My Online Store!

http://www.zazzle.com/militaryveteran1998

For all your high school and college needs….shop now!  Buy $25 worth of merchandise and receive a $25 gift card via email.

*Just hightlight the website above, copy, and past the link into the address box.*

“SHOOTING STAR” Chapter XI – Things are more clear

LOCATION: Somewhere near the U.S.-Mexican border

BRAVO-7: Bravo-7 to base.

BASE COMMAND: Base Command to Bravo-7, go ahead.

BRAVO-7: I am heading west at approximately 15,000 feet and have three boggies on my radar about 20 miles out.  Do we have any friendly’s in the area that I should know about?

BASE COMMAND: Hold on Bravo-7 we’ll check, but no one should be in the area at this time.

About a minute goes by and then base command come back on the air.

BASE COMMAND: Base command to Bravo-7 we are unable to identify the incoming boggies.  We have Bravo-6 and Bravo-5 coming up to meet you.

BRAVO-7: Roger that Base command.

As Bravo-7 continues to fly westbound, he drops at about 12,000 feet and the boggies on his radar read that they are approximately 5 miles out in front.  Suddenly, he hears a rapid beep that indicated a lock on from a missile and he yells to base command that he is being engaged.  Bravo-7 breaks right hard and sees the missile passing his underside and then the two unidentified jets flying by at a high rate of speed.

BRAVO-7: Bravo-7 to command I was just engaged.  I’m going in hot!

BRAVO-5 & 6: Bravo-7 we are coming in at your rear and have one boggie in our sights.

As Bravo-5 attempts to get a solid lock on a boggie at his twelve o’clock, Bravo-6 breaks right to go help out Bravo-7, who has an enemy jet at his six o’clock.

BRAVO-6: Bravo-7, you have a boggie at your six o’clock and I am on his tail.

BRAVO-7: Roger that Bravo-6!

As Bravo-7 follows the boggie at his twelve o’clock turn by turn and dip by dip, the boggie at his six o’clock breaks off and goes right dropping at about 10,000 feet with Bravo-6 at his six o’clock.  Bravo-5 at the meantime is having a hard time staying with his boggie as the enemy jet banks right and left to avoid being an easy target.  As all three jets attempt to gain advantage over their enemy during the dog fight. Then Bravo-7 hears another rapid beep in his cockpit.  He looks down at his instruments and hears Bravo-5 yell into his headset, “YOU HAVE A SURFACE TO AIR MISSLE ON YOUR TAIL! BREAK OFF! BREAK OFF!”  As Bravo-7 breaks off the position he had behind his boggie, he now attempts to out run the surface to air missile fired from the ground.

The boggie that was being trailed by Bravo-7, banks left back into the dog fight and goes after Bravo-6.  Bravo-6 finally gains advantage and locks on his missile after firing numerous rounds from his mounted gun.

BRAVO-6: Bravo-6, I’m locked on! Fire 1! He presses the button and releases one of his sidewinders from his left wing and sees it travel in front of him towards his target.  The boggie attempts to bank right, but was too late and gets hit by the missile on his left wing and goes into a death spin, with fire trailing from his wing.  Bravo-6 confirms the hit but, the celebration of shooting one down was short lived, when he heard a rapid beep in his cockpit.

BRAVO-6: Bravo-6! I’m locked on by the boggie! I’m breaking right! He breaks right extremely hard and the missile just misses him, passing his underbelly by inches.  He continues to bank right to get behind the enemy aircraft.  Bravo-7 in the meantime is running for his life as the surface to air missile is still trailing behind him.  Bravo-6 hears Bravo-7 on the radio calling for assistance to get that surface to air missile off of his ass.  Bravo-6 pilot thinks for a split second to break off and go help his fellow pilot.

Bravo-7 is banking right, left, and dropped down as low as 5,000 feet to out run the missile.  As Bravo-6 gets his position on where he is and he attempts to help him, another rapid beep is heard and Bravo-6 is locked on from a surface to air missile himself, but as he attempts to elude the missile the boggie that he was chasing fires numerous rounds from his mounted gun and strikes Bravo-6 in the right and left engines.

BRAVO-6: This is Bravo-6!  I’m hit! I’m hit! I’ve lost both engines and can’t control as I loose altitude! All the bells and whistles in the cockpit start going off and the g-force of the drop makes it hard for him to control the plane.  The surface to air missile locked on his jet approaches very rapidly as the boggie that shot him breaks off.  As he finally pushes the ejection button the surface to air missile strikes the rear of his jet, destroying it and killing him as he is halfway through the eject.  A quick silence falls as one of their pilots is killed in action over U.S. soil.  At that point Bravo-7 ejects from his jet as he knows he will meet the same fate if he does not do something now.  About a few seconds after he ejects his jet is hit and blows up underneath of him, feeling the shock wave hitting his legs.  The parachute deploys and he begins his descent to earth as base command tries to pin point his exact location.

Bravo-5 is alerted to the events that just occurred with the other two pilots and is told to break off and head back to base.  Once back to base he is called into the commander’s quarters for a debriefing.  During the debriefing the talk about the other two down pilots are mentioned.

COMMANDER: I’m sorry about Johnson, I know you and him were close.

BRAVO-5: He was a very good friend.  We went to the academy together. As he fights back the tears.

COMMANDER: We found where Kelly’s position is.  He landed somewhere outside of Dallas.  We instructed him to head south towards the border and once then we will send a rescue team.

BRAVO-5: Why not have him head towards Dallas, sir?

COMMANDER: Even though we have friendlies in the area we can’t be positive that he won’t be captured by the enemy before we get to him.  Besides the two surface to air missiles that were fired came from the Dallas area.

BRAVO-5: Who is our enemy, sir?  We’ve been fighting this war on our own soil and we don’t know who our enemy is?

COMMANDER: Stands there and looks down thinking about telling him and finally breaks his silence.  Listen to this recording. He pushes the button to activate the recordings from the control tower on his tape recorder.  After a few minutes he stops it.

BRAVO-5: He has this stunned look on his face as he tries to gather his thoughts together.  That recording sounds like Chinese sir.  Is that who we were fighting up there?

COMMANDER: I sure hope not for our sake, Max.  We identified those jets that entered our airspace as Russian Mig’s.  Russian’s sold several of them to anyone that wanted them once the Soviet fell back in the ’90’s.  That could be anyone flying those planes, even terrorists who received training.  Once the city of Dallas was destroyed by a nuclear weapon that opened up a lot of opportunities for the enemy.  So we are sure of one thing, we have Russian Mig’s that are willing to combat our pilots air to air and the pilots are trained very well.  Now, we have to figure out who is flying them, whether it is the Chinese themselves or another set of individuals.  Our intelligence unit is still analyzing the recording as we speak.  So as soon as I know something I will let the men know.

BRAVO-5: Yes, sir.  Is that all?

COMMANDER: That’s all, Max.  Dismissed.

Max does an about face and walks out of the quarters and goes to himself somewhere on base and breaks down in tears.  His thoughts start to go through the whole event of fighting enemy aircraft in this country’s airspace, and experiencing loosing two pilots who are his closes friends.  He gathers himself together and walks towards his quarters to regroup.

Meanwhile back in Maryland at the military base….

Tommy, Greg, Cindy, and Sandra are in the dining hall sitting together eating dinner.  As they finish they all walk to their respective rooms, but Greg grabs Tommy’s arm and pulls him to the side out of the hallway.

GREG: Hey, umm…I didn’t want to ask this in front of them, but you never spoke about what happen.

