“So have you chosen your next move, Sergeant…?”
Replaying over and over in his mind, Mike focused on the fork being gently held in his right hand. Below him a white plate held some unknown curry that was mixed in with pieces of shrimp. He was eating on Mr. Phillips’s wallet that day.
Closing his eyes, he took a shaky breath as he felt a cold wind against his body. Upon opening them, his brown eyes saw that the world was engulfed in darkness, he now held a slightly worn spoon in his right hand, and a small olive green can in his left. Before him a fire was on its last legs, his team surrounded him.
Staring at his forearms, his skin was covered by a thick tan jumpsuit. Gone were the multi-colored battle dress uniforms he was so used to, and now he was stuck in the middle of a forest sticking out like a sore thumb amongst the white-powdery snow. His breaths were visible in the limited moonlight that broke through the clouds, yet he paid it no mind as his attention was refocused on the trees that surrounded him and his team.
The Sergeant knew that there were hundreds of trees and other natural foliage surrounding his current position—no matter how much he scanned the oncoming approach, it wouldn’t be enough to secure a safe area. His training was clear: “Never stop until an area is secure”. He was thankful that the Regiment taught him that much when he was going through R.A.S.P.
Captain Thompson, Staff Sergeant Baker, and Sergeant Malkovich were apart of his training chalk with two other trainees that had yet to introduce themselves. He couldn’t blame them, signing the contact and being thrown into the wild was something no one expected, but he’d suppose that’s what the organization Mr. Phillips was working for required. SERE training wasn’t all too familiar to the younger man, but he knew enough from his time spent within the 75th Ranger Regiment to stay alive during his deployments during the last major war that happened on Earth—not that it mattered all to much as all he and the other members of Task Force Spare had to rely on was the things they learned and each of their formed jobs within the service.
Compared to the other two men along with them, himself and the three other Rangers were watching the forest waiting for something to appear. They covered his back, and he covered theirs while they laid in absolute silence, the snow began to gather on their bodies with how immobile they were at times.
“We’re going to be here for a few more minutes…” One of the unknown trainees said in a chipper, but low voice. “…Why don’t we introduce each other…? I’ll start; my name is Wash.”
“Polk.” The other trainee said gaining a slight nod from Wash.
Finally moving from his observation position and placing himself amongst his team, the captain was the next person to speak. “Thompson.” He bluntly said introducing himself by his family name.
“Baker.”
“Randall.”
Humming at the names provided, Wash sunk into the small cover he had found underneath the tree the group had token cover under. “You four seemed to be experienced in this type of thing.” He said, his conniving tone sticking out like a sore thumb. “Have you all done something like this before?”
Captain Thompson breathed slowly as a lie naturally escaped his lips, “We all come from the countryside. We have to deal with stuff like this on a daily basis.” He said reminiscing the vacation he spent out in the forests of Wyoming with his wife…
“I heard that things got rough a few years back…” Polk murmured as he shuffled in his seat. “Can’t imagine what you guys had to go through…”
“What do you mean?” Wash said with a light snicker, “I’m sure those backwater folks can handle some things… though perhaps this agency might be a bit too much.”
The Rangers stayed silent at the insult that was loosely thrown at them by Wash. No one really expected him to act in this manner, but the four knew that it wouldn’t matter in the long run after they’d be reassigned once training was complete. Not responding made the boy grow slightly annoyed, but thankfully he remained silent as a nearby vehicle suddenly came to a halt with five men stepping out in military uniforms. Thompson recognized these uniforms, he was the first to awaken after being dragged into the Federation’s borders, but he never expected to wake up to five officers hounding him for information.
Perhaps he should be at least glad that he was under the supervision of Mr. Phillips. That would at least keep Naval Intelligence and the Office of Homeland and Foreign Intelligence away for the time being.
