Book 24 of The Lyssa Kordenay Missions!   Lyssa may be gearing up for Christmas   but she may have to gear up for other things too!! WARNING: The Lyssa Kordenay Missions may be hyper-violent for some readers.

 

 

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CHAPTER 1
Lyssa stood still in the darkened building and took a slow breath.

"You ready for this," Rodrick asked.

Lyssa nodded, "yeah. Now remember; beyond this point we'll be engaged."

Rodrick frowned, "any intel on their strength and affiliation?"

"Somewhere between a squad and a platoon. Definitely local. I know you're not trained for this kind of extract but its the only way to go," Lyssa reminded him.

Rodrick shouldered the bag and braced himself at the door, slightly to the side, "I'm just worried about how many ways this could go wrong."

"Ready? The zone is LIVE. Think fast, move with purpose and keep to the outside of their skirmish line. The perimeter is about as safe as it gets. Standby. On my mark," Lyssa instructed then adjusted the ribbon holding her hair in a ponytail, " GO!"

Rodrick popped the door open and Lyssa stepped out into the alley and immediately they were surrounded. Rodrick bolted backwards to the safety of the wall of the theater.

Lyssa smiled and strode forward, "well now. What have we here?"

The large group of ten to fifteen year old girls squealed in excitement and surged around her asking for autographs.

Lyssa laughed then waved her hands, "settle down. Settle down."

When they group calmed down enough she addressed them.

"Now now. This is hardly the way for aspiring Primas to behave," Lyssa playfully scolded them then said with a smile, "I'll be happy to sign whatever you brought and even take pictures with you, but let's be nice and form a line with the youngest girls first."

Rodrick shook his head. Jumping from high altitude, diving to possible equipment failure depths, slogging through swamps infested with various poisonous creatures, even storming middle-eastern villages full of insurgents was nothing compared to this. Being mobbed by adoring dance-wear clad little girls was something no SEAL had ever been trained for.

An hour and a half later the last girl posed with Lyssa for a picture then rushed away to meet her mother to leave happily.

"Looks like that's all of them. Let's go babe. We have a car to check out in the morning," Rodrick opened the door to the SUV.

Lyssa sighed, "I just want to eat and have a bubble-bath."

~o~O~o~

Elsewhere in Washington; a figure slipped under a paint splattered tarp on a rooftop and set up a rifle. Within moments the scope was dialed in for the target zone almost a kilometer away, a set of doors that only a select few used. Now was the waiting for one particular person.

---

Rodrick smirked as Lyssa slowly walked around the car letting her fingertips slide over its lines, her slender heels tapping sharply on the concrete apron of the track.

"As you can see Mr. Mason there's been several improvements; higher compression, fuel/air intake rate, exhaust release, torque, gear ratio, traction, micro adjustable suspension for finer tuning, reinforced composite body panels as opposed to single molded body, new lighter alloy frame," the engineer listed.

Rodrick watched Lyssa look under the raised hood then inside the passenger compartment.

He kept a poker-face, "think it should be tested Rob?"

The engineer gestured to the Ford GT," by all means Mr.Mason! The keys are in it and Jeff is out there to.....pace you."

Lyssa had slipped into the seat and plugged in her MP3 player then hit play; Matt Darey featuring Kate Smith singing See the Sun began to blare. She pulled the door turning the key then revved the engine twice and popped the clutch. Tires smoked and screeched as she roared onto the track in a controlled slide. Rodrick smiled as the engineer's eyes widened watching Lyssa, song blaring, sweep around a turn then take up a position beside the professional racer.

He shook his head and could just imagine her slide the pink shades down her nose then back up in challenge. They heard the engine pitch up twice more then shriek as both launched forward jockeying for the lead. Lyssa led into the next turn high then slipped gears, dropped behind and down then powered up again and launched herself around the smaller radius taking a greater lead. The race, the chase, WAS ON!

The professional racer apparently didn't care for such an unexpected manuever and closed in tight to the bumper. Lyssa forced him to slow as they prepared for another turn then cut across the apex; opening up taking the lead again. In the straight she gave him the opportunity to come around her but kept even with his back wheels, as if setting him up for a classic PIT manuever police used to make a pursuit car spin around, then drift back and come along his other side, taunting him by riding the blind spot then rocketed around in the next turn.

This continued for another five minutes and the other driver eased down into the pit area behind her.

He climbed out and pulled off his helmet, "Good Christ! Who the hell is that?"

Lyssa eased out of the car and stepped lightly over to Rodrick and purred to him.

"Baby; do you think you can somehow talk your friend there to dial up the air inflow a quarter after he advances the timing? Oh, and the right front needs to be a little softer. It felt like a brick on a rollerskate wheel," then she turned to the engineer, "does it come in a dark grey?"

