Spewed across his desk were the files of all soldiers who had returned home in the past six months. Three piles lay in different sizes. Those he had yet to go through. Those who had returned home. Those who would never see home again. It was the second pile he kept an eye on. Those were the men and women he was interested in. The men and women who knew battle and would not bat an eye when asked to answer the call of duty.
For Mark had a second job outside of his military position. It was so far from his day job though. Oh there was paper work, drills, endless duties that had to be seen too. What was different was the cause. They fought for freedom...true freedom from the likes of people who wished to destroy everything these men and women fought to protect. They fought against an enemy with more power than a normal human should ever have. An enemy not of this world.
But that was why he turned to these files. For good men and women who deserved so much better than they got. The men and women who would benefit from having a friend in high places.
Throwing another file on the departed stack, Mark slid the final one off for that regumend. Glancing at the name, he flipped it open and began to scan. Unlike the others, he didn’t toss it to the side for later. This one made him stop.
A true survivor.
That was just what he needed. A smile crossed his face as Mark rose, grabbed up the file and began to walk towards his office door. A few hours drive to make into Destiny City was well worth it.
He had to meet this Isaac Harrison for himself.
~~~
Things had been set into motion even before Mark could make it into the main office in DC. He had hoped the branch was behind a bit on sending out deployment notices but of course, they were spot on. Oh well. Just meant he had to go to plan B.
Taking up space in a back office, Mark had set about his normal act of ‘I’m here to inspect your processes’. It worked since he had been in DC not that long ago and caught one person cutting corners. Not that he could blame the guy but hey, either play by the rules or get out. It was as simple as that. It was also great cover for having someone take his request to Ssgt. Harrison for a meeting under the pretence that his earlier paperwork was...well...incomplete.
It wasn’t a complete lie. After All, the paperwork had forgotten one tiny little detail:
A way out.
But first Mark wanted to see what sort of man this Ssgt. Harrison was. On paper, top notch. Not to mention a strong willed, or hard headed, fighter. In person was another story. If he would work out, Mark would move to phase two. If not, the file would be added back to those heading back out East into the war zone.
“If only people realized what was going on right here in their own backyard.” Mark smiled as he walked towards the window, waiting. “Then maybe more would be more willing to fight instead of expecting others to do it for them.”
~~~
Isaac had been on base for mandatory training when one of the Privates approached him with a letter.
At first he thought that perhaps one of the young man’s seniors was trying to pull a prank on the boy with how pale he looked as he approached. ‘Find a pricky-ate’ a task that sounds simple enough until the frustration gets to the new recruit and they approach an even higher ranked officer asking if they could help find this supposid object. If only they did their research before signing their paperwork then they wouldn’t fall for such a stunt. It wasn’t a pricky-ate like some spiky fruit… it was a p***k E8… a Sergeant First class that was a p***k.
Thankfully Issac didn’t quite fit into that category… yet… that was still a rank above him; but still, the ghostly look on the boys face was enough to make him wonder if he had been set up. However, as several seconds passed with the Private remaining at attention with nothing more to say, SSgt. Harrison dismissed him before glancing down at the letter.
So, First Sergeant Johansen would like to speak with me at 1800 in building C room 307. Okay… why not just tell me that, did he think I’d lose my way? This base was his home base, the one he came to after boot camp before being deployed. He knew this campus like the back of his hand, better even to some degree.
The next two hours went by as per usual, running laps with his squad in full body armor through some moderately dense trails. After a quick shower he got dressed in his spare uniform and promptly reported to the building as directed in the letter.
~~~
“Enter.” Mark’s voice called out when he heard the knock. He remained facing the window until he heard the door open. “Shut that behind you.” He offered, only turning around when he heard the click of the clasp. The count of five and then “At ease soldier.”
~~~
Ssgt. Harrison visibly relaxed as much as any soldier before responding with the traditional “"Sir, I got a letter stating you'd like to speak with me?"
~~~
“Indeed. Take a seat if you would like.” Mark motioned to the chair seated across from his desk with a nod. “Frankly it’s not very comfortable but if you have been in basic training today, it’s at least an option.”
Mark watched the man for a reaction, taking a look at his features. That white hair was almost a gift. No one would seem him go grey. But it was his eyes that he watched closely. Any sign of flinching. Any sign of mistrust or weakness.
