CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Conor and the rest of the team walked into the building where General Shatnick's office was located. Along with him were Christopher, Patrick, Rush, Cowboy, Tanner, Hiro, Christian, Tobias, Abe, Nate, Mike, Rett, East, and Dan. Fifteen of the finest warfighters of their time. Each with specific skills and abilities. All with fluent, or passable, Korean speaking skills.

"Well, this is a shock," said Shatnick. "Not."

"You missed me. Admit it," smirked Conor, shaking the older man's hand.

"Asshole," scoffed the older man. "Did anyone else see you come in?"

"They saw them, but they're hard to miss. I tried to stay in the middle of the pack and pulled my cap down and collar up. They'll know I'm here soon enough." He turned to the others as they took their seats on the floor, with not enough seating available for them. "Do you know everyone?"

"I'm feeling a bit nervous," he smirked. "I think you three are Redhawks. God help us all. I believe you two might be Wolfkills. I see at least one Robicheaux." Conor chuckled at the man, nodding.

"Close enough. They're all former SpecOps, so you know that we know what the fuck we're doing. Sir."

"You're not former," he said, eyeing Conor. "Are you?"

"No, sir. Not yet. Although, I do plan to turn in my papers when this is done. For now, we'll just say I'm still recovering."

"General, we have reason to believe one of Conor's teammates returned to North Korea to collaborate with General Park. We think he's the man that got Conor captured and was hoping to have him killed."

"Fuck," he muttered. "Can we be certain?"

"We are," said Hiro. "His flight landed about an hour before ours. He was greeted at the airport by a state car and taken into Pyongyang."

"And you know this how?" None of the men said anything. "You know I hate this shit, right? You could share the fucking information with me so that I can at least have knowledge of what the hell is happening in my backyard."

"Sir, some of this we would prefer for you to have plausible deniability."

"That's not how this works. Look, I'm on your side. You know that. That fucking jet is making passes over this base every day, and I threaten to shoot it down. But if I do, we're talking war with North Korea, which no one wants. I need to get that damn thing out of the air and find out what the hell is happening over there."

"We'll get the plane disabled," said Christian. "Don't ask how. Just know that we can make it happen. It will not only be disabled but unrecognizable when we're done with it."

"That requires you being in North Korea, Christian." Christian stared at the man, wondering how he knew his name. "Don't look at me like that. I know your father. Jesus, you guys are shit for sharing."

"Sharing isn't all it's cracked up to be, sir," said Conor. "The harder part of all of this will be stopping Park and his maniacal plans. In the process, we're going to have to kill an American."

"Damn," muttered the General. "Are you sure? Is there no way to bring him in?"

"He'll scream the entire way, sir, and we can't risk that."

He shook his head, standing from behind the desk. Behind him, he pushed the hidden button on the bookcase and shoved the door open. Inside were a dozen men seated at computers and maps.

"Interesting," smirked Conor. "You have secrets too."

"Shut up, smart-ass. They've been tracking the movement of several key weapons that the North Koreans have in their possession. Not the least of which is a nuclear warhead. They've been moving these every few days. Do you understand how difficult and dangerous that is?"

"We do," said the men in unison.

"The Korean president hasn't been seen in months. His staff is saying that he's been unwell and seeking treatment for stomach issues. We have no way of verifying that. He's either dead or getting a facelift, but my stomach tells me that he's slowly being poisoned and won't reappear. Park will appear in his place at some point."

"I'd go with that. He's probably dead or nearly," smirked Tanner.

"Me too, but if he's dead, that would mean Park would take over, and he hasn't done that yet."

"Maybe he's trying to ensure that he gets that role, even though the president isn't dead yet. Or maybe he is. I mean, if he's gone, he can't give succession to him. Maybe he's working parliament to give it to him," said Hiro.

"I don't know," said Shatnick, shaking his head. "I swear on this one, I just have no clue. All I know is we have an insane general trying to start a war with the most powerful nations on earth, and there doesn't seem to be anyone who can stop him. Now, you're telling me we have a rogue SEAL who might be working with him."

"Not might, sir," said Conor. "We have proof that he's working with him. William is married to Park's daughter, although she wanted nothing to do with it. Her father forced the marriage or was going to come after her. She had a daughter and is on the run from him now."

"And do we know where she ran to?" he asked. The men were stone silent, just staring at him. "Right. Plausible deniability."

"We're going to need a few supplies, sir," said Tobias. "Not much. We brought most of the things we need, but we'd like permission to visit your stores."

"You can have whatever you want. I've intentionally left my aide out of this conversation because I'm not sure that I trust him," said Shatnick. "Pisses me off because he's good at what he does."

"He gave me information, sir," said Conor. "I felt he was trustworthy."

"Because I am," said the man coming in behind them.

"Franklin. I thought I sent you to Seoul," said Shatnick.

"You did, sir, but the POTUS sent me here. He knew they were coming and wanted me to meet with them."

"Why you?" he frowned. Conor laughed, shaking his head.

"You're the fucking CIA operative we were supposed to meet in Pyongyang."

"Yep," he grinned. "Sorry, general. I just couldn't let anyone know."

"God, I hate spooks," he frowned. "Were you here to investigate me?"

"Not at any point in time, sir. I was here to help Quinn and his team, but I had to get out of North Korea fast. Once Lowry was made, I knew I would be next. Is she alright?"

"She's good," said Conor, looking at the man suspiciously.

"Don't freak out, big boy. She's not my type," he laughed. "Someone sold both of us out."

"How would they know who you were?" asked East.

"I spoke to your teammate," he said, pointing to Conor. "William. I spoke to him at the meet spot, and he said that you all had to turn back and weren't available to meet with me. I came back here hoping to find another plan but then learned you'd been captured."

"Fucking dick," he muttered. "He never told me. He said you didn't show."

"I showed, then I was suddenly descended upon by a thousand North Korean soldiers. I barely made it out." The general nodded at the men, pointing back out the door.

"Gentlemen, let's eat and discuss this further. I have a feeling it's going to be a long night."