It was all Rodrick could do not to laugh as he noticed the driver shift his helmet to hold in front of his groin then excused himself.

"I need a cup of coffee. Looks like the chick from the Lamborghini ads," the driver muttered walking off.

The engineer blinked then stammered out, "anything else Ma'am?"

Lyssa shrugged, "computer controlled suspension that can have presets. Adjustments made at the push of a button for each driver. Rodrick; myself, you get the idea. As opposed to having to make the adjustments manually taking almost half an hour. It can be for special edition models."

The engineer smacked himself in the forehead muttering, "why didn't I think of that? Be right back."

Lyssa turned and clasped her hands behind Rodrick's neck, "I really like NEW toys."

Rodrick looked down slightly, "sometimes I just can't take you anywhere."

Lyssa just giggled at him. Mornings were always fun

~o~O~o~

Late afternoon Madison walked in,"Major there's a call for you."

Dannigan nodded and picked up, "Dannigan."

"Hello Major. Its Singleton," General Singleton announced.

"How's the neice General," Dannigan asked.

Singleton paused, "She's fine Major, that's not why I'm calling. Its about Sam Whitacre."

Dannigan sat silently, Major General Samuel Whitacre was supposed to retire in a year, his current post as Commanding General of Special Forces. As a Colonel he'd been Dannigan's battalion commander as a green lieutenent. In fact before her great change-over Lyssa herself had been under Whitacre's personal command in Delta Force's off the books DemonWraith platoon.

He smiled at the memory, "Whipsnap Whitacre?"

"He's dead Branton," Singleton said bluntly.

Dannigan almost dropped the phone.

"I've been promoted to Major General and the post of CG of Special Forces," Singleton said.

"Commanding General. Its in good hands then Sir. Tall boots to fill but nobody better than you in the pipeline for it," Dannigan said, "I gotta know. How'd he buy it? I thought he had meetings at the Pentagon all week."

"A Goddamn rifle shot walking from his car to the door, almost a kilometer out; two hours ago," Singleton told him.

"HOLY FUCK," He exclaimed causing Madison to drop the coffee refill for him in the doorway.

She looked up and was about to apologize but Dannigan waved it off and covered the mouthpiece, "Get Lyssa and Rodrick, tell them to get here now. Everything goes on hold until this is done."

"Branton; I take from the sound of a fumbling hand over the receiver you're telling your staff to pull out all stops and get their collective shit wired," Singleton surmised.

Dannigan replied angrily, "Guessed fuckin' right....Sir."

Singleton paused for a moment then said, "Officially; I have no idea who the fuck you are and I have the wrong number because dead men don't answer the phone. Unofficially; this call isn't happening. Personally; you and your people watch your asses. There isn't an agency in the government that's not on this. Do what you all do BEST! Stay unknown and set the head of whomever is responsible on a pike in front of the main gate. The funeral will be two days from now."

Dannigan growled, "you'll have heads General. You'll HAVE them. WE WILL NOT FAIL!"

Madison was already calling and got Lyssa on the first ring, "Hey whatever you two are doing, drop everything and get here now! Something's happened, I don't know what but its bad so hurry!"

She didn't wait for acknowledgement and disconnected.

"MADISON. GET KIMBERLY ON THE LINE," Dannigan shouted.

She didn't bother to answer, just dialed the hangar office in the Bahamas.

Kimberly answered," Hangar Office."

"Hold for the Major," Madison stated then transferred to his phone calling out,"She's on the line."

Dannigan snatched up the phone, "Kimberly drop everything. now! General Samuel Whitacre was assassinated at the Pentagon two hours ago. Do what you do best; FIND 'EM!"

"Yes Sir," Kimberly snapped.

He disconnected then searched the newsfeeds and pulled up the Pentagon's security bulletin system. Nobody was talking about it at all. he found the DIA,CID scramble orders. Those were pretty straightforward; locate and liquidate. Somebody had even went all old school and included; EXTERMINATE WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE in the orders. Lyssa and Rodrick came barreling into the office fifteen minutes later.

"Sit," Dannigan said gruffly then looked directly at Lyssa, "Whipsnap Whitacre is dead Lyssa; rifle shot outside the Pentagon just over two hours ago."

Lyssa gaped then stammered," wha....how....do we know anything?"

"I've got Kimberly burning up everything right now. If anybody can get something fast; its her. That's not the problem. The problem is everybody and their brother wants in but they aren't gonna get 'em. Kimberly WILL find them and I'm sending YOU after 'em. Darrell Singleton was made CG of Special Forces," Dannigan told her.

Lyssa looked said,"Good man I hear."

Dannigan nodded,"he is. I know him personally. He'll do things right, but for now he wants US to find a way to get ahead of everybody else and take out these assholes."

