Free The Fate Of Nations: F.I.R.E. Team Alpha: Book One by Ray Chilensky

They’re a good bunch, but I still miss the old gang; even Muller.”
                  “Times change, Mac,” Carter said.
                  “Indeed,” Williams agreed. “For a brief time, five years ago, Red Team was unique. Now, with the formation of the Paranormal Army Corps , the new FIRE Teams are preeminent.”
                  “Well,” Carter said, “even if Red Team is disbanded, we’re all still unique. But, with the forming of the Paranormal Army Corps, paranormal operations are a lot more organized. There is a full division of paranormal infantry now, plus an airborne brigade, a commando battalion, and an aviation regiment. We just can’t play things as loose as Red, White and Blue Teams did. The PAC is effectively fifth armed service and separate from the rest of the military. Counting the FNF personnel, the PAC has over twelve thousand members.”
                  “Sure,” McNamara concurred, “I understand the reorganization; normal troops just slow paranormals down. But Red Team was together for almost three years. We had good mojo.”
                  “I miss the old gang too, but they were needed elsewhere to lead other teams,” Carter said. “If it weren’t for Pope’s grudge, Brandon would have his own team.”
                  “That is a small matter, Douglas,” Williams said.
                  “The hell it is,” Carter retorted. “Team Delta should have been yours, but Pope called his Daddy and had you side tracked. I won’t forget or forgive that Brandon; even if you will.”
                  “I am quite content to be your second, and Monica is a good leader and an excellent officer,” Williams countered.
                  “Yes, she is good. But you’re better; more experienced.” Carter said.
                  “If she heard you say that, you might be sleeping on the couch when you get home," McNamara observed.
                  “Just because she’s my wife doesn’t mean I can’t be honest about her abilities. She deserves to lead a team, but so does Brandon. She would be the first to agree with me,” Carter said. “She tried to turn the Team Delta command down, but General Hicks overruled her.”
                  “Do not misunderstand me, I loathe Colonel Pope, but dwelling on that loathing accomplishes nothing,” Williams said with his normal, somewhat annoying calmness. “I will kill him one day. But, until that day, I shall endeavor not to think about him more than is necessary.”
                  “They offered me my own team too,” McNamara said. “But I would have had to let them make me an officer; I just couldn’t let that happen. The general didn’t argue with me about not taking a command. I don’t know rather to be grateful or insulted.”
                  “I think he knows that some soldiers are just meant to be sergeants,” Carter assured him.
                  The electronic chime of the Phantom’s intercom interrupted the conversation. Carter activated the system. “Carter,” he answered.
                  “Ensign Garver, Sir,” the voice from the speaker said. “The captain asked me to inform you that we are now two hours from launch point.”
                  “Understood,” Carter responded. He turned to Williams and McNamara. “Have the team assembled in the ward room for a final briefing in five minutes. Then I want to run equipment and weapons checks one more time. Make sure to go over our insertion and extraction plans with Chief Donner.”
                  The two men left to go about their tasks. Carter, alone for the moment, retrieved a photograph of his wife from a duffle bag and allowed himself to look at it for several moments. She had once said that they would be each other’s reason for living. She had been right.