It’s outfitted with all the latest bells and whistles, the mounted machine gun on the top was next generation and adds much needed firepower to the vehicle.
As a small hive of drones whizz around one another and split off to scout and relay information.
The men inside are quickly inspecting their gear.
A young soldier with the name Thompson written on the patch of the brown and tan camouflage vest.
A moment passes before he breaks up the silence.
He smacks Harold on the shoulder and says “ you got any more smokes?”
This smack seemed to jolt Harold back to reality. He nervously patted his pockets then his chest pulling out an open pack
“here take em I got plenty more in the bag.” Just then the radio over the head sets kick in. “ Zulu 3-1 , you should be heading right for the compound current ETA is 40 seconds how copy?”
The driver takes a second to find the walkie in the dark as the vehicle approaches without the headlights on, he then replies:
“Zulu 3-1 we are on schedule and will be ready for entry.”
The next moments feel like a whole life time for Thompson, the others too he assumes, but given the situation doesn’t seem appropriate conversation.
The convoy is brought to a screeching stop as the first armored HUMVEE falls directly through the thin panel of wood that was buried beneath the road once covered by dirt make it nearly impossible to spot.
This makeshift tiger trap works perfectly swallowing the trucks front half entirely, it fell onto sharpened road spikes.
They rip through the metal cab of the truck like tissue paper, piercing the driver, killing him in the process.
Seconds later machine gun fire breaks out-( thump ) (thump) the sound of motors zeroed in on the trapped vehicles, exploding nearby.
The two remaining vehicles begin to panic and move around the lost soldiers some still screaming for help inside and unable to open the doors as a fire breaks out. Sealing the fate of the soldiers inside.
Racing to the compound the gunfire only intensified.
When a force pushes them to all lean one way as the massive 6 ton truck comes to a dead stop the door flies open and the men rush out.
………..
Thompson wakes up looks over at the alarm clock and seeing it isn’t set to go off for 3 more hours he grunts and creeks as he gets out of bed his knee pops at the load of carrying him as walks to the bathroom. A pack of cigarettes lay on the counter he lights on and begins to brush his teeth once finished he starts his day the same as most with a workout and some breakfast. The quiet house is nearly silent except for a lone Tv played at a relatively high volume as to be heard throughout the house. (Something he picked up to help block out the constant and persistent high pitched ringing in his ears. )in the living room the news channel going on about new border dispute in Eastern Europe.
The clothes are neatly arranged in dressers, blankets and pillows set on the furniture perfectly pristine. Everything in the deafening quiet house is.
No photos or many decorations adorned the walls. The office has a cabinet for acclaims and medals. The rest is barebones an emptiness fills the space like a fog. Thompson cuts through this as he paces in the living room
Talking to himself
“ This will sound insane but I know how we can continue the funding of the frontlines, it’s imperative that we don’t let another inch of ground be loss by our allies. With the new plans to cut the budget this could be their only hope.” He reflects
“no too wordy I need to make a power point or something.”
The tv brightens up illuminating the living room. As a well dressed person leans forward and adjusts his glasses looking at the screen. “ hey sir, I think Thompson is awake the tv detected movement.”
He point to a screen showing the old soldier walking back and forth in the living room with adjacent screens showing different angles of his house.
“ it’s no problem he’s just early this happens all the time, anyway did you log any activity overnight at all?”
A taller man in a black suit asks.”
“Negative.” The first man replied.
“ well he meets with the board of directors today so we need to make sure he isn’t compromised.” Said the tall man preparing to make a phone call as he exits the room. The back of his neck reveals a marking of an eight headed snake in a small circle it’s many heads out stretched like tentacles.
Later on that day as Thompson arrives to the near by base his radio is blasting Irish music when he pulls up to the gate. he sang along not even pausing to talk to Hank the guard just shows his I.D badge then proceeds to find a parking spot. After a half hearted attempt to hype himself up he heads inside for the biggest meeting of his career.
