Fade in.
I landed at the base; unfortunately I didn't know which one it was, but never the less, a marine base. I was escorted into a room, filled with about thirty other men and women. I noticed Skates right away and went up to talk to her.
"Hey sir, I didn't know you would be here, I thought you were still on your honeymoon?"
"Yeah so did I, but Mac and I received a call from Clayton Webb, and so here I am."
"Where is the Colonel?"
"Off in Iraq, on a mission with Webb. So what are you doing here?"
"Captain Ingles, told me that I was needed for a special mission, wouldn't give me any details, but just put me on a transport. I can't believe you're here sir."
"Yeah, an old retread like Rabb, who would have thought?" said a voice behind me. I knew that voice.
"Keeter!"
"Hey Harm!"
"What are you doing here man?"
"Same thing as you, but I wasn't briefed on the specifics, they said they would tell me when I got here. How you doing Skates?"
"Good sir," she said and smiled.
We chatted for awhile, and then snapped to attention when six two star admirals, whom I didn't know walked into the room. They looked us all over then one, Admiral Bill Riley, Keeter told me, told us to stand at ease, and addressed us.
"Okay people we're going to make this quick. Since more then half of you will be leaving in a few minutes, let's get started. Will everyone please take a seat," he said indicating to the desks. Once we were seated, attendance was taken and I noticed a few people that I knew. Boomer was here and so were Tuna, and Pete Ayers. As soon as each name was called a thick packet was handed out to us, we were told not to open them yet, but to sit tight and everything would be explained to us.
"As you people know, this war is costing the US some of its finest fighting troops. Three days ago, the USS Kittyhawk was destroyed." We all started at him disbelievingly. We hadn't heard about this. "I know why you're all wondering why you are just hearing about this, but I really can't tell you. Later today, there will be a briefing at the Pentagon, and the media will be informed. You are all gathered here today as an elite fighting force. We lost so many pilots and Rio's on the Kittyhawk that the President has authorized the assembly of the best of the best. That's why you are here.
You will be broken down into five groups of six, and then you will be broken down even further. There will be a squad leader, the wingman, and the tail. In your packets are your assignment, and on the front, you see a color. This color will determine where you will be sent, and every color represents a squad. The red represents the Justice squad, the green represents the freedom squad, the blue represents independence squad, the white represents the liberty squad, and the black represents the allegiance squad. There are five main areas that we will be targeting, now due to security you will be told as soon as you on the transport."
I looked down at my packet, and noticed a blue strip at the bottom of my packet. I was curious to see what color Keeter and Skates had, but I kept my eyes on the Admiral.
"Now everyone should know that this assignment is totally voluntary. If you want out, you can leave now, no one is going to make you go through with this. You should know that what you are embarking on is very dangerous, and you may not make it home."
I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach as I closed my fingers around my empty ring finger. I couldn't do that to Mac. Not so soon after we were married, not even at all. But I knew that she would want me to do this, to my simper fi marine; it was duty before anything, but what about now?
As I suspected, no one left. Smiling, one of the other Admirals spoke. "Okay, would the Justice squad follow me."
A group of five men and one woman followed the Admiral out of the room. The Freedom squad was called next, and then the liberty and allegiance teams were called. After all of the other teams left, it was only Keeter, Skates, Tuna, Frank, and Boomer. So we were the blue team, I chuckled to myself knowing that I couldn't have picked a better group of people.
The one Admiral left, Admiral Wess, cleared his throat and looked us all over before he spoke.
"Can you all move up to the front? This way I won't have to yell."
Well all took the front six desks, and anxiously waited to hear what we would be doing.
"For those of you who don't already know, I am Admiral Wess, and I will be your CO while you are here. Any questions so far?"
Pete raised his hand, "Sir, do you know how long this mission is going to take?"
"Lieutenant Grady, isn't it?"
"Yes sir."
"No I don't know how long. Open you packets to the first page, and we'll get started."
Upon opening my packet I saw the words "Independence squad Leader" Written in bold letters across the front. I looked over to Skates, and she had the same thing written in her packet.
"Looks like we'll be flying together again sir," she said and smiled. Keeter tapped me on the shoulder and showed me his packet, on his was written "Wingman" he smiled and lightly hit my arm. I figured that Tuna was his RIO, and that left Boomer and Pete flying together.
I turned back to the Admiral, who was unaware we weren't paying attention.
"I know this base doesn't look that big, and I know you're wondering how we're going to launch a Tomcat off of this base, but trust me, we can. If you open your packets to pages six, you'll find a map of numerous caves and buildings that have been heavy with terrorist activity, I know it doesn't look like much now, but trust me, we will keep you boys busy."
As he went on explaining the specifics of our missions, I couldn't help but wonder what Mac was doing right now, and when I would be able to talk to her again, to hold her-
I shook my head, I've got to stop thinking about her and concentrate on the mission at hand. After the meeting was over, we were given a chance to grab some chow, clean up, and were shown to our barracks. The accommodations were nothing to brag about, but compared to some of the places were I've stayed, this wasn't bad. Our first mission was in a few hours, so I crashed on my bunk, my last thoughts of Sarah.
