NOVA
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30/05/2002 - 1pm
Phoenix, Arizona
Redhawk Base
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Nothings changed. I still don't like him. Still a prick.

I can't see myself being able to tolerate him. My mom's old lesson keeps chiming around my brain: 'Always give people a second chance.'

The Commander is speaking to me as he leads me to my cabin; my mind is elsewhere. My mind is on the arrogant piece of shit who I have work alongside from now on.

"Did you get all of that, Shields?" He questions, cold voice snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Hm? Yes, Sir." A lie.

He shakes his head as we approach a terraced row of cabins. His hand rests on the handle as he glances over at me. "No you didn't. You were too busy thinking 'bout your little reunion with Leo. I mean it, Shields. Me and Vincent are putting plenty of faith in the pair of you. You mightn't be able to cooperate on a personal level; but your skill sets fit together like a jigsaw. Don't let us down."

His hand turns the doorknob as he pushes it open. The cabin is dimly lit, only one small window on the wall opposite the door. It's pretty basic; a double bed in the middle next to a bedside cabinet. A small bathroom off to the left hand side.

"This was Richards' cabin. Hopefully his ghost doesn't come haunt 'ya. Take your time, get settled. Just remember; 6pm sharp in the main office."

My head moves up and down as I take his information on board. "Yes, Sir. 6pm sharp."

With an affirmative nod, he disappears out of the door; closing it behind him with a click.

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Unpacking my shit takes less time than I thought. I guess I owe that to Lisa.

The only personal touch in my room is a framed photograph that I've set on my bedside cabinet. A family picture. It was taken in Yosemite; near the peak of El Capitan.

My mom has me on her shoulders; my dad, Frank, right next to her. One of his arms is wrapped around her waist; the other is outstretched in an attempt to get my estranged half-brother Nicholas in the photograph. They managed to get half of him in, at least.

The photograph is a mere reminder of what I once had. My mom, Maria; disappeared without a trace when I was 8. Nobody knows what happened to her, my dad never got closure. The speculations have been insane.

The year prior, Nicholas left home when he was 15; decided it was a good idea to make a career path in the criminal underworld. He could be dead for all I know; I couldn't care less. He was a fucking bastard.

My dad, being an ex-military veteran; planned my life out from that point. I don't think teaching his 8 year old daughter how to work a gun was his plan when he became a father; although I don't blame him.

He was terrified of something happening to me. He'd lost everything apart from me; so made it his plan to ensure I knew how to protect myself.

Hence how I qualified to become a special op when I was 18. It wasn't my original plan. After the training my dad had given me, I applied for the CST (Clandestine Service Trainee) programme in Virginia, 1995.

Since I already had experience with weapons, which was a little concerning for the instructors considering my age, I flew well ahead of the curve. Towards the end of my of training, they had a scary looking man come in and talk to me.

He was a special op, and explained about 'Fleetwood' without giving me too much detail; confidentiality and all.

It was decided that I'd been selected to train at Camp Peary, otherwise knows as 'The Farm', and that it seemed more apt for me to work as a special op instead of a regular CIA agent.

I was 18 and I had no idea what the fuck to do, so I just accepted. Here I am today, 7 years on.

Dad remarried for the 3rd time when I was 17. An Australian woman called Debbie. Despite my relief to see he's moved on from them hard years; I don't think he's ever truly going to be able to let go of my mom without having closure.

I won't be able to let go either.

He thinks I'm just working in a regular FBI agency. We don't get the chance to call home very often, but whenever we do, I always keep everything strictly confidential.

—

5:45pm sharp, I usher out of my cabin. Walking across this new base, I feel everyone's gaze lingering on me for a little longer than I would've hoped.

Thank God I've got my confidence, otherwise I'd probably be a shivering mess. A pair of footsteps suddenly shuffle along next to mine. Looking up, I'm met by an unfamiliar face; tousled blonde hair and baby blue eyes, backed by a tanned complexion.

"Nova Shields, right?" He asks, halting next to me.

"That's me," I grin slightly as he extends his arm out in front of him.

"Jed Nolan. It's nice to meet the person who's going to be filling Richards' place. Hopefully you live up to the skill we've heard about you from North." He chuckles.

My hand finds his and shakes it lightly. "I don't plan on letting anyone down, I think North would have my head on a spear otherwise."