TOMMY: What are you talking about?

GREG: Rubs his mouth with his hand.  You know, when you got halled away by the guards?  You’ve been kind of stand offish since then.

TOMMY: Stares at Greg in the eyes and replies kind of harshly.  I’d rather not talk about it.

GREG: Why?  Man, you have to understand that Sandra cares about you and she wanted me to find out for her.  You’ve been acting different since you came back.  Not too many come back after they have been escorted away so?

TOMMY: Pats Greg on the arm and replies.  Like I said I don’t want to talk about it okay?  They said if I said anything to anyone I wouldn’t see the light of day again.

GREG: That’s why you got to tell me, man.  You………was then interrupted by a sound that most people can recognize from a distance, static.

Tommy and Greg look at each other and attempt to figure out where that static noise is coming from.  They know only two things can cause static sound, a television or a radio that doesn’t have a clear signal.  They both look around the hallway and see no one as they attempt to follow the sound.  They split up and go their separate way down the hall and Tommy found out where it was coming from.  He calls out to Greg in a loud whisper and Greg runs quietly over to him and sees that a door is cracked open.  Tommy points to the door and Greg attempts to peek in, but sees a shadow go by the door and they both jump back up against the wall.  No one comes out and then they creep back towards the door and Tommy slowly opens it up.  Once the door was opened all the way the static stopped and at first they couldn’t see anyone in the room.

They entered the room and didn’t see anyone and didn’t hear the static anymore.  They look under the bed and in the closet, but no one still.  Suddenly, Tommy sees a cord hidden under a rug in the center of the room and pulls it back.  He hits Greg in the arm to show him and they follow the cord with their eyes to the bathroom, where they can see the light on coming from underneath the door.  They creep up the to door and Greg glances back at the front door of the room to make sure no one is standing there.  Tommy and Greg both take position on either side of the bathroom door and then the door opens up and a male walks out with a radio in his possession.  Tommy and Greg both grab him from behind and push him on the bed and closes the door.

DWIGHT: Who the hell are you guys?! What the hell are you doing in my room?

GREG: We heard static out in the hallway and came to check it out.

TOMMY: You know if they hear that you have a radio, they will confiscate it and you as well.

GREG: We won’t tell anyone, unless you let us know what you are doing.

DWIGHT: Fine.  How do I know you won’t tell anyone anyway?

TOMMY: This gets out all three of us will be locked away and won’t see the light of day again.  They can’t risk this being passed around.  You having the opportunity to know what is going on before they do or find out what they don’t want you to know, does not spell reward for us.  Understood?

DWIGHT: Well, I had this radio smuggled in by a friend, who I won’t reveal regardless.  I’ve been working on this radio for the longest time now and have gotten some results.

GREG: How?

DWIGHT: As he looks up at them both from his bed.  I was in college studying to be a broadcaster and so I know how radio signals work.  I’m able to tap into the satellite signal that the military uses to relay back and forth.

TOMMY: How are you able to do that without getting caught?  Can’t the military know when the satellite feed is being disturbed?

DWIGHT: Yes and no.  I took a satellite cable attached it to the radio and hooked up a satellite, that I stole from the dining hall a few weeks ago.  The signal comes in scratchy and static at best, but for a short period I can hear what is going on.

GREG: Well, what has been going on?

DWIGHT: I have a recording of something that you might be interested in. He gets up slowly puts the radio down on the bed and walks over to the closet.  Pulls away the floorboard and pulls out a tape recording.  I heard this over the satellite feed earlier today. As he plays the recording both Tommy and Greg both listen to it and can hear the voices speaking Chinese.  The recording only lasts a few seconds, but they were quick enough to figure out what language it was.  Do either of you speak Chinese at all?

They both look at him like he was crazy for asking that question.   I guess that answers my question, then. Tommy walks away towards the bedroom window and runs his fingers through his hair.

GREG: This is the first clue we have had in months.

TOMMY: Not exactly.

DWIGHT: What do you mean?

TOMMY: He turns around and looks at them both and replies.  The state of Georgia is seceding from the Union.

The shock of that news hits both Greg and Dwight as their eyes lock at Tommy and looks at them both.

NEXT PUBLICATION: Febuary 5, 2010

“SHOOTING STAR” Chapter X – Where is it headed?

LOCATION: Central Maryland

Suddenly Tommy shows up in the dining hall at the end of the line and Greg points out to Sandra of Tommy’s presence.  She looks over to him standing in line and gasp in air and rushes over to him and grabs him by the arm.

SANDRA: Tommy? Are you okay? What happened? Why did they take you?

TOMMY: He looks at her in the eyes and responds.  Nothing.  They just wanted to talk. Walks away from her to get his food and goes to sit at a table away from her, Greg, and Cindy.

She doesn’t understand what just happened and she follows him with her eyes until he sits down.  She rushes out of the dining hall upset and crying and Cindy goes after her.  Greg watches Cindy going after Sandra and that is when Greg grabbed his food and moved over to where Tommy was sitting.  Sits down in across from him and starts a conversation.

GREG: You know she’s been worried about you.  The least you can do is show some compassion for her caring about you.

TOMMY: What’sit to ya?!  All you need to know is that I am fine and that I want to get out of this hell hole.

GREG: Go where?  Back home?  Out west?  There is nothing out there for you man.  Can’t you get that through that thick skull of yours?

TOMMY: Listen, Greg I don’t know where you come from, but this is none of your business.  You and Cindy got Sandra wrapped around your finger and controlling her every move.  I want no part in it.

GREG: You know you got a real bad attitude.  You want to be a jerk and an asshole, you go right ahead.  No one here cares about that badass attitude that I’ve been through alot of shit type attitude.  Everyone here has been through life changing experiences.  You aint the only one so drop that attitude or you will get your feelings hurt. Pushes his tray of food into Tommy’s and gets up and walks out the door.

Tommy stops eating and stares at his food for a few seconds and slams his food down causing others at the table to look at him.  He gets up and leaves the dining hall and as soon as he walks out of the door he sees a group of teenage boys fighting each other by pushing and shoving and cussing at each other.  He runs over there to break up the fight along with others that saw it, but in the mist of him breaking up the fight he gets hit in the mouth and stumbles backwards.  Another guy comes out of nowhere and keeps Tommy from falling on the ground and helps to break up the fight.  The guys turns around to Tommy and ask him is he okay and Tommy responds okay.  Then suddenly, the ground rumbles and shakes and everyone struggles to keep their balance.  Some fall and hurt themselves on the ground.  Then the ground stops shaking and a load roaring noise is heard through the air.  Some cover their ears from the load noise and then everyones eyes are fixed in the sky.

Tommy looks around and sees everyone looking up and then the guy taps him on the shoulder and points upward.  Tommy follows his finger and sees an object going up into the sky with a tail of fire behind it.  The sky had a pinkish-blue hue behind the object so the fire-trail was easy to see, but the object was blended into the sky.  It was a silence that fell upon the base and no one was moving as everyone was watching this object going into the sky amongst the clouds.

TOMMY: What is that?

GREG: ICBM.

TOMMY: What is that?  ICBM?

GREG: Intercontinental Ballistic Missle.

TOMMY: Where is it going?

GREG: Who knows.  Who knows how many more were fired.

TOMMY: Where was it coming from?

GREG: Somewhere far away from here, but close enough to cause a mini-earthquake.  Face it kid, the world ain’t the same anymore. Walks away from Tommy and the crowd slowly starts to move, but majority of them stands there and continues to watch the missle into the sky until it is too far from eye sight.

