Chapter 20
Jason King stood at the head of the conference table, hands braced on the polished surface, and studied the faces of the people who would help him take down Darkwater.
The room was deep inside Guardian's mountain complex in Colorado. Secure, shielded, and built to withstand everything from electromagnetic pulses to a direct assault. The walls were lined with screens showing global feeds, tactical maps, and real-time data streams that never stopped moving.
This was the heart of Guardian Security.
And they were about to execute one of the most unique operations in the company's history.
Gabby Alexander sat to his left. The woman was sharp and focused. David Alexander's eldest daughter had her father's strategic mind and her mother's steel spine. She'd been running Guardian's legal and compliance division for three years and had proven herself capable of making the hard calls.
Ronan Alexander sat beside her. Quieter than his sisters but no less competent. He'd been shadowing Jacob King, learning how to command Guardian's tactical teams. The transition of leadership was coming. Jason could see it, and Ronan was ready.
Charley Alexander sat across from them. The youngest of David's children but perhaps the sharpest. She ran Guardian's intelligence and black door operations along with her husband, a semi-retired assassin, code name Smoke, with a precision that astounded everyone who knew Charley.
From a woman with impulse control issues to one of the best minds on the executive council, Charley had grown the most.
Jacob King occupied the chair to Jason's right.
His brother. Guardian's Director of Tactical Operations.
The man who'd built Guardian's military-style teams into one of the most effective private security forces in the world. If they were going to take an offshore platform in international waters, Jacob’s teams would make it happen.
His brother Jared sat at the far end of the table.
A damn sharp investigator who was thrust into the position of being the face of Guardian years ago.
The man spent twenty years building relationships with law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and the media.
When this operation went public, Jared would control the narrative.
And on the main screen, cloaked in shadow with his voice distorted beyond recognition, was Max.
Known only as a specialist. Only Jason and David Alexander knew his real identity.
No one in this room had met the asset before.
Normally, Jewell or Con would run tactical comms, but this mission needed his specialist’s expertise and knowledge of the facility.
Jason straightened. "Let's begin. We have a briefing with POTUS in six hours. I need everyone aligned on objectives, tactics, and consequences before we video call with the Oval Office."
Heads nodded around the table.
Jason activated the main display, and a three-dimensional rendering of the Darkwater platform appeared, rotating slowly.
“Steel and glass rising from the ocean. Eight levels. Multiple sections. Two hundred forty personnel,” Jason shared.
"Darkwater Security presents itself as a legitimate maritime intelligence platform.
Private sector. International waters. Contracts with corporations and governments for data analysis and threat assessment. "
"But that's not what they really are," Gabby said.
"No." Jason pulled up a secondary display. “Data streams. Hidden architecture. The gates, discovered by Maggie Brooks, one of Darkwater’s own. Darkwater is an intelligence-gathering operation. Corporate espionage. Government infiltration. Through legitimate systems built at Darkwater’s request, the owner and a select few have built backdoors into financial systems, communications networks, and classified databases across multiple countries. "
Charley leaned forward. "And let me guess, they're selling that access."
"To the highest bidder," Jason confirmed. "Our asset has been inside their systems along with Ms. Brooks, one of the lead analysts. Together, they’ve traced transactions, identified specific gates that have been installed after the system was powered on, and have been able to identify some of the information that’s been taken from the system. They’ve also identified clients, both legal and illegal, and mapped the entire operation. "
The shadowed figure on the screen spoke, his voice distorted but clear.
"Darkwater has been funneling intelligence to several third-world nations with strong criminal and radical extremist ties.
Financial data. Military communications.
Strategic infrastructure vulnerabilities.
The information is destabilizing the region.
If it continues, we're looking at a multi-country conflict. "
Silence settled over the room.
"That's what accelerated this," Jason said. "Not just the attempted murder of the analyst on the platform.”
“Say what?” Charley asked.
“The analyst we’re working with was pushed off the rig. She was dangling by a hope and a prayer before she was rescued. We have all the information to bring the people who ordered it and the perpetrator to justice,” Jason said.