Lyssa nodded grimly and stood up as did Rodrick, together they walked out.

Lyssa stopped and looked back from the doorway, "Eric Tinnington is the CG of SAS, he and Whipsnap worked together in an exchange...Delta and Pagoda. He should know about the funeral."

Dannigan nodded, he too knew the Special Air Service General having spent some exchange time with the vaunted Pagoda troop of SAS. He pulled out a small book and searched it then dialed a number which was answered on the second ring.

"MacTaggart," the phone was answered.

"Any whiskey left in the kingdom you great lush," Dannigan asked bluntly.

"Nay! Nary a drop left you old cur," the Scotsman chuckled, "how are ya there Paul?"

Dannigan sighed, "had better days Sean, I need a favor."

MacTaggart said casually, "name it."

"Sean how close are you with General Eric Tinnington," he asked.

MacTaggart laughed, "close enough he owes me twenty pounds. What do you need from him?"

"Five minutes on a private phone,"Dannigan said.

Sean MacTaggart replied, "aye; that I can do. Sounds important, hold on."

Minutes later another voice came on the phone, "Yes?"

"General Tinnington," Dannigan asked.

The General confirmed, "Yes. Major Dannigan is it?"

"Yes Sir. I'm sorry to give you very bad news General. General Sam Whitacre has been killed. Assassinated outside the Pentagon. I knew you were friends Sir. The funeral is in two days. I'm sure somebody else may call you to inform but I wanted you to know," Dannigan informed him.

The General sighed, "damn bloody shame. Top notch man Sam was. Major am I to presume that you personally will see to a bit of rubbish removal?"

Dannigan said flatly," take care General. I'll trust you to be discreet about the call," then disconnected.

Tinnington passed the phone back to the gruff colonel, "thanks Sean. Good friend you got there."

The big Scot shifted in the chair, "That he is but I suspect what he had to tell you wasn't pleasant."

Tinnington lit a cigar and leaned back in his chair, "You remember Sam Whitacre don't you?"

MacTaggart leaned back and chuckled, "that old gin guzzler? Aye I do."

"He's dead. Damn bloody shame, wasn't even in combat," Tinnington lamented.

"Got along well with the lads didn't he," MacTaggart asked.

"Ours and his," Tinnington confirmed, "what about that one of yours? Dannigan was it?"

MacTaggart chuckled, "oh he's a fair vicious one Paul Dannigan is. Everyone wants him under their flag until he goes to work then they want to be shot of him double quick."

That surprised Tinnington, "How so?"

"Oh make no mistake. For quiet operations of a highly compact unit; there's none better for counter operations. More than a fair hand at being pro-active but he tends to be more than a bit of a maverick as the Yanks say," MacTaggart commented.

"What's he up to these days," Tinnington asked.

"Fair question. Something tells me if asked the whole lot will say 'Dannigan who'. The last I heard he'd dropped out of sight," MacTaggart said.

Tinnington considered that then said, "All the same, let's get some of the acquainted lads together for the funeral. Be a poor showing if we didn't bid a proper farewell. Perhaps the Scot Dragoons could come along, the old boy deserves a grand sendoff."

MacTaggart grinned, "Aye General that he does, I'll make some calls."

---

CHAPTER 2

Kimberly sifted through data using two computers then added her own laptop to the effort. Pete had sat down to help watch video footage while she sorted out message traffic.

"whoa! Hold up there," Pete said then tried to reverse the feed.

"What'd you see Pete," she asked then looked over.

"Looked like somebody carrying a trombone or a rifle case. I need to back up and zoom in. I don't know how," Pete said.

Kimberly backed up the footage to the point he wanted then zoomed in and replayed at half speed. A man carrying a long case was coming out of a building along the trajectory line. Kimberly noted the time then checked active cellphones at the location then started tracking all phones for five minutes then used traffic cam footage to verify the owners of the phones and checked license plates and found it. She ran it and found the address.

Kimberly's fingers flew over the keyboard as she broke through the cyber defenses of holding companies and cross-referencing intelligence agencies and came up with the file. A north Korean.

Kimberly checked every database she could find and hit pay dirt, a sniper but no longer in service. Something was off with the guy. Kimberly kept at it until she came up with a payment to an account under his name. From Dubai to Zurich. The Dubai account was held by a Lebanese currently posted to the consulate in Washington,D.C.

Kimberly compiled all the data and sent it then called Madison.

"Madison. I found him! Call Lyssa and Rodrick and anybody else that needs to know," Kimberly said quickly.

Dannigan jumped on the line, "Kimberly are you sure you got him? You have to be dead on."

"I all but drew cross-hairs on his file photo and strung Christmas lights on the house," Kimberly said proudly.

"Good job, rerouting the packet to Lyssa now. Find out why though. This can't be a wild hair up the ass of some goofball," Dannigan ordered.

