Triad of Revenge: The Path to Dallas

‘Triad of Revenge:
The Path to Dallas’

Last Update: March 3, 2026

Chapters 1 & 2 PREVIEW

This is an active draft version

Changes will occur

Final edition expected Q4 2026

Chapter 1 ― 1961 – The Bay of Pigs Fiasco

Only the flickering of starlight illuminates the white sand beaches of Cuba's Playa Girón. The low-pitched rumble of engines muffles the calm sounds of the Caribbean surf. Slowly approaching the shoreline are the silhouettes of a number of military landing craft. They desperately try to reach the beaches undetected. Onboard the lead craft is Grayston (Gray) Lynch, who is in charge of the Cuban invasion force. He’s one of only two American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officers assigned to help the 1500 Cuban exiles. They anxiously anticipate reclaiming their homeland in the following days.

Gray peers over the craft’s landing ramp. Scanning the treeline, he’s searching for movement. As he does, his mind flashes back to June 6th, 1944, D-Day. Landing on the shores of France, the goal was to liberate Europe from Nazi tyranny. However, his efforts quickly diminished. Severely wounded, the medics stabilized Gray and sent him back to the invasion flotilla. Tonight he’s determined to create significantly better luck. While focused on the shoreline, reflections continue to flash through his mind. “Seventeen years ago, we fought for the liberation of Europe. Tonight, the emancipation of Cuba commences. This island is ninety miles too close to Key West. Communism can’t flourish near American shores. It can’t be permitted to gain a foothold. The entire Western Hemisphere is now in peril. The Cubanos are enslaved. Atrocities we ended in Europe can’t take place in the Americas.”

The regime now controlling Cuba took power just over two years ago. The brutal takeover keeps the masses captive. Free travel beyond its borders is not permitted. This situation bears a striking resemblance to the division of Berlin, which originated in 1948. Russian soldiers stopped Germans in East Berlin from freely traveling outside their sector. The exiled Cubanos wanted freedom just as the East Germans did. The leaders of the Fulgencio Batista regime were definitely not saints and had serious faults. They committed their own outrageous injustices. Such behavior does not warrant Fidel Castro and his cronies to continue their harsh rule. Thugs such as Che Guevara, Castro’s closest ally, now make use of kangaroo courts. Farcical trials are used as grounds to execute and imprison anyone they believe is betraying them.

Just offshore, aboard the supply ship ‘Barbara J’, sits William (Rip) Robertson. He observes the first wave of his Brigade 2506 approaching the shoreline. Rip, a former Marine officer during WWII, has worked for the agency since 1947. But when he mistakenly sunk what he believed to be a Soviet freighter, he faced exclusion from the agency. It turned out that ship was actually British. Several crewmen died from the explosion as a result. That blunder led to the agency dismissing Rip by order of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Yet, he remained well respected by his fellow agency officers. His reputation was solid enough that the agency brought him back on a contract basis in 1960. He trained members of Brigade 2506 for the invasion of Cuba. Rip developed a lasting bond of respect with his chicos. Now he stands with them as they prepare to board landing craft and reclaim their homeland. He addresses his comrades just before they offload into the landing craft. “Amigos, today you will take back your homeland. You, your family, and your friends will walk freely in a liberated Cuba. Be strong; remember your training. End the current blood-fueled dictatorship in power. May God bless you and deliver you unscathed into your homeland that you will now reclaim. Liberación de Cuba!” The men of Brigade 2506 thank him in a subdued tone as they quietly continue loading onto the landing craft.

Meanwhile, Gray scans the entire area looking for his support ships and attack aircraft. President John Fitzgerald Kennedy (JFK) reluctantly approved this CIA mission. Although he inherited the operation from President Eisenhower, the responsibility now rests entirely with Kennedy. He promised the CIA that attack aircraft and supply ships filled with provisions will engage. Kennedy also promised to provide naval support at the appropriate milestone. Gray relies entirely on the US president to make good on his promises. He also counts on the men of Brigade 2506 to fight a fierce battle.