“Additionally, Adrian Kestrel, the CEO of Darkwater, has ordered the killing of a security specialist who was asking hard questions. We believe he met his fate the same way, only the guy was Special Forces, so we believe Jonah Pike, the director of strategic intelligence, also special forces, was the person who took him out.” Max provided further information from the shadows.
Jason nodded. “So, this isn’t just the corporate crimes or murder and attempted murder. This has become a matter of international security. Darkwater is already selling information to small countries, and they can easily escalate to superpowers."
"Does POTUS know anything yet?" Ronan asked.
"Yes, he’s had an initial brief, and he’ll know our plan of action in six hours," Jason replied. "But we needed to have our plan locked and loaded before we brief him. Because once he knows, the clock starts. And we don't have time to waste."
Jacob spoke up, his voice calm and measured. "Walk me through the tactical situation. What are we dealing with?"
Jason gestured to Max, and the display shifted. Platform schematics appeared. Entry points. Security stations. Personnel distribution.
"Darkwater has approximately forty security personnel on site," Max said.
"Most are former military or law enforcement.
Competent but not elite. They're trained for perimeter defense and emergency response.
Not tactical assault. Our asset in the facility has met with a security member who has informed him of an internal rift in the security forces at the facility.
People are questioning events, and no logical answers have been given. "
"Do they have heavy weapons?" Jacob asked.
"Standard sidearms. Some shotguns. No private weapons.
No explosives." Max highlighted several sections.
"However, the platform's structure creates challenges.
Eight levels. Multiple choke points. Limited entry and exit routes.
If those who are loyal to the executive level decide to resist, they can make it costly. "
Ronan studied the schematic. "What's our advantage? Who’s our asset?"
The person concealed on the screen continued, “Reece King. He’s on the platform undercover.
He thwarted the murder attempt against the lead analyst and has made contact with members of the security forces on Darkwater who have started to question everything.
As I said, not all are loyal to Darkwater.
"We still believe the element of surprise is on our side," Max continued.
"And, of course, control. We have access to every system on that platform.
Cameras. Locks. Communications. Environmental controls.
When Guardian arrives, we can seal sections, cut power, and disable elevators. We can make the platform work for us."
“We?” Charley asked.
“In the royal sense.” Jason dismissed her question. That was for another place and time. When he retired, he’d pass on all of his secrets. Until then, these specialists were off limits.
"What about radar?" Jacob asked. "How do we get close without being detected?"
"I'll handle that," Max said. "I can suppress their radar systems. Make inbound vessels invisible. By the time they realize something's wrong, Guardian will already be inside."
Jason pulled up another display. "We're proposing an eight-team insertion. Forty operators total. Combined approach."
Jacob nodded, already thinking through the logistics. "First wave?"
"Submersibles and supply vessels," Jason said. "Two submersibles carrying primary assault teams. They dock at the lower ports. Silent. Undetectable. Simultaneously, a supply vessel flagged as scheduled maintenance approaches from the northeast. She's carrying two more teams."
"Second wave?" Ronan asked, leaning forward.
"RHIBs. Fast insertion once the first wave has established beachheads. Four more teams hitting multiple entry points simultaneously."
"And extraction?" Jacob pressed.
"Helicopters. Once the platform is secured, we bring in medical and support personnel. Evacuate non-combatants. Transport prisoners and sort this mess out."
Gabby spoke up. "What about the weather?"
"That's a concern," Jacob admitted. "We're looking at a narrow window tomorrow night. Sea state is acceptable. Winds are manageable. But if we wait longer, sea conditions deteriorate."
"So, we go tonight," Jason said. "Or we don't go at all."
Gabby pulled up her tablet. "Legal considerations. We're operating in international waters under federal authority. POTUS will need to issue executive authorization. The Attorney General will need to sign off. We'll need coordination with Coast Guard, FBI, and likely State Department."
"Can we get that in time?" Ronan asked.