Gold Team- Bahrain

Declan

“It’s hotter than a mother,” Brooks Miller complained.

“Better than freezing balls in the arctic,” Thad Bench returned.

We’d been in country for less than a week, and acclimating to the over hundred degree, dry heat would take more than a few days. At least we weren’t in full kit. Body armor acted like an insulator, raising the temperature another ten degrees, easily. While Brooks was not wrong, I had more important things to worry about. The team was meeting with a UN Political Affairs Officer. Zane’s dossier was sparse, all I knew about the woman was her bullshit cover story. The most noteworthy notation was that her opinion was highly respected among the power players. We needed to play nice if we didn’t want to be tossed out of Bahrain before we’d gathered the intel we needed on the Omni Group.

The cool air blasted as we made our way into a UN annex building outside of the US Naval Base. The furnishings around the room were as sparse as the report I’d received on UNOCT Tatiana Jones.

“Something smell funny to you?” Kyle Smith asked before I could comment.

“This ain’t no normal UN annex, and before you ask, yes, I’ve been in plenty,” Max Brown added.

A woman roughly my age walked into the lobby. Her high heels clicking on the tile floor announced her approach long before we saw her.

“Declan Crenshaw?” she asked.

“Yes.” I stepped forward.

“Tatiana Jones,” she introduced herself. “Sorry.” She motioned around the room. “Budget cuts.”

My bullshit meter was pegged into the red, but I didn’t bother to call her out. Tatiana Jones was not my concern nor was her cover. We followed her into a small room that shrank considerably when five very large men entered.

“I’ve been briefed on the Militrix’s transoceanic cabling contract. My divers inspected the area around the King Fahd Causeway and found no cabling.” Tatiana sat at the head of the table, signaling for the rest of us to as well.

“Your divers?” Brooks cut in.

“Yes. Mine. The area is clear.”

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to take a look myself.”

I hadn’t worked with the team long, but Zane had promised they were solid, all coming from the same BUD/s class and having been on the same SEAL platoon together during their years in service, Brooks going off reservation and challenging Tatiana was not going according to plan. First, we didn’t need a pissing contest, and, second, we didn’t ask permission to carry out an objective. We simply accomplished our task, with none the wiser.

“There’s no need. I have the utmost trust in—”

“Right. You may, but I don’t. And, all due respect, I trust, but verify.”

Tatiana leaned back and eyed Brooks.

“I know all about your verification process, Mr. Miller. I’m also well acquainted with men like you.”

“Oh, yeah? And what kind of man am I, doll?”

“An overachiever. Demolitions expert. Divemaster. Low and high-altitude jumpmaster. Rappel Master. Fast Rope Master.”

“Glad to see you’ve done your homework. Unfortunately, the work-up we received on you was only a paragraph. There was nothing listing your accomplishments.”

“My accomplishments aren’t important. The only thing that’s imperative is you don’t fuck up my op.”

There were so many red flags waving, I was beginning to wonder what kind of shitstorm we’d walked into. This was supposed to be an easy in and out. Recon only.

“Well, Miss Jones. It is Miss, correct? We wouldn’t want to get in your way. I’ll take a quick look around this afternoon, and, hopefully, in a few days, we’ll be on our way.”

“It’s actually none-of-your-business,” Tatiana sparred. “I’ll take you out there myself. Oh-five-hundred.”

“You’ll take me out?”

“Good to know all your combat tours haven’t diminished your hearing.”

It was by the grace of all things holy I was able to hold back my laughter. I didn’t know what kind of shit Tatiana Jones was running, and I didn’t want to know, but I liked her, she had spunk.

“What do you know about diving?”

“You’re not the only one with special quals, friend. If we’re done, I have shit to do. I was promised you guys wouldn’t be an issue.”

“There will be no issues from us,” I confirmed. “Recon and out.”

“Good. I have something scheduled in less than a week. I’d prefer you were gone by then.”

“Ah. You’re kicking us out of your country?” Brooks dramatically covered his chest.

Tatiana shook her head, not the least bit amused by his behavior. “With big egos, comes bigger mouths. Have a nice afternoon, gentlemen. Mr. Miller, I’ll see you at the docks off 59th, slip fifteen.”

The woman didn’t wait for us to stand before she took her exit, excusing us.

“Damn, brother, I was having grade school flashbacks.” Kyle chuckled.

“All that was missing was you pulling her hair,” Max threw in.

“Mark this, assholes, if we had more time, I’d be doing more than tugging on Miss Sex Kitten’s curly mane. Holy hell, those legs in those sky-high heels. Hot damn. And that mouth, she can throw some sexy attitude my way anytime,” Brooks told the group.

“Keep your dick in your pants. Recon only.”

“Copy that, boss.”

“Brooks wishes he had time for a quick recon mission.” Thad laughed at his own joke.

Please, God, get me out of this country in one piece. My first mission as team leader and I already have a man chasing tail. Zane wouldn’t be happy. The faster we could figure out what was so special about the Gulf of Bahrain and why Militrix was in the country, the better. Brooks looked more than serious about getting to know Tatiana. And Tatiana Jones was absolutely not who she claimed to be.

I could feel the imminent shitshow revving up.