"Yes Major; if its there I'll find it," Kimberly assured him then disconnected and went back to her searching.

~o~O~o~

Rodrick disconnected from the call from Dannigan,"We got a green light."

Lyssa walked in carrying the two Car-15 assault rifles and passed him one and the bag of magazines for it. Rodrick snapped a full magazine into the well then used a clip to secure an additional magazine to it. Seven more went into the pouches of his tactical vest. He'd already loaded up with the Colt Delta 10mm and additional magazines along with his dive knife and garrot then finished out with fragmentation, concussion, incendiary and flashbang grenades.

Lyssa had geared with her usual twin Jericho .40 cal automags and the small hideaway pistol in her boot along with the Marauder knife in its sheath at the back of her thigh, the Fairbarn-Sikes knife in the strap of her harness then added her assortment of grenades as well. Finally Lyssa slid two microsyrettes into her boot then passed two to Rodrick then they went out to the car. He drove them to the house Kimberly had indicated in her report.

"Comm check," Rodrick keyed his throat-mic.

"Five by five,"Lyssa confirmed.

"Five by five,"Rodrick acknowledged of her.

He quickly painted on his facial camo pattern then looked to Lyssa who already wore her swirl of stripes masking her beautiful face. Silently they approached the house from opposite sides. a slim piece of spring steel slipped the window latch after she carefully checked for alarms. Slowly she slid the window up some and felt inside. a thin wire had been attached to the window.

"One to Two. Be advised; window here wired old school," she informed him.

Lyssa used a nightvision monocular and visually traced the thin wire and saw two sets of cans. One set would make noise if the line went slack. The other set would make noise if the line pulled too far, dragging them off a support.

"Watch out. Dual action rattlers on the spider wire," Lyssa whispered.

"Copy that," Rodrick whispered back on the opposite side of the house.

They crawled room to room downstairs then up the stairs. Lyssa disarmed the three tripwires to grenades on the staircase. Rodrick followed close behind then checked the opposite side of the hallway.

Rodrick waved to her in combat sign language, "enemy seen".

Using her knees, elbows and toes Lyssa slithered her body to the doorway and peered around it into the room. Silently they both moved in and closed to the man sleeping in the chair. His eyes flew open to feel two pistols pressed upward under his chin.

Rodrick said,"wake up dumbass, you're in the deepest shit there ever was."

The sniper looked at them blankly, "So. I have been found."

His English was perfect.

Lyssa hissed coldly, "yes and here is where you end."

They both pulled their triggers shooting up through his skull and blowing the top of his head out. Rodrick stood up and made to pull the body from the chair but Lyssa stopped him.

"No. Leave him as he is. Snap his neck," Lyssa said cautiously.

Rodrick looked at her in puzzlement then reached and snapped his neck in a loud crackle. Lyssa pulled the Marauder and sliced through the flesh then yanked hard pulling the head away. She stuffed it carefully into a bag.

"Let's go. We have one more stop to make. Bring his rifle," She whispered.

Rodrick nodded and took the rifle from its case then followed Lyssa with her grizzly trophy back through the window out into the quiet night.

~o~O~o~

Dannigan clenched his fist, "damn good. They got him."

He double checked the latest report from Kimberly. The Lebanese was still located at the apartment in Alexandria, not alone either. Lyssa had the address via a text message. He considered calling the general but decided against it, he'd wait a little longer.

The Pentagon had finally released to report of General Whitacre's death. Many were saddened by the news, everybody else was angry. Those that knew the full circumstances were beyond furious, word around the Hill was when the President had been told he'd flown into a rage and threw all the press out of the White House. Good thing too, it kept the press focused on him and off the military for a few hours.

All high ranking officers were now using a protected entrance now to enter and exit the Pentagon. A strong message was being sent out tonight; Nobody takes out a General on U.S. soil. As for the Pentagon, Kimberly was watching their progress by monitoring databases, they were currently twenty hours behind her thanks to Homeland security throwing everybody off track for five hours.

Things like that happened when every agency thought they knew who did it and badgering to take the lead. The Joint Chiefs finally shut all that down by figuratively throwing out all civilian agencies. As of early evening the only agencies currently tasked to the investigation were Army CID, DIA and NSA. The listeners in England picked up that the Commanding General of Special Air Service had issued a scramble order for a hand picked detachment to accompany him overseas and also took charge of the Scottish Dragoons for the trip.

Dannigan smiled at that, Scottish Dragoons were a contingent of bagpipe and drum players for ceremonial events. That pretty much answered any possible question about the relationship between Whitacre and Tinnington; not just acquiantances. They truly were friends. Friends with alot of respect between them. Madison lingered at her desk pretending to work, she never liked situations that required her to do literally nothing but wait. He had gotten used to that shortly after Lyssa went operational.