Jed snickers as I continue pacing along, following after me. "Where you headed?"

"A mission conference," I reply bluntly, picking up my steps. Being late is not something I am going to allow.

"Me too, I'll walk with you. Take it you don't know your way around base yet?"

"Yeah, you got that right," I admit with a sigh.

"Follow me, I'll show you to the main office." He waves his hand in a direction opposite to where I was headed, turning our steps southward.

Offering a grateful nod, I follow after him.

===

"There you are, Shields." North echoes as I push the door open, Jed a few steps behind me.

I'm met with a room of 8 officers; all sat down around what looks like a conference table. Two seats are untouched, I'm guessing that's where me and Jed are supposed to sit.

I offer everyone a warm smile, grin faltering when I'm met with the gaze of Leo, sat at the head of the table.

A punchable, smug grin is plastered across his face.

"Right on time, partner," he quips, voice dripping with sarcasm.

North gestures for me and Jed to sit. Of course my fucking chair is at the opposite head of the table, forcing me to sit opposite him. Circling the table like a hawk, North throws down 10 files; one to each of us.

"Before I start, I'd like to introduce everyone to your new co-captain; Officer Nova Shields."

Everyone offers me respectful smiles, only one person doesn't bother.

"Shields, I'll introduce you to everyone," he starts gesturing around the table; pointing at the officers individually.

My attention span switches off after a few names. Standing up, my hand shakes its way around the room. The officers all seem accepting enough that I'm joining their squad.

"We're counting on you to fill the void of Richards, Nova." An officer called 'Banksy' speaks up with a chuckle, ruffling a hand through his thick auburn hair. A grin tugs at my lips as I nod.

"I-"

"-chance would be a fine thing." That sarcastic voice interrupts from the opposite side of the table; my eyes fixing a warning glare at him.

North intercepts before the tension can get any thicker.

"So, the mission. The El Meridia drug trafficking group in Colombia. After Richards took down one of the leaders; Taro Vasquelez, they've since promoted a new one. This guy. Known to currently be in in an area within Medellín, we have his location."

He pins up a picture on the board behind him.

"Paolo Ramirez. Thought to be Taro's cousin. He's recruiting young people within Medellín to do his dirty work; apparently finishing them off if they don't manage it in time. A very violent group, they're allegedly sneaking cocaine across our border by using imitation walls and floors in transport containers."

"So it's a drug cartel." I confirm, flicking through the file in front of me.

"That's right. The BlueJay group has been in contact with Colombian government officials. They want help tackling the issue. We've come to an agreement, especially since they're also managing to smuggle into the US through Mexico. It's a win-win for both sides, providing all goes well."

North then pins up a second photograph, this time a satellite shot dated yesterday.

"A warehouse, just a few miles west of Comuna 13." He says, "this is where we believe Paolo is currently located. Right here." He analyses the image for a few seconds before drawing a circle around a specific building, located out of the way from the neighbourhood and just along the outskirts of a forest.

"His base, or at least one of them. Looks unsuspecting from the outside; a run down, abandoned warehouse in the outskirts of some dense greenery. But, we believe this is where he's organising the production of the cocaine. Also reports of cartel related murders; within the base and also within the Comuna 13 neighbourhood. Easy enough for them to cover it up when there's a forest surrounding." He grimaces before continuing.

"So; the task is an invasion and capture, if that isn't possible, a targeted killing. If the chance is there, we want Ramirez to be neutralised immediately, handed over to the Colombian Government officials. As well, we want the warehouse to be destroyed by any means necessary. However, there's no denying that his group will have weapons of all kinds in preparation for something like this. You need to make sure you're all fully suited up."

We all nod in unison, waiting for the next instructions.

"I'll leave the bulk of the mission plan up to the ten of you since you're all adults, although ideally it needs to be carried out from 10pm onwards on the 6th of June, one weeks time."

Once again, we all nod in unison. North sighs in a satisfied manner and heads towards the door.

"When you've all decided on a plan, inform me and I will pass on the message to the Colombian officials. Have fun, you fuckers."

And with that charming remark, he exits the room; leaving all of us in silence.

After a intense few seconds of thinking, I'm the first one to speak up.

