The days passed quickly and the day Josh and Mike were to go off to basic had arrived. Kenny, Terry and little Linna went with them to the airport and said their goodbyes. Josh and Mike boarded a plain bound for fort Brenning Georgia. Many of the young men and women on the plain were heading for the same place.
"Were the oldest people on this flight." Mike said.
"Yea but we can still whip every one of these kids ass's." Josh said with a snicker.
"Yea I know that." Mike agreed.
"You guys are so full of your self's." A young man sitting at the window seat said looking at them.
"Yea so." Josh said.
"Well I have to say I just got excepted into special Forces training." The young man said sounding very proud of himself.
"Yea well getting into special Forces training and surviving it are two different things." Josh said.
"Oh yea well just for getting that I got promoted to Specialist." The kid said.
"What's your name kid?" Josh asked.
The young man stood up and gave a half salute.
"Specialist Timothy Gordon Samson Special Forces Trainee." He said.
"Well Timothy Gordon Samson Special Forces Trainee." Josh said standing and snapping a real salute. "Sergeant Major Joshua Thompson Special Forces operative."
Mike stood and saluted.
"Sergeant Mike Hessen Special Forces operative." He said.
The young man instantly jumped to his feet and snapped a salute.
"I'm sorry sirs forgive me for being rude I was unaware of your status as officers." He said.
"Sit down." Josh said. "We're not in uniform."
"Yes sir." Timothy said and sat down.
"What unit have you been assigned to?' Josh asked.
"It's a newly formed team called the Crimson Knights sir." Timothy said.
"What?!" Josh asked in disbelief. "They are reforming the Crimson Knights?"
"I guess you heard of them sir." Timothy said. "There ran over 90 missions behind enemy lines and only lost one member. A female I don't remember her name but I'm proud to have that name."
"Her name was Sherry Walther." Josh said.
"Yea that's it how did you know?" Timothy asked.
"Excuse me." Josh said and stood up and walked down the aisle.
"Did I say something wrong?" Timothy asked.
"Josh and I along with our friends Terry Bradshaw now Chambers, Kenny Chambers, Jack Walther and Sherry Walther made up the elite team the Crimson Knights." Mike said.
"You guys were the Crimson Knights?" Timothy asked.
"Yes we were." Mike said.
"Why did you leave the service?" Timothy asked.
"The women that was killed was Sherry Walther." Mike said. "She was Josh's Fiancée and after she was killed Josh wanted out. And we didn't want to break up the team so we all left the service together."
"Oh I see I'm sorry." Timothy said.
"Its ok you didn't know." Mike said.
"I guess he's not over her yet is he?" Timothy asked.
"He is over her now but he just lost his wife two weeks ago." Mike said.
"Wow I see why he's upset he lost two women he cared about." Timothy said.
"I think its best if we dropped this topic both women were my friends as well." Mike said.
"Yes sir." Timothy said.
"I'm gonna go get me a drink you want one?" Mike asked.
"No sir I'm only 19." Timothy said.
"Alright I'll be right back." Mike said and left his seat.
Josh was standing at the full bar that was on the flight with a shot of whisky in his hand.
"Hey man." Mike said.
"Hey." Josh said taking his shot.
"Don't mind the kid he didn't know." Mike said.
"I know I just didn't want to tell the story or hear it." Josh said.
"I hear you there I didn't want to tell it myself but I did." Mike said and ordered a shot.
"Thanks" Josh said.
"Don't mention it after all your buying the shots." Mike said and laughed.
"Oh I am am I?" Josh asked.
"Yea you are." Mike said and ordered another shot.
"I guess." Josh said and ordered another shot. "To the reformation of the Crimson Knights." He said and raised his shot glass.
"To the knights." Mike said and raised his glass and they hit the shot.
After several toasts and shots Josh and Mike stumbled back to their seats and sat down.
"Wow been hitting it a little hard have we?" Timothy said.
"Fukk yoo we'er not dunk we'er fadzed." Josh said with a slur.
"I can see that." Timothy said.
"Fuke yous I'm going to seep." Mike said and reclined his seat.
"Mees tooo." Josh said and did the same.