The secret to bliss was pick the best and make sure they had everything they needed to get the job done right the first time then turn them loose to do it. Micro-management was the detriment to any operation. Lyssa and Rodrick were perfect together, both on and off mission. No other agency could claim to having such a team and he was glad they were his every single day.

An update from Kimberly came through; DIA were now closely checking license plate to all vehicles within a two block radius of the sniper's nest. An instant message from Lyssa came through fifteen minutes later; they were on station at secondary location. he turned up the volume of his speakers as Madison came in and watched the big screen on the wall with the house layout.

~o~O~o~

Ahmad smiled coldly watching the newscaster reporting the death of the General. Finally his father had been avenged. Tomorrow the replacement would be killed the same way, the Korean would definitely earn his pay but that was nothing, he'd been accruing the money for years to pay for revenge. He laughed to himself as he poured the imported water into his glass. He looked to the hallway and saw one of his security men walking by that gave him a nod that all was well.

Not even the Embassy knew that for his personal security he had brought in Hammal gunners. they were patrolling the house and grounds, each carried a pistol and AK-47. He was perfectly safe though. No one knew about him, not even his own Embassy knew about his agenda. He chuckled to himself softly. he'd struck the heart of the americans in front of their fortress. He'd do it again as he flew back to Lebanon.

---

CHAPTER 3

Lyssa moved silently through the hedges inside the decorative fence then crawled across the yard in the shadow of a tall tree that stretched to the house. The smell of cigarette smoke betrayed the guard at the far corner. He crushed the concealed cigarette and pocketed the butt then slowly started walking back toward the front of the house. Lyssa rose up silently and drew the Marauder from the back of her leg. The triple click from Rodrick didn't even distract her as she simultaneously clamped her left hand of the man's mouth and thrust the knife blade into his head in the notch between jaw and base of skull.

A muffled grunt was all the sound he made then stilled after a quick twist of the blade sliced his brain killing him. She wiped the blade clean on his shoulder and gave Rodrick a triple click of her mic.

"Multiple movement inside,"Rodrick whispered.

"Target status," she whispered.

He whispered back,"unknown. I have access. ground floor."

Lyssa tested the lattice work against the wall, it seemed to take her weight.

"Standby. proceeding to second floor exterior," she replied then carefully climbed up and crawled to a window.

The window latch gave easily and slid up slowly.

"I have access on second floor. Make entry," she ordered then slithered inside.

The room across the hall was occupied by two men sleeping. She leveled both her pistols at their heads, she'd already attached the supressors and triggered of a single shot each. Quickly she used her knife to widen the wounds and pull the slugs out with pliers and picked up the shell casings. A quick check of the other rooms then she slowly slithered down the stairs.

A brightly lit kitchen was at the end of the hallway and a room that was mostly dark but flickers of light came from it. Obviously someone sat watching tv in the dark. She could barely hear voices so they were being cautious about the noise levels. A shadow moved beside the front door. Lyssa closed in moving along the wall.

He turned just as she moved up close so Lyssa struck hard punching him in the throat then grabbed his head and twisted hard. His neck vertebrae gave with a sickening crackle, then slowly slumped to the floor guided by her hand clamped over his nose and mouth. A shattered larnyx prevented him from voicing his death as his paralysis kept him from struggling. She triple clicked again.

Rodrick answered, "only the dark room and basement left."

Lyssa whispered, "copy. Proceed to dark room."

They took positions on the floor either side of the door then crawled in on her nod. The lone man in the chair was chuckling to himself watching the news report of the General's death when he felt the hard muzzle of Rodrick's Colt press to his head.

"Dumb-fuck gets wasted in Alexandria. Film at eleven," Rodrick said softly.

"I am a member of the Lebanese Consulate; protected by diplomatic immunity," he said smugly as if he had pulled the ultimate joke.

"Not from us,"Lyssa hissed.

Ahmad's eyes widened as a wicked looking knife appeared in front of him.

"The Vienna Convention states...." he sputtered but couldn't finish.

Lyssa had sliced through his throat. He grasped at his neck trying to stop the blood from gushing out. She shoved his hands out of the way and used the knife more until the blade scraped bone.

Lyssa leaned in close and said with a hiss, "Past the gates and before the Devil's throne, I've been to Hell; they're gonna love you."

Rodrick reached and savagely twisted the Lebanese man's head snapping the neck bones then yanked hard ripping it free of the body. The separated head was placed into a bag. Silently they left through the window Rodrick came in through and backtracked to the SUV three blocks away.

~o~O~o~

Lyssa called Dannigan, "We're done."

"Outstanding," Dannigan answered.

"Two heads and the rifle," she listed, "where do you want them?"

Dannigan asked, "think you can mount them at the main gate of the Pentagon?"

