At the same time, Owen and the SEAL Team had already geared up at the nearest naval base and were en route to Keyes Island via helicopter.
Three kilometers offshore, two massive CH-47 Chinook helicopters hovered over the sea. To prevent their rotor noise from giving away their approach, they maintained a safe distance.
With a sharp "Go!" from Jack Bauer, the ropes were cut.
Two Zodiac F-470 inflatable boats dropped into the water, rapidly self-inflating. Within moments, they were fully deployed.
One by one, the SEAL operatives jumped into the ocean, then swam to the boats and climbed aboard.
Owen and Jack followed, boarding their respective vessels.
As the helicopters withdrew, silence returned.
Only the soft splash of paddles against the water could be heard.
Twenty minutes later.
The boats reached the shore.
In the darkness, 24 SEALs silently waded onto land.
This landing site had been carefully selected using satellite reconnaissance—there were no enemy patrols in this sector, ensuring a safe approach.
Using the cover of night and the sound of crashing waves, the team moved undetected toward their target.
From a distance, they could see firelight—the terrorist encampment.
The Red Front militants had only temporarily occupied the island, meaning their defenses weren't heavily fortified.
Jack didn't need to micromanage—each fireteam had its own leader.
He simply coordinated the overall operation.
As they advanced, the green-tinted world of their AN/PVS-15 night vision goggles came to life.
This high-end military-grade NVG was standard issue for U.S. Special Forces—capable of infrared illumination, adjustable interpupillary distance, and even underwater use.
---
A whisper came over the comms.
"Snipers in position."
Through the night vision lenses, two enemy guards were visible at the four o'clock and seven o'clock positions.
One of them was even smoking a cigarette, completely unaware of the danger lurking just meters away.
"Three… two… one…"
Thup. Thup.
Both guards collapsed instantly.
Silenced rounds, no muzzle flash.
Their bodies hit the ground, unnoticed by anyone.
The first line of defense was breached.
SEAL operatives moved swiftly, covering one another as they advanced deeper into the camp.
---
A voice crackled over the radio.
"We've detected frequency interference. Communications will be disrupted inside the jammed zone."
"Hold position. Find cover. Locate the jammer."
Jack quickly assessed the situation.
They were already close enough to monitor the campfire area.
Pushing further could disrupt team communications, creating more risk than reward.
Jack and Owen remained at the rear—a standard practice.
Neither of them were combat specialists. If things got so bad that they had to fight, that would mean SEAL Team 4 had been wiped out—and at that point, their presence wouldn't make a difference.
Through the NVG scope, Owen spotted Salim and Ethan Hunt.
Ethan was bound, his hands tied behind his back—his cover had been blown.
Salim was speaking to him, gloating.
---
"Possible jammer located—five o'clock position."
Owen turned his gaze toward the target.
It was a half-refrigerator-sized device, surrounded by steel plating.
"Can a sniper round penetrate the steel?"
"Unknown. Thickness is unclear. We can try…"
---
"Target confirmed! Firelight area, six o'clock direction—three confirmed nuclear warheads. Fourth one is still missing."
Owen immediately focused on the location.
On a table, an open crate revealed a massive Soviet warhead, its red star insignia unmistakable.
Beside it, two more identical crates—almost certainly housing more nukes.
But where was the fourth?
Before Owen could think further, Jack issued an order:
"Do not engage until we locate the fourth nuke. Keep searching."
The SEALs combed through the camp, looking for any sign of the missing warhead.
But even after several minutes of surveillance, nothing turned up.
---
A tense whisper came over the radio.
"Enemy movement increasing—should we engage?"
Owen looked back toward the firelight.
At some point, Salim had climbed atop an SUV, addressing his militants with a booming voice.
A woman stood beside him, filming with a video camera.
The crowd below was growing more agitated.
Jack's voice came through the radio.
"If things spiral out of control, engage at your own discretion."
Jack knew his limits.
He wasn't a special forces commander—so he delegated firing authority to each SEAL fireteam leader.
Then, he addressed the snipers.
"Snipers Two and Three—prioritize targets near the nukes."
"Understood."
"Sniper One—protect the CIA operative. Try to assist his escape."
"Understood."
"Sniper Four—focus on Salim."
"Locked on target."
"If possible, disable the jammer. If it works, we restore comms."
"Roger that."
The tension skyrocketed.
Each sniper had their target in sight—finger resting on the trigger, awaiting the order.
Salim continued his fiery speech, while Juno filmed from multiple angles.
Jack's earpiece suddenly buzzed.
"Jack, satellite detected a helicopter taking off from Keyes Island! Orders?"
Jack immediately realized what it meant.
"Nina! Forget Keyes Island—track the helicopter! The fourth nuke is likely onboard!"
"Understood!"
---
Inside the camp.
Standing atop the SUV, Salim's speech intensified.
"The Americans slaughter our women and children! They bomb our cities! They dare to call us terrorists?"
The crowd roared in agreement.
"But now, we have the power of Allah to strike back!
Today, in the name of Red Jihad, we issue a final warning to the evil United States—
Withdraw from the Persian Gulf immediately, and never return!
Or else, we will cleanse an American city every week in blood—until our demands are met!"
The militants cheered.
"To prove our power, we will detonate a nuclear warhead on this uninhabited island as a demonstration!
And this man…"
Salim gestured toward Ethan Hunt.
"…will be the first American to face judgment!"
The crowd roared.
Owen's eyes widened as Salim's men dragged Ethan toward a massive pit.
Then, with a savage kick, they sent Ethan tumbling inside.
Meanwhile, Salim turned and began operating the nuclear warhead.
Owen's heart pounded.
"They're burying Ethan alive—no, they're burying him WITH THE NUKE!"
Jack's voice snapped over the radio.
"OPEN FIRE!!!"
_________________________
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