Tommy puts his head down and rubs his hands all over his face and turns around looking for Greg.  He sees Greg walking away and going down the sidwalk towards their building.  He runs out in a full sprint and jumps in front of Greg to stop him in his tracks.  Greg stops and looks at him with his hands in his pocket.

TOMMY: Look, umm..I wanted to apologize for my actions in the dining hall.

GREG: No need to apologize Tommy.  I was like that when I first got here.  I should have known it was coming.

TOMMY: I’m scared.  I don’t know what to vision anymore.  The world is a different place since we last known it.  I dream and hope that things will change, but looks like it won’t.

GREG: I know exactly what you are feeling.  What you have to do now is adjust to the life we are in now and start a new path.  One day we will be out of here and then no one knows what else after we get released.

TOMMY: Released?  You mean they will release us from here and leave us out there on our own?  Thats crazy!

GREG: I know, but that is the honest to God truth.  Some of my friends were hear and I haven’t heard from them since they were released.  I don’t know if they were killed, captured, or who knows.  Enjoy your time the best way you can. He puts his hand on Tommy’s shoulder to make him feel that things will be okay.

Suddenly, they hear rapid gun fire and the military rushing down the street in there military vehicles.  People begin to rush out of the way and dodging for cover and Tommy and Greg does the same thing.  They both go running behind the dining hall building for cover while peeping around the corner watching the firefight between the military and some other men dressed in all black.  Tommy yells to Greg over the noise of the firefight.

TOMMY: What the hell is going on?!

GREG: The guys in black are considered the Blackhawks of America.  A rebel group that has been attempting to take over this base for a while now.

TOMMY: Sandra and I didn’t run into them coming here.  Is that why the guards were on edge like that?

GREG: Probably!  Lets get out of here! They jump up and rush for the building they are staying in and go straight to Greg’s room.  That is where they meet Sandra and Cindy and Sandra gives Tommy a big hug and he gives one back.

CINDY: What the hell is going on out there?

GREG: BOA’s.

SANDRA: Who’s that?

CINDY: Blackhawks of America.  They are a rebel group that believes the times we are in now is the judgement day of man.

GREG: Right now they consider this phase of our lives as the rapture before Armaggeddon.  You know, the war that ends all wars.

TOMMY: Yeah, I’m aware of what that is.  How long have they been attempting to take over?

GREG: It is said that under this military base is a supply of food, weapons, and other things that are kept down there for situations like we are in now.  Post-nuclear era.

SANDRA: What about the farms and grocery stores that are out there?

CINDY: Are you kidding?  They are all on their own.  Most of them are probably looted and burned down by the chaos that occurred.  That’s probably where the food is coming from, underground, but no one knows how and where.

TOMMY: Is that what the Blackhawks of America want?  How would they know what this base contains?

GREG: Because some of our people escaped along with some soldiers who turned and went AWOL after the attacks happened.  It is thought that some of them joined the rogue states that were formed soon after everything went to shit.  What we saw just a few moments ago is the farthest they ever got on base.

SANDRA: Will they succeed you think?

CINDY: We can only hope that they won’t because if they do that would definitely change everything we have gotten used to.

Sandra hugs on Tommy and he wraps his arms around her to help her relax and stay calm.

TOMMY: Do you think they have something to do with that ICBM that was launched?

SANDRA: What is that?  ICBM?

TOMMY: An intercontinental ballistic missle.

CINDY: When did that happen?

GREG: That occurred minutes before the firefight outside broke out.

CINDY: Where do you think it is headed?

GREG: I don’t know.  It could be heading to any one of our enemies.  Iran, North Korea, or whoever.  I can only hope that none are incoming.

SANDRA: Incoming?  Maybe that is what we saw coming out of the sky back home Tommy?

TOMMY: That’s a possibility, Sandra.

GREG: That might explain why we launched one ourselves.  If we indeed launched one or maybe a terrorist group got ahold of the controls and launched it out west.  We don’t know we can only speculate and hope.

MEANWHILE IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN…

A U.S. nuclear submarine is about 150 miles off of the coast heading north.  They are monitoring and watching the ICBM going over the ocean heading east of their position.  Suddenly, they get a ping on their radar and it was alerted to the commander of the sub that an enemy sub has been spotted.  All men reported to their battlestations as the alarm sounded.  That is when the enemy sub fired two torpedoes and they were closing in from 1000 yards and fast.  The commander ordered the sub to move right and disperse counter-measures to throw off the radar of the enemy torpedoes.  One torpedo missed the sub and hit the counter-measure passing them in the water.  The other torpedo clipped the U.S. sub, but only to go by and hit the other counter-measure.  Once the commander had his sub in position he ordered two torpedos to fire and they watched them close in from 1200 yards.  The enemy sub attempted to manuever out of the way, but was unlucky and got hit by both American torpedos.

The men cheered as they scored a direct hit and the commander had a smile on his face and ordered all stations to report to him any damage.  In the meantime the executive officer walked up to the commander and asked him a question.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Do you have any clue who that could have been, sir?

COMMANDER OF SUB: No, that could have been anyone.  I’m pretty sure there is more out there.  We need to be on high alert since we are within 300 miles of our coast.  We can’t let them, whoever it is, get a clear shot at Washington.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Yes, sir.  The men and I will continue to investigate on who the enemy is and what their purpose is in American waters.  In the meantime do you want us to find out where the ICBM landed?

That is when a message came over the line and the “EAM” alarm sounded and the message was retrieved according to protocol.  The message was delivered to the commander and he read it and was in disbelief of what was written down.  He ordered the XO to put him on all stations so he can relay the message.

COMMANDER OF SUB: To all the crew of the U.S.S. Pondora, this is your captain speaking. He takes a big gulp of saliva and looks at the men quickly in the control room with him, I just received an emergency action message from NORAD about the ICBM that was launched at 2200hrs., zulu time.  We are being put on highest alert and that all naval ships be ready for full scale war.  If you haven’t been a religious man up until now, I suggest you pray to whomever you pray too.  This is it, men we are now at war.  This is your captain, out. Once he was finished speaking to the men he pulled the XO away from controls and to his quarters.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER: What’s going on Captain? He gets the message from the captain and reads it.  Are they sure about this?  This seems highly unlikely, sir.

COMMANDER OF SUB: Highly unlikely?  Well, I don’t think NORAD or Washington has time to be playing games.  I don’t want to believe it, but it was confimed that it is a real message.  So, we have to follow what it says.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Sir, don’t believe this message.  I think it was sent as a mistake or maybe it is a typo.

COMMANDER OF SUB: Listen to yourself, Brady.  We have been training our entire naval career for moments like this.  War can happen at anytime with anyone.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Yeah, but not against the British, sir.

“SHOOTING STAR” Chapter IX: Firestorm

LOCATION: Eastern, United States

As the president of the United States is being alerted to the five missiles that were launched from Fredericksburg, Virginia he authorizes the next level of defense.  At this point no one knows, except the White House staff and high authorities of the federal government, where the president is being hidden.  In the meantime the president is dealing with numerous issues that could hold the country together, but if any of the issues take hold then divided we fall.  The secretary of defense is also alerted by the military commanders that the missiles accompanied by the “Blackhawks” were not located on airport grounds and that they have been launched.  The military intelligence unit rushes to find out where the missiles are heading and to alert those military units of incoming fire.

WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: Mr. President, the missiles that were launched from Fredericksburg are still in the air and we now know the location of two missiles.

PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.: Where are they headed?

WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: Two of the five are headed towards Cleveland and Atlantic City.  The other three may have a device on board where we can’t pinpoint their destination.

PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.: Lord, how could this have happened? As he said this to himself.

WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: The Joint Chiefs want to know what our response will be.

PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.: How long until the two missiles hit their mark?

WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: We have approximately 8 minutes until the missile hits Atlantic City and 10 minutes until Cleveland is hit.

PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.: So basically we have no time to alert any kind of evacuation those two cities.  More people will die.

WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: We still have our emergency communications up and linked to the NSA satellite.  We can at least have those two cities alert the public by sounding off the horns.  After that, we have to wait and see what happens.

PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.: Do that then.  Does the defense secretary know?

WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: He is aware and have called an emergency meeting with the Joint Chiefs.

PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.: I will join the meeting.  In the meantime do me a favor.  Start praying if you haven’t already started.

The city of Cleveland and Atlantic City, both, have sounded their emergency alert message the best way they can with limited signals received.  Since the attacks, most cities were sent back close to the stone age when an EMP (electric magnetic pulse) was set off.  Atlantic City and Cleveland are the few cities, at least on the eastern half of the U.S. that was able to still have some type of electronic communication with its public service personnel, nearby military units, and able to alert the public of breaking news.  Unfortunately, Atlantic City was not alerted soon enough and suffered the same fate that other cities on the eastern coast suffered.  Cleveland was able to save themselves at the last minute by having a surface to air missile loaded on the back of a military vehicle just outside of the city limits.

The president walks into the modified war room in their secret location and along with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary of Defense is linked via satellite.

DEFENSE SECRETARY: Mr. President, our situation in attempting to secure our nation’s security is quickly dwindling.  We need to act fast and swiftly.

PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.: Do we know who our enemy is and what caused all of this?

MARINE JOINT CHIEF: We are still trying to follow up on some leads along with the full authority and support from the F.B.I.

PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.: What leads do we have at this point?

MARINE JOINT CHIEF: Well, right now we have leads that give us a group or numerous groups working together in conducting these attacks.

PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.: Was the Blackhawks included in this list of leads or should we say suspects?

ARMY JOINT CHIEF: The Blackhawks were not included in the list of groups that we have that maybe involved with these attacks.  We honestly, had no idea of their existence.

PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.: So since we had no idea of their existence until now, how credible is the list of suspects we have and is their one that is the head of the organization of groups?

DEFENSE SECRETARY: We have received the list of possible suspects from the F.B.I. and if you want to see it we can show it to you.

PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.: I don’t need to see the list, but I do want to know how many suspected groups we have listed.

MARINE JOINT CHIEF: We have at least twenty groups and counting.

PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.: Twenty?!  How many are domestic and international?

DEFENSE SECRETARY: More than half are domestic and the others are international, but may have not actively been involved in these attacks.  They are however, supporting the domestic terrorism groups to carry out their missions.

PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.: So we are basically being attacked from within, which is much more difficult to handle with all the individuals and groups involved.  Do we have any indication of government infiltration?

AIR FORCE JOINT CHIEF: Looks at the other Joint Chiefs, the defense secretary, and then the president himself.  At this time we have no indication of any inside job or mole.

PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.: I find that hard to believe general.  With this type of attack coordination among several groups, we have to have an inside mole.  Find out who, why, and alert me of the changes during the investigation.

MARINE JOINT CHIEF: In the meantime, Mr. President, with the recent missle attacks, what should be our next move?

PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.: What happen to those five missiles that were launched?

AIR FORCE JOINT CHIEF: Cleveland is the only city that was prepared to defend themselves.  Almost immediately after the attacks they had the presence in mind to have surface to air missiles stationed outside the city.

PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.: Okay, so what happened to the other four?

DEFENSE SECRETARY: Atlantic City, Pittsburgh, Richmond, and Raleigh were all hit.

PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.: Oh my God!  What were they loaded with?

AIR FORCE CHIEF OF STAFF: We are still trying to figure that out from the one that we did disarm during the assault of the airport. Suddenly the phone rings inside the room and the marine joint chief answers it.

MARINE JOINT CHIEF: That was the ordinance commander.  We have results of the test of that missile we disarmed.

PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.: What was in the missile, general?

MARINE JOINT CHIEF: Since we don’t have the other five to match and determine that this is what they were loaded with, but I think it is safe to assume that the other five may have been loaded with mustard gas.

A collective sigh was heard throughout the room and the president bowed his head down and closed his eyes.  Raised his head back up.

PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.: I can only hope that the other five were not loaded with chemical weapons.  Gentlemen, we have a war on our hands on our own soil and our citizens are depending on us to protect them.  You have your list of suspects and I urge you to start shaking them to find out who is responsible.  You do what you need to do to either bring them to justice or eliminate the threat.  The only two cities that were hit worse that we know of is Baltimore and Boston.  Two nuclear bombs have been detonated on U.S. soil and I’m afraid that they are more here.  Those groups have the means and determination to carry out the threats.  I know of five states, with Georgia being one them general (to the Air Force Joint Chief) as that being your home state, threatening to go their separate ways if we can’t do the job of protecting our nation.  More states are to follow if we can’t get to the bottom of this and I mean now.  We loose one state, we loose them all.

The president stands up and so does the Joint Chiefs.  He walks out of the room and they remain standing looking at each other as if they are looking for answers.

“SHOOTING STAR” Chapter VIII: Security Forces

LOCATION: Somewhere just outside of Fredericksburg, Virginia

It’s about midway through fall or through October rather and the country is still in disarray with no clear cut leadership to run everything.  Most of the governmental body was evacuated out of the nation’s capitol and taken to secret locations.  That was done to protect the leadership and integrity of the country, but all it did was add doubt in the people’s mind that the government has abandoned them to defend for themselves.  At this point, the nation’s capitol is still standing strong and tall and may have missed the initial attack, but with it still standing it brings more attention from the enemy or enemies who want to see it fall.  Washington, D.C. is secured from all access points and without proper identification you will not be able to enter the city.  All other transportation such as trains and ferries are still accessible, but only to government employees who work in the city and in the surrounding immediate areas.  The closes international airport is only open to business travel to federal government employees and the access point to and from for foreign diplomats and V.I.P.’s.

About one hour south down the interstate the city of Fredericksburg has gone through its changes since the attacks.  The military base that is about half hour south is dedicated to protect the integrity of the city and its components.  Currently, the city is partially under siege, well, the southern half of it is and destruction and terror has brought this city to almost a complete standstill.  One of the major objectives that the military must achieve in order to bring law and order to the city is to take control of the Fredericksburg Airport.

The airport is currently under the control of a local gang, who was able to get possession of military style weapons.  According to the intelligence received by the defense secretary the gang in control of the airport has missiles that can potentially reach Washington, D.C. and threatened the security of the nation.  The base commander has been given the task of eliminating the enemy and seize control of the airport within the next 48 hours.  The commander has handed down the tasks and two platoons have been assigned to carry out the mission of overrunning the airport.

First platoon was given the task along with second platoon, as third platoon was given the task of support operations.  Fourth platoon was given the assignment of being re-enforcements for the mission.  All platoons have been given their assignments and are ready to begin the mission the following day at 0600hrs.

1ST PLATOON SGT: Men, tomorrow we go into battle to overtake the Fredericksburg Airport from a local gang known as the “Blackhawks”.  Some of them have military training and it has been confirmed that military weapons are present.  Along with our mission to destroy the enemy, we are also task with destroying or disarming the missiles that are also present.  That is the number one task at hand and then we concentrate on eliminating the enemy threat.  Serge?

