"Alright"
Owen finally felt like this Ferede was a real person rather than just a name on a résumé.
"Then let me ask you all officially—do we agree to bring Bartosz Ferede into the main team as Swagg's sniper spotter?"
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"No objection."
…
All four members of the main team voiced their support. Owen concluded, "I've got no objections either. Ferede is approved for the main team, with a three-month probation. Ghost, make sure to inform him later."
"Got it."
With Ferede's case settled, Owen resumed flipping through the files. He remembered Swagg had mentioned two people that day. Soon, another résumé with a red circle caught his eye.
"Night Owl" Jesse Kasibayev—former 75th Ranger Regiment, qualified armorer and support gunner. Born into a military family, both parents served in the Army. He participated in Operation Just Cause in Panama and Operation Desert Storm. After retiring, he worked as a mercenary on anti-piracy escort missions off the coast of Somalia.
Technically, the Rangers were just elite infantry, not a special forces unit per se, but that wasn't a problem. If the team had marked his résumé with a red circle, Owen trusted they had their reasons.
Speaking of the Rangers, Owen suddenly thought of Bryan and his old buddies. They weren't just CIA—they were also former Rangers. Whenever they got drunk, they'd show off their Ranger tattoos and shout their mottos.
Kasibayev's training record showed only standard Army and Ranger training—specifically, the "Three-Dimensional Training" of the Rangers. Still, the man seemed like a seasoned vet. Owen glanced at his personal info—he was a bit older, 35, and a father of three. Definitely an experienced soldier.
Most Omega members were around 30. His age was a bit high. Owen looked around, waiting for someone to explain. The résumé didn't list a recommender, meaning he had no personal connections. That raised a red flag—Omega's main team valued chemistry above all. A team member who didn't fit in could jeopardize trust and, in turn, performance in the field.
"This one was a unanimous decision," Ghost said. "Night Owl is currently the leader of Team B. He's got extensive experience. I reached out to guys from his former units—they all spoke highly of him. Solid military skills, dependable, and deeply responsible. During one deployment, he risked his life under heavy fire to save three of his squadmates."
Owen immediately understood. Real combat isn't like the movies. Risking your life to pull someone out of enemy fire—that's the kind of bond forged in blood.
"Alright. Anyone here have objections to bringing him in?"
Everyone shook their heads. Owen nodded again. "Same probation—three months. Simon…"
Owen looked at Simon and tilted his chin. Simon nodded. "Got it."
With the files done, the main team gained two new members, balancing personnel and firepower more effectively.
Seeing the official business wrapped up, Owen clapped his hands. "Sorry, folks. Monica and I have some personal news to share as well..."
Monica's expression dimmed slightly, and Owen, understanding she felt a bit uneasy, spoke up for her: "As you've all heard, Monica is pregnant. We've decided to keep the baby, which means… she can't stay on the team anymore. We've talked about it, and she's planning to return to Los Angeles for a while."
Everyone on the former Quick Response Team already knew the three of them—Owen, Monica, and Heartbeat—were from L.A. That wasn't news.
Still, it stung a little. Just as two new members were coming in, an old teammate was leaving. It left a bittersweet note. But pregnancy was a joyful thing—it meant new life. Despite the sadness, everyone offered their heartfelt congratulations.
"When are you leaving? We'll come see you off."
Team members came up one by one to hug Monica.
"Not sure yet—probably sometime soon. I'll let you all know," she replied, not putting on any airs. Her relationship with the rest of the team was just like the bonds she had with her old FBI SWAT unit—built on trust forged through countless life-or-death situations. No matter where she was, she'd come running if her team needed her. And that went both ways—for her and for everyone else.
Later that morning, the official announcement went out: Kasibayev and Ferede were transferred into the Omega main team. With their consent, their previous positions as team leaders in the subordinate units were reassigned to others.
The two men were formally introduced to the main team. Of course, everyone already knew each other from joint training exercises. Owen was the only one they hadn't met directly.
Owen, as Omega's top commander—second only to Jack Bauer—was already known to them. When he met the two in person for the first time, Kasibayev stood out. He was a burly man, perfectly built for the support role. His arms were packed with muscle, and his face was hidden behind a thick beard. He was surprisingly talkative. Owen noticed tattoos on both his arms—portraits of three children.
Seeing Owen's gaze, Kasibayev rolled up his sleeves to show them off more clearly, a proud smile on his face. "My kids. Two girls, one boy."
"You're a lucky man. I'm about to become a father too..."
Owen felt a rare connection. Before Monica's pregnancy, he never used to think about these things. But now, he couldn't help picturing the baby growing inside her, even though they didn't know yet whether it was a boy or a girl.
"Pleasure to meet you"
Ferede spoke up first when Owen turned toward him. He was young—not handsome, but rugged and masculine. Until now, the main team had only had one sniper—Swagg. Now, they finally had a second. Though Ferede would mostly serve as Swagg's spotter, a good spotter was already a trained sniper. If the situation demanded, they could switch roles instantly.
As for his reputation as a chatterbox—Owen hadn't noticed it yet. Ferede clearly wasn't stupid enough to show that off on day one.
As noon approached, the team decided to go out for lunch to mark the occasion. With two new members joining and one old friend preparing to leave, it felt appropriate to celebrate the transition. It was the first time since the old Quick Response Team became Omega's main team that new blood had been added.
Everyone had different tastes, but they settled on Italian food—always a crowd-pleaser in the U.S. They even invited Becky along.
That, of course, made Ferede's day.
______
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