“Everyone, wake the fuck up! Get off your fucking ass!” With the Rangers snapping to their feet and standing at a position of attention, Wash and Polk rolled their heads towards the man that had just shouted orders at them. The two were somewhat aware of what they were entering, but they didn’t expect what would happen next.
Taking a polished black boot to his chest Polk and Wash fell to the ground as the officers all hounded them screaming obscenities and kicking them. Shock jolted their minds awake – from their covered feet to the base of their spines, they all shook off the sudden disorientation as they were forced onto their feet and ordered to stand next to the unknown “back country” men they had just met minutes before. “When I say up, you get up!” One of the men shouted into Wash’s ear. His worn gray hair was just visible in the limited moonlight under the garrison cover he had atop of his head.
“Listen the fuck up!” Another man shouted as he kept his hand on a baton attached to his waist. “My name is Lieutenant Major Omar!” He said while motioning to the men beside him, “This is Major Petty Officer Miles and Air Marshal Zada! The rest are your instructors, and from now on you will perform every order we tell you without fail!”
More men from a second vehicle that had just pulled up rushed towards their direction, each wearing two-tone camouflage uniforms. They all stood over the six men in the line with battle hardened faces. “This is the official selection course for the Office of Military and Federal Security!” Lieutenant Major Omar said in a fierce voice. “You will be ejected immediately if you fail to meet our standards! Now face right towards the road and start fucking running!”
With the four Rangers right-facing, the two other trainees hesitated as they watched the men begin to run towards the road where the vehicles were parked momentarily. “Did I say stand there with a thumb up you ass!? This is why I have gray hairs forming on the top of my head!” Lieutenant Major Omar roared as the other instructors began to hound the two men a second time making them suddenly turn around and sprint towards the other men which had gained quite the distance.
Inhaling the frosty air at a steady pace, Randall kept in the middle of his fellow Rangers with Thompson leading the way. Once again, he had the memories of his past flashing through his mind much like his fellow soldiers ahead and behind him. They had all gone through grueling training twice, and now they were doing it once more in the hopes of getting out of this God forsaken world with their lives.
They owed that much to Green…
As the trainees ran along the frozen ground not stopping as the instructors surrounded them with their vehicles, the moon shined high above as in the distance, several large buildings grew closer and closer. As the group reached the concrete buildings, Randall saw through his wide-open eyes three other groups of six trainees just arriving on scene. Amongst two of the groups, Simon, Richard, and Princess Lecca were spread throughout the other trainees, each looking slightly ragged from the early-night run.
“Form up! Get in formation, four squadrons!” An instructor shouted as the trainees scrambled to get into one large group. Randall found himself between Wash and Malkovich as the instructor continued giving out orders, “Get in fucking line, it’s PT time!”
“One-hundred, four count, Jumping Jacks! I will say the cadence, you will say the repetition!” Another trainer shouted as Lecca grew pale from not knowing what was about to happen. “Begin!”
“One, two, three!”
“One sir!”
As the group began it only took a second for Lecca to realize what the other trainees were doing—an instructor instantly approached her gaining the attention of the others, and a flurry of shouts was directed at her as she began to keep pace with the other trainees. Sparing a glance her direction, Mike realized that her shoulder-length silver hair had been cut short and fashioned into a bob-cut.
Feeling more than a burn in his legs and arms, Randall and the other Rangers watched as some of the trainees were dragged away to several vehicles. They were handled roughly, but they were allowed to get inside to be taken back to wherever they came from in their attempt to join the O.M.F.S. This was how reality worked: “Survival of the Fittest.”
“Push-Ups!” The trainer called out. “On your chests!” Instantly the trainees snapped to the ground as they waited for the order to begin. Randall’s movements were sluggish, and he was starting to regret not fully committing himself to keeping in tip-top shape during his stay at the castle. There was no excuse for it, not even the reality of dealing with another world’s government wasn’t enough.
