Rise of the Phantoms (Special Missions Unit Book 1) Read online

  “Sir?”

  “Long story. Let’s just say we lost touch. So, since I know your mom, any chance I have the good fortune of knowing your father?”

  “If you knew, it’d be news to me. I never met the guy myself.” John said, solemnly.

  “Deadbeat Dad?” Ben asked, now concerned.

  “I wouldn’t say that, sir. She always said my father was a Marine, but she didn’t want to be just some Marine’s wife, hauling the kids around while her husband hustled off to here and there. She never told me who he was, and so far as I know, she never told him either.”

  “Well, there can’t be that many of us that joined the Corps out of Round Lake in that time, can there? I bet we can find out. Follow me, Sergeant.”

  Ben lead John down to the Medical Office, where Ashlie was “hard at work” on a cup of coffee with her feet up on her desk. She somehow managed to go from leaned back, feet up sipping coffee to standing at attention with the coffee on her desk without spilling a drop. “Colonel.” She said.

  “Doc, I believe you know Sergeant Roberts?”

  “Yes sir. He already passed his physical, though. What can I do for you guys?”

  “The Marine Corps keeps a DNA database on file, for all Marines?” Ben asked.

  “Yeah. Been standard procedure since the 20th Century.”

  “Okay. So here’s what I want you to do…Pull up John’s DNA profile, then run it through the Marine Database, looking for a likely paternal match.”

  “Sir, you know, even if I find a match, I have to contact the father and make sure it’s okay, could take some time…”

  “It’s a small group and I probably know who they are and I can contact them personally, have the paperwork done in an hour or so.” Ben explained.

  “If you say so, but my name better not be on the court martial docket for this.” Ashlie said sternly. She pulled up the file in the computer, and ran it through under the parameters Ben had given her. Her eyes widened just a touch, which Ben didn’t catch but John did. She handed a small tablet to Ben, with a stylus. “Need a signature please, sir. Standard forms….” She winked at John as she said it.

  Ben, out of reflex, signed the tablet and handed it back to her. She looked at both of them. “Okay, got you a match. Ready?”

  “I thought you said this would take a while?”

  “Paperwork’s done already. Congratulations, Colonel, it’s a boy.”

  John and Ben exchanged confused glances for a moment. Ben looked to Ashlie, then to John. “I am going to have to call your mother….”

  “Don’t be too hard on her, Sir. She did what she thought was best for her and me…” John said.

  “I won’t…and I understand. I know this lifestyle doesn’t mesh well with having a family. I’ve been through the marriage and divorce wringer.” Ben said, looking at John. “This stays between the three of us, you understand?”

  “Sir?” Ashlie asked, unsure why.

  “If word of this gets out, John will be sent right back to 2nd Raider Battalion…or worse…Danny will pull me and put me in a staff position.”

  “I never had an issue with the Raiders, sir,” John said, still trying to comprehend the situation in his mind, “I’d go back if they ordered me to.”

  Ashlie sat on her desk and looked at John. “Sergeant, you busted your ass to get on this team. You shouldn’t have that taken from you because of some coincidence that neither you nor the Colonel had any control over.”

  “Exactly,” Ben said, “So this stays between us for now. Eventually I’ll find a way to inform my superiors, because this will eventually come up.”

  With three of the replacements found, Ben informed his Cadre that he needed 1 officer and three NCOs from the remaining two dozen candidates. Ben also made mention of the fact to Kevin that anyone with certain technical skills would be preferred.

  With the recruits dismissed for the evening, Kevin gathered D. J. and Erica for a meeting with Ben, Sid, and Kate. “So, we have five officers and fourteen NCOs remaining in the training platoon,” Kevin began, “Among the officers we have two with explosives specialty training and one that minored in cryptography at the academy. Among the NCOs, the skills are far more varied, but the wanted skill sets are there.”

  Ben leaned back in his chair, flexing his neck back to stretch it. “Find the ones that fit, and I need you to do it quickly. Colonel Marye wants us back on active status in five days.”

  “Five days?” Sid asked.

