A little after 10 a.m., a C-130 transport plane landed at a military base on the outskirts of Mexico City, the country's largest city and capital. Leading the group down the aircraft's rear ramp was Jason Hayes, followed by a mix of plain-clothed SEAL team members, logistical support personnel, and two intelligence officers serving as liaisons from the CIA and FBI—Mandy Ellis and Jack.
Of course, the dog, Cerberus, was among them.
Mexico City, with its temperate grassland climate and location in a valley on the central southern plateau, enjoys a comfortable year-round temperature of 18–20°C, similar to Kunming, China, often called the "City of Eternal Spring." June to October marks the rainy season, and the plane had just landed after a brief shower. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, casting a golden hue over everything.
Jack adjusted his polarized sunglasses and couldn't help but notice two armored pickup trucks mounted with machine guns nearby—vehicles that hadn't left a positive impression on him during his last visit.
The air carried a peculiar mix of scents: damp earth from evaporating rain, the burnt rubber of airplane tires, the sharp tang of engine oil, and other unidentifiable odors that stung the nostrils.
Walking toward them was a striking Latina in her thirties with a curvy figure emphasized by her tactical vest and body armor plates. Her slightly messy black hair fell to her shoulders, and she wore sunglasses. Her long-sleeved shirt and the faint bulge of her body armor hinted at a rugged and functional aesthetic.
"Everyone, this is Rita Alfaro, my liaison at Mexico's intelligence agency. She'll be coordinating our communication with the Mexican side," Mandy introduced.
"Bienvenidos," Rita greeted them in Spanish before switching to fluent English. "On behalf of CISEN (the Mexican Investigative and Security Center), welcome. I hope we can work well together."
After the introductions, Jason couldn't hold back a question. "Is all this really necessary? I thought this operation was supposed to be low-profile." The heavy military presence clearly puzzled him. Aside from the armed pickups, two Humvees and two Suburbans intended for their transport were also parked nearby.
Rita removed her sunglasses and glanced at the vehicles in question. "We want to minimize any unexpected incidents. I suggest you bring your weapons before we leave."
The SEALs exchanged looks, feeling as though they had been deployed to Afghanistan or Syria again.
"If you knew what I experienced here last time, you wouldn't look so surprised," Jack said, eyeing the armored pickups.
The weapons crates, freshly unloaded from the cargo hold, were reopened. Jack donned body armor with inserted plates and retrieved a short-barreled HK416D assault rifle.
While regular SEALs often had to buy custom gear out of pocket, SEAL Team Six members like Team B were provided top-notch equipment, including the $65,000 GPNVG-18 quad-lens night vision goggles—standard issue for each team member. As a full participant in the operation, Jack enjoyed similar perks. His HK416D came decked out with a Unity Tactical Micro Fusion Hub 2 kit, an EOTECH EXPS-3 holographic sight, an AN/PEQ-15 laser/illuminator, a Magpul RVG vertical grip, and a Surefire SOCOM 2 suppressor.
Though not all gear was necessary at the moment, each SEAL armed themselves with short-barreled HK416Ds and spare magazines before boarding the vehicles. The logistics team, tasked with transporting additional gear and a mobile command center, would follow in a truck laden with hundreds of crates.
As the convoy prepared to leave, Ray Perry, sitting in the Suburban, commented dryly, "Broad daylight in one of the world's largest cities, and they're seriously worried about ambushes. Why does this feel off to me?"
Jason was about to respond when Jack and Rita began arguing nearby.
"No, no, no. Get those pickup trucks out of the lead position. One Humvee at the front and one at the rear will suffice," Jack insisted.
"What's the issue?" Jason asked, stepping closer.
Jack explained curtly, "Those armored pickups are federal police vehicles. Aside from the two Humvees, which belong to the Mexican Navy Marines, we don't need the others involved."
"Is that a problem?" Jason turned to Mandy Ellis, the CIA intelligence officer.
Mandy, clearly aware of something, hesitated. "Let's just say I'll explain later." She pulled Rita aside, whispered something, and returned with the Mexican officer's agreement. Rita promptly dismissed the armed pickups with a few sharp orders in Spanish.
Mexico City is not a single city but a sprawling urban area covering 1,525 square kilometers, encompassing the main city and 17 surrounding towns. Its population exceeds 20 million. Once the convoy began moving south, they found themselves bouncing along potholed asphalt roads on the city's outskirts.
Rita sat in the front passenger seat of the Suburban, while a Navy Marine Lieutenant named Lopez drove. Jack, Jason, and a few other team members squeezed into the back two rows. Mandy, Major Eric Blackburn, and the rest of the team followed in another vehicle.
Jason broke the silence. "So, care to explain what that argument earlier was about?" he asked casually, looking out the window.
Jack leaned forward. "In my experience, the moment we set foot here, this so-called covert operation ceased to be a secret. Cartel informants are everywhere, even in the supposedly impenetrable Navy Marines."
"Of course, no offense, Lieutenant Lopez," Jack added quickly. The officer merely shrugged in response.
Rita turned from the front seat, her expression grave. She wasn't offended by Jack's bluntness.
"It's hard to refute Agent Tavoller's point. This country's police forces—federal and local—are riddled with cartel informants, and the federal government isn't much better. However, every Marine involved in this operation was personally selected by Colonel Martinez. I trust him, so I trust them."
"And should we trust you?" Clay Spenser asked, poking his head forward from the back row.
"Better not," Rita replied with a sly smile, evidently preferring bearded young men to clean-shaven types like Jack.
Sonny Quinn adjusted the HK416 resting between his legs and drawled, "Can I just say that every word of this conversation makes me uncomfortable?"
"Get used to it," Jack said, tapping the window with his knuckle and nodding outside.
The group turned to see a large propaganda mural flash by—a poster that resembled a political ad. But they all recognized the face: Andrés Doza, their target.
"These people worship cartel leaders like idols?" Sonny said, incredulous.
"Doza builds schools, hospitals, renovates slums, and provides services that the government fails to deliver. Many people benefit from his generosity," Lopez replied, his expression complex.
"Buying hearts and minds," Jason scoffed dismissively.
------------------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get early access to chapters by joining my Patre@n!
Find me at: patre@n*com/Mutter
You can read each novel for $5 or get them all for just $15.
Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]