrorists talk about blowin' up America." Steve said.

"Yes...but two days ago, one of Ayad's suspected aliases was on the crew manifest of a Turkish registered freighter logged to port in Matamoros, Mexico. U.S. Coast Guard intercepted the vessel. One of the life boats was missing and the crew said that man matching Ayad's description took the vessel while they were still on course for the port. We know he's still in Mexico because Border Patrol hasn't reported contact with him." Dietrich said.

"That don't mean s**t. Cartels have mastered bypassing the Borders or payin' guys off." Steve cut in.

(Pictured below: CIA Agent Elizabeth Dietrich)

Grey Sword PMC (Private Military Contractors)

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"We all know Tahir Ayad. Born in Kuwait, lost his family in an Iraqi chemical weapons attack. Around that time, he travelled to Afghanistan and got in touch with Al Qaeda. Fought beside against the Coalition invasion of Afghanistan back in '01 and has been fighting with AQ in Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Northern Africa and wherever else a Jihad could be launched. At least until 2011 when Bin Laden was killed. Then, he raised a splinter Jihadist group known as "The Sword of Allah". They've conducted attacks in Central and Southern Africa, Western Europe and Southeast Asia. We've got reason to suspect that he may have the U.S. as a target."

(Pictured below: Douglas "Duke" McKay)