Lyssa sat quietly for a minute then stated, "gee you don't ask fucking much."

"How about Ft.Mead instead," he proposed.

She mulled that over then agreed, "That we can do. Tell Kim to fix the cameras. Call you shortly."

Rodrick stopped at a pile of debris along the roadside and grabbed two branches. In a dark lot he sharped both ends of the two sticks while the call was made to Kimberly. He then followed Lyssa close enough to the main gate and jammed the sticks into the ground. Lyssa slammed the heads onto the spiked tops and leaned the rifle against the Korean's head. As fast as they could they ran back to the empty parking lot and left using side streets. Lyssa called Dannigan back and reported their task complete.

~o~O~o~

General Singleton answered the ringing phone angrily, "You have no idea the deep shit you're in...."

"General this is Colonel Davies; CID. There's been an incident Sir at the main gate," a voice replied.

"I'm on my way," Singleton growled and hung up.

Moment's later he walked outside in BDU's and jump boots, a Humvee with driver waited at the curb. The Sergeant saluted and started to open the door.

"Never mind that Sergeant; its too early for bullshit...let's go," the general remarked.

"HOO-AAH Sir," The sergeant replied and ran around to jump behind the wheel.

In less than five minutes they arrived to the main gate and brightly lit area just outside it. He bailed out before it came to a stop. Several soldiers working in the area stopped and saluted as he passed.

Someone called out, "ATTENTION!"

"AS YOU WERE," Singleton barked out, "Where's colonel Davies?"

A man in an Army sweatshirt and jeans came forward then saluted him, "General."

Singleton returned the salute angrily, "the fuck is so all fired up important it can't wait til morning?"

The colonel pointed off to the side, "that Sir..."

The General looked over and saw two heads mounted on sticks with a rifle leaning against one.

"General that rifle is one of the possibles that killed General Whitacre. It may even be the one that did," The colonel reported.

Singleton stared hard at the grizzly scene and bit back a smile. Dannigan and his people made good. REAL DAMN GOOD!

"I don't mean to tell you your business colonel but get this squared away and confirm about the rifle. I want a copy of the report before you go before the Joint Chiefs," Singleton ordered.

"Yes Sir. Whoever did this was good; in and out under thirty seconds. The camera's got nothing and the dogs lost the scent across the road. We got nothing on whoever did this,"Davies ground out angrily.

Singleton looked around as if trying to decide on what to do then said, "verify if that rifle is a match that's about all that can be done for now and follow whatever procedures pertain Colonel, cases don't close just because we think they got resolved!"

Davies nodded,"Yes Sir!"

General Singleton addressed the area at large, "Carry on people. Do what you do best!"

Everyone in the group sounded off, "HOO-AAH!"

The General asked a cigarette from a young enlisted off to the side then waved the driver of his Humvee to wait. He pulled a cellphone from his pocket after he lit the cigarette and dialed Dannigan's number.

"Hello, how may I help you," Madison answered.

"Seems like everybody has insomnia tonight. It's General Singleton; put me through to the Major young lady," He said.

Dannigan came on the line, "Not even twenty-fours hours on the job and you're already losing sleep, You need to learn how to delegate things General."

Singleton growled, "very funny wise-ass. Is everything going to be confirmed?"

Dannigan replied, "if they stay on task and not get sidetracked it will."

"Good, hopefully your people will stay invisible Major," Singleton said.

"We had a five minute window to get in and out. They're clear," Dannigan stated.

"Out-fucking-standing," Singleton remarked.

"If you don't screw around you can get a nap in before PT, sleep fast General. Good night," Dannigan commented.

Singleton disconnected and pocketed the phone.

"Let's go Sergeant,"he said climbing into the Humvee.

It was a little after four am, he might as well get his day started.

---

Chapter 4

"That's it Madison....take the day off get some rest," Dannigan told her carrying his coat and briefcase and locked his office door.

She looked very tired as she grabbed her purse and coat and preceeded him to the elevator. They rode down and left. Her eyes were threatening to roll back into her head as she pulled into the assigned parking space at her apartment building. Silently she thanked being able to make it home without any problems as she walked to the elevator. It was almost five am, still dark out so falling asleep wouldn't be a problem.

Madison was so focused on herself that she almost missed the soft sounds. At first she thought it might be a stray animal looking for refuge from the cold night. She stopped walking to listen and heard better, a person. Madison walked over to the other side and saw a woman close to her own age sitting on the floor crying.

"hey. What happened? are ok," She asked stepping closer.

The young woman looked up and revealed a swollen bruised eye and dried blood from her nose. Madison saw her injuries and looked around carefully for strangers but saw none.

"Oh my god. Who did this to you,"she asked.

