In the summer of 2011, I said goodbye to several friends from the US Navy who I had befriended through a video game, and who were leaving on a deployment. When they did not return, I was left wondering who they really were, and what had become of them.

It eventually became clear that their disappearance was connected to one of the worst single losses of life of the war in Afghanistan.

Much of their work was and remains a secret. Nevertheless, this is their story, as far as I can tell it.

To start by finding out more about the Extortion 17 incident, go to the Introduction

Or, if you would prefer to start by finding out more about the people involved, go to Section 1: The Friendship.

Find out more about this project on the About page.