~Part 1~
“You’ve been Reassigned”
I watched as the North Korean flag was lowered, an American flag taking its place over the city of Pyongyang. I wiped the blood and sweat from my forehead and breathed a sigh of relief knowing that Kim Jong Il was currently being arrested by the U.N. and a group of Marines, effectively ending the war. I looked over the city. Smoke rose from distant buildings, jets screamed as they flew overhead, and Kim Il-Sung square was filled with burning tanks and armored vehicles. The 12 year war against the country was finally over. We were going home, and I would finally be able to meet my daughter, Kendall, who was born while I was deployed. As we stepped aboard our unit’s Osprey and we elevated into the sky, we looked forward to a brighter future for the world.
3 hours later, the Osprey touched the deck of the USS Obama. We immediately started heading towards the mess hall to grab a bite to eat. As we ate, Col. Richard Gibson walked up to me to notify me of a change in my return.
“Ewing, you’ve been reassigned. Come to my office in 10 minutes and I’ll get you briefed.” With that simple sentence, he left for his office.
After I ate, I navigated my way to the Colonel’s office, getting lost a few times on the way. When I reached his office, I knocked on the door just as a lower ranking sailor opened the door with some papers and hastily ran down the hallway. I stepped in to be greeted by Col. Gibson.
“Alex!” He greeted me casually, “You’re late.”
“The Obama’s a labyrinth, sir.!” I responded formally.
“Ah, that she is. Have a seat.” I did as I was told. “Now, I know this doesn’t sound fair, what with your baby girl being born a few months ago and all, but, this order comes straight from the top. You’re being reassigned to a remote base along the Colville River in Alaska. You won’t be home until May.” There was a hint of sympathy in his voice.
“7 months?! What will I be doing there?” I asked, hoping I could find a way to see through any bullshit and argue my way out.
“All it says here is a ‘special research task using highly classified technology.’ This message doesn’t include anything about a choice of going, so I’m afraid it is mandatory as well.”
“When do I leave?”
“Tomorrow morning. A long range transport will be ready to launch from the flight deck at 0700. You’re dismissed.” I stood up, saluted him, and left.
I was furious. I was told that I could return home after Pyongyang fell. Why, I wondered, were they using a SOG operator for a research task? It made no sense, but then again, almost everything my guys and I were tasked to do made no sense either. But who knows why, at this point. Our superiors always seemed to have their heads up their asses, but there was no changing it. As we always say, "FUBAR, but deal with it."
* * *
My alarm went off. 0630. I slid out of bed and threw on my clothes, grabbed my rifle and other gear, and headed topside. When I opened the door to the flight deck, the sun had not yet risen and the stars still shone brightly in the sky. There was a C-17 Globemaster waiting for me at the end of the runway. I stepped on the ramp to be greeted by 3 others, 1 of them SOG and the other 2, scientists. At least I knew I wasn’t going to be the one researching anything. We strapped into the seats that lined the body of the plane. We began talking about what we were expecting in the arctic circle, and why 2 Marine SOG operators needed to accompany them. The transport plane began rumbling as its engines increased power, and we could all feel the sling that boosted planes of this size down the runway to get a better take off. We jolted back towards the ramp as we shot down the runway and went airborne. A few minutes after initial takeoff, the pilots let us do whatever we wanted in the cabin. I found that I was joining a Staff Sergeant named Edward Miles to escort the two scientists, Dr. Jerry Mikes and Dr. William Kenley as they did their research. Most of the time in the plane was spent sleeping or conversing about one anothers’ families. The plane ride was about 12 hours to the U.S. border around Alaska, and then another hour to the base.
When the ramp opened, we were greeted by a man in a parka with a Jeep and a sub zero blizzard. “Welcome to Kenfield Air Force Base!” The man said, “It’s the most secluded, secretive, and freezing of all Air Force bases. Hop in my Jeep, I’ll give you a ride to the HQ.” The car was heated to at least 100 degrees fahrenheit, which was great, compared to the -5 degrees it was outside. The man continued, “We normally only use this base for top secret operations, because as you can see, its doesn’t have the greatest weather.” We pulled into a large hanger. We all got out and were directed to a doorway that lead to a few bunk rooms. Our bunk room’s door had a label that read “I.D. Study Group.”
Once we were settled, it was time to be briefed. We stepped into the briefing room where we sat down at a conference table. After a few minutes of waiting, a man walked in with a laptop and shut off the lights. He plugged the laptop into a projector and began. “I’m glad you all made it here safely. Your task in anything but normal. Last year, a research group discovered a way, using a tesla-nuclear reactor, to transport humans to an alternate dimension. We sent people before, but we never heard anything back from them, and we assumed they were unable to return using the device we gave them to do so. We are sending you, with a new device that was tested and is functional, to not only retrieve the team, but also to study other aspects. You will be leaving in 3 hours from now. In that time, do what you need to do to prepare. Call your families, if you want. You can get food back in the hanger. Meet back here in exactly 3 hours to leave."
We prepared. Not only as escorts to the scientists, but also as a search and rescue squad for the other expedition. Ed, the other SOG guy and I got some new rifles, I got a Heckler & Koch HK416 and Ed got an M200 Intervention for any long range shots he may need to make. We had our choice of side arms, both of us went with the Colt M1911 .45, a classic. The two scientists got personal defense weapons, each armed with an M9 Beretta 9mm pistol. After we were armed up and ready to go, we made personal preparations. We grabbed some food or a short nap, and called our families. I called my wife and daughter. My daughter was only 5 months old, she had not yet learned to speak, but could still make sounds that any 5 month year old could. I was careful not to tell my wife too much about what I was about to do, as I always was before going on a special op. When she learned that I would not be home until May of the next year, she was just as mad as I was. She knew very well that I was only supposed to be deployed for so long, and nothing could extend that. I just had to tell her that “...my guys need me out there, and I’m not prepared to let them down.” I never told her that we had no way of knowing whether they were even alive or not, but I think she understood, nevertheless.
SSgt. Ed Miles, Dr. Jerry Mikes, Dr. William Kenley, and I regrouped in the briefing hall. The same officer came in with packets, each specifically written for each one of us. Each packet told us what we could and could not do, as well as what we were supposed to do and what we weren't supposed to do. “Gentlemen, if you will follow me.” the officer said as he turned his back to us and walked out of the room and further down the hall. He opened a door revealing a hole with a ladder going down. We climbed down the ladder into a room about 30 cubic feet large. In the center of the room was a circular object that rose about 5 inches off the ground. “Please stand on this pad and relax. Ewing, take this. it’s your way back. There are instructions on the inside.” He handed me a large briefcase, about 24 inches at the base, 14 inches on the sides, and 4 inches thick. I nodded as grabbed the handle. I had other equipment to carry, so I handed it off to one of the scientists who was glad to carry it so I could shoulder my rifle. “This may hurt just a pinch, but we know it works, so don’t get too worried. Good luck gentlemen.” He said with a salute. Ed and I saluted back, just as the lever was pulled. It cranked loudly on the metal backboard. Along all the walls, tesla generators began to power up. A red light began to flash along with a siren. After the 5th tone of the siren, there was a bright flash, and we were gone.