Chapter 43-44

Chapter 43: Alliance of Giants

The briefing took place in a highly restricted room at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Here, DEVGRU and Delta Force operators were gathered to discuss a mission that required the unique skills of both tier-one units. It was rare, almost historic, for these two elite forces to collaborate, but the situation demanded it.

At the front of the room, a JSOC (Joint Special Operations Command) officer detailed the plan. Maps, aerial photos, and a mock-up of the target, a heavily fortified compound in Syria, filled the table. The location housed a high-level terrorist cell, and the mission was simple on paper: capture or eliminate the leaders, and destroy critical communications equipment and chemical weapons.

Scott, Echo's leader, known as "Echo 1," sat next to his team, Echo 2 through Echo 6. Delta Force operators were on the other side of the room, led by a man named Major Robert "Robby" Lane, a respected veteran.

"This will be a joint operation, but with specific objectives for each team," the officer said. "Delta will be responsible for neutralizing outside forces and clearing the way. DEVGRU will enter the compound to capture priority targets and locate the chemical material. Timing will be critical."

Scott raised his hand. "What about air support? Will we have an evacuation ready?"

The officer nodded. "There will be two stealth MH-60 Black Hawks and a CH-47 Chinook for evacuation. In addition, armed MQ-9 Reaper drones will be monitoring the area. Any contingency will be managed from the air."

After the briefing, the teams huddled together to coordinate details. Scott chatted with Major Lane as they compared strategies.

"It's not every day that Delta and DEVGRU work together," Scott said, a slight smile on his face.

Lane gave a brief laugh. "Not really. But you know how it is, when the target is important, we join forces. I've heard a lot about your team, Walker. I hope they live up to their reputation."

Scott crossed his arms, keeping his tone professional. "We won't disappoint, Major. And I'm sure we can learn something from you, too."

Meanwhile, Echo and Delta's operators were exchanging ideas and memorizing the plan. Echo 2, DJ Shipley, was chatting with a Delta operator, exchanging jokes to ease the tension. Echo 3 and Echo 4 were checking their equipment with surgical precision.

"Scott, it's going to be interesting to see how this combined team works in the field," DJ commented.

"Absolutely," Scott replied. — "But at the end of the day, everyone here knows what they're doing. We just need to stay focused."

The next morning, the teams boarded the stealth helicopters and headed for the target. Silence reigned as they flew low to avoid detection by enemy radar. Scott, sitting next to DJ, mentally reviewed the plan.

"Walker," Major Lane radioed from the other helicopter. "Arrive in five minutes. Prepare your team."

"Roger that, Major. Echo, get ready!" Scott replied.

The operators adjusted their helmets, checked their weapons, and readied their night vision gear. The helicopter's lights went out, plunging everyone into darkness.

As they approached the compound, the pilot announced, "Infiltration point in sight. Good luck."

The Black Hawks hovered just a few feet above the ground, allowing the teams to quickly jump out. Scott led his team as Delta advanced toward the outer perimeter, neutralizing sentries with silent efficiency.

Echo entered the compound seconds after Delta opened the main gate. Moving in tactical formation, they advanced through the narrow hallways. The muffled sound of gunfire and explosions echoed, indicating that Delta was dealing with outside forces.

— "Echo 1, this is Delta 1," Lane's voice came over the radio. "Perimeter is nearly clear. The path is clear to the main building."

— "Roger that, Delta 1. Echo moving in."

Scott led the team down the main hallway of the building. They encountered resistance, but Echo's operators quickly neutralized the enemy. Echo 5, an explosives expert, placed a charge on a reinforced door.

— "Explosives ready," Echo 5 whispered.

— "Brace yourselves," Scott said. "Charges in 3, 2, 1…"

The explosion lit up the hallway, and Echo entered the room. Inside, they found one of the priority targets attempting to destroy documents.

— "Hands up! Now!" Scott shouted in Arabic, his voice firm.

The man hesitated, but eventually surrendered. Echo 6 quickly handcuffed him while Scott and Echo 3 searched the room for important materials.

— "Echo 1 to Delta 1," Scott radioed. — "We have a target in custody and sensitive materials in hand."

— "Roger that, Echo 1. We will prepare for extraction. Move quickly."

As Echo moved toward the point of extraction, the sound of gunfire intensified. A group of enemy reinforcements were arriving, and Delta was having trouble holding them off.

— "Delta 1 to Echo 1, we need cover. We're surrounded at the east gate."

Scott responded quickly: — "Echo, form a fire line. We'll provide support."

The operators strategically positioned themselves and began opening fire on the enemy that surrounded Delta. The coordination between the two teams was impeccable, and together they managed to repel the reinforcements.

— "East gate clear," Lane announced over the radio. — "Good cover, Echo."

— "Always a pleasure," Scott replied, before leading his team to the extraction point.

After the successful mission, the teams returned to the air base in Afghanistan. In the hangar, Scott and Lane shook hands, acknowledging the success of their collaboration.

— "Walker, you and your team did an excellent job out there," Lane said.

— "The same goes for you, Major. It's been an honor working with Delta."

As the teams dispersed, DJ Shipley said to Scott, "You know, I thought Delta would be tough to work with, but these guys are amazing."