2ND PLATOON SGT:  Thanks, Serge!  Second platoon our task in this mission is to cover the ass of first platoon.  We will provide cover and radio back here to base for any artillery fire that is needed.  In case a missile is launched during our assault, we will alert the commander immediately and he will indeed contact the person of interests in D.C. and we will go from there.  There is a possible way of destroying it in mid-air, but that control maybe in the control tower, where they have snipers positioned.  Men, we are to succeed in this mission and failure is not an option.  Understood?  Then men give a collective “HOOAH!!!”

The following morning the men were up and ready to load up by 0500hrs.  First platoon moved out first and then second platoon behind them five minutes later.  Third platoon was positioned in the rear of the assault so they are easily accessible by the troops.  Fourth platoon positioned themselves on the north end of the airport closes to the city.  At about 0545hrs., first platoon, of about 25 men, walked the railroad tracks that are just south of the airport to get in position for the assault.  Second platoon was right behind them as covering the rear as they marched along the tracks.  When the airport was in sight the leader of the pack put up the signal to halt the movement.  They all stopped and second platoon was motioned to the front to provide the cover for first platoon.  Once they were in position first platoon then rushed into position quietly just ahead of second.

When the clock hit 0600hrs., that is when the artillery was fired upon the airport.  The first mortar hit the grounds of the airport within 100 meters of the tower and that is when first platoon assaulted the airport.  As mortars rang down from above first platoon encountered their first obstacle, the outer fence.  Once that was cut and a hole was big enough for the men to go through they assaulted.  The Blackhawks somewhat was ready for their surprise attack, but naturally was caught off guard of the mortars coming down.  As first platoon made their way through the fields of the airport under fire, second platoon took aim at the enemy and opened fire.  Just within the first few shots of their rifles about five Blackhawks were killed near the tower.  One gunner, armed with a M249 SAW, was assigned to fire upon the tower.  The first missile was found just about 100 yards into the assault and a private ran over, disarmed it while he was being covered by second platoon.  No one expected the next events to happen.

Artillery was told to stop the assault so the ground forces could take control.  As first platoon was gaining ground on the enemy and towards the tower, only one missile was found, but no one knew how many missiles were actually at the airport.  Most of the men were at the prone position engaging the Blackhawks who were falling left and right.  As the first members of first platoon gained ground on the tower the were at the end of the grassy field before pavement when one of them stepped on a trigger wire.  The one that did fell forward and the others were trying to figure out what happen and then suddenly a loud explosion occurred and fire began to spread through the fields putting the men in danger of burning to death.  Anyone by the explosion was killed instantly and since the grassy field was dry, even though it was cool outside, others began to run for cover, but for most the fire got them first.  Second platoon watched in horror as everyone on first platoon was burned to death or was killed by enemy fire.

Since a wall of fire separated the rest of the troops from the Blackhawks, some of them began running towards the woods towards fourth platoon.  Second platoon called in fourth platoon for re-enforcements and they gladly engaged at the enemy running towards them.  Second platoon engaged at the retreating forces and killed them as they ran towards the woods.  Some were being engaged from the tower and returned fire.  Others went to sweep the airport to make sure no other enemies remained outstanding.  Two more soldiers were killed during the firefight with the tower.  The Blackhawks had the height advantage so they were able to engage the soldiers from all sides.  They couldn’t call in artillery for support or they would end up killing themselves along with the enemy and destroying the tower.  As the soldier assigned to engage the tower, engages, his team assaults and lets him know when they get to the tower so he can cease fire.

As some members of second platoon attempt to clear the tower they face several skirmishes in the hallways, stairways, and when they get to the top of the control tower.  Two other second platoon soldiers are wounded in the clearing of the tower.  In the meantime fourth platoon is engaging the Blackhawks in the woods and have them pinned in a valley.  Grenades were thrown by the Blackhawks and killed a few fourth platoon members.  One Blackhawk member yelled into his radio to launch the missiles, but he didn’t know that the tower was being seized.  Some of the soldiers were fighting hand to hand combat in the tower trying to keep each other away from the trigger button.  He repeats the command, but hears no missiles being fired and he alerts his men.  They attempt to retreat from the valley, but to no avail.  Every person of the Blackhawks gang was killed in the woods by fourth platoon, while fourth platoon only lost a few members,  several were wounded.  The unwounded ones began to run towards the control tower and could see that second platoon was engaged in close quarters combat.  A few members of the Blackhawks engaged fourth platoon as they charged the tower and some fell from the enemy fire.  The ones who made it hugged the base of the tower to be safely away from enemy fire, but that was short lived.  A grenade was dropped from high above and landed in front of a few soldiers and exploded.  One soldier lost his face, while the others escaped with serious wounds that took them out of the action.  The remaining members of fourth platoon engaged from the base of the tower up to the top.  Some second platoon members were still fighting hand to hand with knives and butts of empty weapons.  One Blackhawk had a bayonet and stabbed one soldier in the back, but he was shot by one of the squad sergeants in the back of the head.  Then the squad sergeant shot the other Blackhawk who was  fighting with the fallen soldier.  The squad leader ran up the steps and saw one Blackhawk member reaching for the trigger and shot him.  The guy turned around and open fire shooting the squad leader in the chest.  The squad leader falls to his knees and fires one more shot hitting the Blackhawk member, but not killing him.  The squad leader falls face first and dies on scene, as the wounded Blackhawk member finally gets to the trigger button and launches the missiles, which were located miles away from the airport.  Soldiers on the ground can hear them streaking in the sky and looked up and could see five missiles climbing the sky to maximum peak before hitting their target.

All of the Blackhawk members were killed in the assault, but not without loosing half of the assaulting force.  The base commander was notified of the launched missiles, but no one knew exactly where they were going.  It was assumed they were headed towards Washington, D.C., but it would appear that their calculations were incorrect.

NEXT PUBLICATION:  Beginning February 2010

U.S. Marine Corps Mug

U.S. Marine Corps Mug by MilitaryVeteran1998
Browse Us Mugs

This is a good product to give your favorite Marine so he or she can enjoy their favorite beer or beverage in their personalized mug. You can personalize this mug of how you see fit to have it match the personality of the Marine in your life.

“Tricracity” Movement

Las Vegas 2015 @ 1745hrs…..

“We have been fighting this secret war for years and it’s amazing how the general public doesn’t even know that it’s going on.  The government has the public focus on the war efforts overseas in foreign lands when the real battle is here on our own soil.  For most the American Civil War never ended it was just delayed until now, but for most the Revolutionary War has taken a new turn.  Our federal government is not in control of our nation and does not even control our economy, military, police, or the political theater.  There is a secret organization so deep into society that they can control the government from anywhere in the world.  They choose who wins the elections and what political figures are to hold office at what time.  They control the history of our country and what we learn over time in schools.  My team was organized to release this dictator hold on our country and from other nations around the world.  The only government organization that knows of our existence is the United Nations, who discovered the Tricracity Movement during the Cold War and dated back to the American Revolutionary War.  Today the movement is stronger than ever, but now we have to head it off before it’s too late……..”

Capt. Bruce MacDonald (U.S. Marines Retired)

A big explosion in downtown Las Vegas occurs and Bruce and his team rushes down towards the huge fireball that is seen blocks away.  They arrive to ground zero with automatic weapons and assault rifles at the ready searching the area.  Their intelligence was given to them saying that the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area is one of the Tricracity Movements location where they control the nuclear arsenal.  Their mission is to eliminate everyone that is part of the movement and regain control of the nuclear arsenal laboratories and control panel.  Once that is established they would alert the U.N. and their peacekeeping forces they would take it from there.