“You must be a busy man, Staff Sergeant, so I’ll cut the pleasantries and head straight for the topic at hand. I understand you are to be deployed back to the battle friend by the end of the month. Allow me to be frank and straight up ask you, man to man who has fought and lived. If you had the choice, would you go back?”
~~~
“Sir?” The expression on Isaac’s face was no less than perplexed. Unblinkingly he stared at the clean shaven man sitting on the other side of the desk, trying to get a read on the real reason he was asked to be here.
This had to be some kind of a trick question; perhaps someone was spreading rumors about him wanting to defect or run to Canada after what had happened in Afghanistan? A lie for damn sure, but why else would he be called here unless the First Sergeant was looking to fish for answers in a roundabout way?
~~~
The change from rugged solder to one of confusion drew a smile from Mark. Good. He was human after all and not too far gone. There was something he could work with. Something he could cater too.
“Did I stutter? I don’t believe I did.” Mark offered, a confused look on his face as he motioned for Isaac to take a seat. “I’m asking an honest, simple question. If you had the choice, would you go back to Afghanistan?” He fell silent again before pulling out Isaac’s file and spreading it open on his desk.
“You were lucky Staff Sergeant. Anyone could see that. But do you really want to test that luck again? Does your family want you to?” He let the words sink in for a moment, watching, waiting before going on. “Staff Sergeant, no, Isaac Harrison, if I could give you a way to avoid Afghanistan or anywhere in the Middle East again but still continue to have you serve the greater good, what would you say?”
~~~
“I would say that I need more information and time to weigh my options.” Isaac folded his hands in his lap and squared his shoulders. “I understand that this is likely a limited time offer and one that is not offered often.” He paced himself, weighing each word before speaking what was on his mind.
“I mean no disrespect Sir but I won’t lie, I have no doubt that my family would prefer it if I stayed state-side.” Something he desired as well to some degree but Isaac skillfully omitted his own opinion from the conversation. “But their wants have never been taken into consideration when I’ve been deployed in the past. As a soldier it is my obligation to serve my country whenever I am needed, I knew that when I enlisted but what you're proposing sounds a bit too good to be true.” Isaac paused to study the First Sergent, there was no reason for the man to bring him here under false pretenses but there was a nagging feeling he couldn’t identify that gave him reason to question his superiors motives.
Drawing in a steady breath, Isaac seemed to relax, as if he had found what he was searching for in Mark’s expression; a facade in truth since the man had yet to show his hand. “If there is a place for me here then I would like to learn more of the opportunities, including all caveats.” He knew that he was in for when he enlisted in the military, but this wasn’t something he had heard of or even signed up for. More information was definitely needed.
~~~
If Mark had been expecting a difference answer, he didn’t show it. In fact he didn’t even blink at Isaac’s questioning. Merely the man just smiled. “While I could just place an order for you to fall in line, I admire the fact that you are questioning things. Knowledge is power afterall. But be careful Staff Sergeant. Too much knowledge can be a dangerous tool. It can even become deadly.”
His hands taped on his desk a moment, choosing the next words carefully. “Your duty as a soldier is to fight the enemy at hand. To protect the innocent and those back home. What if I were to tell you that those back home were facing something just as dangerous as those overseas. In many cases, facing something far more dangerous. An enemy that blends in with citizens one moment and the next, has the ability to wipe them off the face of the Earth with a wave of their hands. An enemy that only a select few are truly able to fight.”
~~~
“Are you talking about the terrorists that keep popping up on the news?” Magic slingers that keep destroying parts of the city. Large scale attacks centered at hotels, trains and the likes. Who needs political propaganda when walls are being torn down yet nobody has been caught in the act or held accountable for the destruction.
On one of his walks he had seen the remains of a warehouse that had went up in flames prior to his second deployment. All these years later and it still hadn’t been rebuilt. “Shouldn’t CTU be handling those incidents? What kind of involvement does the military have, I wouldn’t think we’d have any sort of jurisdiction.”
~~~
“CTU is a bunch of crackpots who don’t even know what they are dealing with.” The words were out in a flare of anger before he could stop himself. Clearing his throat, Mark tried again. “Tell me. In all these years, how many cases has the CTU solved in regards to these terrorists? How many have they brought to justice? The answer? Squat. They can’t even capture a single one. Shouldn’t they be handling the terrorist? Oh I think the terrorist are doing a fine job handling them.”