Gray was forbidden to be on the beach; he was ordered to observe from offshore. He is an accomplished doer and risk taker. It’s impossible for him to sit idle as his men charge into harm’s way. So now, heading for the beach, he defies strict orders to ensure the invasion is successful.

As the landing craft that comprise the first wave near the shore, the tension among the men consumes them. Any gunfire that erupts threatens to slaughter their ranks as soon as the ramp drops. Until they reach and take cover among the dunes, the accuracy of Cuban soldiers’ bullets is currently their only concern.

He lurches forward as his landing craft’s ramp abruptly falls onto the beach. As the ramp falls, the dedicated combatants cower and immediately scramble for cover. They begin the deadly run of their life toward the dunes. Awkwardly making their way through deep sand, they struggle while desperately seeking safety.

Their sprint appears to take an eternity. They are well aware their lives could end at any moment. This is the period when they are most vulnerable. Equipment falls from their packs as they struggle in the soft sand. Some turn and retrieve what was dropped. The rest just have one thought—seek cover behind the dunes and try to remain alive.

Finally, they situate themselves in the safety of the dunes. The first wave has successfully navigated the most dangerous part of the operation. Now in position, they take aim at the dense undergrowth ahead. They’re in luck. No bullets are fired at them. Gray sizes up their situation and in a hushed tone passes orders to his men. “Spread out, remain quiet, and be ready for a firefight. There’s nothing we can do until the second wave arrives as reinforcements. After they land, they’ll provide covering fire for our advance.”

The headlights of a military jeep suddenly emerge from the darkness. It proceeds directly toward them. Meanwhile, the next wave of troops approaches the beach. If the jeep continues, their headlights will give away the size of the landing force. Gray can just make out two silhouettes of Castro’s troops. The headlights of the vehicle will negate their advantage. They’ll quickly become straightforward targets as they land. They will find themselves in an extremely precarious situation. A swift command decision must be made. Either let them spot the approaching landing craft, or open fire on the jeep.

Aboard the ship ‘Barbara J’, Rip scans the beach, ensuring his amigos are still safe. Spotting the headlights of the approaching vehicle, his hands firmly tighten on the ship’s rails. He’s certain that something drastic is about to occur. The only uncertainty is what form it will take. Rip finds consolation in knowing the man who will make the best decision is a veteran of multiple battles. He fought and was wounded on D-Day, at the Battle of the Bulge, and at Heartbreak Ridge in Korea. He had since served with the US Army Special Forces (SOF) in Laos until 1960. If anyone will make the correct decision, Rip knows it’s Grayston Lynch. He has full confidence in Gray throughout the remainder of the invasion.

Gray positions himself to get a clear view of the approaching vehicle. He’s anticipating a critical moment when he must take decisive action. Proud that his amigos have exercised excellent fire discipline, he glances at their positions. His troops have not overreacted. Instead, they focus on concealing themselves well among the dunes.

Gray now wraps the sling of his rifle around his left arm. He then positions the rifle butt against his right shoulder. Carefully he places the target within his sights. He’s well aware his agenda is to lead the invasion force to a successful overthrow.

Gray’s well aware that the two Cuban soldiers will detect and report the landing craft. The line in the sand is crossed. He carefully takes aim with his rifle at the driver’s side headlight. Inhaling a deep breath, he slowly releases half. With solemn resolve, he squeezes the trigger. Crack! The first shot of the invasion has just been fired! Gray changes his focus to the passenger’s side. Within seconds, another crack! The jeep’s headlights are totally disabled. The occupants are blind as to what lies in front of them. They failed to recognize the invasion force in front of them. Making a sharp U-turn, their only thought is to avoid being shot. The vehicle now exits the beach. There’s one big problem. As they exit, the passenger uses a radio to report what just occurred to Havana. The Bay of Pigs invasion has definitely commenced. Fierce fighting will soon begin.