As soon as the team arrived on scene they were met with ferocious gunfire from the Desert Troops that are assigned to protect the Tricracity interest in Las Vegas.  The police and the U.S. military were told to hold the perimeter of the city in case the team attempted to escape the area and if seen they should be destroyed.  One of Bruce’s members was hit by rapid gunfire and fell to the ground seriously wounded.  One member went out in the open to rescue the fallen member and was hit killing her instantly.  Suddenly, the team hears noises behind them that sounds like helicopters coming into the area.  Bruce not knowing if the helicopter is friend or foe continues to fire and move upon the Desert Troops.

The helicopter comes into view behind the team and all he could see in the dark filled sky of smoke was a black machine with rotors.  He sees a flash from the helicopter and feels sharp pains in his arm and leg.  He drops his rifle and falls to the ground and other members of his team fires upon the helicopter and two are killed in the engagement.  One is killed by getting shot in the back by the Desert Troops while engaging the helicopter.  The helicopter landed and more troops exited the chopper running up on the team and stripping the dead members of their gear.  Bruce lays there in between two parked cars looking up at the sky breathing hard and attempting to slide away, but was caught by a Desert Trooper.

He looks up and sees a barrel pointed at his face and the order was given to eliminate him.  Bruce looks at the soldier in the eyes, even though the solider was wearing goggles, and then the last thing he saw was a flash from the muzzle.

“SHOOTING STAR” Chapter VII: Confidential Informant

 LOCATION: Military Base

It has been about two weeks since Tommy received the news from Jason that one of the southern states are threatning to secede the union.  He has been eager to share this news, but with the fear of getting Jason in trouble and causing unrest among the population he decided to keep it to himself.  It is just after midnight and Tommy hears a knock on his door and gets startled a bit.  He walks over to the door and looks through the peep hole, which he can barely see out of, and sees someone standing there.  He opens the door and sees Jason standing there in a white wife-beater and grey sweatpants.

TOMMY:  Jason? It’s after midnight.  If they catch you after curfew you know what will happen.

JASON:  I am aware of the curfew, but the information I have to share with you is important and might not be able to wait until tomorrow.

TOMMY:  Alright come in.  What’s the important information?

Jason sits down on Tommy’s bed and runs his hands through his blonde hair and looks up at Tommy.

JASON:  New people have been picked up and are arriving tomorrow after lunch.  One of them is supposedly from Philadelphia and another one from Atlanta.

TOMMY:  Isn’t that good news?  You sound bummed out by these new people coming in.

JASON:  Because one of them is likely to be a C.I., but for who we don’t know.

TOMMY:  Aren’t C.I.’s usually employed by a police department or maybe considered some type of spy?

JASON:  Exactly.  A spy.  For all we know this new person coming in could be working for the enemy to gather intelligence or for some other purpose.  What we do know is that one of the is a C.I. and I advise you to treat water lightly.  Don’t speak to anyone of the things you know.

TOMMY:  You got it.  My lips are sealed.  Jason gets up and taps Tommy on the shoulder and tells him goodnight and goes back to his room.  Tommy takes a seat back on his bed and picks up the magazine was reading some time ago, but couldn’t concentrate after receiving that news.  He throws the magazine down and rolls over facing the wall and goes to sleep.

He wakes up to his alarm about six hours later and gets prepared for breakfast.  As he gets downstairs he spots Sandra sitting by herself and goes over to keep her company.  He sits down across from her and acknowledges her, but she was hesitant to acknowledge him.

TOMMY:  What’s wrong? Lately, you’ve been kind of not yourself.

SANDRA:  I don’t know what you are referring too.  I’m fine.

TOMMY:  Okay, if you say so I don’t want to push the issue. 

Sandra looks up at him and responds to his statement.

SANDRA:  I’m fine okay Tommy.  Nothing is bothering me at all.  What we’ve been through do you expect us to be the same way from before?  She gets up after she finishes eating and leaves the dining hall.  Tommy watches her leave and then Jason comes into his view and Jason sees him.  Jason walks over and sits down in the seat where Sandra was and starts talking to Tommy.

JASON:  Could you sleep last night?

TOMMY:  I slept pretty good.  First night of any type of sleep since all of this happened.

JASON:  You’re not concerned about this C.I. coming into the camp?

TOMMY:  Why should I?  You’re the one that has more to loose than me.  I only know a little, but you know how to get the information and where from.

JASON:  You know enough from what I told you.  Anyone finds out you know what you know that will start some shit that we can’t control.

TOMMY:  Relax, Jason.  I’m not telling anyone.  I haven’t even told Sandra, who’s been with me through all of this.  Your information is safe with me.

Both men stop talking and basically ate their breakfast and went their seperate ways afterwards.  They met up at lunch time and Tommy was coming into the dining hall after playing football.  Jason sees him in line and rushes over to him and pulls on his sweatshirt.  Jason tells him to meet him at the lunch table for an update, but this was whispered in his ear.  Jason walks away and back to the table as the other guys Tommy was joking with stop and look at each other in confusion.  Once Tommy received his food he walked over to the table and saw Cindy with Sandra across the dining hall talking.  Tommy stops for a second to get a view of them both, but gets interrupted by Jason calling out to him.

JASON:  I’ve been looking for you all morning. 

TOMMY:  Well, I’ve been basically out talking to other people and then I went and played football.  What’s up, man?

JASON:  You know the confidential informant that is suppose to arrive with the new people after lunch?

TOMMY:  Yeah, what about him?

JASON:  Well, for one it’s a woman and secondly they are already here.

TOMMY:  What?! In a loud quite voice.  What the hell?  Since when?

JASON:  Apparently, they have been here almost since the beginning of all of this. 

TOMMY:  How did this information get all twisted up?

JASON:  I don’t know exactly and still trying to find out.  From now, on be careful and we will only talk in a secluded spot away from others.  Watch your girl too, if she knows anything that we don’t know she maybe in danger as well.

TOMMY:  She’s been with me for a long time I doubt she knows anything.

JASON:  Just watch her and those two she hangs out with.  As soon as I get more information I will let you know.  So Tommy and Jason finish up their conversation and once they finished eating they went their seperate ways once again for the day.  It was dinner time and Tommy didn’t see Jason at all in the dining hall and didn’t see Sandra either.  He looked around as he was in line and he saw only Greg, but no Cindy and no Sandra.  He stared at the back of his head, but dared not going over there fearing of what Jason told him.  He ate his dinner by himself and went back to his room to excercise to relieve some stress.

He hears a knock at his door and looks at his watch and see that it is close to 2230hrs.  He figured it was Jason again after curfew hours and opens the door and his guess was right.

TOMMY:  Man, you like living dangerously.  I’m assuming you have important information to share.

JASON:  I’ve been trying to figure out who this woman is all day, but got nothing.  I’m trying to figure out what is going on here.  I have to keep trying.

TOMMY:  Keep the faith you’ll find out. 

JASON:  The last time someone told me that there was a new world among us.  Then the next thing I know I’m here on a military installation.  He walks out and Tommy closes the door behind him and ponders on that thought for a moment.  He walks to the window over looking the playing fields and looks up at the full moon shining high above the base.  He looks down at the horizon and can see flashing like lightning or something in the distance.  As he stares at it he doensn’t think it’s lightning, but he doesn’t know exactly what it is.  He dismisses it and goes to bed and gets ready for the next day.