First he has the fate worse the one thousand deaths. Desk duty.
Once the day finally drags out he shuts down his computer and reaches for his jacket pocket. Checking that the drive holding his data is still inside. He makes his way to an elevator but inside of heading up as usual he heads for sub basement 14 and highly secure meeting area.
He meets two other guards they do routine check his ID and pat him down before he finds himself in a waiting room a vending machine. Playing repetitive retro music. After a long while Thompson reflects on the last few years of desk work and boredom he looks at his aged and still burned arms even after the countless surgeries. He breathes out. “ general?” An inquisitive voice calls out. Thompson looks up to see a young woman holding a clipboard. “ The board is ready to see you now, right this way.” She doesn’t wait for him to reply just begins to walk through a door. Not missing a beat Thompson springs up and catches the surprisingly heavy door. He follows behind until another assistant meets them in a side hall way giving him a laptop for his presentation. “ good luck sir.” The young soldier gives some words of encouragement before he and the other woman walked back down the side hall wall. Two panels in to wall open automatically.
The cigar smoke pours out of the room before Thompson even enters it once in side the room was nothing more than a well lit conference room a large desk takes up most of the space. ( it’s very nice, mahogany I think.) He ponders on first thought. At said sick ass desk sits 5 even older and more celebrated men they are all looking at Thompson. Expecting him to speak first
“ excuse me a moment while I get set up.”
He tries not to waste more time he’s waiting too long for this meeting and worked to hard on this plan.
“ Gentlemen thank you for meeting with me it’s been at great professional cost to get this off the books but what I have to say has the potential to be groundbreaking.”
He turns his head to see the doors closing. “The front lines of Ukraine are looking worse everyday, without more support we risk the loss of all the investments. You’ve all heard the talks of slashing the budget, hell You can’t turn on the tv anymore without hearing about fighting in France or the gangs running rampant. The salt mines in Africa are under siege again by separatists. When will enough be enough?
We try our best but since the war with Mexico has been ongoing. The rest of global security has been slipping. You men should know more than me that our hands have become to tied. “
“Meaning what?”
One of the board members in a grey suite asked a mix of insulted and boredom.
“Meaning we need to adapt. The future is fully private contractors.”
Another one interrupted, This man had a southern accent and was clearly frustrated
“Are you fucking kidding me, drag us out here to get an allowance to start your gun club?”
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They begin to talk amongst themselves. Thompson feeling it slip from his hands continues forward
“To build the next generation of soldiers!) he almost shouts back
“this program seeks to create a fighting force beyond recognition with means I know are severe but I’m afraid it might be the only way forward. In 7 years time I can have the program fully funded all I need is the seed money and some men and I can hit the ground. I’ll make any money you give me within the year.”
Now with the attention the of vice chairman a larger man in a blue suit and golden watch without numbers. Asks
“ how can you be so sure? I for one am not to be indebted to.”
Thompson swallows some air and turns a slide on the projector an overhead view of a field of flowers with a minty green color. (It was newly discovered in a rainforest and has a unique psychedelic effect, making it the next big thing in the drug world. Street named the mist)
“The mist?” A director asked.
“No way you could even begin to move that stuff, it’s way too restricted and regulated in every country. Bringing it in would be too costly.” One of directors said it in a statement thinking that was the end of the conversation.
Thompson was expecting this and shows the plans for bunkers converted to growing rooms. “ I already have some I just need the space to get set up. once people get this they literally will do anything to get more. We get to work let some street idiots buy it whole sale and use the money to fund operations. Only initially of course once I can afford soldiers we can do missions to make it ends meat. But this isn’t the point just how we get started.” He sees the anticipation and excitement among the board of directors.