TBC
I landed at the base; unfortunately I didn't know which one it was, but never the less, a marine base. I was escorted into a room, filled with about thirty other men and women. I noticed Skates right away and went up to talk to her.
"Hey sir, I didn't know you would be here, I thought you were still on your honeymoon?"
"Yeah so did I, but Mac and I received a call from Clayton Webb, and so here I am."
"Where is the Colonel?"
"Off in Iraq, on a mission with Webb. So what are you doing here?"
"Captain Ingles, told me that I was needed for a special mission, wouldn't give me any details, but just put me on a transport. I can't believe you're here sir."
"Yeah, an old retread like Rabb, who would have thought?" said a voice behind me. I knew that voice.
"Keeter!"
"Hey Harm!"
"What are you doing here man?"
"Same thing as you, but I wasn't briefed on the specifics, they said they would tell me when I got here. How you doing Skates?"
"Good sir," she said and smiled.
We chatted for awhile, and then snapped to attention when six two star admirals, whom I didn't know walked into the room. They looked us all over then one, Admiral Bill Riley, Keeter told me, told us to stand at ease, and addressed us.
"Okay people we're going to make this quick. Since more then half of you will be leaving in a few minutes, let's get started. Will everyone please take a seat," he said indicating to the desks. Once we were seated, attendance was taken and I noticed a few people that I knew. Boomer was here and so were Tuna, and Pete Ayers. As soon as each name was called a thick packet was handed out to us, we were told not to open them yet, but to sit tight and everything would be explained to us.
"As you people know, this war is costing the US some of its finest fighting troops. Three days ago, the USS Kittyhawk was destroyed." We all started at him disbelievingly. We hadn't heard about this. "I know why you're all wondering why you are just hearing about this, but I really can't tell you. Later today, there will be a briefing at the Pentagon, and the media will be informed. You are all gathered here today as an elite fighting force. We lost so many pilots and Rio's on the Kittyhawk that the President has authorized the assembly of the best of the best. That's why you are here.
You will be broken down into five groups of six, and then you will be broken down even further. There will be a squad leader, the wingman, and the tail. In your packets are your assignment, and on the front, you see a color. This color will determine where you will be sent, and every color represents a squad. The red represents the Justice squad, the green represents the freedom squad, the blue represents independence squad, the white represents the liberty squad, and the black represents the allegiance squad. There are five main areas that we will be targeting, now due to security you will be told as soon as you on the transport."
I looked down at my packet, and noticed a blue strip at the bottom of my packet. I was curious to see what color Keeter and Skates had, but I kept my eyes on the Admiral.
"Now everyone should know that this assignment is totally voluntary. If you want out, you can leave now, no one is going to make you go through with this. You should know that what you are embarking on is very dangerous, and you may not make it home."
I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach as I closed my fingers around my empty ring finger. I couldn't do that to Mac. Not so soon after we were married, not even at all. But I knew that she would want me to do this, to my simper fi marine; it was duty before anything, but what about now?
As I suspected, no one left. Smiling, one of the other Admirals spoke. "Okay, would the Justice squad follow me."
A group of five men and one woman followed the Admiral out of the room. The Freedom squad was called next, and then the liberty and allegiance teams were called. After all of the other teams left, it was only Keeter, Skates, Tuna, Frank, and Boomer. So we were the blue team, I chuckled to myself knowing that I couldn't have picked a better group of people.
The one Admiral left, Admiral Wess, cleared his throat and looked us all over before he spoke.
"Can you all move up to the front? This way I won't have to yell."
Well all took the front six desks, and anxiously waited to hear what we would be doing.
"For those of you who don't already know, I am Admiral Wess, and I will be your CO while you are here. Any questions so far?"
Pete raised his hand, "Sir, do you know how long this mission is going to take?"
"Lieutenant Grady, isn't it?"
"Yes sir."
"No I don't know how long. Open you packets to the first page, and we'll get started."
Upon opening my packet I saw the words "Independence squad Leader" Written in bold letters across the front. I looked over to Skates, and she had the same thing written in her packet.
"Looks like we'll be flying together again sir," she said and smiled. Keeter tapped me on the shoulder and showed me his packet, on his was written "Wingman" he smiled and lightly hit my arm. I figured that Tuna was his RIO, and that left Boomer and Pete flying together.
I turned back to the Admiral, who was unaware we weren't paying attention.
"I know this base doesn't look that big, and I know you're wondering how we're going to launch a Tomcat off of this base, but trust me, we can. If you open your packets to pages six, you'll find a map of numerous caves and buildings that have been heavy with terrorist activity, I know it doesn't look like much now, but trust me, we will keep you boys busy."
As he went on explaining the specifics of our missions, I couldn't help but wonder what Mac was doing right now, and when I would be able to talk to her again, to hold her-
I shook my head, I've got to stop thinking about her and concentrate on the mission at hand. After the meeting was over, we were given a chance to grab some chow, clean up, and were shown to our barracks. The accommodations were nothing to brag about, but compared to some of the places were I've stayed, this wasn't bad. Our first mission was in a few hours, so I crashed on my bunk, my last thoughts of Sarah.
TBC