Day 1

The P.A. boomed, "Sergeant Riggin, report to the Captain's office!"

They can't mean me. I wasn't even off base this weekend. Randy and I had stayed at the enlisted club Friday and Saturday. Oh, well! I probably deserved it anyway.

The walk across the parade field was hot, long and filled with the sounds of drill. God, there is nothing like the Army, I thought, watching the Battalion of 82nd Airborne prepare for a retirement. They moved with ease and grace, brought on by all that training. Beautiful!

I walked the steps that had the Railroad-Track insignia over the door and entered.

"Go in, Chase. He's waiting." The First Sergeant was always right to the point.

The Captain wasn't alone, and I tried unsuccessfully to conceal a curious squint at his two guests. Hard-faced characters, wearing fancy dress suits which didn't really seem to fit into the scenery. Spooks, no doubt. Well, there goes the neighborhood!

Supo didn't give me any more time to ponder the issue. "Sergeant Riggin," he started, "this is Agent Harless and Agent Micheals...Agents, this is Sergeant Chase Riggin."

Two firm handshakes and a salute, then we were seated at the Captain's desk. Supo's eyes were unreadable, kind of a blank stare.

Oh, shit, was my immediate thought.

"Sergeant Riggin," Agent Harless took the initiative, "let me get straight to the point. We are with a, uh...specialized Government Agency, and would like you to come to work for us. Of course, you would still officially be in the military. Just consider it a detail. And perhaps even a promotion might be in line."

The Captain leaned back, crossing his arms, intrigued but not concerned. Not yet!

I pulled up an eyebrow. "What's the detail?"

"It is confidential until you actually accept," Agent Micheals snapped.

"How can I accept without knowing what you want me to do?" I shot back.

Agent Micheals jumped to his feet, as did I, ready for anything that might look like aggression.

I don't like this guy! Not at all.

"Calm down, George!" Harless barked. "We need him."

"We don't need a questionable Green Beret," Micheals sneered.

"He is the only qualified man left. Unless you want to try it?" Harless was clearly getting on edge.

Captain Supo intervened. "How about a compromise, gentlemen?"

Harless sighed, "Okay, let's talk. Sergeant, this conversation stays in this room, understood?"

"Yes, Sir!" I answered sharply.

"Good. Listen carefully and hold your questions until later, all right?"

"Yes, Sir!" I repeated, this time halfheartedly.

"Back in September last year, a surveillance jet was flying at twenty-one-thousand feet over a wilderness area of southwest Washington State. A regular training mission for all intents and purposes. The eight crew members were well experienced, and had flown together on a number of missions. While doing testing on the infra-red tracking system, one of the crew observed three large, very large images. Two were consistent with bears or large elk, the third, however, was not. It was bipedal and chasing the other two."

"You mean it was on two legs?" I gave him a skeptical squint.

"I said hold your questions, Sergeant," Harless snapped.

"Yes, Sir!" I replied between gritted teeth.

"The images were tracked for three miles until the plane had to recover to base for fuel. Interested in the report, the Commander of Fort Lewis sent a training- and engagement-team to the last position of the images. They never returned. Seven men, MIA for nearly a year. So much for military! Three months ago the President finally ordered our agency's involvement, to find out what happened. Our five-member team has not reported back for over a month. Whereabouts unknown. That's where you come in." Harless' eyes squinted and glared a hole through my head. "Sergeant Riggin, we want you to find them."

"Why me?"

Micheals cut in, "You were raised in the mountains, know your way around, to survive, and do what it takes to accomplish the mission. Your military record confirms you are one bad mother in the field."

"Pretty high praise for an old country-boy from West-by-God-Virginia," I smirked.

"Don't be so modest." Harless regained the floor, eyeballing Micheals. "Twenty-three confirmed close quarter combat kills, seven combat jumps, two Bronze Stars, one Silver Star, Survival Instructor, Weapons Expert...You are what we need to get in and get out."

My turn again. "I have a couple of questions first, if that's okay?" I received a nod from Harless, expressing caution. "First, why not send the surveillance jet back up? Second, why not send a larger recon team with better commo? And third, who's my back-up?"

Harless winced noticeably as he responded, "One, been done. Two, don't want to lose any more men. And three, none."

"Sounds like fun," I grinned.

Micheals seemed slightly off balance. "The Commander of 7th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis has been advised to provide you with transportation and adequate gear for the excursion. And you would, of course, have our agency's full support."

"I see!" My grin widened. "And just what does that support consist of?"

"Anything you might require, other than personnel," Harless hastily answered. "We have assembled a complete file on the matter, including detailed topographical maps and all available reports." He slid a thick manila envelope across the desk. "But the President strongly feels that we cannot afford to expend any more men."

"Aside from an old grunt like me, right?"

"It wasn't..."

"Sergeant!" Captain Supo cut in sharply. "What Agent Harless meant was, any more men who aren't really trained for this kind of undertaking."

Harless flashed Supo a thankful glance. "Yes! That is correct," he hooked the extended life-line.

"All right!" I ran my fingers across the large envelope and resolved to quit pushing the issue. "Only one more question...what exactly am I looking for?"

After a good ten second pause and a lot of uneasy looking around, Micheals slowly answered. "We don't know."

Swallowing the grin this time, I nodded cordially. "I'll be needing a few things, Agent Harless. I'll have a list for you in the morning."

"Whatever you need, Sergeant. " He sounded relieved. "And familiarize yourself with the information in the file so we can also address any further questions you might have."

Rising from my chair and shaking hands again, I locked eyes with Harless and noticed the sweat running off his brow. He was hiding something, I could feel it.