The mission briefing had concluded. All personnel from Alpha and Bravo teams transitioned from the company headquarters to the operational simulation conference room.
Conducting operational rehearsals on-site through simulations was a standard procedure in DEVGRU's mission planning.
As everyone relocated into the conference room, logistics personnel quickly brought in a research vessel model—crafted from foam and cardboard.
Because it was made on the fly, the little over one-meter-long scaled-down research vessel looked rather crude.
If the simulation had been planned earlier—during the flight time of the operational team to the mission site—the logistics staff would have had enough time to create a fitting simulation environment.
They might even have been able to find a similar real ship for a live-action drill; none of these were impossible.
"Can someone please figure out how to make this thing look better? The models my daughter made in elementary school crafts look way more reliable than this."
Jason vented his frustration, eyes fixed on Diaz.
As Bravo Team's logistics "general manager," if anyone here could provide a better model, it was Diaz and no one else.
"I can't manage it right now," Diaz said, arms crossed. "But here's some good news: if you pay extra, you can buy a pre-assembled one."
"Isn't assembling a ship supposed to be your exclusive duty? Davis, help save taxpayers some money," Sonny said through clenched teeth, trying to needle Diaz.
"Sonny, you should know that packing your parachute is my job."
"Woohoo\~"
Diaz's sharp retort triggered a burst of laughter around the room.
Sonny frowned as if offended, then asked Jason, who was bent over fiddling with the model vessel, "Is she allowed to joke like that?"
Jason knew these two were just having their usual banter, not genuinely upset—after all, everyone knew Sonny had a thing for Diaz.
He looked up and said, "Maybe not."
Then he turned to Long Zhan and said, "Long, I heard you've studied modeling. Can you make it look nicer?"
"I'll give it a try."
Long Zhan sounded modest but confident as he walked over.
Modeling was actually one of the military skills that could be learned—building sand tables, creating miniature landscapes, setting up simulated operational sites all fell under this skill set.
Usually, only logistics non-commissioned officers studied this; combat operators rarely showed interest.
Long Zhan was simply multitalented!
While Jason and Long Zhan got down to business, Sonny, stung by Diaz's verbal upper hand, was clearly not satisfied and looked ready to try flipping the situation with Jason's help.
"Jason, since you say jokes like that aren't allowed, can you write a report to criticize her?"
"No!"
Jason rejected Sonny's request decisively and added, "She also packs my parachute. She's my most trusted logistics sergeant."
The meaning behind Jason's words was clear.
Diaz managed Bravo Team's equipment—she was their provider and protector. They definitely didn't want to mess with her.
"Fuck you, you really are a coward," Sonny blurted out.
"Hahaha…"
Jason's ruthless refusal, paired with Sonny's defeated expression, caused everyone present to burst into laughter.
"I'm not a bad person, you know."
Diaz, winning the banter once again, flashed a victorious smile at Sonny.
"Everyone, have you ever heard of the foolish act of joining the Navy when you're afraid of water?" Rei joined in, speaking seriously.
"Interesting, isn't it? I guess some people are afraid of swimming."
Jason immediately added a sarcastic comment without naming names but looked straight at Sonny, making his meaning clear.
"I'm not afraid of swimming, okay? Swimming's just not my first choice," Sonny replied seriously.
"Okay, understood," Jason nodded with a straight face.
The others couldn't help but laugh!
Sonny, that burly man with a full beard, was famous in DEVGRU for being fearless of people but scared of almost everything else.
Picking on Sonny's "weakness" had become a daily pastime for Bravo Team.
"Poor Comrade Sonny."
While adjusting the structure of the ship model, Long Zhan listened to this group of old Bravo Team veterans' banter and found himself increasingly fond of this atmosphere.
In a team built on mutual trust, joking and laughing was definitely the minimum foundation.
A few minutes later—
"Boss, I'm done. Take a look."
Hearing Long Zhan's words, Jason leaned in to examine the model from top to bottom, then said with satisfaction, "Well done. It looks much better now.
We need to know where the hostages are—that's the key to the mission. Where do you all think they might be?"
"If I were those idiots, I'd definitely hide the scientists here."
Sonny pointed to the cockpit. "It has windows with good visibility, can quickly relocate hostages anytime, is elevated, and has defensive advantages to prevent others from boarding."
"Where's the bathroom?"
Diaz raised the question. "For kidnappers, the worst thing is ensuring the hostages have food and water, plus bathroom access."
Everyone knew the cockpit didn't have a bathroom. If more than ten hostages were confined there and left to urinate or defecate—
Forget the hostages.
Even the kidnappers themselves couldn't stand it.
"Davis hit the point. If all hostages are locked in the cockpit, they'd have to spend time escorting them to the bathroom and back, which is very troublesome."
Jason also doubted Sonny's guess. Then he asked Long Zhan, "Long, this is your first mission as a formal team member. What do you think? Where is the most likely place for the hostages?"
"Okay!"
Jason deliberately gave Long Zhan a chance to show off, clearly mentoring him. Long Zhan had to save face, so he pointed below the cockpit to the interior cabin and said, "I think the best choice is to hide the hostages in the living quarters."
"What's your reason?" Jason asked.
"Simple."
Long Zhan pointed to the bridge. "The research vessel must carry lots of scientific supplies and equipment. The bridge's internal space is limited—there's no room for large empty compartments.
If all hostages are still alive, the number would reach eleven.
The only place that can both solve the bathroom problem and fit that many hostages is the living quarters—and it has to be a public area like the mess hall.
If it's the mess hall, there would be at most two bulkhead doors for entry and exit.
By locking hostages inside, kidnappers only need to guard one or two doors to prevent escape, significantly reducing the guarding difficulty.
Since the living quarters perfectly meet all criteria, the kidnappers wouldn't choose any other location."
Long Zhan's reasoning was much more credible than Sonny's, sounding far more logical.
No one voiced objections.
"Since no one disagrees, let's assume the living quarters are the holding area."
Jason was pleased with Long Zhan's reasoning and, following the principle of encouraging good performance, immediately asked, "What boarding method do you think would be most suitable?"