Ocean City HQ

“All right, I’ll read a summary from your letter to the Department of the Navy.” He sipped from a frosted water glass and cleared his throat. “As part of a Navy SEAL Team for Middle East Operations, I learned from the insurgents and Middle East operatives that many terrorists, trained in Pakistan, Libya, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan have assignments in the United States. Over the past two years I’ve interrogated hundreds of terrorists in these countries, some as they lay mortally wounded. Most interviews were under ‘truth serum’ prompting, but our orders were to never document this tactic. I have made a list of such enemy operative sites in the United States. I want to seek out and destroy these people before they create multiple September 11th targets and casualties. I propose to help create such a force as we have for Middle East operations. I strongly feel there is a need for Navy SEAL protocol against these enemies to be the same in the U.S. as across any ocean. There must be such a security force in existence. I cannot in good conscience continue fighting outside my country when I know a terrorist cancer is spreading within the United States.” Spada looked up from the file. “Your list of potential terrorists and sites is also in your letter. Have I read it correctly?”

“Yes, sir.”

“You sent after action reports in via your CO, CDR Wiley, about this. Did CDR Wiley tell you he would pass the information on to higher authorities?”

“He told me he would.” Dakin shifted in the chair. “I told him if he didn’t, I’d do it on my own sir.”

“You feel that strongly about this? You really believe such terrorist infiltration in the US really exists?” Spada looked right and left at the panel members.

“Yes, I do and I cannot in good conscience run tactical missions in the Middle East when my country is being directly affected, and I do nothing about it, sir.”

“What kind of solution would you propose for us, LCDR Dakin?”

“A clandestine Navy SEAL activity within our country, sir.”

“Wouldn’t you think our government would already be focusing on such an action? Perhaps the CIA or FBI?”

“I’m sure our national security is being scrutinized but I’ve identified a list of many sleeper terrorist cells in key cities. I think I’ve also identified a time table for their targets, sir.” Dakin stood up. “Dammit, these jihads have to be dealt with Navy SEAL-style, sir.”

Spada waved his hands palms down for Dakin to take his seat. “Would you resign from the SEALs to take such a change in occupation?”

“It wouldn’t be a change in occupation, sir–only a change in venue.” Dakin’s voice became louder with his last three answers. “I beg the boards’ pardon. I don’t mean to shout, sir.”

Spada sat back in his chair. “Sometimes, we have to raise our voices to be heard, Dakin.” He gulped his ice water. “You’ve been heard. We–the Department of the Navy and all the security agencies–have been listening. You’re looking at the SEAL Special Ops Domestic Insurgent Force-SODIF.”

Dakin’s pulse quickened. “Sir?”

“You’re not the only one who’s been in the trenches with open eyes, Dakin. Before you do something stupid like resigning your commission and becoming a civilian vigilante, we want to ask you directly–would you do what you do in your Middle East SEAL commando operations but do it in the United States? In many cases it would involve extreme sanction.”