"H..he took my purse....I tried to stop him but he hit me when I wouldn't let go. I couldn't see and fell down and he just hit me again and again," the woman sobbed.

Madison debated for a moment who to call then dialed 911. Luckily there was a car in the area and showed up within minutes. The officers took the woman's statement and took photos. An ambulance crew declared her injuries not severe enough to warrant a trip to the emergency room.

Aspirins and ice packs were the recommendations by the female paramedic, along with a day off. The older officer passed her a flyer for a women's group that offered free self-defense course. Madison offered to take her up to her own apartment to clean up. She nodded and followed her up in the elevator.

Madison cleaned the blood away then made an icepack and gave it to her after calling the building manager. He came by after twenty minutes and dropped off a new key saying he had taken the initiative of changing the locks for her own safety. Madison exchanged introductions, her guest turned out to be named Kristi and lived on the floor above.

"Madi? Maybe I need a gun. I don't know anything about guns," She said.

Madison contained her look of shock, "actually I don't know anything about guns either."

Technically that was the truth, the only she knew about guns were from the forms of requistion she occasionally filed for Lyssa and Rodrick's resupply drops. That worried her, everybody else constantly carried weapons. They were all former military with the exception of herself, Dannigan had recruited her straight out of college for her skills of office management and international studies.

She'd never been hurt before. Violence toward her was something she'd never considered and seeing Kristi being randomly targeted frightened her. The fact that it could easily have been her didn't go unnoticed and frightened her even more. Kristi thanked her and went back to her own apartment. Now alone with her thoughts Madison remembered details from Lyssa's after action reports along with reports from investigators which included many very graphic photos. The video of the secretary from Columbia flashed in excrutiating detail to the forefront.

Madison never felt fear like that before, she was actually terrified and knew it. Only one person she knew might not laugh at such fear; Lyssa. Lyssa could joke and tease anybody in ways that never stung but for the most part she was a very serious person that respected feelings of people. Her reaction to having kill the secretary had genuninely surprised Madison. Until she saw that she'd merely thought Lyssa no longer felt remorse for such things.

After a few minutes debate she sent Lyssa a text message,"I want to learn how to protect myself. Will you help me?"

She was suprised when Lyssa called her back immediately.

"What's wrong, are you ok," Lyssa asked and didn't sound as sleepy as Madison felt.

"I thought you would be sleeping,I'm sorry Lyssa," Madison said.

"No not yet, Rodrick had an overseas call so I took a bubblebath waiting. I'm still waiting,"Lyssa said," that's not important. You sound scared Madison, do I need to come over there?"

"No. A girl in my complex was attacked in the garage this morning," Madison replied," Lyssa, it could have been me. I am scared. I've never been scared before. Not like this Lyssa, will you teach me how to protect myself? how to fight. Maybe shoot too?"

Lyssa was quiet for a few moments then answered, "ok Madison, come out this afternoon and we see about getting you sorted out."

"Thank you Lyssa,"Madison sighed.

"Try to get some sleep Madi. Its ok that you called; in fact I'm suprised you were hesitant to ask. You're one of us Madison and we take care of our own," Lyssa said matter-of-factly.

Madison thanked her again then disconnected. She felt more reassured when she went to bed.

~o~O~o~

Dannigan wandered back in just afternoon and checked his message traffic, a police report filed about a mugging and assault caught his eye. Madison's apartment building. He read the report and was relieved. Madison wasn't the victim but had been an after-event witness. She was a brilliant and, more importantly loyal secretary, but she wasn't military. In fact she was the only one that hadn't been recruited from the services. She had no training at all to protect herself, that was something to be addressed soon. The problem was how to address the issue delicately to her. Perhaps Lyssa could take her to task. He made a mental note of that as he left the office.

~o~O~o~

Madison answered the door after hearing the gentle knocking and saw Kristi.

"Hi Madison. Did you have plans," she asked.

"I'm going to see a friend later on," Madison answered.

Kristi said," oh. A friend from work told me about a gun store. They will teach safety and all that for free if you buy a gun from them. Its two-hundred dollars if you just want the classes. Could you give me a ride?"

"Sure," Madison answered and grabbed her purse and things.

Fifteen minutes later they walked into the store and immediately felt out of place.

"Good afternoon ladies. How can I help you," an older man with a handlebar mustache and camouflage vest asked.

Kristi said rather timidly, "May I look at some guns please."

His eyes immediately locked to the bruises on her face and his expression turned a bit stern,"That happen before Miss?"

She turned away slightly in embarrassment and shook her head.

Madison spoke up, "She was attacked and mugged in our garage this morning."

The salesman replied, "I see. Right this way ladies. Over here are some items that are more towards a woman's defense. Pistols yes and also some effective but non-lethal items; Pepper spray with dye-marker, stun-guns."

They looked at the case but Kristi had settled it for herself and looked down at the end to the small pistols.

