Theogony 1: Janissaries

by Chris Kennedy

  “Now, I know this is a lot of information to digest at one time,” finished the president, “but we needed to get you onboard as quickly as possible. Are there any questions?”

  The question and answer session that followed lasted for over two hours. The president had expected as much. Hell, he had lots of questions of his own that still hadn’t been answered.

  KIRO-TV, Channel 7, Seattle, WA, September 27, 2018

  “In national news this evening, the White House has announced that the U.S. is planning a major new effort to go back to the moon,” read KIRO’s anchorwoman, Anna St. Cloud. “In a joint press conference, President Bill Jacobs and Secretary of Energy Jim Banks announced that the United States was embarking on a radical new program to establish a permanent base on the moon by the year 2025. This effort represents a complete realignment of both NASA’s mission and budget.”

  The camera cut to the president standing at a podium. “Not since the space race has any nation thought so boldly or planned so far ahead for the future of the human race,” said the president. “The nation and the world at large need a clean and renewable source of energy for the next millennium. Helium-3 fusion power is that source. The helium that we need exists in abundant amounts on the moon, all that is needed is for humanity to go up and harvest it. I call upon all of our partners and allies, and any other nation that is interested, to join us in this mission to the moon. This is not just for the U.S., but the world!”

  The picture returned to Anna St. Cloud. “The announcement that the U.S. was going to lead an expedition to the moon was surprising to most experts, who believe that the United States already has enough obligations on its budget,” reported St. Cloud, “The president dismissed these criticisms by stating that such a program would create a tremendous number of well-paying jobs that would stimulate the economy and would lead to an economic boom. After the announcement, India, Britain and Canada all expressed their interest in participating in the project.”

  “Not everyone, however, was in favor of this plan. The Russians, in particular have already expressed concerns. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Baczynska had this to say.”

  The camera changed to the deputy foreign minister, who was walking out of a State Department building. “The problem of a new space race is real and could directly affect the interests of all of our countries. We are witnessing America and its allies talking about taking all of the resources from the moon, resources that belong to all of humanity, not just the capitalist nations. Our new cosmodrome in Vostochny will be finished next year, and we will immediately begin using it to stake our claim to the moon’s resources.”

  “In local news,” said Bob Brant, the station’s new co-anchor, “the Department of Defense announced today that it is going to host two new Centers of Excellence in the Seattle/Tacoma area. Citing the need to develop new tactics and employment doctrine, the army will be hosting the Center of Excellence for Special Forces Operations at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and the air force will be hosting the Center of Excellence for Joint Fighter Operations there, as well. The missions for both of these centers will be to analyze operations from the recently concluded Sino-American War and prepare for conflicts in the future. It is expected that the bases will also host a variety of foreign nationals that will be coming to participate.”

  “In other news…”

  Narashino Garrison, Funibashi, Japan, September 28, 2018

  Colonel Tokugawa Daisuke, the commander of the Japanese Special Forces Group, looked up from the paperwork on his desk as the commander of his 1st Company, 3rd Platoon reported. The 3rd Platoon was responsible for special forces operations in mountainous terrain. “Thank you for coming so quickly,” the colonel said. “The Americans are starting a new special forces center of excellence, and you have been directed by the Defense Agency to provide someone to send to it immediately.”

  “Hai!” said Second Lieutenant Akiyama Jiro. “I am sure that the colonel realizes we are already short-handed and that losing another member for this project will put us even further behind. Am I permitted to know what we are losing him for?”

  Colonel Tokugawa looked to his operations officer, Lieutenant Colonel Suzuki, who looked at his notes. “The directive says that the Americans are starting some sort of organization to develop new methods of training and employing special operations troops. They are looking for a quote, ‘free thinker,’ from our unit to come and help out. The Defense Agency has given this the highest priority for manning and transportation. He is to report for duty in Seattle, Washington on October 8th, so we do not have much time to get him there.”

