A team of ESU SWAT officers had been stationed outside a large warehouse in Area 3. After repeatedly requesting permission to move, the team, including their captain, was inevitably getting impatient.
A problem arose. The team leader's communication headset was malfunctioning. He heard Jack's series of retreat orders, but communication became intermittent, with no reports of IEDs.
Assuming the FBI-SWAT team had simply withdrawn to allow the bomb disposal team to move in and clear their area, they ignored the subsequent reports of IEDs and infrared laser tripwires. After a moment's hesitation, they ordered their team to breach the door.
This ESU team was unlucky. While other teams hadn't encountered the IEDs planted on the door, they were the only ones to do so. The moment the battering ram in the warehouse door detonated, the explosives were instantly thrown several meters away by the shockwave.
Fortunately, the other team members adhered strictly to the positioning habits they'd developed during training, avoiding windows and standing against the wall. Even more fortunately, the makeshift IED was lightly charged, and the warehouse itself was a solid concrete structure.
Although the other team members were also knocked to the ground by the shockwave, they were unharmed. By the time Jack and the others arrived from the other side, the captain, unaware of his mistake, had already risked his life to drag his teammate out of harm's way and was frantically calling for reinforcements.
"Call the fire trucks and ambulances immediately! IED detected in Zone 3, one person down!"
Seeing the warehouse erupt in flames, accompanied by the dangerous smell of chemicals, Jack immediately stepped forward to help the ESU drag the injured team member out of harm's way. Simultaneously, the sirens of ambulances and fire trucks blared in the distance.
The NYPD had already stationed fire trucks and ambulances in the surrounding area, and they arrived on the scene in less than three minutes.
This team member was lucky. His external injuries looked horrific, with half his body covered in blood from sharp splinters and debris, but they were minor. His body armor and military helmet had effectively protected his head and torso.
As for the internal injuries caused by the shock wave, with Jack present, they were merely a few drops of blood from the delicate mucous membranes of his mouth and nose. A few days in the hospital would have him back to health.
It seemed necessary to strengthen cooperation between the FBI-SWAT and the NYPD's ESU. While the misunderstanding was caused by communication issues, there were clearly significant issues with coordination between the two sides, Jack thought as he made his way back to the Federal Building.
The NYPD's ESU is arguably the busiest SWAT unit in the nation, as reflected in its name: ESU (Emergency Service Unit).
So, they not only handle major criminal cases and counterterrorism missions, but also provide rescue and emergency medical services. They are also often seen at the scenes of major car accidents and building collapses.
There are only two sizable SWAT units in the entire New York City area. Given the current relationship between the FBI and the NYPD, future collaboration between FBI-SWAT and the ESU is clearly a significant undertaking.
This, of course, is something that Frank Regan and Dana Moger, the two leaders on both sides, need to consider. These include exchanging instructors, increasing the frequency of joint drills, and even standardizing communications and establishing a single chain of command—all of which require a complex process.
However, this minor incident did not dampen everyone's joy. Fire trucks quickly arrived at the scene, bringing the fire under control and saving the warehouse where Jack and his team had discovered the large quantity of drugs. Bomb disposal experts are currently clearing the warehouse.
It was late at night when Jack and Hannah returned to the Federal Building. At the elevator entrance, they encountered a worried Jim Aubrey, who breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing them.
"Is everyone okay? I heard there was an explosion at the scene."
Hannah nodded and smiled, "It's okay, an ESU special police officer was injured, but the doctor said he is not in danger of life."
"Thank God." Aubrey pointed behind him, "Jubal and Commander Moger are interrogating Wags. Do you want to go and listen? That guy is shorter than I thought, like a 'Penguin', but he looks very calm."
Jack was very pleased with his previous nervous attitude. It seemed that he had begun to regard himself as a member of this small team.
"Let's let someone else take over here. We have a ton of reports waiting for us tomorrow. Any recommendations for good places nearby? I just want a nice late-night snack and a good night's sleep."