  “Yes, five days. Brigade Command is working up a plan for a big raid, and they want to capitalize on having both us and 2SMU for it.” Ben said.

  Kevin looked over to D. J. and Erica. “Well, looks like we better get moving. We’ve got some attrition to set in.”

  “Actually, that’s a good idea. Where are they now?” Ben asked.

  “We’ve got them settled in for personal time in their barracks. Master Sergeant West is keeping an eye on them.” Kevin said.

  “It’s 1900 now, they’ll be going lights out at 2200…At midnight, I want you guys to wake ‘em up, gear ‘em up, and take them out the back gate here, and move them along the river bank about four miles. The rest of the team will “Greet” you there. I’ll talk to Kay Jay and see if the Duece is alright with grabbing a couple of the raider boats to really make life hell.”

  “One last no-sleep field problem?”

  “Yup.”

  And so it began. The trainees, closed away in their barracks barely noticed how eerily quiet the northwest corner of Camp Carlson, the Special Operations annex of Starbase Leatherneck, had become. At 2100, Master Sergeant West made an impromptu barracks inspection, making notes on which officers and NCOs looked the least squared away.

  One of the Officers disqualified himself on the spot during the barracks inspection. “Master Sergeant, What in the goddamned hell do you think you are doing, just barging in here and ordering us to Quarters?” He said, walking down the center of the squad bay. The officer was a Major and had surprised the Cadre by surviving this long.

  Although technically being a Major gave him significant rank, during specialty training such as a special missions selection, All trainees were treated equally, regardless of rank and were expected by regulation to obey any Marine appointed as part of the training Cadre.

  “Major, my authority comes from Lieutenant Colonel Pierce,” He said, now standing face to face with the major, giving him the dreaded “knife hand”, “You will fall in for barracks inspection, or you can pack your gear and get the fuck out of my barracks right now.”

  The Major laughed, but no one else was. “I am a Major, You are a Non-Commissioned Officer. No one can give you the authority to talk to me like that.”

  At that precise moment, Brigadier General Hardfighter came strolling in, having heard the commotion as he was walking by. “General on Deck!” one of the candidates called. The Major snapped to attention, while West turned ninety degrees and did the same.

  “What seems to be the problem here, Master Sergeant?” Danny asked.

  “Sir, I ordered the Marines to fall in for barracks inspection. The Major here appears to have taken exception to my ordering a random inspection of the trainee squad bay, and has openly questioned my authority to issue said inspection, or to issue orders to him, as an officer, Sir.”

  “I see.” Danny said, looking around the squad bay. Eighteen other Marines stood at attention, at the end of their racks. “Major, you seem to be the only one of the Officers in this bay, the only Marine in this bay anyways, that seems to think the Master Sergeant is out of line or overstepping his bounds.”

  “Yes Sir, it does seem that way sir.”

  “And you think that somehow your actions are justified because…”

  “Sir, These Marines and I have all completed special missions qualifications, Sir. This training has gone on long enough.”

  “For you, it has. Pack your gear, Major, and report to MY office in ten minutes. Move.” The Major took a
step back, spun on his heel and stomped away to pack his gear. The General looked around the squad bay at the remaining candidates. “Each and every one of you has gone incredibly far in your Marine Corps careers, and you are all right now on the cusp of joining the most elite team the Marine Corps has. Nothing is given in the Marine Corps. If you want something, you earn it. If you want to be a part of 1st Special Missions Unit, it must be earned and you must pass the tests administered by those with whom you would serve, because Special Missions Operators choose their own. If you do not pack the fortitude to handle this training, then you are not fit to serve with Operators like Master Sergeant West.”

  As the General finished his speech, the Major finished packing and stormed out. The General and Gene conducted the barracks inspection, and then West killed the lights and ordered the Marines to sleep.

  The Major who had caused the ruckus was dealt with quickly. He had been a Staff Officer with 1st Raider Battalion before volunteering for 1SMU. His file indicated several instances of borderline insubordination, including two on the battlefield. Danny had had enough of him, and wrote orders for him to be transferred out of the Special Operations Brigade all together. His next assignment would be wherever Colonel Huerta from Corps Headquarters could find a spot for him.