“ I will then adopt 40 young people and we train them here on base from the beginning to be relentless. To see the bigger picture, officially none of them or even the program itself will exist. And for this relatively small cost, the U.S will have a specialized hidden force capable of handling any problems that will arise.” Then he turns to the last slide he had made up it’s just a quick picture of the Institute of Advanced Technology “ have you men heard anything about what the good people are doing here they have some incredibly wild ideas that I think should be taken under consideration. “
The board is stunned after a moment of silence [ Clang] one of the men taps a coin on the desk
“ heads we give him a shot, tales we shoot him.” He laughs, Thompson has no time to process as the coin is flipped in the air with a dense thud. It lands the chairman covers it slowly uncovering only to himself he reveals an eight headed snake outstretched.
“Okay he said, but you only have 5 year to be up and running.” “Now git.”
~~~~~~~~~~[eleven months later- Nov,2021]:
A very cramped and compact bunker somewhere in the mid western desert.
Fluorescent lightning in perfect rows aline the ceiling many smaller ones hang by chains-
over the greenish plant in various stages of its lifecycle.
When its final stage buds out vibrant flowers and slightly pulsing in color.
A group of migrant workers all of them have been brought in to tend the plants.
They do not speak much English, translation is handled through the commanders and Enforcers.
A special and particularly power hungry set of people.
From each of the countries were the workers and some gang connections are the strongest.
The enforcers hold a role of keeping everyone in check as well as sharing info and tradition of their homelands.
While the workers are housed and kept in other parts of the complex.
Never allowed to leave and will most likely remain in employment for life.
Still a better deal than many others in this line of work.
With modern perks and entertainment to help pass the time.
And large or even entire percentages of their pay being sent back to families.
As a young man no more than (20) wearing jeans and a “ Florida Flamethrowers” Jersey one size too big.
Sits at a table using a scale to properly measure out and package the finely ground powder that had been already mixed with sugar than laundry chemicals-
To stretch out and lower the potency of the drug.This is an important step in making it easier for consumers and profits.
He fills each one carefully his purple gloved hands move slowly but the rest of him is care free.
His head is nodding along to the loud rap music with Latin inspired beats.
A large hand falls on the man’s shoulder startling him greatly.
“ Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.”
He sounds quickly turning around.
Seeing a huge brute with a golden bracelet and rings of all sizes on his hand still lay on the young workers shoulder.
His tattoos of two vipers wrapping all the way from the wrist and ending near his neck.
The man reeks of beer and sweat from the outside heat.
He snarls from closed teeth the way a pit bull would talk while still being able to show its fangs.
“Cart.”
The word almost a force barring down on the room with its presence.
Shocking many near by workers to jump back to the work and other to act busy if they were already done.
Carlos called: Young buck
By the higher ups was no different.
He jumps up from his seat spilling some of the powder he almost had into a bag.
Clumsily moving to the other side of the table where the packages were stacked up and labeled neatly.
“We’ve over exceeded the quota for this month by almost a full pound.”
He quietly explains trying to break the dead air between them.
As he hands over two packages to be loaded and taken off.
“Ugh”
The brute replied completely unimpressed as the two of them make eye contact.
Causing Carlos to double his pace now just tossing the bricks over instead of walking them all the way.
This does get him the nod of recognition for the hustle.
Once he’s finished he goes to sit down expecting a break before returning to work.
“ let’s go.”
As the enforcer begins to walk down the corridor.
This hasn’t happened before but not listening to everything can be problematic.
He quietly follows to a huge freight elevator.
After months of living and working in this place he’s never been near this part and cannot help but be curious.
The doors shut closed and slowly shifts with the sounds of motion.
“We need extra hands with the loading.”
The demeanor slowly beginning to soften in the giant.
(Whew.)
Thought the young worker he had no idea where he was going or why.
“Right.”
He replies back this time with some vinegar of his own.
Once it stops near the surface to a room filled with trucks and people running around.
Carts and forklifts and moving and people are desperately mixing the product with household items and produce boxes.
“If the boss can reach an agreement with the (Dynasty) then all this you see here heads out tonight. And if he can’t then we get shovels and bury their bodies.
[Somewhere in the Arizona desert.]