"I have a plan in mind. Everyone willing to hear it out?" I ask, standing up from my chair and heading towards the board.

All of the officers nod enthusiastically, apart from Leo Hendrix.

"Why am I not surprised? Nova Shields, everyone. Only just arrived here and already taking control." He scoffs, definitely trying to get a rise out of me.

Most of the other officers just ignore him and look away, obviously too intimidated to speak up to their 'captain'.

Unfortunately, he gets the reaction he wants as I glare at him with a furious expression. "If you have a plan of action, be my fucking guest. Otherwise, shut the fuck up."

"Actually, I do have a plan of action." He snaps, also shoving up from his chair and striding right towards me.

I stand my ground, not moving a single inch.

"My plan of action, is that you let me organise this mission. Also, that you don't get in my way like you did back in Santa Elena." He speaks in an arrogant tone, voice laced with attempted intimidation as he towers over me.

"Do you seriously think standing up all tall and being an asshole is going to make me back down from this?" I reply in the exact same tone, glaring up at him.

He blinks a few times and furrows his thick eyebrows. The other officers are definitely uncomfortable right now, somehow their captains are arguing like stubborn teenagers.

"Listen here. I have captained the Hawks for 4 goddamn years. I've been at the epicentre of missions for as long as I can remember. I don't need you to swoop in and fuck it up, Shields." He speaks menacingly, voice low.

"No, you didn't captain. You co-captained. There's a big ass difference. And now I'm your co-captain. Stop trying to take all the goddamn glory. Just shut up, stop acting like a prick and hear my plan out." I hiss at him. At this point, Jed Nolan chimes in.

"Leo, we should just hear her out. Her plan might be just what we need." Jed speaks in an upbeat tone.

Leo glimpses over at him and then back down at me. "Oh I'll hear her out alright, not that it will be anything beneficial. Most likely just as useless as back in '99." He remarks in arrogance.

I just completely ignore him this time and look upon the table of officers.

"So we know Ramirez is going to be in this location, right? I'm guessing, like most old style warehouses, there's going to be a good number of windows; break in points. There's a high chance that if he gets a clue that we're busting them, he's going to make a run for it and get his men to do the dirty work against us. Who's the sniper?"

A female Officer; who's name I found out is Tara Mulvey, nods with a smile whilst playing with one of her long, black cornrow braids. "Yeah, I am."

I nod, continuing. "Looking at the satellite, there's various different heights of the buildings in the surrounding area. Mulvey, you could position on top of a roof in.. this area." I suggest as I pick up the pen North was using, circling a certain area of buildings.

"If we give the signal he's making a run for it and we aren't going to be able to capture him, it seems like you'd have a clear shot to take him out if he ran out of the front or sides."

My confidence skyrockets as I see everyone nodding along to my plan. Leo is just grounded with his arms crossed.

"Seems a bit flawed," He mumbles.

"Have you got a better plan?" I challenge him. He just chuckles and nods, standing forward towards the board.

"Well for one," He remarks, snatching the pen right out of my hand before I can react, "there's a high chance that if he was making a run for it, he'd head out back and west, deeper into the forest. Somewhere out of Mulvey's range." He says, drawing arrows leading from the warehouse and into the forest.

"That's not a flaw, just another scenario." I snap at him, ripping the pen back into my possession.

"We could easily have another officer or two hidden out in the trees, with a clear line of vision to the backside of the warehouse."

"I don't mind staying out at the back. I'm an expert at finding cover, high chance I wouldn't be spotted." An officer known as 'Banksy' chimes in.

"And I think I'd be able to get a perfect shot from those buildings if he came out of any other direction. Looks like it would be about a half mile shot at most, I can handle that. Plus, looks like there's a car park, if I could get up there it would be perfect." Mulvey adds.

I can see the definition in Leo's jaw intensify as he clenches it in obvious frustration.

He definitely wants this mission to fail simply because it's my plan.

He just wants another excuse to treat me like shit. Bastard.

"You know what, Shields? I'll go along with your plan, and I won't interject. Although, if anything goes wrong; it's your fucking fault." He grumbled frustratedly, shaking his head of floppy dark hair. He looks defeated right now, and it's so damn satisfying to see after his outburst.

"Alright, I can take that." I say with confidence, a smirk tugging on the corners of my lips.

What a fucking prick.