“No slacking! Up position!” Lieutenant Major Omar barked as he took over while the trainers moved to the slackers that tried to mask their position of rest. “Down! Up!” For the next fifty push-ups, the group completed the workout, with trainee Polk just barely keeping up with the rest of the group. Before he knew it, the group was inside on of the buildings, the cold air biting against their heated bodies.
Standing, fighting the urge to press his hands on his knees, Mike stood just behind Wash and Lecca. His eyes immediately caught the man checking out the princess which annoyed him and the other Rangers to no end. Through the trials they had been through for the last two months, it was hard not to see the foreign officer, and royal family member as one of their own.
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“You will all line up and receive your governmental belongings!” The Lieutenant Major ordered. “Stay silent! This is not a game!”
Being processed by attendants that worked for the intelligence organization, Mike couldn’t help but feel that this situation was more than similar to that of his first few hours during boot camp, minus the surprise physical training of course. Maneuvering in front of a lady in the familiar military uniform, she only spoke her required phrase, “Full name and place of residency.”
“Mike Randall. Oceana Air Base.” The woman looked up at him with a confused look, but before she could call for her superior, a man walked up and placed a document on her table that held the Sergeant’s information.
“Right…” She said, overlooking the paper on the table with great suspicion. “Please proceed…” Following her orders, the woman kept a sharp eye on the unknown man as he grabbed the large green bag which contained the clothes, hygiene items, and other miscellaneous items he would need for the next four weeks during selection and basic training.
Taking the bag and slinging it over his shoulder, Mike followed Wash and Lecca as they waited at the next station while the other trainees completed their registration. Brushing his golden hair, Wash straightened himself as he prepared to make a pass at the silver-haired woman in front of him.
“Everyone, hold their goddamned bags above their heads!” Major Petty Officer Miles suddenly ordered with a sharp voice. Following his orders to the letter, each of the trainees silenced themselves as some still stood in front of the receptionist that were to process them through the selection process. “You three!” He suddenly shouted storming towards Mike, Lecca, and Wash. Steading himself, Mike listened to the words his superior spoke, “Have you all complete basic registration!?”
“Yes sir!” Mike answered for the three having prior experience with dealing with officers in foreign militaries. “We have all completed the basic registration process, sir!” Out of the corner of his eyes, he spotted Captain Thompson and Lieutenant Patterson watching him carefully without drawing attention to themselves.
“Mhmm!” The man hummed as he got close to the Sergeant with wide eyes. “So, you think you’re a leader, huh!?” Turning his head and closing on the other two, he spoke with a snarl, “Why can’t you fucking two, answer for your own selves God damn it!”
Neither of the trainees he was addressing, “Trainees, Boston Wash and Lecca Araish, what the fuck are you doing!? Answer me!”
“Yes sir! This trainee has completed basic registration, sir!” Lecca forced, sweating bullets due to having never dealt with an environment like this before in her life as a Chieftain and Princess.
“Oh, so the trainee has finally found her fucking voice! Say a bit louder for the people in back!” MPO Miles provoked hoping to gain a reaction out of the woman.
“Yes sir: This trainee has completed basic registration, sir!” Lecca roared, her voice echoing throughout the silent room.
“Right! Right! Now you two, get out the fucking room, and wait for further orders!” MPO Miles said with a crazed-looking grin growing on his face as he stepped in front of Boston Wash, who was beginning to panic after he realized he had just been singled out. “Alright you governmental piece of shit-”
Stepping outside into the bitter cold snow with the Princess by his side, Mike pointed out a small portion that was covered by what looked to be an outhouse. Standing side-by-side once again, the shouts of the other officers inside the building began to ring out as Lecca mustered the courage to speak, “A-Are you used to this type of training…?” She said quietly hoping not to be heard through the brick walls that separated them from the trainers and leaders of selection.
“Welcome to soldier life… Though I doubt this will be all considering we’re entering an intelligence agency…” Mike said, with a soft smile on his face, he fought the urge to sniffle in the bitter cold weather.
