Day 5 8:07 PM

"This is a shit show cap." Switch complained while racking his M4A1 inside the blackhawk. "Suck it up Switch," Goose exclaimed while also checking his gear. Buck just stayed silent looking out the door of the flying blackhawk in the dark of night. The rangers, Cupcake, and Beans are also doing the same.

"Permission to speak sir?" Cupcake ask. "Fuck with that shit, Cupcake. If you want to ask something go for it. I don't want to waste time with all the military bullshit." Switch bellowed. "Are we sure this intel is correct sir? Is it really okay for us to just do our own thing instead of linking up with command?" Cupcake asked.

"Fuck if I know. But we got a trail and we need to follow it." Switch answered. "The source of all of this?" Beans asked. "Permission to explain Captain?" Switch keyed in through the mic. "Green," Buck answered clearly not interested in the conversation.

"We were tasked with finding out suspicious shipments all around the nation. Shipments that were smuggled to different routes through local and the black market. The sudden influx of these unverified shipments made the ears of the department itch. There was a bit of backlash when we tried to investigate such shipments but luckily the plan got through. Thus, the creation of Task Force Dagger." Switch looked outside the door on the other side of the captain.

"Mission directives are to find the shipments and see if any of them are a threat or none at all. They could be smuggled nukes for all we know." Switch got back in and looked at the rangers. "Our new department was getting reports of riots in places where these shipments were supposed to be unloaded. That was just 4 days ago." Switch added. "That was when all communications went black," he added.

"Isn't that the job of Homeland Security?" Beans asked. "Yeah, and they sucked at it," Goose replied instead of Switch. "A lot of red tape. That's why they sent us. Operators that can go dark and people wouldn't even know we were there. We have the green to operate under the tape and do what needs to be done to get what we need." Switch bellowed.

"This is Falcon Actual. 15 minutes to drop. We are passing through Harlingen Central to save time and fuel. I hope you green boys know what you're getting into." the pilot bellowed over the headsets.

"Copy that Falcon. 15 minutes to drop." Buck adjusted in his seat looking at his squad through his goggles. "We are getting a bit of radio traffic from our boys out there. It's your call captain. The risk or avoid." the pilot clarified to Buck. "Roger that," Buck replied.

Cupcake was a bit unnerved with the Delta Operators. The feeling of wrongness or being out of place with them. Out of my element with them, Cupcake thought. They are all different breeds. Like we just don't mix at all. She had a bad feeling when they were reassigned with them and it was gonna get her and Beans killed she thought.

After 5 minutes of radio silence, the stillness was finally broken. "The unverified shipments were only picked up by our radar a week ago but data shows these shipments were already in circulation for a while based on breadcrumbs we were following. Someone was apparently covering it up and who can cover shit up better than us in our soil?" Buck laughed with sarcasm in his voice.

"Our own. Someone or a lot of someone designed this shitshow. It's our job to know who and where it is and deal with it. We got coordinates for an informant telling us about the threat but he wanted asylum and an evac. My team was sent to pick the informant but that was when all this bullshit really hit overdrive." Buck said coldly. "The mesa was the last thing the informant was able to tell us before he turned," Buck said.

"Mesa? Like a water reservoir or something?" Beans asked. "A-firm. his last words were to get him to the mesa. There were a lot of mesa but there was one particular mesa that was built in the middle of nowhere and in a hurry at that. If that doesn't stink of shit, I don't what is." Buck replied.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Isn't that a long shot sir?" Cupcake question. "Yes, but it's the only lead we got. I believe the chances are high. After the communications blackout with our Task Force HQ, this was the only mesa that felt out of place according to the team. No resource nodes surrounding it, just the port city and the newly built border town. Money doesn't lie. They didn't build that border town out of the goodness of their hearts. Without expecting a return on investment. There will always be something." Buck explained.

That is when Cupcake realized it. These Delta Operators are one or the best at what they do. Tier 1 Operators who will get the job done. They won't hesitate to kill whoever or whatever was in their way. Now that the world has gone to shit. These stone-cold operators are uncaged. The gloves were off the moment everything went to hell. They couldn't operate when under scrutiny in everything they do but now was a different story. Unlike us who strictly follow the chain of command, these guys will break it just to complete the mission. Whatever the cost and whatever sacrifice needs to be made.

"Dagger, Be advised. Request for emergency transport for HVT in Harlingen." the pilot said. "Details?" Buck replied. "CW5 requesting immediate evac along with his security detail." the pilot explained. "Probably heard our rotor wings on the way in. Window of opportunity is closing in. Your call captain." the pilot said with a calm tone.

"Thoughts?" Buck questions his team. "Go." Switch replied. "Green" Goose added. Buck looked at the rangers. "We follow your orders, sir," Cupcake added.

"Take us down near their position," Buck said to the pilot. "Diverting now. They are going to the nearby rooftop." the pilot explained.

The city escape was dark but with their night visions, they could do a bit better. Sporadic gunfire can be seen and heard down below. Fires spread throughout different buildings. The city was in a total blackout. Signs of people barricading some stores and buildings. Roofs are laid with stuff that resembles the letters SOS. Gatherings of people waving their hands as they saw the black hawk pass by. It was mayhem.

Buck wasn't thinking about the emergency request. He wanted to know if these rangers under him would mesh well with the squad. It's better to solve the problems now than for fuck ups to happen later. There were 6 of them when they extracted the informant but only 3 survived. The HVT was already bitten and didn't even bother to tell. Costing him two of his squad members Ice and Skillet. Wrench was overwhelmed when they were retreating to their vehicle. "That motherfucker." Buck muttered.

"What's on your mind cap." Switch asked. "Just remembered the fucker who didn't tell us he was bitten," Buck replied. Switch and Gooses' face darkened, remembering their fallen comrades because of someone's fuck up. They could accept their deaths on their own terms but to die because of someone else's stupidity? It leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

"DO NOT GET BITTEN." Buck looked straight at the rangers. "It's a one-way ticket to get yourself killed and kill others in the process. DO NOT EVEN TRY TO HIDE IT." Buck forcefully emphasizes the latter. "We understand sir," Cupcake replied. "Yes sir." Bean also replied.

"2 minutes to touchdown." the pilot bellowed in the headsets.

"Weapons check! Secure the landing site and shoot anything that is trying to eat you! You follow my command now rangers until I say otherwise. Any crackpots who order you must go to me first. You understand?!" Buck said with a drill sergeant voice to project authority over them. "Sir! Yes! Sir!" Cupcake and Beans replied. Buck wasn't all too eager. If Cupcake and Beans were going to be a problem he would leave them with the other guys at least they would have a better chance there than taking them to where they were going.