C23 The Most Wanted Criminal

The operation to nab down the most wanted criminal drug lord on the topmost list of the undercover troop of the Military had repeatedly been out of their reach. Even after countless undercover operations to track him down, all those measures had proven fruitless with a limited chance of survival of the troops sent.

Therefore, after a thorough plan and insight into all the information gathered so far about this ruthless druglord who seemed to have brought the FBI to its knees in all these years, with all the futile missions to nab him.

The new special team was introduced as the Internal Bureau of Investigation (IBI), with selected military and trained undercover specialists from all over different States.

This time around, the FBI in cooperation with the Military has hereby put together the newest best troop from amongst its fittest and most trusted undercover agents of all time to join this special team.

The legendary undercover military agent... Steven Sanders, who so far had never lost to an enemy in his determination to hunt them down with all his years of experience and expertise on his job, was amongst the selected part of the new team.

As well as those trustworthy agents who have already been known for their expertise and excellent missions they have successfully undertaken and conquered with their enemies downfall so far.

This final mission was organized by the currently appointed new government, created to finally bring a permanent closure to its longest unresolved case. To bring down the downfall of the notorious tyrant and most wanted criminal ever known in the records of the FBI and the Military...Tylon Tycoon.

As a legend in the drug world, Tylon Tycoon, the most dangerous drug cartel dealer, suddenly went missing for the past ten years and no news was ever heard of whether he was alive or dead.

For the past decade, the last team to go on that death trap mission to track him were reported to be annihilated to the last one of them. And suddenly, Tylon Tycoon went missing during a crossfire with the troop, so he was never apprehended.

Yet, he had not been heard of since that unfaithful incident.

Recently, a formal member of the Military undercover team, Spruce Simon alias SS, was amongst the most efficient and trusted agents who was part of the final troop sent to infiltrate Tylon Tycoon's hideout. But during the mission, Simon was reportedly missing in action before he was later reported dead, since there was no proof of a body or any link to a hostage situation after further investigation.

However, It seemed Spruce Simon went undercover and dedicated his services as a part of the cartel to finish off the mission he couldn't finish after he got wounded in the crossfire, then later saved and was bedridden for five years.

He had achieved the impossible task when he finally created the foundation of trust within the criminal syndicate in merely another five years of being an undercover agent, who went by the nickname Snake in the Cartel.

After ten years of being reported missing, Spruce Simon had found the safest channel to deliver a coded disturbing intel about the Cartel to the Military.

Meanwhile, this sudden intel placed the entire IBI in a tight spot since the government was on high alert and seemed interested in this particular case which was why the IBI special team was formed.

This intel brought tension to the team when the FBI identified the druglord behind this particular shipment operation to be Tylon Tycoon.

"Tylon Tycoon is alive?" The formal head of the operation behind Tylon's arrest all these years Commander Smith, uttered when he was invited by the new head of the Military...General Draco Ray, questions him about his encounter with the drug lord so far.

"Commander Smith, that news had already been confirmed to be true. The last troop you sent on the mission had a survivor who sent intel about an operation that was currently underway." General Draco replied.

"After being silent for ten years, what could trigger this sudden comeback?" Commander Smith wondered audibly. Even though he looked quite restless about the mention of that survivor.

"Are you certain it was indeed Tylon? or maybe an imposter taking up Tylon's name for his operation." Commander Smith was still not convinced about the news.

"You know no one would dare use Tylon's name or connections for trade since his death wasn't yet confirmed. The Underworld fear him immensely for that to happen." Draco further went on to convince the surprised Commander.

"In any case, I think we might be missing some detail in all this. It's quite unusual. A criminal wouldn't just stop his illegal act for ten years and resume suddenly out of nowhere, especially a criminal like Tylon. This simply doesn't make sense otherwise." Commander smith reasoned after a few minutes of silence and Draco raised an eyebrow at his statement.

"For now, let's intercede on this shipment before we later investigate everything from the beginning. There are surely potholes to be filled in your investigation so far Commander." Draco voiced his intuition which made Commander Smith stiffen before he excused himself to leave.

It came as a miracle concerning how they have never heard or seen Tylon's movements for the past ten years. Even some agents and commissioners of the undercover agents have long presumed him dead. The rumours within the underworld reported that Tylon had died through crossfire at the hands of the last surviving agent who met his end after killing Tylon.

Tylon Tycoon was the cruelest and deadliest of all criminals they have ever dealt with. Till now, none could identify the face behind that name. He was like a shadow in action, all you see are movements without a face. But they were few amongst Tylon's trusted dealers who knew what he looked like and who he really was.

At the location where the new Special team had been camped for the past six days to track down the underwater shipment was Steven Sanders, the newly appointed captain of the special team leading this operation.

Thanks to Spruce Simon's insights, they have come this far from the intel he sent to the Military. An intel that was decoded after hours of cracking down to reveal a dangerous ongoing operation about the druglord leader, and the biggest shipping goods of the deadliest weapons into the country.

The shocking aspect of the shipment was that, It was about to take place through a route unknown to anyone except the goods owner and the captain of the ship. And the route they chose for their smuggling was underneath the country's oceans...An underwater ship.

Hence, It seemed quite impossible to track the route since there were many diversions in the ocean, especially since they have no detailed explanation about the route from the intel sent.

Meanwhile, for the past week, Military Divers were placed on all corners of the ocean to track down that underwater ship but there was no news so far.

And suddenly, the only link they try to track down and intervened through a plot, and directed their first witness to their camp to nab him seemed lost. He was now fighting for his life after the gunshot.

"Captain, we have scouted the entire area and they was no sight of any intruder. He must have fled after he shot the witness!" A member of the special team reported to Steven who stood outside the hospital tent.