The next day he from morning to dinner he looks for Jason, but can’t find him anywhere.  He walks around looking for him and asking others have they seen him, but no one seems to know exactly where he is.  After a long day Tommy goes to his room and opens the door and suddenly gets pushed into the room falling stomach first bouncing his chin off of the floor.  The door slams behind him and he turns over and sees Jason standing a few feet away from him with a knife in his hand.

JASON:  Who in the hell did you tell?

TOMMY:  What the hell are you talking about?  What’s the knife for?  Jason throws a note at him and tells him to read it.  Once he read it he responded.  For one I didn’t know you was from Chicago and second, I told no one about who you are and what you know.  That would be stupid you have to believe me.

JASON:  Prove it to me.  Tommy gets up slowly and tells him that he can prove to him that is not his handwriting.  Tommy grabs his journal and opens to a random page and hands the journal to Jason.  Jason, with a killers look on his face, grabs the journal and the note at the same time and compares the handwriting.  After further investigation Jason was able to determine that Tommy was not the culprit.

TOMMY:  See man, I told you I was not going to trade on you.  Jason begins to calm down and places the knife in his backside and apologizes to Tommy.  Goes over to the sink and gets a paper towel to wipe his chin and exchange kind words to each other.  Before Jason left they were laughing about the ordeal and swore to keep it to themselves.  Jason turned around before leaving the room and asked Tommy for a favor.

TOMMY:  Sure, what is that favor?

JASON:  If you find out who this was I will let you in on my circle of information.  Deal?  Tommy thought about that deal for a brief moment and after a few seconds of thinking he agreed to the deal and it was set.  Jason left the room and Tommy went to bed after his heart was back in his chest from that scary moment of nearly getting killed.  He thought though where did the knife come from?

The following day again Tommy couldn’t find Jason, but this time he was looking behind him.  As he went back to his room the next night he saw a soldier come out of Jason’s room and go down the hall.  He was shocked at what he saw and became curious and walked to the hallway to watch the soldier disappear around the corner.  Once the soldier disappeared Tommy drew his attention to Jason’s door and saw it was partially open where he could barely see light shining through.  As he crept closer to the door he looked behind him and down the hallway to make sure no one was coming.  He leaned forward to hear inside, but the voices were muffled a little bit and couldn’t make out the words that were being said. 

Suddenly, he was grabbed from behind by Greg with his hand around his mouth.  Greg pulls Tommy close to his body and tells him to hush and go into his room.  Greg opens the door and allows Tommy in and that is when another soldier came down the hallway into Jason’s room. 

GREG:  What do you think your doing?

TOMMY:  Trying to listen in on the conversation of my friend Jason.  Why do you need to know?

GREG:  The military finds out that you are listen in on their interrogation they will make you part of that such ideal.

TOMMY:  Jason is my friend and I deserve to know what is going on with him.  He is one of the very few ones here on base that I can trust.

GREG:  Trust?  Let me explain to you about trust, son.  Don’t trust anyone around here, anyone because the same person you trust will turn their back on you in the time of need.  Believe me I know.

TOMMY:  You turned your back on someone you trusted?

GREG:  It was the other way around, kid.  Take head to that advice.

That is when the door burst open and two soldiers standing their with their M-16 slung on their shoulders.

SOLDIER #1:  Which one of your is Tommy?

Greg points to Tommy and the two soldiers look at him and Tommy confirms the identity of himself.  They grab him by the arm and explain that he needs to come with them.  As the soldiers escort Tommy down the hallway Cindy and Sandra are coming back and see Tommy in between the two soldiers.  Sandra looks at him with a surprise look on her face, “What’s going on, Tommy?”  She repeats the question and follows it up with another one, “Where are you going?”

Sandra turns around and sees Greg walking out of the room.  A few seconds later Jason is escorted out in zip ties between two soldiers down the hall behind Tommy. 

SANDRA:  Looking at Greg.  What the hell is going on?  Help him!

GREG:  I can’t, Sandra.  I’m sorry.

CINDY:  What happen, Greg?

GREG:  They busted into the room and asked for him and then they took him down the hall.  That’s when you came.

They all look at each other and tears starts to stream down Sandra’s face in fear of the unknown possibilities.  Would she see him again was her greatest question and if not what would happen to him.  At this point he doesn’t know the identity of the confidential informant.  Will he ever know now, is the biggest question, unknown to Sandra he could be guilty of espionage.

NEXT PUBLICATION:  Mid-January 2010

FEDEX Kinkos…Not Your Home!

FREDERICK COUNTY, MD

You know I understand that sometimes your printer at home may not be working or that you have very important documents to print out.  Such as I, our printer is not working at the moment so any important documents that I have to print out I need to go to Kinko’s for the time being until we buy a new one.  Now that doesn’t mean that you can go to FEDEX Kinko’s and tie up the computer station that is meant for document printing and business work.  You have to realize that others need to use the computer and that since the one you are at only has one computer right now, you definitely need to be more considerate.

I went into the FEDEX Kinko’s by my house yesterday evening to print out something.  I walked in and see this middle age lady sitting at the computer, which is no biggie so I decided to wait until she was finished.  Well, about 15 minutes went by, then 30 minutes went by, and then 45 minutes went by.  At this point I am reading or you can say schimming through a book that was on the shelf.  It was about your interview answers and what you should and should not do while being interviewed.  I was wondering do they have books on how to be considerate of other people and know that you are in a place of business?

This lady was on the computer for almost an hour while I was there, but who knows how long she was on there before I came in.  While using the computer at Kinko’s you do have to pay for the time used and boy was she racking up the charges.  I got curious and played it off as if I was checking a shelf that was adjancent to her position, but behind her.  I had a good view of the computer screen she was on and I got pissed.  Not only was she printing out stuff every 10-15 minutes, one sheet of paper, but she was surfing on ebay and using bing!

Now, I have no clue what she was doing, but she was all relaxed like she was home and had all day.  I got more pissed when I saw her doing what she was doing and decided to just leave and go to the post office anyway.  I was close and thinking about approaching her to ask her when she was almost done.  I know if I did that my words would have come out the wrong way or she would have heard the aggitation in my voice.  I was going to go back to see if she was off and at that point I just said f*** it. 

This was ridiculous all the way around.  I mean, if you don’t have a computer at home nowadays you are really living in the dinosaur era.  Soon all things, if not most, will be computerized and if you don’t know how to do anything on the computer you are S-O-L.  Not to mention that most businesses are computerized in some shape or fashion.  I knew when I started to get pissed at this lady that it was time to go and not say a word to anyone, not even the FEDEX staff.  Maybe a time limit should be expressed to all people who use the computer.  It made me realize that we have to buy a new printer to save the frustration of going through this again. 

I should have just grabbed her by the hair and yanked her out of the chair and logged her off myself.  “EXCUSE ME, MISS! GET THE HELL OFF THE DAMN COMPUTER!”  I digress.

Thanks!

Season I: Episode XII: “Vince Black”

THE PAST HAS CAUGHT UP!

(SEASON FINALE!)