Aubrey, despite his lean build, was actually quite the foodie. His eyes lit up at Jack's suggestion. "If you don't mind taking a detour, I know a great BBQ place in Flushing."
Jack turned and left. "Two more beers, then. We've seized nearly three tons of cocaine. It's worth a good celebration. Tonight's my treat."
"Wow," Aubrey grinned. "Maybe we'll get to stand behind the lady at the press conference tomorrow."
"Forget it, your file's going to be sealed soon. Just stay behind the scenes," Jack said with a smirk.
"Well, safety is more important. I don't want a psychopathic killer knocking on my door in the middle of the night." Aubrey shrugged. As a Wall Street elite, he had considerable wealth. He joined the FBI more for self-realization than for fame and fortune.
Although they had only known each other for a short time, Aubrey had asked Jack about his experiences in the BAU out of curiosity, and had no objection to his carrying over some of his strange rules into his future Most Wanted squad.
This was one of the reasons Jack chose him; such a teammate was clearly more reassuring, without the worry of future complications.
The next morning, Hannah was still in bed, but Jack had already made breakfast and headed to the Federal Building. Last night, Hannah had cosplayed the original Wonder Woman in exchange for his help with the report.
The 1976 Wonder Woman, played by Lynda Carter, was different from the later version. Without the Belt of Power, Princess Diana became a normal person. Jack was eagerly anticipating tonight's defeat play.
Just as Jack had brewed a steaming pot of coffee and was about to start working on his computer, his phone vibrated.
Last night, when he and Hannah were saying goodbye to Clay Spencer's new house, he'd mentioned wanting to visit the FBI's New York office. Then, Jubal called him to the crime scene, and then there was the raid and the accidental explosion, and he'd completely forgotten about it.
Clay and Stella, who'd driven him, were parking in the underground parking lot. They'd called ahead, and Jack slapped his forehead and hurried downstairs.
Of course, not just anyone could enter the Federal Building. Security checks were secondary; registering and obtaining a visitor's badge were also required, and anyone visiting had to contact the front desk first.
Jack didn't bother waiting for the receptionist downstairs to call him, and immediately summoned Aubrey, who had just entered the office and was still yawning, to join him downstairs.
They'd all be teammates in the future, so getting to know each other beforehand was natural. Jack took Aubrey down the elevator and briefly introduced Clay.
Upon hearing that he was from SEAL Team B, Aubrey looked intrigued. In fact, he was even more interested in how Jack knew such a T1-level Special Forces member.
When the two arrived at the first-floor lobby, Clay, still on crutches, and Stella, heavily pregnant, had already passed through security and stood at the front desk, registering their identities.
Unlike his days as a Navy SEAL, with his unshaven, rugged military image, Clay Spencer was dressed like a newcomer on a job interview.
Not only was his face immaculately clean-cut, he wore a formal suit and even sported a simple, sleek, slicked-back hairstyle, unmistakably Stella's.
"Why do I feel like this soldier looks more like a Wall Street financial elite than you do?" Jack and Aubrey joked, then warmly welcomed Clay with open arms and exchanged a kiss on the cheek with
Stella. After a brief introduction, Jack greeted the receptionist with a familiar hello and asked for two visitor badges. Turning to lead them upstairs, he noticed the two armed guards standing by the front desk looking behind them in surprise, their sidearms drawn in unison.
At the same time, a familiar female voice sounded behind the crowd, and it was full of fear.
"Help!"
"Get down! Now!"
"Someone can save me!"
"Put your hands up!"
For a moment, screams and shouts were heard everywhere in the huge hall. Several armed guards quickly rushed over from the surroundings, pointing their guns at a panicked white woman.
"Alice?" Jack was shocked to see the beautiful technician in the combat center, single mother Alice Taylor, raising her hands and looking at them at a loss.
The reason why the guards in the hall were so nervous was that she was wearing a large metal collar around her neck with a bright red timer on it, and on her chest and back, there were two bags of red C4 explosives.
(End of this chapter)