"Sergeant, do you think the shooter was indeed an intruder?" Steven questioned calmly.

"Yes sir! nobody would dare go against your orders. And we all heard you when you said to hold our fire!" The Sergeant replied confidently.

"Really! Then how would an intruder invade our camp without any of us noticing? What was the use for tracking down a dangerous criminal when we can't even catch the criminal under our noses." Steven was trying to fight for composure but he just lost it and hissed.

"Sorry! sir! I...

"Return to your post now!" Steven ordered before he could finish his sentence.

Meanwhile, some of the comrades who trained with Spruce Simon were discussing his sudden appearance since he was reported to be alive.

Even though most of them were happy about Simon's survival, they were surprised he didn't even give up on his mission despite everything.

It all referred back to the last words Simon said during that last mission with him, which he was remembered by. It was said during the troops' funeral procession.

"It's okay if I die but I will surely make my death meaningful. Otherwise, I die for nothing!..." This was Simon's last comment in Camp before the Captain ordered them to infiltrate the criminals' hideout before the shootouts.

"He sure made his death meaningful now...This information he gathered and sent could have him killed, or maybe, he must have been killed by now if the criminal they were indeed dealing with was Tylon Tycoon." A lieutenant commented to his colleague.

"I don't think so... caught and tortured maybe, I am sure! Since they would want to get some information out of him." The colleague responded.

"Well, they would surely be lucky to get a response from a mountain than with a reputable Sergeant like Spruce Simon. That's quite impossible!

The colleagues who heard the lieutenant's statement laughed in humour.

Meanwhile, Captain Steven never left his position away from the tent since he gave the order to search for that shooter. He was worried about endangering the rest of his team if the traitor is not found sooner before the witness recovers, so he decided to set a trap.

The doctor later motioned Steven inside the tent to discuss the condition after the witness's surgery.

" I tried my best Captain but he went into coma. Sorry, sir!." Marshal apologize when he saw the intense look in Steven's eyes.

"How soon would he wake up from the coma?" Steven asked after a short silence.

"Approximately, a month or two but some patients exceed that." Marshal replied disappointedly.

"I need your help doctor. I want you to spread the word secretly that you managed to save the witness's life. And he would be awake by morning." Steven whispered as he came close to Marshal.

"Okay, Captain!" Marshal didn't need to ask the reason why, since he was aware of how his captain's every step he put in place to nab a criminal worked like magic.

Later, words went around secretly until they got to the ears of the shooter, which made him tense and worried through his expression. Steven spent the entire time searching for answers on the faces of every team member who heard the recovery of the witness and noticed lieutenant Adrian's expression falter from his reactions which arouse Steven's suspicion.

Around 5:00 am, Adrian switched his shift with his friend to scout the area along with the others. Then discreetly entered the hospital tent to finish off the witness.

Adrian reached out to take off the patient's oxygen mask when he felt a gun pointed at his back.

"Don't you dare move, Sergeant!.." Steven's icy voice stirred an unknown fear within Adrian and he lifted both hands in surrender.

"Handcuff him and tie him to a chair inside my tent...If he tries to escape, gun him down.! Traitors are the bad bricks in a building that leads to its collapse. They are the pollution to a country's downfall, and it needs to be uprooted from its roots." Steven's comments penetrated through Adrian head and rendered him numb as he was being dragged out of the tent.

The sole purpose of this mission with these undercover troops was to track down this underwater ship and also bring into the government's custody, all the people involved in this act of terrorism, including the deadliest criminal who has escaped the clutches of the FBI for far too long.

"The successful delivery of these smuggled weapons would create an enormous risk and create various acts of terrorism once it enters the wrong hands. You know that don't you?!" Steven sat face to face with Adrian to get a confession from him. He wanted to handle the situation as calmly as possible to prevent any repercussions later on. Steven knew there were other traitors and leaders involved, and that was why the president gave him full authority to track them down to the last person. And since he could hardly trust anyone he had to do everything discreetly and alone.

"Yeah, I do...Believe me, Captain, I was just following orders from the head." Adrian replied boldly showing no regret or remorse. "Like you, I am also following orders from above and it's confidential.

Steven nodded his head at Adrian's statement, he seemed like a hard nut to crack so he didn't want to waste his time.

"Okay, I won't ask you who ordered you, I only want to know the reason why you shot the witness. Do you know him?" Steven continued in a calm state.

"Yes! But I am not going to tell you!" Adrian spat out.

"We have been on the case for ten years and we have gathered all the information about Tylon. But suddenly, a new special team, a new record, and a military man who joined the army in an unqualified manner is chosen as a Captain of this mission. What did you think Steven, that I don't know the situation behind the reason why you joined the army?" Adrian concluded in contempt.

"I now know what all this is about, and I am guessing you are under Commander Smith's authority, since he was the only person who knew why I joined the army. Thank you for the answers. I learned everything I wanted to know from you. You can leave!" Steven unhandcuffed Adrian to return back to his post.

Everything was beginning to make sense now!

"One more thing, Sergeant Adrian. You are an honorable soldier. But well, since you said you know the reason why I joined the army, I am sure Commander Smith didn't tell you this. But I will tell you anyway, and leave it to you to decide how our mission goes from now on." Captain Steven stopped Adrian in his tracks as he moved to leave the tent.

Adrian turned curiously at what he said so Steven continued when he noticed that.

"I unknowingly became the reason Commander Smith was demoted from his General post years back, and he is using you to ruin me. He wants to make sure I don't succeed on this mission. But bear in mind, many lives are endangered every second we delay in stopping this shipment. I hope you will remember that the next time you decide to act on your resentments. You may leave now!

Adrian left without uttering a word even though what Steven said kept pondering inside his head and finally settled sensibly within his heart.

This time around, the signs of remorse were evident in his steps toward his post.