“No Isaac, may I call you Isaac?” Mark began as he rose to walk around his desk and lean on it with his hip. “No the CTU should not be handling it. Who should be handling it is an elite fighting force with the ability to match the terrorist on their own playing field. Able to track and fight them back into the holes they came from. That’s what I’m offering to you. I’ve seen your file. I’ve heard of your skills. They are above and beyond most others your age and older. What I’m offering is a chance at the real fight. A chance to truly do something to protect those you love and make sure they go home to bed every night. Afghanistan has the fire power. We need the skills here on the home front.”
~~~
For several minutes Isaac remained silent while processing the information that had been carelessly dropped in his lap. It was clear Mark had been affected by these terrorists in some way or he wouldn’t be so passionately disapproving of the Counter Terrorist Unit. Whatever happened must have made quite the impact.
“What are the dynamics of this elite group? Where in it would I fit in?” Coming in with next to no knowledge would likely put him at the bottom but what he wanted to know was exactly how much of a demotion was he taking and how difficult would it be to promote within. “Would I be reporting to you or someone else?”
~~~
Mark took a long, silent breath, relaxing his shoulders before once more returning his smile. “I won’t lie to you. You will start at the bottom but it isn’t as bad as basic here. Rank sadly will not transfer over but you will find that with skill and dedication, you will rise much faster than having to wait for the right people to take notice. Or the right position opening up.” Sometimes he really did feel like someone either had to die or retire to move up in the world. At least to certain levels.”
“To your second question, you will report to me. Should I not be reachable due to my day job,” He motioned to his desk. “I will see that a second is reachable for you.”
With a long breath, he offered. “I have served for some time now. I am what they call a General meaning I have the ability to recruit. Unlike many of my fellow officers, I find that there is more to gain by offering you a choice rather than just telling you congratulations, welcome to the war. Unfortunately, there are many aspects I cannot tell you unless you do accept my offer. You see we are rather a secret group. If you turn me down, I won’t have you silenced so please don’t even let that thought cross your mind. You will just walk out of here and get ready to head back to the Middle East by month’s end.”
Letting that sink in, Mark continued. “If you accept, then we have much ground to cover. And I have paperwork to file to cancel your deporting orders.”
~~~
“As you just mentioned, you have your position here as a First Sergent well as a position in in this elite group as a General. Are you asking me to walk away from what from what I know to join this elite group full time or would I, like you, continue to work at both?” Isaac had worked hard and sacrificed much over the years for rank, pay and the benefits offered through the VA. While he was sure it wouldn’t be a mark against him on his record like a dishonorable discharge, he wasn’t quite sold on giving it all up for something that sounded just as dangerous if not more so.
~~~
“I would never ask you to walk away from what you have earned here. Trust me, I know better than most others all that just up and walking away from it would entail. You earned the benefits and the rank. You would keep it as well as keep the ability to continue to move up the ranks if you so chose.” Mark added with a soft, more understanding smile. “And if something happened to you on either front, I would personally see to it that your family continued to receive what they needed and were entitled to.”
~~~
Seemingly satisfied with the First Sergeant's reply Isaac seemed to relax to a small degree but for him that in itself was a bit of a big deal. It at least meant that what Mark said held merit in his eyes and worth actually considering not just saying he’ll think about it when the ultimate answer would be no.
Either way, this wasn’t something that should be a rash decision and while he knew that there was a high chance that he would accept Isaac still asked “How much time do I have to decide?”
~~~
Pleased with the answer, Mark only gave the man a nod before glancing down at his watch. “I am scheduled to be here through Saturday. However I recommend you give me your reply by Friday else I would hate to have to leave you so soon.”
Rising from where he leaned, Mark motioned for Isaac to stand as well. “In the meantime, I must strongly advise you do not discuss this with your peers. This offer is not made to everyone for good reason. It is best to...tread carefully. Understand?”
~~~
“Yes sir,” Isaac stood up from his seat and extended a hand out towards the recruiting officer. “I appreciate the consideration for this position and will let you know my decision within the next two days.”
Sirene
NPC Mark - mega back dated...