  “So,” asked Colonel Tokugawa, “do you have someone that we can use for this requisition?”

  “A free thinker? Oh, I know just the person, Colonel Tokugawa,” laughed Akiyama. “Not only will it give them the free thinker that they are looking for, but also it will get him several thousand miles away from me!”

  Seongnam Garrison, Seongnam, South Korea, September 28, 2018

  “I have new tasking from the Special Warfare Command staff!”

  Colonel Lee Woo-jin, the commander of the South Korean 707th Special Mission Battalion, looked up with irritation from the report he was reading as his operations officer, Lieutenant Colonel Kim Ji-hu came to attention in front of his desk. “What are they doing to us now?” Colonel Lee asked in a voice full of annoyance.

  “The tasking says that the Americans are standing up a new agency to develop innovative methods of training and employing special operations troops,” replied Lieutenant Colonel Kim. “They have asked for Sergeant Park Ji-woo to attend it as South Korea’s representative, and the army chief of staff has said that we are to send her there, ‘with all speed.’ We do not have much time to get her there; she is supposed to report for duty in Seattle, Washington on October 8th.”

  “Knowing her, she is not going to be very happy to go to a staff duty tour,” laughed Colonel Lee. “You’ll need to find someone very brave to tell her of her new orders, or perhaps do it over the phone. I, for one, wouldn’t want to tell her that to her face.”

  “It is funny that you should say that, sir,” Lieutenant Colonel Kim said with a smile of his own. “Apparently, the Americans know her as well, because they said to tell her that ‘Night Train said it’s all right.’”

  RAF Coningsby, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England, September 29, 2018

  “I just heard from the Air Vice-Marshal of Oman,” said Wing Commander Alfred Chappell, “and they are sending Flight Lieutenant Ken Smith back to us.” Wing Commander Chappell was the commanding officer of No. 41 Squadron, the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Test and Evaluation Squadron.

  “Let me get this straight,” replied Group Captain Malcolm MacCall, the commander of RAF Coningsby. “We sent Flight Lieutenant Smith to the Omani Air Force to help them learn how to fly the Eurofighter Typhoon, and while he is there, he did what?”

  “I believe he violated the Minimum Operational Safe Altitude (MOSA) and did a couple of touch and go’s on the roof of the Omani Officers’ Club at their air base in Mussanah,” answered Wing Commander Chappell. “Apparently the Air Vice-Marshal was throwing a wedding party for his daughter at the time and one of the ceiling tiles fell down, hit his wine glass and covered his uniform in it. He was quite annoyed when I spoke to him.”

  “What kind of pilot is he?” asked Group Captain MacCall.

  “He’s quite good,” replied Wing Commander Chappell, “or he wouldn’t have been picked to go there. His ability to do a touch and go on the officers’ club roof demonstrates his outstanding flying skills. Unfortunately, he goes bloody bonkers like this sometimes and does things without thinking.”

  “Would you say he is an ‘out of the box’ thinker?” asked Group Captain MacCall.

  “Oh, absolutely!” answered Wing Commander Chappell.

  “Then I have just the place for him…”

  Hyakuri Airfield, Omitama, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, September 30, 2018

&n
bsp; “Where the hell does all of this crap keep coming from?” asked Lieutenant Colonel Shigeru, the commanding officer of the 501st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, as he picked up a piece of paper from his desk.

  His executive officer looked at the paper. “Is that another one of the haikus that seem to be popping up everywhere?” he asked.

  “Yes, damn it. I am getting tired of them,” replied the CO.

  “I believe they come from Captain Imagawa Sadayo,” said the XO. “He had an ancestor that was a samurai poet, and he thinks that he is that person reincarnated.”

  “Hmm,” pondered the CO, looking for a piece of paper on his desk. Finding it, he asked, “Would you say that he is a ‘free thinker’ that does things ‘outside the box?’”

  “Only if I was feeling particularly charitable,” replied the XO. “I have several other things that I normally call him, especially when he is writing this nonsense instead of studying his RF-4’s operational performance manuals like he ought to be.”

