Page 26 of Silent Dust
“Link,” Bear continued, “your job is navigation and communication. Keep us updated in real-time —any deviations or obstacles.”
“On it, Boss,” Link responded, already pulling up the latest tracking feeds on his tablet.
“Dog,” Bear said, “you and Moose will go in as our breacher and medic. Moose, you’re on close combat and entry; ready to handle any surprises during insertion or extraction.”
Moose cracked his knuckles, a wry smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“And Blast,” Bear added, “you’re on demolitions. You’ll be planting the charges once we secure the ideal spots. Timing will be critical—you remotely trigger the charges once the divers signal they’re clear.”
Bear looked around again. “We’re near a ‘silent approach’ zone—the coastline is clean, no civilian traffic, perfect for night infiltration. We move in under the cover of darkness, keep engines off to drift close enough without detection. Diver teams will approach from behind, slip onto the ship, plant the charges, and get out—fast.”
The SEAL teams knew these details, but Bear’s review reminded them to focus on the fundamentals.
Warden reached out and trailed a fingertip across the route overlay on the map. “The target’s minimal security, but deck access might be guarded or have cameras. We’ll approach from the stern or the cargo hold side, it’s the least monitored. Moose, you’ll breach, Nova will cover with sniper support if needed, and the rest will follow the plan.”
Bear took a breath. “The timing has to be perfect. If the ship detects us early, the crew may attempt to alter course or dispatch boats. We need to plant the explosives and disappear before they realize what’s hit them.”
“Once the charges are set, prioritize quick exfil back to the RIBs. If that’s not possible, prepare for an open-water swim as a last resort. Everyone’s wetsuits have trackers, so a rescue boat from the carrier group can locate you if you end up in the water. Link, I want underwater sensors deployed to track the vessel if it attempts to recover or reroute after the explosion.”
He pointed at the tactical map, highlighting the approach and exit points. “Timing’s everything and if our intel’s accurate, we should be in position by first light. Once in, silent infiltration is key. No room for mistakes.”
Bear paused, looking at his team. “This mission could turn the tide—if we get it right. Stay sharp, stay coordinated. We’re in and out, quiet as shadows. Let’s move out in thirty.”
With the plan set, the atmosphere shifted from preparation to action. The team moved quickly, gathering their gear and double-checking their equipment. Bear felt the adrenaline surge as they finalized their preparations, each member focused on their role in the operation.
13 - HAWK
The phoneon the night stand buzzed, jolting Hawk from a deep sleep. He glanced at the screen and saw the name flashing: Commander Michaels. His stomach dropped; it was never good news at 2 a.m. He answered softly, slipping out of bed and into the bathroom to avoid waking Lindsey, his voice barely above a whisper. “Commander?”
“Hawk, we’ve got a situation.” The Commander’s tone jolted Hawk awake and shattered the remnants of sleep. He leaned against the bathroom sink, the cool porcelain grounding him as he processed the gravity of the situation. “Someone snuck into Flora’s hospital room. They tried to kill her.”
Panic ignited in his chest. “Is she okay? Where was Ghost?”
“It looks like they tried to inject her IV—probably Silent Dust. Labs are analyzing the sample now. Maria was at the nurses' station, delivering MRI results for another patient, when she saw him—dressed like a surgeon, took a syringe, and injected into Flora’s IV,” Michaels explained. “I’m headed there now. I’ll get details, but… this isn’t random.”
“I’ll meet you there,” Hawk said.
Images of Flora flooded Hawk’s mind. The thought of someone trying to harm her made his blood boil. Hepictured Maria, her instincts sharp, rushing through the sterile, fluorescent-lit hallways, determined to protect her friend.
As he hung up the phone and rushed back into the bedroom, Lindsey sat up in bed, “What happened?”
“Someone tried to drug Flora at the hospital. I’m meeting the Commander there to find out more,” Hawk said as he gave her a quick hug and kiss.
Lindsey gasped softly and jumped out of bed, grabbing her robe. “I’ll make a pot of coffee while you get ready. What do you need me to do?”
“Coffee sounds great, sweetheart. I’m calling the team and getting Swede to check the hospital security cameras.”
As he made his way to the kitchen, he called Red, talking softly so as not to wake the kids. “Hey, we have a problem.” He poured himself a cup of coffee while telling Red what he knew so far. “Get Swede and Hank on the hospital feeds. You and Zulu come with me to find out what’s going on.”
“What happened to Ghost?” Red asked, then muttered, “Nevermind, Zulu’s on it, went to voicemail.”
After giving Lindsey a quick kiss and promising to keep her updated, Hawk climbed into the driver’s seat. Moments later, Red and Zulu ran out of Bear’s house next door—the place they jokingly called “Hotel California”—and jumped into the car with him.
As Hawk drove to the hospital, his cell rang with a call from Hank. “Got a description from Flora’s room—five-seven, dressed in scrubs, hat, mask. Very slight build. Can’t tell gender from the footage.”
In the background, Swede’s voice crackled through. “Current feeds show a doctor and nurse working on Ghost. He’s down but alive.”
A flash of anger and helplessness shot through Hawk. His jaw clenched so tightly he felt like his teeth would crack. “Shit!What the hell is going on here?” His fist slammed against the steering wheel with a thunderous impact. “We’re two minutes from the hospital,” he spat through gritted teeth. “Making it in one.”