Timothy laughed a little and laid his seat back and fell asleep too.
The flight arrived on time at the Georgia airport and Josh and Mike were awaken By Timothy.
"Hey guys we're here." He said.
"Stop yelling we can hear you." Josh said sitting up.
"Hangover?" Timothy asked.
"Big one." Josh said.
"Well that's what you get for drinking." Timothy said.
"Yea thanks Mom." Josh said and stood up and Grabbed his carry on luggage. "We got about an hour before the busses come to get us so I'm heading for the coffee bar."
"I'll go with you." Mike said holding his head.
Timothy laughed as the two hung-over soldiers walked over to the coffee bar and sat down.
"So what's basic like?" He asked as Josh and Mike drank their coffees.
"Hell.' Josh said.
"A nightmare." Mike said.
"Is it really that bad?" Timothy asked.
"Yes." Josh and Mike said.
"Sounds like fun." Timothy said.
"You're fucking nuts." Mike said.
"I can handle it." Timothy said.
"Five hundred bucks says you puke at least 3 times in during basic." Josh said.
"I'll take that bet." Timothy said shaking his hand.
"Easiest money I ever made." Josh said.
The hour passed and the bus to the base arrived. Josh Mike and Timothy along with about forty other men and women got on the bus. When they arrived at the base the doors opened and three drill instructors got on.
"All right boys and girls get your sorry asses off my bus." One of them yelled.
Mike and Josh and Timothy stood. Timothy reached for his bags but Josh stopped him.
"Leave it." He said.
"What?" Timothy asked.
"Trust me." Josh said.
A young woman in the front row picked up her bags and headed for the doors.
"What the hell are you doing missy?" One of them yelled. "Did I tell you to take your bags?"
"No." She said.
"No what." He yelled.
"No sir." She said and dropped her bags and got off the buss.
Everyone on the bus got off and lined up.
"Now that was the slowest dismounting I have ever seen." One of the instructors yelled. "My name is Sergeant Heffner and I have been given the job of whipping you sorry son's of bitches into shape." He said. "This is Sergeant Ramirez and Sergeant Polo."
"Alright ladies follow me." Polo yelled.
"Men come with me." Ramirez yelled.
The men were led into the barber shop and given the 3 seconded cut. Then taken to their barracks.
"This is where you'll call home for the next thirteen weeks." Ramirez yelled. "Grab a bunk then assemble in the yard."
Josh and Mike quickly grabbed a bunk and headed out to the yard. Sergeant Ramirez walked up to them.
"I saw your files." He said. "You two were Special Forces right?"
"Yes sir." Josh said.
"Ok I'm appointing the two of you as barracks captions. It will be your jobs to make sure everyone goes to sleep at lights out and gets up at sunrise. If you fail you will feel swift retribution. Do you get me?"
"We get you sir." Josh and Mike said.
"Good now go in there and get them out." Ramirez said.
"Yes sir." Josh and Mike said.
They ran back into the barracks and found the recruits unpacking their bags.
"What the hell are you doing? Get out into the yard." Josh said.
"Who the hell are you telling us what to do?" A smart ass recruit said.
"Sergeant Major Thompson." Josh said.
"Sorry sir." He said.
"Now everyone get out to the yard." Josh said.
All the recruits ran out into the yard and formed their lines.
"Well its about time did you get lost?" Ramirez asked.
"No sir." They all yelled.
"Once the women get here well start the orientation." Ramirez said.
Women's barracks
Sergeant Polo was going over the rules of the barracks as the women unpacked their things.
"Alright ladies assemble in the yard." Polo said.
They all ran out of the barracks and formed their lines next to the men.
"Now that we're all here lets go over the base rules." Ramirez said. "Lights out at 10:00 pm exactly. If your not doing PT (Physical Training) or on duty you may go the recreation center where there is a fully stocked bar. You must be 18 years old to drink." He said. "The center will close at 9:30 pm and reopen at 6:00 am. If you are on guard duty you must stay at your post until your relief comes and relives you. However you will not have to worry about any of this because your asses will be doing intense PT for the next thirteen weeks."