  “Good,” said the CO. “The chief of staff has asked for a volunteer, and I think Captain Imagawa would be perfect for the position. Besides, we cannot afford to lose anyone else.”

  * * * * *

  Chapter Three

  Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Tacoma, WA, October 8, 2018

  “Well, if nothing else,” said Calvin, “it looks like we have an interesting group.” He looked out the window overlooking the hangar floor, where the platoon was congregating for their first meeting. The Department of Defense had given them a hangar on the McChord side of Joint Base Lewis-McChord to use as the base of operations for both the platoon and the squadron. The platoon would be using it for their headquarters and assembly point when it wasn’t training in the Snoqualmie Mountains around Ryan’s house. The squadron would also be using it to fly the four F-18s that had been provided for squadron integration and training. He saw that the hangar’s doors had been shut for security reasons. The closed-circuit cameras that had been recently installed would help with that, too.

  The majority of the platoon was made up of the members of the Alpha Rifle Company, 2nd Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment, which Calvin had commanded during the war. Looking down on the 34 members of his platoon, Calvin could see that about 1/3 of them were new, including eight or nine that were obviously foreigners. Most of these wore uniforms similar to the Rangers’, including a couple that even had similar tan berets. Several of them were obviously NOT American, though, including one soldier who was dressed in black with a black balaclava over his face. Unlike the others, the soldier in black also had two swords strapped to his back.

  “That’s something you don’t see every day,” noted Calvin with a laugh. “Who is the ninja?”

  Calvin’s new XO, First Lieutenant Paul ‘Night’ Train, looked up from the technical manual he was reading on the Ranger Anti-tank Weapons System. Night hadn’t come up through the Rangers and was trying to learn everything he could about the Rangers’ equipment. “Is he wearing black with a face mask on?” The XO’s voice was low and gruff due to an injury to his voice box he had suffered earlier in his career. Calvin thought he sounded a bit like the old actor Clint Eastwood that he had seen on a few late night movies. When Night turned his head just right, you could still see the mark that the garrote left on the side of his throat.

  “Yeah,” said Calvin. “How did you know? He looks like the bad ninja from the ‘G.I. Joe’ movies.”

  “You mean the good ninja,” replied Night.

  “What?” asked Calvin.

  “It’s counter-intuitive,” explained the XO. “In the ‘G.I. Joe’ movies, the bad ninja ‘Storm Shadow’ wore white, while the good one, ‘Snake Eyes,’ wore black. It’s the opposite of every other movie where the good guys wear white. I knew we were getting someone from the Japanese Special Forces Group, and they normally wear balaclavas to protect their identities. I think only their commanding officers can authorize them not to wear them.”

  “Hmm,” said Calvin, “I don’t know that I want to do that. I kind of like him that way. It’s cool to have a ninja on the team.” He looked back out the window and saw another person that wasn’t in uniform. “It looks like the airlines must have lost one guy’s luggage, as there’s one person out there in civilian clothes.”

  “That’s probably our resident spy from the CIA,” the XO said, coming over to the window and looking out. “Yep, that’s him,” he said. “That’s ‘Mr. Jones.’ I doubt that’s the name his parents gave him, but he’s been using it a long time. I’ve met him a couple of times. He’s a former SEAL and Delta operative, and now a full time member of the CIA’s Special Activities Division. They’re the guys that do all of the completely ‘deniable’ missions. Most of the time, they work in groups of six…Mr. Jones is so good that he’s often sent out alone.”

  “Who is he spying on?” asked Calvin. “Us or them?”

  “Hmph, probably a bit of both,” replied Night with a chuckle. “Anything that we see or do will probably be reported, along with information on the platoon itself, especially now that we have foreigners with us. I don’t think it can be helped. Spying is what they do.” Seeing Calvin still looking down at the troops, a thought came to him. “You haven’t seen our final manning list yet, have you?” asked the XO.

