CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"We've got a problem," said Franklin, walking toward the group of men at the table. "I just got a call from the president. Park called him to let him know he'd captured an American spy, and during his attempt to escape, he was killed."

"Fuck me," growled Conor. "William?"

"I'm afraid so. His body was brought to the border and given to the guards. He was shot. Eleven times after he was beaten to death. We'll let the president handle those questions."

"Is that all Park wanted?" asked Shatnick.

"Not hardly," frowned Franklin. "He's demanding that the president and other world leaders convince South Korea and Japan to surrender to North Korea. He said he will take them by force if he must, but they will belong to the Korean people. He's also said he wants the provinces of Jilin and Liaoning in China."

"He doesn't want much, does he?" frowned Conor. "If he were to get South Korea and Japan, he would own the waters around them and limit access to the rest of the world."

"He's certifiable," muttered Franklin.

"At least Park's daughter and granddaughter are safe," said Tanner.

"They won't be safe as long as he's alive," said Franklin. "Wherever they are, keep them protected and hidden. He'll find a way to get to them."

"He won't get to them," said Tobias.

Franklin stared at the group of men, realizing the caliber of warfighters he had in front of him. Their task was monumental. The North Koreans would beef up security and the presence of military at the borders. Crossing would be nearly impossible. This was not some unsuspecting, poor nation. This was a true, credible threat. Dangerous in every way.

"Well, what's the plan, Mr. Spook?" grinned Cowboy. Franklin smirked at the men, shaking his head.

"You realize that you're all huge bastards, right? The average North Korean male is only about five-ten. There's no way you can go into the country undercover. You two," he said, pointing to Tanner and Hiro. "You're at greater risk than the rest of them. I assume that you're Korean by birth."

"I am," said Tanner. "My parents were killed by the previous regime, but they were able to convince a boat captain to take me to safety. I've never been back."

"If you walk across that border, you may never leave."

"Even if I weren't Korean, if I walk across that border, I might never get back," said Tanner with a serious expression.

"I'm Japanese American," said Hiro. "I speak fluent Korean, but I know the risks as well. We all do. The active SEALs, Rangers, all of the SpecOps operatives cannot enter that country. It would be seen as an act of war by America. We're not soldiers or sailors."

"You were," said Shatnick. "Don't confuse that shit. You were, and for all intent and purpose, you still are. You're American. Now, I know that you've got a bag of tricks and toys that will help you along the way. I don't know what that shit looks like, and quite frankly, I don't want to know. All I know is that if you have any doubt that it will work, any doubt that it won't get you in and out safely, don't do it.

"You're not my sons or grandsons, but I admire the fuck out of all of you. You have families back home that you need to get back to, and I want to make sure that happens. I will help you with whatever you need. I will be prepared on this side of that line to make sure you come across, but I cannot go with you, nor can my men."

"We understand, sir," said Cowboy. "We know the rewards, and we are painfully aware of the risks. But it's why we do what we do. If we weren't here, if we didn't stop this man, who would? As you said, we can't keep sending in our SpecOps active-duty teams and expecting that they will survive."

"And you believe you'll survive?" asked Franklin, frowning at the men.

Cowboy stared at his friends. Christopher, Patrick, Rush, Conor, Tanner, Hiro, Christian, Tobias, Abe, Nate, Mike, Rett, East, and Dan. Rangers, SEALs, MARSOC, Delta, Green Berets. Deadly, skilled, possessing the best equipment unknown to man, and the heart, soul, and mind to get the job done.

"I believe that we are the sons and grandsons of some of the greatest fighters this country has never known. We will raise men and women just like us. The intelligence of our development team is bar none. I trust them and each one of these men with my life."

"Same," nodded Conor.

"Damn right," grinned Tobias.

"You're all fools. Idiots, cocky, conceited, filled with bravado. But I damn sure don't disagree with any of it. I wish you were on my team, but then again, I'd never be able to control any of you," said Shatnick. "Tell me what we're doing."