  Chapter 10

  Midnight came early for the trainees, most of whom slept very little, wondering aloud amongst themselves what had become of the unruly officer. The training cadre entered the darkened barracks, wearing full combat gear. Kevin held a bullhorn in his hand and hit the siren button on it. “Everybody up! Let’s go!” Many of them still hadn’t fallen asleep or were just dozing off when the cadre stormed in, so the reaction was quick. “Everyone on the line now!”

  Eighteen men and women snapped to attention at, in the same places they’d been just hours before for the inspection. “Everyone has ten minutes to get into full kit and get your shit squared away. We’re moving out on a night patrol. Reports indicate potential hostile activity four miles north of here along the river bank. Get your shit and form up outside.” Kevin ordered. He moved to the Officer’s end of the squad bay, while D. J. and Erica split up among the NCO’s.

  “Come on, Captain Grimes,” Bielema said, “We ain’t got all goddamned morning Sir. The enemy ain’t just gonna sit around and wait for us.”

  “Aye Aye Gunnery Sergeant.” Captain Grimes said, pulling on his pants. Down at the other end of the hall, D. J. was getting on a younger Marine. He had gotten his uniform, tactical vest and helmet on fairly quickly, and was just passing his rack when D. J. stopped him. “Sergeant Wilkenson, Where the hell are you going?”

  “Form up outside Staff Sergeant Smith.” He said as he stopped and snapped to attention.

  “I believe the Gunny said full kit, did he not?”

  “Yes, Staff Sergeant.” Wilkenson was now confused.

  “I’m in full kit, Sergeant. Look at what I’ve got and do a quick self-check.”

  Wilkenson looked over D. J. and saw that he, too, had on his uniform, tactical vest and helmet, but also had his sidearm and rifle.

  “You see the issue?” D.J. asked.

  “Yes Staff Sergeant.”

  “Good.” D. J. said, turning around as Wilkenson grabbed his rifle and gun belt.

  Once the trainees were formed up outside, Erica passed out power packs for everyone’s particle weapons. D. J. did a safety check, making sure the weapons everyone was carrying were set and locked in training mode before Kevin gave his brief.

  “Alright, Listen up I am only gonna go through this once. We’re going to head out the back gate here, in tactical files, then move over to the river bank. We will be moving swiftly and quietly, so watch your step on the banks. It does get slippery, and someone falling in could give away your position and open us up to ambush. If you fall in and get the rest of this team killed I will personally shove my foot so far up your ass you’ll be sneezing bootlaces for a month. Get me?”

  “Aye, Gunnery Sergeant!” yelled the trainees.

  “There is a hostile force of unknown strength along the river bank, encamped about four miles north of the base. Fast movers reported seeing fires in the woods, a scout jumper confirmed it thirty minutes ago. They also reported what looked to be a gunship of some kind on the deck in a clearing nearby. Base sensors didn’t pick up any unknown air traffic, but it’s possible they have air support. Gunships from 20th Special Jumper Squadron are standing by if we need assistance.”

  Kevin looked down the line at the officers. “Captain Grimes, you have command. Take charge of this platoon and move them out. Remember, quick and quiet, light and noise discipline. If you need a smoke, light ‘em up now before we get past the gate.”

  As Captain Grimes stepped forward, Kevin did just what he had ordered, popping a pack of cigarettes out and lighting one up. Grimes has the eighteen Marines moving out along the road in tactical files, with the training cadre at the rear. Once they left the gates, Kevin ran up and showed Captain Grimes a small foot trail that lead down to the river banks. “It’s only wide enough for single file, but it’s quick and quiet.”

  “Understood, Gunny.” Grimes said. He ordered the team to halt, and take a knee. “Okay. We’re going to move down this trail here, single file. I am going to go first and make sure it’s clear. Captain Sampson, have everyone stand by here. I’ll double click my comm once it’s clear.”

  “Aye Sir.” Sampson said, moving everyone into a line. Bielema stepped up and followed the Captain. “Good job, sir. But you missed one key thing, no one goes anywhere alone. One Marine is a dead Marine. Two Marines are deadly. As senior NCO, I am coming with you.”

