"What are you doing?" Callen asked his co-worker, Marty Deeks. The blond agent jumped and glared at Callen, throwing the bubble wrap at Callen. Callen batted it away. "Why do you have bubble wrap?" 

"It's very satisfying to pop," Deeks grinned, popping a few to prove his point. "Oh, and something I ordered came in. The box was filled with this stuff, so I naturally took it to pop." 

Callen shook his head in disbelief. "Deeks, what did you order?" he asked, smiling and putting his hands on his hips. "Tell me it wasn't yet another Nerf gun." 

Deeks gasped, putting a hand over his heart, faking offense. "How dare you? I did not order a Nerf gun. Instead I got more stuff for Airsoft games," he grinned, laughing at Callen's disappointed sigh. 

"What's going on?" Kensi Blue asked, walking up to her desk and setting her gym bag down. Her dark hair was in a messy ponytail and she wore a green shirt, black pants, and a brown jacket. 

"You three, Hetty needs you up here!" Eric Beale called from the second floor. "A new case for us to solve!" The upbeat technical support grinned and disappeared into the central room. 

"You heard him," Callen stated, jogging up the stairs with Deeks and Kensi on his tail. Inside the central room, Sam Hanna, Nell Jones, and Hetty Lange stood before the large screen, looking over the case file. 

"A pilot?" Deeks asked, looking at the file. "No way!" he gaped, gaining everyone's attention. "He went to Top Gun? The Top Gun?" His jaw dropped, eyes wide with awe. 

"Yeah, he did," Sam, a former Navy SEAL, confirmed. "Neil VIKANDER callsign Omaha was found dead this morning at 11:15 am." Nell tapped on her computer and made the file bigger on the screen and easier to read. "He was shot three times in the chest and his WSO Callie Bassett, callsign Halo, found him." 

"Do we know why someone would want him dead?" Callen asked, touching chin. "Anyone with a grudge or motive?" He studied the screen, eyes narrowing as he processed everything they knew. 

"Not that we know of," Eric spoke up. "Guy had a clean record. Everyone seemed to like the guy. From what we were told he and a few other pilots just finished a top secret mission a few weeks ago. Maybe that has something to do with this?" 

"Maybe," Kensi considered. "What else do we know?" 

"The police investigated the crime scene and suspected Neil didn't go quietly. His place looked like it had been ransacked," Nell offered, pulling up photos from the crime scene. 

"Well, I don't think he has to worry about cleaning," Deeks joked, trying to brighten the mood. 

"Look how there's bloody handprints on the dresser drawers?" Callen noticed. "The killer was looking for something. Whoever it was clearly thought Neil had something. But what?" 

"The ominous message could also give us a clue," Kensi nodded. "Eric you mentioned he was on a top secret mission with other pilots? Maybe the killer is targeting the entire operation. Can you pull up the files of who was on this mission?" 

"I can try," Eric confirmed. "But since it was top secret I might not be able–I've got it?" Confusion evident in his voice, Eric turned to look at Sam. "Some high-ranking Admiral gave us clearance to the list of pilots on the mission, apparently?" Nell pulled up the other profiles. 

"There are a lot of pilots," Deeks observed. "Why did they need so many?" He scanned each one. "Holy shit! That's Maverick! THE MAVERICK!"

"Maverick's in on it?" Sam raised an eyebrow. "Okay, this just got a lot more complicated. Maverick has a history of pissing off many different admirals, high-ranking officers, and generally people in power." 

"Did you know him?" Callen asked. 

"No, only of him. Maverick is a Navy legend," Sam explained. "He's one of the most decorated captains, an even better pilot, and has a record of completing near impossible missions. Almost everyone wanted to be him." 

"We are running a joint operation," Hetty spoke up for the first time. "The officers at Top Gun will be expecting you. This is a very sensitive case. If word leaks out, people will ask questions…questions they can't and won't answer. Do you understand?" Every agent nodded. "We will hold our base of operations at Miramar. Admiral Simpson was generous enough to lend us a few classrooms and technical pieces." 

"When do we leave?" Sam asked, looking at Hetty. 

"You all are to leave immediately," Hetty ordered. "Gather up your things. We leave in two hours. I have heard rumors there will be a joint investigation with our base in DC." 

"Gibbs?" Callen perked up, eyes meeting Hetty's eyes. "Why are they involving him? Not that we don't want their help. I'm just confused." 

"With the severity and secrecy of this case, Admiral Kazansky thought it would be best to involve the best of the best," Hetty told them. "I have heard that he personally asked for their help. He wouldn't take no for an answer. Now, go. We don't have time to waste dilly-dallying!" She clapped her hands and the four agents scrambled out of the room. 

"Hetty?" Eric got the director's attention. "Who is Gibbs bringing with him?" He closed the files and saved them. 

"Abby Sciuto and Anthony DiNozzo," Hetty told him. "That meant you two as well," she chidded. "Pack everything you need." She walked out of the room. 

"Well, Nell, you ready to go to Top Gun?" Eric asked. "Do you think they'll let us in the planes? Because that would be so epic." 

"Eric, I highly doubt they would," Nell rolled her eyes, smiling fondly at him. "But," she added, noticing how Eric's face fell. "It's not impossible. Come on. We have an hour and forty-five minutes." 

"Agent Hanna!" Hetty called the former SEAL. "I know this case hits close to home. I need to know if you will be able to handle it?" She looked up at the agent with concerned eyes. 

"I'll be fine, Hetty. No need to worry about me," Sam managed a smile. "It was years ago. I've moved past it. Thank you. I knew you cared," he teased, making the older woman scoff and shake her head. 

"Go, Agent Hanna," Hetty said, "you have a long drive ahead of you." She dipped her head and walked down the stairs to her office. 

"Okay, who's ready to meet the best pilots in the US Navy?" Sam called as he made his way to the other agents, smiling to himself. 

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Hey guys!

I have no self-control so I am posting the next few chapters. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!

Comments and votes are appreciated! I love hearing from you all.

Have a wonderful day!

~Kat