"Do you really want to know, sir?" asked Rush.

Shatnick stared at the men. If he allowed them to plan this without him, he could deny knowledge. But if they did that and needed him, he would be unaware.

"I'm positive. If it ends my career, I don't give a fuck. I will not send you all in there without the support you need." Conor nodded at the room.

"Then let's plan this shit."

Hawk, Eagle, Joseph, and Nathan walked into the comms room at Belle Fleur. Luke, Cam, Eric, and Hex were seated at the table, whispering over sheets of data.

"You wanted to see us?" asked Joseph. Luke nodded.

"You all know that we wouldn't ask this of you unless we needed it desperately," said Luke. "We need you to do something, and it's probably the first time in my life that I've been fearful the men I send won't return."

"Well, that makes me want to jump in with both feet," said Hawk.

"We're serious, Hawk," said Hex.

"I know. I can tell. I didn't mean to imply you weren't serious. Does this have something to do with what Conor and the team are doing?"

"It has everything to do with it." Chipper, Evie, and Autumn walked into the room, and the four men stared at them, then back at their leaders.

"Where are we going?" asked Eagle.

"North Korea," said Cam. "According to Doug, the new advances made by our baby genius team have made the Osprey literally undetectable. You can't hear it; you can't see it; it won't be identifiable on radar."

"Alright," nodded Joseph. "Have we tested it?"

"We have. We did close fly-bys with the White House, the Pentagon, and Langley. They heard and saw nothing."

"Holy shit," muttered Nathan.

"Yes, but that means, if you, by some random lucky fucking shot, are brought down, the North Koreans will have her. We can't let that happen," said Luke.

They all knew exactly what that meant. If they were shot down, they would need to blow the Osprey and try to get out. They might, but they might not. It was the biggest risk of their lives.

"And we're sure it's undetectable?" asked Eagle.

"No one heard or saw it, brother. Not the spooks, not the Marines, no one." Luke looked at them all as they took their seats, realizing what was being asked of them. "I won't make you do this. I can't. What we're asking is that you get behind the lines, take out Park from the balcony of the palace when he makes his speech. He will be with the current leaders, apparently making a big announcement. His most trusted team will be with him, beside him. They all need to die. Shoot them, then get the hell out of there."

"How many beyond Park?" asked Joseph.

"At least nine if they all show up."

"That's two a piece, give or take. Headshots only, and they'll have to be fast," said Eagle. "The new sniper scopes and rifles are better at calculating wind and speed, as well as distance. We've tested them in forty-mile-per-hour winds. Victoria and Hayes were able to place trackers on the bullets smaller than the size of a pinhead. It's sort of like the missile systems on jets. We lock in the target, and it fires. Never missing."

"Well, we're going to need all of that. You all are going to need all of that. If we can do this from the air, the team won't have to go in. But you get one shot at it. One. Once you've fired, get out. Understood?" asked Eric.

"Roger that," they said in unison.

"When do we leave?" asked Joseph.

"In an hour."

An hour wasn't a lot of time to say goodbye, perhaps forever. All four of the men and the three pilots had the utmost faith in their equipment and one another. But what they couldn't count on was the enemy.

With everything packed, their weapons checked and rechecked, they hugged their families and said goodbye.

"Don't worry," whispered Julia. "You're going to come home. I have it on good authority."

"From your lips to God's ears, baby." Joseph hugged his wife one more time, kissing her passionately. When Claudette, Mama Irene, and George walked up, they accepted the basket of food, smiling and hugging them.

"You come home, my sweet babies," said Mama Irene. "Protect our boys, but you come home too."

"We will," they all smiled.

As the Osprey doors shut, each man looked at the other. They wouldn't utter a word about the what-ifs. They would plan for them but not speak of them. They trusted one another, and more importantly, they trusted themselves. Eagle looked at his twin and the other twins. The four men were the best snipers in the group. Unparalleled.

"Let's do this shit."