Chapter 2 ― 1960 – Prelude to Invasion

It’s 1960, the year before the invasion. Gray and Rip attend an intelligence briefing near Miami, Florida. The second biggest CIA headquarters within the US, JM/WAVE, is being constructed. The agency’s future infrastructure is now taking shape. Hundreds of operators will eventually frequent the former Naval Air Station Richmond. It’s a neglected Navy airship station that is slowly being restored. From 1961 to 1968, the area will serve as a hub for agency operations located south of the border.

A meeting of clandestine CIA officers is now taking place. They gather in the hot, stagnant building 25, just outside Miami. Positioned at the front of the room is a nondescript CIA intelligence officer. With a stern expression across his weathered face, he stands silent. The steely eyes and no-nonsense demeanor are clearly evident. His purpose today is to give an overview of the situation in Cuba as it currently stands. After setting his papers on the antiquated desk, he scans the room. The occupants can’t help but focus on this man. The room soon falls silent. The officer managed to establish control without uttering a single word. After briefly scanning the room, the officer begins to speak. “Gentlemen, on December 2nd, 1956, 82 men landed in eastern Cuba as part of the 26th of July Movement. The infamous Fidel Castro was their leader. The soldiers of Cuban President Fulgencio Batista had caught wind of their plan. His men were able to successfully ambush the rebels as they landed. Batista’s men killed all but 20 of Fidel’s landing party. Among the survivors were Fidel and his brother Raul Castro. Also of interest is an Argentine-born revolutionary named Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara. More on him later.”

He briefly pauses to size up the reaction, then continues. “On January 1st, 1959, the revolutionaries went on to take complete control of Cuba. Fidel has turned the island into the first Communist country in the Western Hemisphere. We began planning Operation Zapata soon after he and his thugs took power. The United States will not allow Communism to freely spread across the Americas. This meeting is primarily focused on achieving this goal.”

The agency officer again pauses, gains a deadpan look, and glares at the occupants. “Gentlemen, all of you will have some connection to Operation Zapata,” he continued in a commanding tone. “As you can guess, the proposed invasion is a top secret, highly sensitive operation. All of you have top secret or better clearances. Any leaks by anyone connected to this operation will result in apprehension and prosecution by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The Department of Justice (DOJ) will be closely monitoring. Love or hate the FBI—it’s your choice. But a simple fact remains: they are the federal agency tasked with handling security leaks. Prison time is the most likely outcome if convicted. The highest level of our government is directly involved in this operation. We are taking extra precautions because of the potential impact this plan could have on Russia and China. If botched, this undertaking could, in fact, result in direct conflict with those countries. I firmly believe that the possibility of World War Three exists—and I mean it.”

A low rumbling of voices breaks out in the crowded room. Some of the attendees wonder what they got themselves into. Others take pride that the US is planning direct action against Communist thugs. The majority of the room have flashbacks of WWII and Korea. They can’t help but recall departed bodies strewn across the battlefields. Wounded soldiers cry out from terrible pain. Some called forth their mothers. A few realize these are their last moments on this earth and call out for loved ones. The horrible memories cause a few participants to stare blindly at the walls. Their visions hit hard. They try to deal with the effects of the complete devastation they witnessed.

“Alright, gentlemen, that’s enough for today. Check the bulletin board for our next gathering. Meetings will be fairly frequent, especially as we approach the launch date. If any of you have doubts about continuing with this operation, see your case officer.” After a small pause, he calls out, “Will Rip Robertson and Grayston Lynch remain here, please? The rest of you may return to your current duties.”

The room, lit only by sunlight streaming through the windows, slowly empties. The bright light causes the dust particles to give off a fluorescence as they slowly glide through the air. All that is audible is the sound of shuffling feet and muffled voices. Rip and Gray remain in their seats and quietly scan the occupants as they leave. Eventually the door in the back of the room closes. The intelligence officer shifts his full attention toward the remaining pair. “I’ve thoroughly reviewed your personnel files, gentlemen. You two have a wide range of past activities and a long length of service. That’s the main reason you were both selected to lead Operation Zapata. Gray, you’ve been appointed the commander of the invasion. Rip, you will assume the role of second-in-command. You guys are the only agency assets directly attached to the actual landing. You will command a force of around 1500 Cuban exiles. The strategy is to create an invasion force without any American presence. Both of you will remain on the ships for the entire operation. You are forbidden from taking part in the actual fighting. We need total deniability for US involvement. All external assets, such as aircraft, will have non-US markings. Questions?”