Shuffling her boot-covered-foot in the snow, she kept her voice low, “Won’t you be considered a traitor in your home world…?” She said recalling the conversation she had with the Sergeant and the other Rangers just outside of Bishmark, “Couldn’t your choice to join a foreign intelligence division be seen as treasonous?”
Closing his mouth, Mike dwelled on the question… He didn’t want to deny reality, but it was so appealing to do so… “Yes.” He said shaking his head and reaffirming his beliefs, “If we ever return and reveal what has happened, the entire squadron would be called into question… Yet, I believe that we have in no way betrayed the oath we made to our country…”
“An oath…” Lecca seemed conflicted as she repeated those words. Whatever she was thinking, it did not go unnoticed by the Sergeant next to her.
“Even if we never return to Earth, I believe it’s still important that we uphold the standards we lived on for over two-hundred years…” Mike admitted as he leaned against the wall, using his right hand to trace the exposed bricks. “I still believe in fighting for a world that is free… nothing else.”
Humming to the words Mike said, Lecca settled on the wall next to him. The two watched the seemingly unending snowflakes descend from the darkened skies as other trainees that had completed registration began to walk outside and wait under the trees nearby. The peace was serene, and the sudden rush of adrenaline had passed making some, including the First-Born Princess, feel sleepy.
As the silence was enjoyed by the drained trainees, MPO Miles walked out with several instructors, “Alright! Everyone form up! Arish, Randall, step to the fucking front!” Springing off the wall feeling slightly better, Lecca moved to the left of Randall as he stepped in front of the group that had formed. He centered himself as he stood straight in front of the Major Petty Officer. Letting out a curt sigh, the MPO nodded his head as he looked a clipboard he now had, “Alright you pieces of shit, listen up! I will be designating rooms, and yes, they are mixed you horny bastards!”
No one made a sound as the MPO scanned the platoon sized element hoping to catch someone stepping out of line. Not finding anyone he continued, “Room 1: Oliver Thompson, Indigo Somalis, Jonas Simon, Justin Fandel. Room 2: Kevin Patterson, Alexei Sokolov, Michal Antonov, David Harkov. Room 3: Emma Arish, Mike Randall, Boston Wash, Landon Polk. Room 4: Jorge Levin, Anthony Richard, Michael Polinski, Nola Attis…”
Drawing his eyes away from the clip board, MPO Miles once again noticed that none of the men outside of the notable names that were already within the civilian database made no move. “Alright, in these groups you will choose a leader, though…” He said while motioning to the two in front of the group, “Each leader will aim to take the spot of these two.”
As confusion overtook the normal stoic faces of the men and women in the group, Air Marshal Zada stepped forward with a scowl on her face, “That means that the top two candidates will be from the same room! Now get the hell out of my sight, the rooms are the tall gray building, third and fourth floor!” She said seemingly ordering the Major Petty Officer.
“You will not leave your rooms until roll call in the morning, dismissed.” The man said.
Turning around and allowing the trainees to leave, Mike and Lecca soon found themselves beside each other as they walked towards the building under the beaming rays of the moon. Silence encompassed the two, yet the other trainees began to speak to each other in low voices as they got to know one another.
Rubbing her arms, Lecca came to dislike the beige jumpsuit she and all other recruits had been given before they were dropped off in the middle of the frozen forest. Her footsteps within the powdery surface were quickly hidden by the gems that fell from the darkened heavens, her breaths painted the air in front of her as she began to rub her ears due to them being cold.
“Somewhere, our people are waiting for us…” Mike murmured, garnering Lecca’s attention as the man held a quiet look on his face. “Once we find that, “Somewhere”, I know you showed interest in our world, so I want to take you there.”
“That’s quite the bold statement, Holy Knight.” Slightly flustered, Lecca teased the taller man as she gave a angelic smile.
“Well, I don’t go back on promises if that makes you feel better.” Mike said, “Though if you like pineapple on pizza, I’m afraid I’ll have to send you back running.”
