"With all due respect, Mr. President, this so-called Quick Reaction Team is just another SEAL Team Six. It's a waste of resources..."
The Secretary of Defense, being a military man, spoke bluntly. Owen hadn't expected President Palmer to bestow such a grand gift on the Quick Reaction Team, so he wasn't prepared to respond.
But President Palmer answered directly, "Yes, Mr. Secretary, that's exactly the intent. Omega Team is meant to be CTU's SEAL Team Six. They must be just as lethal—but with a key difference.
SEAL Team Six is a special operations force designed for combat in extreme environments, a national blade prepared for any battlefield. Omega, on the other hand, while also requiring elite combat skills, is focused solely on counterterrorism.
I want every member of Omega not only to be an exceptional warrior but also a counterterrorism expert and operative. They must be familiar with profiles of terrorists from around the world, understand every tactic used in terrorist attacks, know how to analyze clues from the smallest details, and be able to disguise themselves to gather intelligence. In short, they must be a fusion of expert, agent, and fighter.
The war on terror has already begun. America is now at war—but this war is unlike any conventional one. A terrorist battlefield can appear anywhere. What we need is a specialized team capable of making the best decisions in the shortest amount of time. They will be America's banner in the global fight against terrorism."
The President's explanation left the Secretary of Defense with no good rebuttal. While special forces were indeed powerful, Palmer's point was valid—counterterrorism was only one of their many roles. They were elite fighters, but not necessarily experts in terrorism. Omega would be.
In the past, special forces missions often relied on local agents who were more familiar with terrorist groups. If those agents died or went missing, the soldiers' improvisation could lead to mistakes or jeopardize follow-up plans. Omega's deep expertise would avoid that.
With the military's objections silenced, the rest of the room voiced agreement. The future of the Quick Reaction Team was decided. After the meeting, Owen and Jack drove back to CTU. Palmer's back-to-back gifts to CTU meant the two had their hands full.
Back at CTU, Jack was immediately pulled away for administrative work. He had to handle CTU operations and prepare a pile of documentation for the new Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Owen headed to the firing range. The team wasn't in their usual workspace—likely they were training.
Sure enough, he found them at the range. He clapped his hands to get their attention and called for a meeting. A few minutes later, all five members of the Quick Reaction Team gathered in the conference room.
Owen didn't beat around the bush. He told them exactly what had just been finalized at the White House: "Guys, the President has officially renamed the Quick Reaction Team to Omega Team. We now have our own budget. The newly established Office of the Director of National Intelligence will support us unconditionally. We'll also have our own intel analysis unit, a reserve team, and even an R&D wing for equipment."
He answered all their questions in detail. The President had high expectations for Omega. It was an offensive unit—unlike SWAT or local law enforcement, who typically responded reactively. Omega would have authority to launch preemptive strikes if a threat was deemed imminent, even if no attack had yet occurred.
"Now, regarding the reserve team and our current squad composition—any suggestions?"
Owen opened the floor. The reserve team would serve to fill in for injured or lost members.
"I think we need an intelligence officer," Ghost spoke first. With ODNI's full support, they'd be flooded with intel. Previously, that had been filtered for them by Janie, but now that they were independent, relying on CTU for that wasn't appropriate.
Owen had already thought about it. The President had authorized them to form their own intel unit and pull personnel from any agency. His first choice was Nicky—"Silly Sweetheart." He used to feel that she was overqualified for the Quick Reaction Team, but Omega's upgraded status changed everything.
"As for our intel officer," Owen said, "I've already got someone in mind. Nikki. She previously supported Tier Three and is top-tier in both intel analysis and cyber operations. She's perfect to lead the new unit. I'll contact her soon."
Everyone nodded—she had collaborated with them during the White House crisis, after all. Then Swagger chimed in: "Owen, you're the team leader and can fill any role. Ghost is deputy and assault, Monica is also assault, Heartbeat handles breaching and cover, and I'm the sniper. I think we need a heavy weapons specialist."
Seeing others nod, Owen agreed. A machine gunner wasn't essential—but having one was definitely an asset.
"I'm on board," Owen said. "There are no limits on our structure, but we're still a precision team—so we can't be too large. If anyone has good candidates, feel free to recommend them. Preferably Tier 1, and they must be unanimously approved before joining."
By "Tier 1," Owen meant elite special forces caliber. Delta and SEAL Team Six were Tier 1. Other SEAL units were considered Tier 2—still special forces, but not at the same level.
The others agreed. Combat skill was essential, but cohesion was even more important. Every member had to trust the others with their lives.
At that moment, Monica raised her hand. "What about a military working dog?"
A dog?
Owen hadn't considered it, but Ghost immediately understood. "Dogs are more agile than people. Properly trained, they're invaluable for recon in tight spaces. Every SEAL team has one. They wear cameras to assist the squad with scouting. Some can even carry C4 or trigger mines."
Ghost's experience showed—he'd been with the SAS and had seen it all. Owen didn't even know SEAL teams routinely used dogs.
He thought about it for a moment, then made the call. "It's worth a try. Let's find the right dog and see. If it checks out, it'll be an official team member—and like everyone else, will need unanimous approval to join."
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