Through the crosshairs of a high powered scope, general Thompson watches a line of three black SUVS.
Pulling up and finally stopping at the low valley near his men waiting below in Thompsons fixed and concealed position.
He speaks into the earpiece:
“Stay frosty boys, they really want what we have to offer. So just remember what we talked about.”
His voice gleaming with anticipation, falls on the ears of his whole team in the short wave radios imbedded in their glasses and helmets.
One man [Shepard] is holding a backpack with his
[EAR .42] (electro magnetically powered automatic rifle- capable of firing off tungsten rods with insanely destructive force and moderate to little recoil.)
Hanging from a sling off his back he’s smoking a joint trying to look unshaken.
Instead of the tactical gear the rest of the team is in, this man has on brightly colored green basketball shoes and a hoodie.
The SUVs doors open automatically hinging from the top “butterflying” outwards.
As a group of gunman hop out and line up in front of the group of men.
A moment of unease sets in followed by:
“ ohhh fancy .”
Said the man with the backpack of drugs.
As he assumes the role of the “leader” of his group of men.
He walks right up to the first gun men offering him a cigarette.
A nod followed by a thankful look helps put both groups at ease but only momentarily.
Until a very well dressed man exits the car.
“ and what did you and your associates arrive in my friend?”
He spoke in Spanish with much ease and confidence still looking down at his phone.
His grey suit with the purple and the trademark skeleton face tattoo was confirmation they were talking to [the conqueror] was head of the underground criminal empire known as the [Dynasty].
“Oh I assure it wasn’t as comfortable as you gentlemen.”
The “leader” replied with no time taken to let and hostility set in.
(The conqueror) finally looks up disappointed from his phone with recognition at the voice.
“Where are you from amigo?”
Without even waiting for a response.
“Why did you choose to work for them?”
He said accusingly and gesturing to some of the other soldiers.
As he approached inspecting the man, he had taken offense at the comment
“Hey listen he-“
He goes to speak
[whomp]-
As the back of the (conquers) hand collides with the man’s face.
“And these dogs are untrained.”
He said losing patience.
One of the men (Henderson) who was in the back in and had a great view of the ordeal. Saw a couple of teeth hit the ground before the man did.
Thumping to the ground loudly.
[Shepard] goes to react but stops himself, biting his tongue.
His radio sounds off
“Just pull the baggie out and hand it over.”
Thompsons voice cleared up the fog.
As (Shepard) walks up to the (conqueror).
Ruffling through the backpack pulling out the substance.
“Let’s not forget why we are all here.”
Prepared to pass over the sample.
(Tisk tisk tisk) the (conqueror) expressed with closed teeth.
“This your first time my friend, nothing is ever handed to me. First your man tries it to show it’s safe , then my guy tries it.”
After a small pause he continues.
“And if he likes it then you can name your price, within reason of course.”
This was Shepards first time dealing with gangsters and not bureaucrats. “Well We are just growers and if you don’t want to buy then we have plenty of other customers.” This jab would prove costly almost at random the (Conqueror) begins to raise his gun his entire demeanor now changed to anger.
His head Explodes showering one of the near by soldiers with brain matter and viscera.
As (Thompson) didn’t hesitate he was watching the whole time from the Ridgeline.
The new man now blinded goes to take a single step and is then shot in the chest launching him off his feet.
Taking full advantage of the second of panic shepard’s team aims at the remaining gangsters
“Now are you all gonna to lay down the guns, or do you wanna join them?”
Shepard now full of confidence spoke.
One of the (dynasty) soldiers shifts his weight slightly, Thompson turns on the laser at the barrel of his gun, this red beam now trained dead center on his chest.
[the man immediately drops the gun.]
- In just two short years the criminal organization known as the hand has already incorporated 3 other rivals. As the budding drug empire now does business all thought the U.S and its neighbors. Quickly building as much resources and connections as possible…
- With most of the funding the program can begin building and developing secret bases. Laying the groundwork for the operation.