The Unit

THE UNIT: "SEEK AND DESTROY"

A Book by Patrick Andrews Based on the Hit CBS Series
Created by David Mamet

The five Unit operators walked at a slow but steady pace down the hall toward the Isolation Area. They were formed up as if they were consciously aware of their individual ranks and status, but the semi-formation was more instinctive than protocol for the professional soldiers. Sergeant Major Jonas Blane occupied the right front. The African-American was well-groomed and clean-shaven with an air of quiet dignity about him. On his immediate left, Master Sergeant Mack Gerhardt walked almost in step with him. Mack had a craggy handsomeness about him, looking soldierly even though he needed a shave. Staff Sergeant Bob Brown was a couple of paces behind the two senior NCOs. He was as martial as Mack, but had a more youthful appearance. Sergeants Charles “Carlito” Grey and Lance Matoskah brought up the rear.

The group's apparel was of the most laid-back civilian type: T-shirts, jeans, and light footgear. They looked more like a group of friends heading down to the corner bar for an afternoon of tossing back brews and watching sports on TV than members of an elite and very clandestine military organization.

Their presence in that Spartan building was in response to a serious and unexpected summons sent to them with a strong implication of "immediately if not sooner." They had given quick goodbye kisses to the women in their lives, grabbed some prepacked items of preferred gear from bedroom and hall closets, then driven from the Belleau Wood Post Housing Area to the 303rd Logistical Study Unit. This designation was the cover for an outfit referred to only as "the Unit" by the handpicked men assigned to it.

Their destination was the area where all premission briefings, logistical chores, administrative matters, and other necessary activities were carried out. Once a team went into Isolation, they did not come out until it was time to be deployed. They had a full latrine, bunks, tables and chairs, lockers, and other military amenities as they went through this vital preparation stage prior to insertion into some of the most violent locales on the face of the earth. There was also one individual-and one individual only-who was allowed to communicate with the internees. In the case of the Unit, it was their commanding officer, Colonel Tom Ryan.

They reached a guard who stood at his post beside a small desk in the hallway. Although the sentry knew them all, he required each to produce the proper ID before allowing them to proceed. With that taken care of, the quintet continued in silence, pushing whatever apprehension they felt to the back of their minds. This was a practice that gave the operators at least a semblance of self-control in circumstances where they had no idea what the immediate future held for them.

When the five turned into the short corridor leading to the Isolation Area, they came to an abrupt halt. Colonel Ryan stood waiting for them, his arms folded across his chest. He gazed at them in his usual manner, meaning that his rugged features were inscrutable but rather grim.