Scott nodded. "They are. But so are we. Today we proved that together, we are nearly unstoppable."

With that, Echo retired, satisfied with yet another successful mission in her long list of operations.

Chapter 44: Consequences and Lessons

The atmosphere at DEVGRU's Virginia Beach base was more tense than usual. Echo's operators were gathered in the common room, where the news was on the television. Everyone's attention was focused on the big headline: "Former SEAL Faces Legal Repercussions for Unauthorized Book."

Scott crossed his arms as he watched the image of Matt Bissonette, one of Echo's most respected former members, appear on the screen. The narrator detailed the situation: Matt had published a book about the Abbottabad operation, but without submitting it to the Department of Defense (DoD) for prior review, as required for any former operator who discloses information related to sensitive military operations.

"And now he owes two million dollars from the book's sales and will have to submit the manuscript for review," — the reporter said.

The silence in the room was heavy, broken only by DJ Shipley, who let out a low whistle.

— "Two million? That's a big blow. Matt's smart, but I didn't think he'd get himself into something like this."

Scott shook his head. He knew Matt meant well; the former SEAL had always been one to respect brotherhood and mission. Still, he'd made a grave mistake by ignoring the DoD's review process.

"He must have known this was going to blow up," Echo 4 said, sitting on the couch with a worried look on his face.

Scott, ever the calm, collected leader, looked at his team before answering. "Matt probably thought he was safe. Maybe he thought what he wrote didn't compromise national security. But that's a line we can't cross, guys."

Echo 5, adjusting his cap, said, "This doesn't just affect him, it affects all of us. Now the entire special operations community is on the radar."

"Absolutely," Scott replied, his voice steady. — "Anything we do reflects on our brothers, inside or outside the military. No matter how well-intentioned, we need to follow the rules. That's why protocol exists."

Later, as the team dispersed, DJ approached Scott.

— "Hey, boss, do you think this will hurt Matt's reputation in the long run? I mean, he was a legend on the team."

Scott sighed and crossed his arms, staring at the wall for a moment before answering.

— "I hope not. Matt contributed a lot to Echo and the country. But he knew the risks. Publishing a book like this without review is no small feat, especially when it involves top-secret operations. It's going to raise questions about our unit and the community as a whole."

DJ nodded, but he still looked uneasy. — "Do you think he should have consulted us? Talked to us before publishing?"

— "Maybe," Scott said, thinking for a moment. — "But he took the path he thought was best. Now it's up to him to face the consequences and learn from it. What's important is that we learn from it too. We're a team, even when we're off active duty."

In the days that followed, the scandal continued to dominate conversations not only within Echo, but throughout the special operations community. Operators from DEVGRU, Delta Force, and other elite units discussed the impact Matt's case could have on relations between the military and the public, as well as on trust within the teams themselves.

At an informal event on base where several teams were gathered, the subject inevitably came up. Scott was talking to Eddie Guzman, the leader of Bravo Team, when a Delta Force operator approached.

"I hear Bissonette is going through hell because of the book," the Delta operator said. "This should be a wake-up call for all of us."

Eddie agreed. — "Absolutely. It's not about the money or the book itself, it's about trust. The public may not understand, but keeping certain things secret is what ensures our safety and effectiveness."

Scott chimed in with a more diplomatic tone. — "And that's why we need to be careful. We can't forget why we do what we do. It's to protect people, not to seek personal recognition."

The Delta operator nodded. — "Well said, Walker. But I can't deny that it's a shame to see this happen to a guy like him."

Scott was silent for a moment, thinking about his friend who had left the team. He knew that, despite his mistake, Matt was someone who always put the mission first.

That night, Scott was sitting in his room, reviewing messages on his cell phone. His parents had asked about Matt's situation, since they had read something about the case in the newspapers. Jane Tennant had also sent a message, asking if he was okay in the midst of all the confusion.

Scott typed a brief reply to Jane:

— "Okay, this way. Just trying to deal with the repercussions. Hope the kids are okay. Thanks for asking."

After that, he grabbed a piece of paper and began writing a letter to Matt. He knew that no matter what decisions Matt had made, he was still a part of the brotherhood.

"Matt," Scott wrote, "I know you're going through a tough time right now, but I want you to know that we still consider you a part of Echo. You made a mistake, but mistakes don't erase the years of service and sacrifice you've given for this country. Face this head on, and remember that you're not alone."

Scott folded the letter and decided to mail it the next day.

Over the next few days, Scott gathered Echo for a private chat. He knew Matt's case had raised a lot of questions, and he wanted to make sure his team understood the importance of following protocols.

"Guys," he began, "what happened to Matt isn't just about him. It's about all of us. Our work is built on trust: trust with each other, trust with command, and trust with the public we protect. When that trust is broken, even unintentionally, the repercussions are huge."

Echo 4 raised his hand. "Chief, do you think this will change anything for us? More restrictions or rules?"

Scott considered the question before answering. "Maybe. Command can be more vigilant, but what really matters is how we handle this as a team. If anyone here has questions or concerns in the future, talk to me or command. Don't make isolated decisions that could jeopardize everything."

The team nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.

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