FAST TEAM is a serialized novel published weekly on Substack—structured like a season of television, but written sentence by sentence for the page. It follows a highly trained DEA FAST team (Foreign-Deployed Advisory and Support Team,) operating in the grey spaces between law enforcement and warfare.
This is an ordered story. It’s built to be read from the beginning.
Begin at Chapter 1 read forward, and let the story build…
The gym occupies what was once a ballroom in the presidential residence, quite opulent even in its repurposing. Marble floors, vaulted ceilings, gold leaf trim on the crown molding. But the space now holds modern equipment: weight racks, a boxing ring, cardio machines arranged with military precision.
A strong, good-looking man works out alone at the center of it all. His aides stand nearby with paperwork, towels, mobile phones, and waiting. The Russian President, Simonov Olegovich, sees Vaclav approach and stops mid-rep, setting down the barbell.
Vaclav crosses the polished floor, boots echoing. He speaks in Russian, voice formal. “Mr. President.”
“Demetri, I want to let you know that all your good work is not unnoticed. I will present you to the Cabinet to take over Yuri’s position. You have long proven yourself to be a loyal and valuable ally to me.”
“I am honored, Mr. President. Even though Secretary Andropovich was ruthlessly murdered by the Americans, all of our operations are still running smoothly. We can even increase our attacks in the next cycle.”
“Let’s keep it that way. The American people are feeble and easily manipulated by their media. It’s merely a bonus that their own medical system has made many of them opioid addicts. And this funds our other agenda, making it much easier to move everything forward.”
“Mr. President, your efforts to elevate our beloved country to a position of respect will soon be recognized by the entire world.”
“For all our sakes, let us hope that to be true.”
Vaclav receives the letters of office in a leather-bound case from an aide. The surrounding dignitaries step forward, congratulating him with handshakes and formal nods. He turns toward the assembled aides and lifts the case slightly in acknowledgment like its a gesture for the cameras that aren’t there but might as well be.
“FAST TEAM” is Written by Brian S. Kalata and Rick Shaughnessy. Based on the screenplay by Brian S. Kalata & Eric Hooge and the teleplay by Brian S. Kalata & Rick Shaughnessy. Copyright 2025