A younger man stepped over,"how can I help you ladies?"

Kristi spoke up, "I wanted to see guns but I don't know anything about them, I need to take the class too."

"Not a problem, I can definitely hook you up," he said with a smile.

Several pistols were lain on the counter and he explained their relevance. Finally he showed them a Glock 19 that had been outfitted with a laser sight.

"Can't go wrong with this. Very simple, you use a proper firing grip and that turns on the Crimson Trace laser; whatever the little red dot is on is what you'll hit. Simple to use, even the special operations guys use them and not very costly," He said.

Madison wracked her brain trying to remember Lyssa requesting Crimson Trace sights but drew a blank. The only sights she remembered right off hand were Trijicon. She was about to ask then remembered she wasn't supposed to know anything and kept her mouth shut. The salesman asked about her and she politely declined. Kristi purchased the Glock with the laser sights and signed up for the complimentary courses for women.

Madison dropped her off back at the complex and drove out to Lyssa's beach house.

~o~O~o~

Rodrick answered the door while on the phone talking in french looking fairly aggravated. Madison went down stairs into the basement indicated by him and froze. Madison had never really walked into a room and felt immediately frightened. She did now as she saw Lyssa standing in front of a long bench. She looked at the various pistols laid out and spotted Glock similar to that one she'd seen at the store.

"Glock 23 generation 4," Lyssa noticed she had focused on it," .40 cal semi-automatic made of ABS resin mostly. A smart girl can carefully conceal the remaining metal components in her luggage on trips but you really don't need to know how to go about that. It's Austrian made and very reliable."

"what about Crimson Trace sights," Madison asked.

"What about them," Lyssa asked her.

"Are they really good? Special Operations uses them? Should I get them," Madison asked rapidly.

Lyssa looked puzzled for a moment then answered, "They do good for what they are. No we don't and its a waste of money in your case."

Madison looked puzzled.

Lyssa sighed, "Special Operations doesn't use laser sights as often as people think, that's hollywood. Particles in the air will reveal the beam and then bang, operator is dead, because the position has been compromised. Trust me Madi; lasers look cool but that's it. Just looks."

Madison seemed somewhat put off now, "Sales guy lied."

Lyssa arched an eyebrow so Madison explained.

"Don't sweat it. Probably a good thing for your friend to have the sights. You'll spend more time at the range than her and be better at it. Rodrick and I use Trijicon sights. I'm sure the Major does too. Those are very common for Operators," Lyssa showed her a set.

"I was going ask to about that," Madison remarked.

"No biggie. They're self illuminating sight for use in low-light conditions, you'll become familiar with them," Lyssa explained.

Lyssa handed her the automatic and a magazine then led her back up. Two hours later Madison was hitting the target in an appropriate area then paid close attention to Lyssa and Rodrick both as they demostrated some hand-to-hand techniques that really worked to 'persuade any aggressors that she should very much be left alone'. She had to laugh at that comment.

They each taught her one hand-to-hand killing move and the rest of her lesson consisted of techinques to incapacitate and/or cripple an attacker. By dinnertime Madison's confidence was back to normal though Lyssa and Rodrick both warned her of over-confidence and its pitfall.

---

General Tinnington stood at the head of the detachment of SAS troops as the Scottish Dragoons off to the side played bagpipes and drums in farewell. Tinnington himself spoke at the funeral of the time they had exchange trained together and how well it had went, a close friend and colleague to be sorely missed by many both at home and abroad. As the pipes picked up the music to Amazing Grace Tinnington noticed more people were in attendance than previously noted.

Several people stood at a distance in various points of the cemetery. Operators he guessed. MacTaggart nudged him with an elbow slightly and nodded to a group of people standing under a tree far away.

"Dannigan," he whispered.

Tinnington nodded subtly. Dannigan and his people saluted as the shots were fired at the end of the song then turned and walked away as the casket lowered into the earth. Respects had been paid as farewells were made both silently and formally to the passed General who had been known for fighting for the welfare of the troops above all else, often quoted, "The men get the best or we all do without to see to it they do!"
 
 
 
 

*** Special salutes go out to ALL our fallen. They have paid that ultimate price for us and should never be forgotten. Also a special nod to my own paternal grandmother. She never saw military service, she was a simple farm woman. Once when I was child she accompanied us to Florida on vacation. At Epcot center we encountered bagpipe players who asked if anyone had a request from their top ten. My grandmother asked for Amazing Grace. They replied it was number one and happily played it. To this day whenever I hear it played by bagpipes I remember the smile she had when she heard it. I learned a lot from my grandmothers. At Nana's knee I was taught duty, honor and conviction. At Grandma's I learned to do things simply and have fun when I can. I love and miss them both. Part of this story goes out to them as well. ***