Virginia Beach was a cornerstone of the United States’ East Coast defense system, making the Naval Air Station Oceana a very important and unique Naval Base.
The base has everything, from airfields and naval ports down to barracks and training centers for the troops.
It houses two elite Navy special operations units, the SEALs, one of the world's top ten special forces teams, and DEVGRU, the most elite of the elite that the US Navy has to offer. Many basic training facilities and venues are shared between the two through negotiated agreements.
However, while the official rules are rigid on paper, in practice, resources are often prioritized for DEVGRU. The elite operators get first dibs on training resources, while the regular Navy Seals had to wait their turn.
With Sonny, the “local boss”, leading the way, Long Zhan's journey proceeded without a hitch.
They cruised smoothly across Virginia Beach, passing through the heavily guarded gates of NAS Oceana, and arrived at their final destination - the DEVGRU headquarters!
Since DEVGRU only had a combined staff of just over 300 and operated under a meritocratic, centralized management, all seven squadrons' offices, command centers, dining, and other matters, aside from training, were centralized in a single building.
In order to successfully execute his plan, Long Zhan had meticulously reviewed a large amount of DEVGRU’s internal documents and was thoroughly familiar with this type of basic information.
"Alright, we're here. Hope to see you on the second floor soon Long.”
Sonny didn't even escort him inside, he didn't glance back, he just raised his right hand to give a little wave from behind the wheel and drove straight to the underground parking entrance.
Sonny's boldness, tinged with a hint of arrogance, was his true character.
He hadn't even bothered to share his name with Long Zhan, making it clear he was just offering a helping hand and didn't see Long Zhan as someone worth befriending.
Having spent so many years in the underworld, Long Zhan could easily discern this much.
But no matter how much he wanted to befriend Sonny and pave the way for his future in Team B, he didn't go after him.
After experiencing life, death, and then "resurrection," Long Zhan has fully realized that in life, strength reigned supreme and nothing else mattered.When it comes to earning respect and recognition, nothing beats proving your mettle.
He was confident that if he shone in the assessments, Sonny would one day approach him and offer him his name, rather than the other way around.
"Hey, big guy, are you a new Green Team trainee?"
Hearing someone calling out from the side, Long Zhan turned his head and pointed at himself in surprise, "Are you talking to me?"
"We don't get many over 200 pounds around here. If not you, then who?" The E4 petty officer at the door chuckled to herself.
"Fair enough. I'm not thrilled about being known as ‘big guy,' but if that's how you see me, I'll take it as envy." Long Zhan said, before striking a classic Schwarzenegger pose.
"I am a bit jealous, but no matter how hard I try now, I won't hit 6'3". I'm just a bit short of 'big guy' status."
The black logistics petty officer at the entrance seemed fond of big muscular types and hit it off with Long Zhan right away. She even helped park the heavy motorcycle, then guided him inside while introducing herself, "I’m Jennifer, in charge of welcoming the new members of Green Team today. Nicole to meet you.”
"You can call me Long. I'm from Team 3. Pleasure’s all mine." Long Zhan shook Jennifer’s hand.
They chatted as they walked through the hallway, forming a quick rapport.
As they crossed the lobby toward the Green Team’s office area, Jennifer pointed out and explained the various first-floor facilities to him.
She stressed one important point in particular: never go to the second floor without permission.
Floors two and above were DEVGRU's command and operations zones, no one except official members of DEVGRU was allowed to go up there without permission.
That included Jennifer herself!
As DEVGRU logistics support, Jennifer was essentially a "temp" working for DEVGRU, but her status remained that of a White Seal within the SEALs.
Strictly speaking, she was on par with Long Zhan's current trainee status in Green Team.
Temporary workers and Green Team rookies were limited to the first floor of the building and a series of outdoor training areas within DG headquarters.
Ascending to the second floor was the dream of all White Seals, a powerful motivator for Green Team’s newcomers.
Fortunately, the first floor was well-equipped. Besides the Green Team management's offices, all other essential infrastructure was readily available.It even boasted of having something the upper floors didn’t, a cafeteria!
Every soldier in the building, including the Green Team trainees, support staff, and regular DEVGRU members, ate in the first-floor cafeteria.
In the U.S. military, officers and enlisted typically dine and live separately.
Hearing that everyone shared the first-floor cafeteria both surprised and delighted Long Zhan, as it meant that he had a chance to mingle early with the show's main characters.
Especially Bravo Team's leader, Jason, who was Long Zhan's top priority.
Securing a spot on Bravo Team and securing the $10 million hinged primarily on Jason, who had the power to select whichever trainee he wanted.
Long Zhan felt that if he could get to know Jason beforehand, his chances of making it to Bravo Team would be even better.
While he pondered on how to approach Jason and make a memorable impression, someone had already beaten him to it.
"Hey, J, you don't look well."
Sonny emerged from the elevator on the third floor, where Red Squadron was based, and ran into his team leader, Jason. He handed him a paper bag and said, "Spicy chicken from 64th Street, my favorite. It’s a guaranteed mood booster, you want some?"
"Forget it, I already had lunch," Jason shook his head.
Bravo Team had suffered a casualty in a VBSS (Visit, Board, Search and Seizure) operation two days prior, a teammate who happened to be Jason's closest friend.
As the captain, Jason was under immense pressure, buried in post-mission paperwork.
After yesterday's after-action review and today's mandatory 30-minute psych evaluation, his mood was understandably low.
"Come on, man, it's behind us. Shake it off."
Sonny saw Jason as his best friend and hated seeing him like this. He wanted to help but he wasn't great at consoling others due to his personality.
Recalling his roadside encounter with Long Zhan, he decided to distract Jason instead.
As they headed to the command room, Sonny said mysteriously, "On my way to base today, I met a really interesting rookie."
"A rookie?"
Jason fell for Sonny's trick, his attention drawn to the newcomer.
"In all the years you've been on Bravo Team, this is the first time I’ve heard you mention anything about a rookie. I’m quite surprised."
"The guy's from San Diego on the West Coast, 25 years old and already just one rank below me. He’s nothing like those calendar boys. I'm dying to know what he pulled off during his deployments. J, can you pull his file?"
The West Coast's SEAL Team Two had once posed shirtless for a calendar photoshoot, a move which the East Coast SEALs considered a sexual advance, and have mocked them for it ever since."He does sound exceptional, but I can't access personal files. The commander can, but I’m not sure it's appropriate."
Jason's curiosity was fully piqued, and he finally cracked a smile. He raised an eyebrow and said, "That said... we could swing by Green Team to observe their training. Bravo needs to be reinforced anyway.
“After completing this mission, we’ll go check him out together. I hope this prodigy of yours lives up to the hype."
"I hope so too, haha."
Sunny laughed while chewing on his spicy chicken, and walked into the command room with Jason.
The room was already packed, faces serious, with Red Squadron's commander, Lieutenant Commander Blackburn, seated and waiting.
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