Suddenly breaking out into a gentle laugh, the princess kept her cheerful attitude as she imagined what he was trying to do, “I don’t know what “pineapple” is, but I’ll take your warning on it, Sergeant.” She looked towards the sky as she interlocked her fingers behind her back, “Still… I still wonder what’s out there, beyond the stars…”
“The stars…” Mike parroted as he and the rest of the platoon-sized group reached the building that was acting as their dorms for the selection phase. “I’m sure there’s something waiting for us out there.”
Entering the slightly warmed building, Mike noticed that Polk and Wash trailed behind at a slower pace. Instinctively he patted the location where his handgun once laid, yet he realized what he had done upon reaching the room labeled, “1”.
Grasping onto the doorknob Lecca opened the door to reveal a small room that had two bunk beds with no sheets or comforters and a single wooden cabinet in the middle of the room. She breathed slowly as she walked towards the bunk bed on the left-hand side and ran her fingers over the cold metal frame holding it up.
“Not even basic was like this…” Mike whispered to himself.
“Hello!” Wash said in tired, yet oddly cheerful voice as he walked in the room with Polk. He flashed a look towards the semi-annoyed princess who remained silent while standing beside Mike. “Ah what!? No one going to say anything back?”
“This is Lecca Arish.” Mike said, breaking the awkward silence. “She comes from the same town me, and the other guys arrived from…” He lied not putting his full effort into making his words believable, even the woman he was speaking about had some about the words he said.
“Right…” Polk said suspiciously as he moved to unpack the items, he was given by the intelligence organization. Letting out a small sigh, the man brushed his already greying hair as he addressed the two still standing side-by-side, “Not that I don’t believe you, but it is hard to imagine that over six people came from the same place wanting to join the same organization within the Federation… Like I said, not that I don’t believe you, but it is a bit of a stretch…”
“What you believe is not something we can control…” Lecca said with some hesitation, “But know that the situation we were placed in was quite unusual, thus, we all no choice but to join the OMF.” Wash hummed at her with a sly grin on his face making her squirm with discomfort.
“Alright…” Mike said clapping his hands, “We should at least get our stuff unpacked and get ready for tomorrow morning.” Saying that made him remember his first night within the barracks during his basic training back on Earth. As he began to remove the items from his large bag silence once again overtook the room as the four moved swiftly to unpack the necessities for the night. Lecca excused herself to bathe herself leaving the three men in the room alone.
“So, you and the girl are the top two.” Wash said gaining a curious look from Mike who placed his new brown shirt over his chest.
“Yeah?” He said confused as he placed the other parts of his new uniform on the wooden cabinet. “What about it?”
“Just wondering.” He said while popping his lips. “Got to make sure to reach that position.”
Not gaining a reaction from the sergeant, Wash hummed to himself before Lecca walked back in the room wearing the brown T-shirt and the green sweats that were provided.
“Figure everything out?” Mike asked as the woman walked up to him wiping her silver hair with a body towel.
“Yes, no problems here.” She replied seeing Wash glaring at the man she spoke to. “Either way, isn’t it time for lights out-” She instantly regretted her words as the lights within the room suddenly shut off making her yelp in surprise.
“Uh.” Mike said. “We didn’t even figure out the sleeping arrangement…” He sounded slightly disappointed as he barely made out Lecca’s shadow in the small amount of moonlight that broke through the window.
“Have a good night… I’ll take the bottom bunk?”
“Yeah… Have a good night, Araish.
Publicly Available Information: Joint Training:
With cooperation from the military, the Office of Military and Federal Security works with other branches to help train Special Agents, Field Agents, Field Operatives, Intelligence Officers, Case Officers, and other personal that specialize in defensive and intelligence critical missions.
From sharpshooting to diplomatic security, members of the OMFS provide a variety of set skills that is used to provide national security and take the battle against those that wish to do the Federation harm.