  “No, I haven’t,” said Calvin, shaking his head. “I was on the east coast last week working out some manning issues for the squadron. I don’t know where most of the new folks are from.”

  “Let me give you a quick brief then,” said Night, looking at a note that he pulled from his wallet. “In addition to the Rangers that you already know, we also now have a trooper from the Marines’ Special Ops Command, a medic from the Green Berets, and the CIA spy as representatives from the U.S.” He stuck the note back in his wallet.

  “We also have nine foreigners,” Night continued, looking out the window. “I know most of them by sight or by reputation. This is a dangerous group of men and women. We have two Brits, one from their Special Air Service (SAS) and one from their Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR). Both are very talented. The SAS trooper is the guy wearing the tan beret that is talking to Master Chief O’Leary; the large Jamaican woman in the gray beret with them is the SRR rep. The fourth member of that group is Petty Officer Conboy, our commando diver from the Royal Australian Navy.”

  “You’ve already seen the Japanese Special Forces soldier,” he added, “and the short oriental woman standing next to him is Sergeant Park Ji-woo, from the Republic of Korea’s 707th Special Mission Battalion. Don’t let her size or her being female fool you. She is as tough as they come and is both SCUBA and parachute qualified. I’ve trained with her, and she is one woman I would not want to piss off.”

  “Who are the two short, dark men on the left?” asked Calvin, when it seemed like Night had become lost in thought.

  “The one on the left is from Chile and is a combat air controller. He will run the communications for the ground force and is trained in air traffic control, fire support and demolitions, among other things.”

  “Why does a forward air controller need demolitions training?” inquired Calvin.

  “If you need room for an airfield,” replied Night, “he can make it for you by clearing out anything in the way. The man talking to him is from India and is from their COBRA group, the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, or something like that. That group is a paramilitary unit of their police force that exists to track down and eliminate communist rebels. They are extremely well trained and equipped, including using the Carl Gustav weapon that our Rangers use as their Ranger Anti-tank Weapon System.” He held up the manual he had been reading.

  “The final two members of the platoon are from our other NATO allies,” he added. “The one on the left is from Germany’s Paratrooper Battalion 263, which is their most decorated special operations unit. They have been used as intervention forces all over the globe. The man talking to him in the emerald green beret is from the Italian combat
diver force. Like most of the folks that are SCUBA qualified, they will be in Master Chief’s space force and will be primarily responsible for operations in space or under water.”

  “What about you?” Calvin asked his XO. “How did you get here?”

  “I’ve been in Delta a long time,” Night replied with a far-off look in his eyes, “and I think that I’ve pretty much seen and done just about everything that can be done in the service of our country. I’m here to make sure that we come home with everyone that we can.”

  “Me, too,” Calvin agreed. Looking out again, he saw that Master Chief O’Leary was getting the platoon formed up. “Let’s go meet the troops.” The two men walked down the stairs to the hangar floor, where Master Chief called the platoon to attention and saluted.

  The two officers marched up to the platoon’s senior enlisted man, with the XO to the left of Calvin and a pace behind. Stopping in front of Master Chief, Calvin and Night both saluted. “Sir, the platoon is formed and ready for your inspection,” Master Chief O’Leary announced. He did a double-take on seeing Calvin’s collar insignia. “Congratulations on O-4,” he added. “When’s the operation?”

  Calvin had been promoted to lieutenant commander while he had been on the east coast the week before. He was close to being due for promotion, anyway, and the decision had been made to advance him early, both in recognition for his service during the war and to help give him the additional authority required to command the two organizations. Master Chief was also aware of the running joke among junior naval aviators that a lobotomy was required upon pinning on the golden oak leaves of a lieutenant commander. After being promoted to lieutenant commander, most officers went from being sane, well-adjusted junior officers to being ‘hinges,’ where their heads could only go up and down in agreement, as if on a hinge, any time a higher-ranked officer told them to do something...regardless of how idiotic the tasking might be.