  “Aye Gunny.”

  The trail was about 100 meters long, and twisted through some gnarled woody undergrowth. The forest in this section would be difficult if not impossible to move through without the various trails and roads the locals had built in Sixty years of colonial occupation of the planet. Kevin tapped Grimes on the shoulder. “That was excellent leadership you showed. If you make this team, it’s what we expect. Our officers and senior NCOs always lead from the front. Good work.”

  “Thank you, Gunny.”

  They reached the end of the trail and stopped, both clearing what they could see with the muzzles of their weapons. “Gunny, take left, I’ll take right.”

  “Aye, Sir.” Kevin said.

  “Go.” Together, they stepped into the open and turned, Bielema saw nothing but heard a series of rapid pops. He spun around and acquired a target quickly, and snapped off three shots. The Marines playing the opposing force laid down their weapons and sat cross legged on the beach. Kevin recognized both of them as operators for 2SMU. Grimes double-clicked his comm, and in short order the rest of the team somewhat noisily came down the trail.

  With the trainees now assembled, the two Operators stood up and approached. “Good morning, Marines. I’m Master Sergeant Carrie Red, this is Master Sergeant Terry McDermot. You’ve just successfully completed the first objective, to get to the river quickly and quietly. You still have the element of surprise, since Captain Grimes and Gunny Bielema were able to take us down without either of us getting a radio call out. Had you all stormed down the trail, we would have heard you and probably taken out many of you before you could engage us.”

  “Master Sergeants, my thanks.” Bielema said, extending a hand to both of them. “Also, another lesson: never go anywhere in combat by yourself. Had the Captain come down alone, he likely would have been killed. You’d be down a team leader, and not have a goddamned clue what was waiting down here, plus the enemy would know you were coming. Now, let’s move forward.”

  The team moved quickly and quietly down the river bank, staying off the slippery, wet sand. Captain Grimes held his fist up, signaling everyone to stop. He turned and looked to the three other officers, and Kevin. “See that cliff overlooking the river?”

  “Yes sir.” Kevin said.

  “I just saw movement up there. Could have been wild
life, but it’d make a good sniper hide. Overlooks almost a half mile of riverfront.”

  “Good catch, Captain.” Kevin said, waving Staff Sergeant Evans forward. “Evans, you got a thermal scope on your rifle?”

  “Yes, Gunny.”

  Captain Grimes smiled. “Alright, check out that cliff face, see if there’s anything warm up there. Especially the tip, see that round down?”

  “Sir, there’s a lot of foliage up there…”

  “If there’s a sniper in those bushes, it’ll show on thermal.” Bielema assured him.

  “Okay.” Evans slid forward slightly, and swept the area. “Got it…two human-sized heat sources.”

  “Assume we’ve lost surprise…just because they haven’t fired on us yet, doesn’t mean they haven’t observed and reported.” Kevin said. “Someone got a flash bang?”

  “Here, Gunny, I got two.” Captain Torres said, passing them to Kevin.

  “If we engage from here, we’ll get pinned down.” Grimes said.

  “Indeed. So, what’s the solution?” Bielema asked.

  “Drop a flash bang on them, draw their attention and fire, and then engage.” Torres said.

  “That might work but if they are calling in that gunship we’ll all be sitting ducks for a strafing run.” Grimes said.

  “Okay. Better idea.” Erica said, moving up. “Captain, cut me two shooters, then get through the tree line and keep advancing. I’ll throw a flash bang across the river and draw their attention that way. Once they start shooting, we’ll engage. If that gunship comes in, only three of us are exposed.”

  “Sounds good, Martinez.” Kevin said, “Only problem is it’s about 70 meters across the river…anyone think they can make that throw? A flash bang underwater won’t even scare the fish.”

  “Well fuck.” Grimes said.

  “Okay, well let’s do this.” Kevin said. “Cut Staff Sergeant Martinez two shooters. Take the rest of the team through the tree line a hundred meters up and set up. And I’ll take these.” He grabbed the flash bangs, dropped his vest and gear, and everything but his pistol.