Rip immediately fires back, while wearing a smile, “Sounds like we’ve both been drafted...”

The officer sits comfortably on top of the desk. Then, leaning forward, he places his hands on his knees and replies. “Don’t play coy with me, gentlemen. I’m confident that both of you are eager to lead the invasion force. Like I said, I read all your personnel files. I’m confident you will embrace the opportunity and fully participate. That’s exactly why you were selected: for your gung-ho, ‘in the trenches’ experience.”

With a sizable grin across his face, Gray calmly chimes in. “Are we really that obvious?” Rip chuckles. Continuing, he questions in a serious tone, “Will both of us have complete control over the entire operation?”

In a more subtle tone, the administrator answers. “The two of you will be in charge of training and operational execution. You will have input on all phases of this invasion. However, those here and at Langley will jointly make the key decisions. We aim to minimize administrative overhead to ensure operational efficiency. Additionally, it is important to guarantee maximum overall security. The fewer involved, the better. Please keep in mind the invasion is scheduled to occur in about three months.”

Rip locks onto the Intel officer’s eyes and begins serious questioning. “Where is the training occurring? I mean, 1500 men is a good-sized complement. Training will have to take place in remote areas. There must be shelters to house these individuals. We must also consider food, transportation, medical care, and more.”

The reply, “Another department will soon address all of that in detail. For now, I’ll only say training is taking place in several locations depending on skill sets. These include Guatemala, Louisiana, and No Name Key. Rip, you get Guatemala since you owned coffee plantations in Central America. Gray, you have been assigned to Louisiana due to its proximity to where you were brought up. Cuban exile weekend warriors will be training at No Name Key.”

Gray, with steely eyes, is totally focused on the officer. “Exactly how much time do we have before we ship out for training?”

The response is, “Once we update your medical records and receive the final ‘go’ order, we will proceed. I’ll report to the higher-ups here what we discussed. I dare say you two warriors will have less than a week. Please immediately begin organizing your personal affairs and meet me here tomorrow. Now that we are certain of your full commitment, I anticipate receiving more specific responses soon. When I do, I’ll pass them on.”

Rip, in a cold tone, asked, “What’s the percentage of this actually taking place?”

Both Rip and Gray focus on the officer’s face as he replies. “As of today, I believe there is a 90% chance of this expedition actually occurring. JFK has already approved it. The world stage needs to understand that the US will never tolerate communism, regardless of where it begins.”

Gray gets a serious smile across his face. “Then we’ll start our operation as soon as we leave here.”

The intelligence officer slowly stands. He squarely faces the two with a poker-faced expression. After looking both of them dead in the eyes, he speaks in a chilling manner. “Gentlemen, I’ll close this meeting now. I’ll contact you about the next meeting. It will be soon. Thanks for taking me seriously and volunteering. Adios, troopers.” He then turns, picks up his papers, and rapidly heads out the door.

Gray spins around and faces Rip. “Well, amigo, let’s get started. Finally, we have a meaningful operation that we can truly engage with.”

Rip’s reply, “I do believe we will have a free hand on this one. It’s just us doing the dirty work the way it actually needs to be done. Sweet!”

With shared smiles, Gray and Rip turn and exit the room in silence. Their minds are racing as they formulate the plans believed to be most effective. They’re basically quiet men. When they do speak, it’s after they’ve carefully thought it through. Today begins the operation that will change the world’s geopolitical landscape for decades to come. Though, maybe not as they intended. Exiting the building, it’s evident that they are taking decisive action. Failure is not an option for these two well-traveled warriors. They’re veterans of several wars and numerous black ops. They will forever keep the specifics of several of their operations secret.

End of Draft Preview. Changes will continue.