Young Writers Society

A Star in the Dark of Night

Washington D.C.

0300 Hours

12/24/2008

“It’s rare that I get to take in the capital in such quiet solitude” thought the man to himself from his office. The landmarks of freedom’s progress stood out from the landscape in such stark contrast from the modern buildings. The Washington Monument stood white and resolute, and a reminder of a sword from a forgotten age. Washington himself couldn’t have predicted the events that he and his countrymen would set in motion when they started America, the land of the free. The days of uniforms and traditions had long since eroded; a new type warrior was needed to bring forth humanities next ascension and to quell man’s violent nature The monuments history was juxtaposed against the lights and decorations of Christmas twinkling in the reds and greens of the season. The happiness of Christmas was marred by the news that even on the eve of Christmas terrorism ran rampant, three separate attacks on the eve of Christ’s birth and two in relation to the peaceful Christian celebration.

“The time for talking has ended” he thought.

The satellite phone in his pocket rang quietly as the vibrations tickled his suited chest. He pulled the phone from his pocket slowly; knowing it could only be one person, and that once the conversation was done it would be almost impossible to stop what it would set in motion. He pressed the call button and placed the phone to his ear. He heard the beeps as the phone confirmed the encryption and heard a male voice inquire softly

“This is Stride, is Operation FORGE a go, “asked a distorted voice.

The man in the office takes a deep breath and replies “This is Patriot, Forge is a go.”

The voice inquires one last time “please speak the command code phrase.”

The patriot replies slowly rubbing his right shoulder with his left hand “darken the lights to let in star’s light.”

“Command confirmed Patriot, good luck sir.”

“Keep the luck for yourself Stride you’re now the tip of the spear heading for a target no one else can see.”

“Thank you sir, we won’t let you down, Stride out.” The call cut off abruptly as the Patriot looked out on the still capital that would soon know the true cost of peace.

“I know you won’t, nothing will change if you do,” he says softly once the phone is back snugly in his pocket.

Forge

Chapter 1

A New Direction

Kisatchie National Forest

Near Pineville, LA

1/5/11

0937 hours

“You have a terrible since of direction, “shouts Pvt. First Class Jarvis Sanderson over the sound of air whipping around him as he felt O’Reilly hit yet another bump on the back roads of Louisiana.

“Yeah well maybe if you had sweet talked the quartermaster a little more into giving us a Humvee or something more able to go off road rather than this piece of shit car we would be able to take a more direct route, “quipped Riley O’Reilly as the trees of Louisiana flashed by in the cold, humid morning air. The scenery looked half dead as the grass yellowed and browned and the trees were half full of foliage.

“Do you think you could have made us any later? It’s seven minutes past the briefing time and we left Fort Polk two hours ago?”

“Settle down Jarvis there’s nothing we can do about it now but hustle and try slip in under the radar, “replied O’Reilly in a jovial tone characteristic of the Irish American.

“Riley do you know anything about this assignment,” asked Jarvis neutrally.

“I know about as much as you one minute I’m listening to the singing of shrapnel and ringing of grenades in the caves of Afghanistan, next thing I know you and I are pulled off our squad so fast our heads spin. They moved us across continents so fast that I thought I was an overnight package,” exclaimed Riley.” The local scuttlebutt is that the two years ago construction began to revive Camp Livingston, a training base that hasn’t been open since the Second World War considering the recession this caused quite of bit of uproar. Other than that no one knows anything more though many people have been asking questions. No one at Fort Polk that I talked has been there and the construction was finished very recently.”

“So just to be clear we’re going in with no intel and a prayer “said Jarvis sullenly.

“That’s how we’ve always done it,” said Riley brightly “I would hate to break tradition now”. Jarvis sighed wondering what he’d ever done to warrant such mistreatment

Camp Livingston

Near Pineville, LA

1000 hours

The dynamic duo raced from the motor pool to the command center’s briefing room as fast they could, they’re breath fogging the morning air. A hulking figure in military olive drab and cut of dark ebony awaited them in front of the building. “Atten hut!” said the men as the two privates skidded to a halt. The man left them standing their staring in attention space for almost half a minute before he acknowledged their continued existence.

“I’m First Sergeant Reginald DeSilva, second in command of Camp Livingston. You are tardy in the extreme.” The sergeant eyed their insignia patch and broke out in a wicked smile.

“I thought Rangers were supposed to lead the way, I’m sure the other Rangers will be very keen to find out why you embarrassed them front of the branches stationed here. I suggest you not waste anymore time. Dismissed!” shouted the first sergeant. Riley threw Jarvis a look mouthing “other branches.” However they were too late to stop and discuss it.

Riley and Jarvis quickly moved through the command center to the briefing room; not pausing to take in the sights or notice much of the architecture. The corridor lights were dimmed to conserve energy guessed Riley, however, it gave the corridors a since of foreboding. The blue double doors gave no hint as to what was contained behind them. Riley met Jarvis’s eyes, gave him the thumbs up and moved to open the doors. The two pulled the doors open as one and took quickly to blushing as the scene unfolded before them. The room was filled to capacity with what seem like an oversized company, around 300 men and women, seated in chairs in front of a large stage. All of them turned to look as the seemingly dim hallway lights thrust in the darkened briefing room like a spotlight. The man on the stage rose from his seat as the interlopers stood dumbfounded in the light.

“Nice of you gentlemen to join us, please find your seats we’re already behind schedule as it is” he said the sternly. The humiliated duo slinked to the only two adjoining and open seats in the auditorium. DeSilva, the first sergeant from earlier closed the doors, plunging the room back into darkness

“Good morning,” said the man in the man on the stage. “My name is Colonel Jonathan Stride. Some of you may have heard of some of my exploits over the years Vietnam, Gulf War, and most recently the War on Terror, but today is not about me it’s about you. You’ll find assigned to this company operators from Delta Force, 75th Rangers, Green Berets, Navy Seals, Air Force Pararescue, and the Marine Special Operations Regiment. You’ve all been hand selected to be the tip of the spear. However, tonight we’ll see if you’re worthy of that distinction. Commencing a sundown you’ll be broken down into your respective branches and move to pre-assigned points in the in a mock battle zone. Your objective will be to capture First Sergeant DeSilva before sunrise. The winning branch of the exercise will win the distinction of commanding the company in the field, “orated Company Commander Stride. A murmur rippled through the auditorium and an arm shot up.

“Name and Rank, “asked Colonel Stride.

“Corporal Kycillia Wilder” stated the woman as she rose. “With all due respect sir, I think sending three hundred people after one man is a bit of overkill.”

The colonel smiled wryly and said “We’ll see what you think tomorrow morning. You’re all free to explore the base, however, you’re forbidden to leave it.” The projector hummed to life. “You’ll find the commanding officer of your respective branches behind me. Report to them and then visit the front desk to find your lodgings. Lastly you will report to the quartermaster at 1800 hours to receive the equipment for tonight’s exercise. A flare will signal the start of the exercise which will begin at approximately 1930 ” A voice rang out from the back of the auditorium filling the room like a explosion.

”Company Atten-HUT, “called out the top sergeant. The assembled masses sprang to attention the enlisted offering salutes and the officers in the crowd standing at attention

“Ladies and Gentlemen my name is Reginald DeSilva I will be your adversary tonight. I encourage you to begin planning how you’re going to catch me as I assure you with your numbers I won’t be pulling any punches. DISMISSED!” The men and women began to file out row by row as the XO pushed open the double doors and the hallway light cast a spotlight on the operators as they exited.