One week after Vince spoke to the F.B.I. about his own secretary and her possible involvement in the briefcase mystery, he has been following her moves as close as he can without her feeling followed and watched.  Elizabeth and Amanda have not had contacted each other since the day they were in the pizza parlor.  So for the past week Amanda has literally lived and went on her everyday life as if she was not bothered by anything in the world.  She seemed much more happier at work than she was normally and that led Vince to believe that he wasn’t going to come out with anything on her.  So as days past he was becoming less and less suspicious of her and the F.B.I. didn’t contact him at all on any leads that they may have in the investigation.  So for now Vince figures that everything he thought was just that, a thought, but it remained in his mind what was going on between Amanda and his friend Nicholson.

So he wanted to play out his curiosity on that suspicion in a way that they wouldn’t expect.  So he figures if he invites them to dinner tonight that they wouldn’t have that much time to plan an excuse out of that.

VINCE BLACK: Amanda? Can you give Congressman Nicholson a call and have him meet me here in my office ASAP.  Thanks.

SECRETARY AMANDA: Yes Vince. She watches him as he walks back into his office and closes the door.  She picks up the phone and calls Mark Nicholson.

CONGRESSMAN NICHOLSON: Yes Amanda, what can I do for you?

SECRETARY AMANDA: Umm…Vince wants you in his office immediately or as soon as you possibly can.

CONGRESSMAN NICHOLSON: Any reason on why he wants me there so quick?  How did he sound? Pissed?

SECRETARY AMANDA: I couldn’t tell, but just get down here as soon as you can.

About a few moments later Mark shows up at the door and stands in front of Amanda’s desk.  She turns around and sees him and points him in the direction of Vince’s office.  Nicholson looks at the door and back at her and walks towards the door and knocks to announce his entrance.

CONGRESSMAN NICHOLSON: Yes Vince?  You wanted to see me so urgently?

VINCE BLACK: Yeah…you can also call in Amanda.  I want to speak to the both of you about something.

Nicholson swallows hard and leans out of the door and waves in Amanda.  She has a look of nervousness on her face and gets up slowly and enters the office.  They close the door behind them and they both stand in front of his desk side by side.

VINCE BLACK: You both can have a seat if you chose too? The whole time he was looking into a manila folder of blank papers, but the both of them don’t know it and things he’s looking at something that requires their attention.

SECRETARY AMANDA: No it’s okay we’ll just stand.

VINCE BLACK: Okay suit yourself, but you might want to actually have a seat with this.

They look at him and then at each other and take a seat on the two chairs posted behind them.

CONGRESSMAN NICHOLSON: What’s going on Vince?

VINCE BLACK: I know what’s going on here.  I’ve been watching you too for the longest time since my arrival back.

SECRETARY AMANDA: What are you talking about exactly? Sounding nervously as if some major secret was about to come out.

VINCE BLACK: You too have been acting strangely towards each other and frankly I don’t really care for it as much.  So here is what I am going to do.

They both sit there awaiting for Vince to finish his statement as they were getting their arguments ready for defense of being with each other.  Then suddenly they were caught off guard on what came out next towards them.

VINCE BLACK: I would like to invite you two out for dinner tonight.  We’ve all been stressed out over work and I want us to just have a night of relaxation and fun.  What do you both say?

SECRETARY AMANDA: Umm…great!  I would love to have dinner with you.  We both would love to have dinner with you tonight.  What time?

VINCE BLACK: I will get back with you later on in the day and let you both know.

CONGRESSMAN NICHOLSON: Sounds great Vince!  We’re excited and we will be awaiting your notification on what time.

Vince shows his excitement and shakes both of their hands and talks to them as they exit his office.  Once he was done he closed the door and left Nicholson and Amanda outside wondering what just happened and how did that all come about.  Shortly, after that strange encounter Amanda’s cell phone rings and she answers.

ELIZABETH: Hey Amanda?  Can you meet me tonight?

SECRETARY AMANDA: I can’t meet with you tonight because I’m going to be with Vince and Congressman Nicholson.

ELIZABETH: Damn.  What time is that suppose to come about?  I need to see you.

SECRETARY AMANDA: I don’t know.  Vince is suppose to let me and Nicholson know later on in the day.

ELIZABETH: As soon as you find out let me know.  Gotta go!

After that quick conversation she begins to freak out a little bit, but gathers herself once again.  About a few hours later Vince lets Nicholson and Amanda know that he would like them over his house at about 8pm.  They both agreed and all three of them left work early to give themselves time to get ready and cleaned up.  At about quarter to eight his doorbell rings and he opens the door and sees both Amanda and Mark standing there smiling.  He wondered if they both arrived together in one car, but they crushed that theory and stated that they both came in separate cars, but got there at the same time.  He invites them in and so they ate until they were stuffed and couldn’t eat anymore.

CONGRESSMAN NICHOLSON: That meatloaf was excellent!  Where did you learn to cook?

VINCE BLACK: My mother taught me how to cook in case I met someone who didn’t like to or who couldn’t so that is how I learned.

SECRETARY AMANDA: Well, she did a great job teaching her son.  Any woman you meet who can’t cook don’t even bother with having a relationship with. LOL! They all laugh at her statement and begin to put away the dishes and wash them.

Prior to them both leaving his house they stood in the entryway of the front door when suddenly the doorbell rang.  Vince stopped in mid-sentence and was trying to figure out who would be at his house this time of night.  He peeps through the curtains and opens the door, but doesn’t see anyone.  He thinks it’s the kids in the area running around ringing people’s doorbells and running off.  Then suddenly a woman appears in front of him from out of nowhere.  Both Vince and Mark respond in shock, which caused them to jump back a little bit.

VINCE BLACK: Who the hell are you?! What do you want?!

ELIZABETH: I’m here for Amanda and her only.

CONGRESSMAN NICHOLSON: Stands in front of Amanda as to protect her and keep her from leaving.  What do you want with her?

ELIZABETH: I don’t want trouble or do I want to hurt anyone here.  Just give me Amanda and we’re gone.

VINCE BLACK: Amanda, who in the hell is this woman? He turns around and looks at Amanda and notices she’s not even afraid.

SECRETARY AMANDA: It’s okay Vince and Mark.  Vince, this is Elizabeth and she is the one that returned your briefcase to my house.

CONGRESSMAN NICHOLSON: What?  Explain yourself further.

ELIZABETH: She’s right.  I don’t have much time, but if you gentlemen would like to know further come with me.

Both Vince and Mark look at each other and with hesitation they both follow out Amanda with Elizabeth.  She blind folds them and tell all three of them to get into the truck.  Once they were inside she started up the truck and pulled off and made a quick u-turn.  She pulled up next to a unmarked gold Malibu and rolled down her window and quickly tossed a smoke grenade inside the vehicle and sped off.  The F.B.I. agents began to cough and wave their hands around as to move away the smoke from their faces.  They both jump out pulling their service weapons and pointing it at the speeding truck, but the truck was to far and all they saw was the taillights disappear.

About an hour later they arrived at a house still blindfolded.  She parks and gets them out of the truck and guides them up the steps to the front door.  Men at the front door guarding the residence opens the door and allows them inside.  Elizabeth leads them inside and tells them to wait where they are as she moves to the side.  A man comes downstairs with his servant trailing him and makes their way to the bottom and stands in front of them.

“ALEXANDER HAMILTON”: You may take off your blindfolds now.

They remove their blindfolds and they try to regain their eye sight from darkness behind the blindfolds to the sudden beam of light coming from above them.  Vince squints his eyes a few times and looks forward and sees the man that he spoke with once before who introduced himself as Alexander Hamilton.

VINCE BLACK: You? (said it in a way as if he had gone through numerous people and finally figured out who he was through a clue.)

“ALEXANDER HAMILTON”: Hello, Vince.  We meet once again.