The Former Marine

The sultry atmosphere of a Middle Eastern afternoon filled the forward base where Derek Rogan and his MARSOC team waited. They had been called in for a last-minute covert operation, one of their most sensitive yet. The CIA, specifically the Special Activities Division (SAD), had requested their support.

CIA SAD was known for its highly classified missions, operating in the shadows and executing missions that often never saw the light of day. For Derek and his team, this meant they were entering unfamiliar territory, but MARSOC was used to adapting quickly, and Derek had complete confidence in his men.

As Derek was checking his rifle, he was approached by his direct commander, Captain Harris. "Rogan, the SAD agents have arrived. We will brief you in five minutes," he said, his expression serious.

"Understood, sir," Derek replied, exchanging a brief glance with his colleagues. Anxiety and curiosity were in the air, but everyone maintained their composure.

The atmosphere in the command tent was more tense than usual. Around the table sat Derek, his teammates, and four SAD agents, all of them grim-faced and visibly experienced. The CIA mission leader, a man named Kane with a neatly trimmed beard and cold eyes, was the first to speak.

"The mission is simple, but critical. Our target is a high-ranking member of a terrorist cell that is funding attacks in various parts of the world. He is hiding in a small village near the border, in an isolated compound. Our task is to capture him alive and obtain information on the cell's future operations," Kane began, pointing to a map with the location marked.

Derek and the others looked closely at the map, memorizing every detail of the terrain. The area was mountainous, with small winding trails leading to the compound. There would not be much natural cover, which meant they would need to be extremely precise in their approach.

"SAD will lead the initial infiltration," Kane continued. "We already have infiltrators in the village to give us the exact location of the target. We need you, MARSOC, to provide tactical support during the extraction. We expect heavy resistance from armed guards. We will take the target and get out before the local militias realize what's happening."

Derek nodded. "What's the time window?"

"We have a fifteen-minute window to infiltrate, capture, and extract," Kane replied, crossing his arms. "There will be no backup. We're on our own."

Mitchell, one of Derek's operators, leaned forward. "What about the evacuation? How are we going to get out?"

Kane looked directly at him. "We'll have a helicopter waiting three miles south of the compound. You need to make sure the escape route is secure until we get there."

Derek glanced at Captain Harris, who nodded in agreement. "Looks like we have a mission."

Hours later, night fell over the mountains, and complete silence reigned as Derek's team and the SAD agents moved through the shadows, wearing night vision goggles. The infiltration had been precise, without incident so far. As they approached the compound, Derek's heart pounded, but adrenaline kept him focused.

On the radio, Kane's voice came low. "Target identified. Moving to phase two."

Derek and his team positioned themselves strategically in the hills surrounding the compound, providing cover for the SAD team as they moved around the perimeter of the compound. Mitchell, positioned with a sniper rifle, watched closely for any suspicious movement.

"Derek, we have movement on the west side," Mitchell whispered over the radio. Derek adjusted his position and saw two guards patrolling the area with assault rifles. He knew that any alarm raised would compromise the entire mission.

"Wait for the signal," Derek replied.

Kane and his agents moved silently, like shadows. They made it to the compound's door undetected. Derek watched as one of the agents inserted an electronic tool into the lock, unlocking the door in a matter of seconds. The precision of the operation so far had been impeccable.

"Stand by," Kane said over the radio. "We're moving in."

Derek and his team remained alert, watching the perimeter. At any moment, they could be discovered. Time was of the essence.

Inside the compound, silence reigned. Derek wondered what the SAD team was doing. Probably neutralizing guards and closing in on the target. He was about to radio Kane when he heard the sound of muffled gunfire over the radio.

"Contact! Contact!" Kane's voice came suddenly, thick with tension.

"Damn," Derek muttered to himself, raising a hand to his team. "All hands on deck! This is going to get hot."

On the radio, the SAD team continued reporting. "Target neutralized, but we're facing heavy resistance! We need to get out now!"

"Damn, moving in to cover," Derek replied, ordering his team to move. They began to move down the hill quickly, closing in on the compound as gunfire echoed in the distance. The stealth infiltration had turned into a chaotic battle.

Derek and the MARSOC operators covered the CIA team's retreat, engaging in direct combat with the guards who were now emerging from all sides. Gunfire lit up the night, and rifle fire cut through the air. Derek, with military precision, picked off enemies as he advanced, ensuring that the SAD agents had an escape route.

"We're close to extraction!" Kane shouted over the radio.

Derek covered the flanks, making sure no one was left behind. When they reached the designated extraction point, the helicopter was waiting, its blades cutting through the night air with force. The SAD agents quickly boarded, while Derek and his men took turns ensuring that the perimeter was secure.

"All aboard!" Kane shouted.

Derek was the last to board, jumping into the helicopter as it began to lift off the ground. The compound fell away, the distant lights fading as they rose into the air.

Inside the helicopter, Kane looked at Derek, his face still etched with the intensity of the mission.

"Good job down there, Rogan. Without you, this would have been a disaster."

Derek, still catching his breath, nodded.

"It's part of the job. You guys did your part, too."

As the helicopter streaked through the sky toward the secure base, Derek looked out at his men, all exhausted but in one piece. Another mission accomplished. Another operation that would never make the headlines. In the world of covert operations, success was often measured by the silence that followed.

But Derek knew the true weight of his actions was felt somewhere in the shadows, where the decisions they made changed the course of events the public would never know. It was the price of living in the shadows. As they landed at the secure base, Kane stepped off first, turning to Derek once more.

"This won't be the last time we work together, Rogan. You can be sure of that."

Derek just smiled and shrugged.

"We'll be ready."

The CIA SAD disappeared into the darkness, just as they had arrived. For Derek and his team, it was just another day on the battlefield.