They’d kept him in the loop the same way in London back in January. While Alexei would prefer to have Sean’s voice in his ear, he knew Katie would keep an eyeonhim.
After everyone geared up, they exited the ready room for the tarmac sitting adjacent to the main building. Ground crews were busy stocking several X-17 Hermes combat jets with additional gear and weaponry for the upcoming fight. Everyone on Alpha Team had their own assigned pre-mission duties and gottowork.
Alexei and Kyle did theirs together, going through a checklist of things that had become second nature during their time with Strike Force. By the time everyone was strapping in for the flight west, Alexei was satisfied they had everything theywouldneed.
“>” Kyle mused as he tugged on the straps of his flight harness to ensure it waslocked.
“>” Alexeiagreed.
Matthew Gailani hadn’t been with them on the Geneva mission. Their team’s second-in-command at the time ended up with a promotion after their old Strike Force captain died in Geneva. Matthew had always been a stand-up guy, and he’d hated to lose them to the MDF, but was ultimately just glad they’d survived. Alexei and Kyle had kept in touch with their old team as much as possible, but working under communications blackout conditions for their missions made it difficult. Regardless, anyone from Strike Force would be more than goodenough.
The flight west was a quiet affair, with everyone having their own pre-mission habits no one dared to interrupt. Alexei slept for most of the flight, head rattling against the fuselage of the jet. He’d mastered the art of sleeping anywhere years ago, and took advantage when and where he could. Kyle nudged him awake before they landed, coming to immediate alertness when he openedhiseyes.
“>”Kylesaid.
Annabelle was flying them, and their landing was as smooth as ever. Alexei hung back with Kyle as the ramp lowered, letting Jamie and Katie be the ones to greet the soldiers on the tarmac who were charged with bringing Alpha Team’s officers to the brass for a quick and dirty meeting before the group-widebriefing.
The rest of them were escorted off the combat jet and hustled into a large hangar empty of aircraft but full of people. Alexei only got a brief glimpse of the surrounding Mountain Home Air Force Base before they were sequestered out of sight of curious eyes. The men and women milling about in Strike Force combat uniforms all eyed the newcomers with more than a littlewariness.
The MDF had cleared everyone’s identities and powers with SOCOM for this mission. Both groups worked under Top Secret clearance the majority of the time, which ensured everyone’s identities would remain safe. While all MDF agents would wear nanotech strips to help hide their facial features, they were allowed to provide their real names to their fellow fighters for this mission. For Alexei and Kyle, that was a no-brainer. Working with Strike Force again was likecominghome.
Alexei scanned the surrounding group, hoping to spot a familiar face or two from his years wearing that uniform, andluckedout.
“Brannigan! Dvorkin! Didn’t think I’d ever see your ugly faces again,” a deep voiceboomedout.
Alexei grinned, striding forward with Kyle as the crowd of Strike Force operatives shifted to give a tall, dark-haired man with startling blue-green eyes in a tanned face space to approach. It might’ve been almost a year since they’d last seen Captain Matthew Gailani, but the older man’s back-slapping hugs were stillthesame.
“Fucking hell, Matthew. I was hoping we’d get to fight with you again,” Kyle said with asmile.
“Only the fucking best to show you fancy-assed MDF idiots how to get the job done,” Matthew cheerfully replied before knocking a fist against Alexei’s shoulder. “How’ve youbothbeen?”
“Good. Was tough adjustment, but we get through it,”Alexeisaid.
“Glad to hear it. They give you a decent captain, atleast?”
“The best,” Kylereplied.
“Nah, can’t be the best since it’s not me. Just tell me they didn’t stick you with any civilians or something. Don’t the MDF recruit from all areas? Be a waste of your skills iftheydid.”
“Not know you care,” Alexei said with asmirk.
Matthew snorted. “Hated to lose you more than the brass did. They weren’t the ones in the field in need of a decent scoutsniperteam.”
“Got a good replacement, I hope?” Kyleasked.
“Yeah, Davis is real good withagun.”
Kyle jerked his thumb over his shoulder at where their team stood a few feet away. “We got slotted in withAlphaTeam.”
Matthew raised an eyebrow. “The one always blowing shit up onthenews?”
“It’s not fun if there aren’t a few explosions in the mix,” Madison said with an easy smile and a flash of her power between the fingers ofonehand.
Matthew slapped Kyle on the shoulder. “You should introduce us to your team. Where are your fuckingmanners?”
Alexei waved the others closer, letting Kyle do the rapid introductions between their old team and new. Out of the corner of his eye, Alexei could see a few other MDF field teams introducing themselves to the surrounding Strike Force members. Some of the initial wariness seemed to be fading in the wake of Matthew’s easy and immediateacceptance.
“Seems we’re missing two,” Matthew said, glancing over the group after Kyle had gone through everyone’s names. “Doesn’t Alpha Team have eightmembers?”
