Spectre Origins (Spectre Prequel Series)

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SPECTRE: ORIGINSThe SPECTRE RISING PREQUEL SERIES

C.W. LEMOINE



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

Smashwords EditionCop ri!ht "#$% C.W. Lemoine

Li&ense Notes: This e'oo( is )i&ensed *or o+r persona) en,o ment on) . This e'oo( ma not 'ere-so)d or !i en awa to other peop)e. I* o+ wo+)d )i(e to share this e'oo( with another person/ p)ease p+r&hase an additiona) &op *or ea&h person o+ share it with. I* o+0re readin! this 'oo(

and did not p+r&hase it/ or it was not p+r&hased *or o+r +se on) / then o+ sho+)d ret+rn toSmashwords.&om and p+r&hase o+r own &op . Than( o+ *or respe&tin! the hard wor( o* this

a+thor.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products ofthe author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales orpersons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

Cop ri!ht 1 "#$% C.W. LEMOINE

2)) ri!hts reser ed.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

Table of ContentsLicense Notes: This ebook is licensed for your personal en oyment only. This ebook may not bere!sold or given away to other people. "f you would like to share this ebook with another person,

please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. "f you’re reading this bookand did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to#mashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of thisauthor..........................................................................................................................................$

Table of %ontents........................................................................................................................&

Author’s Note............................................................................................................................. .. '

()ero’s *nwelcome+....................................................................................................................

(New -riends+...................................................................................................................... ........

(-irst "mpressions+............................................................................................................. ........ $

(The Truth is in the /etails+........................................................................................................&0

()awg )ighway+........................................................................................................................&1

(2ver the 3dge+.........................................................................................................................'1

An 34cerpt from #pectre 5ising.................................................................................................



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

Author’s Note

SPECTRE: ORIGINS is a collection of short stories from the lives of the maincharacters of my new book SPECTRE RISING . "t is intended to be a pre6uel seriesthat gives a look into the history and past of some of the main characters.

Although some of the stories are based on real events, the narrative is entirely fiction. Thes6uadrons and people in this e7ook are invented. Actual operational s6uadrons and places

were used only to enhance the realism and credibility of the story.

The views in this book are entirely my own, and do not represent those of the *nited #tatesAir -orce 5eserve or *nited #tates Navy 5eserve.

"’ve also included a sample of my book #83%T53 5"#"N9. " hope after reading these shortstories, you’ll oin me in the adventures of %al (#pectre+ artin and his friends. Thanks forreading.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

Marcus Anderson

“Hero’s Unwelcome”

%#3M West o* Sara,e o$ 4e'r+ar $556

7e had 'een dep)o ed as part o* a pea&e(eepin! *or&e. 2t )east/ that0s what the media had 'een to)d. 8+t G+nner Ser!eant Mar&+s 2nderson (new that the on) pea&e(eepin! he did was*rom 'ehind his s&ope. 2nd as he )a 9+iet) in the 'r+sh on the snow-&o ered hi))top/ &o ered

' his ar&ti& &amo+*)a!e !hi))ie s+it/ Mar&+s se&ret) hoped that the wo+)d &an&e) the missionand send him home. 7e had seen eno+!h war *or one )i*etime.

Mar&+s had en)isted in the Marine Corps d+rin! the hei!ht o* the Rea!an mi)itar '+i)d+p.7e had wor(ed his wa thro+!h the ran(s/ *irst as a 'asi& in*antr man/ then a&hie in! a s)ot inthe &o eted Marine S&o+t Sniper S&hoo) short) a*ter pinnin! on the ran( o* Lan&e Corpora). 7ehad a)wa s 'een pro*i&ient with *irearms/ ha in! 'een ta+!ht at a o+n! a!e ' his *ather/ a )on!time eteran o* the Miami Po)i&e epartment. Shootin! was ,+st a nat+ra) thin! *or Mar&+s.

This was his third &om'at dep)o ment/ and Mar&+s was seein! the )i!ht at the end o* thet+nne). 7e had spent months waitin! *or the !reen )i!ht in Ira9 d+rin! esert Shie)d/ and

e ent+a)) &hased down Ira9i Rep+')i&an G+ard &ommanders and mo'i)e SCU )a+n&hers in thedeserts o* Ira9 d+rin! esert storm. 7e had h+nted and (i))ed Soma)i war)ords in Mo!adish+ in$55%/ an operation he &onsidered to 'e s+&&ess*+) despite what the media had portra ed a*ternineteen 'ra e 2rm Ran!ers and e)ta Operators had 'een (i))ed a*ter a 8)a&(haw( was shotdown. 2nd now he *o+nd himse)* 'a&( in the a&tion a!ain/ h+ntin! down Ser'ian &ommanders!+i)t o* heino+s war &rimes.

7e )a prone/ &on&ea)ed ' thi&( 'r+sh and the woods on the top o* the sma)) hi)). 7isspotter/ Corpora) Matt 8 nes )a ne;t to him. It was their *i*th mission in 8osnia o er the )astthree months/ and Mar&+s had 'een ass+red ' his Captain that thin!s were startin! to winddown and that the wo+)d 'e headed 'a&( to the states soon. Mar&+s wasn0t s+re he 'e)ie ed it/

'+t he &ertain) wasn0t !oin! to ar!+e i* that were tr+e. 7is wi*e was sti)) waitin! *or him 'a&(home. 2t )east/ he hoped she was. 7e hadn0t re&ei ed a )etter *rom her in a &o+p)e o* wee(s/and she ne er seemed to 'e aro+nd or a')e to ta)( when he &a))ed.

<I0 e !ot the mar(/= 8 nes said as he peered thro+!h his 'ino&+)ars. 8 nes was o er ade&ade o+n!er than Mar&+s who was p+shin! his )ate thirties. The had 'een paired *or thisdep)o ment - the &r+st o)d G+nn ta(in! the o+n! Corpora) +nder his win!. Mar&+s0 on)!oa) was to !et them 'oth home a)i e. 2n thin! 'e ond that was a 'on+s.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

<Crossin! the road>= Mar&+s said as he pi&(ed +p the man thro+!h the s&ope o* his M?#2$ri*)e &ham'ered in @.6" ; A$ N2TO. The man was a Ser'ian Co)one) that had 'een responsi')e*or she))in! a sma)) i))a!e o+tside o* Sara,e o. 7e was wearin! a Ser'ian mi)itar winter+ni*orm/ es&orted ' a sma)) &ontin!ent o* so)diers. The had 'een wat&hin! the tar!et area *orthe )ast two da s/ ha in! re&ei ed inte) that he had set +p his 'ase o* operations amon!st a sma))

i))a!e to dis&o+ra!e N2TO a))ied 'om'in!s.<2**irm/ A6? ards/ winds o+t o* the east/ two mi)es per ho+r/= 8 nes responded as he

&on*irmed Mar&+s0 &a)&+)ations *or winda!e/ drop/ and densit . 2t that ran!e/ the sma))est errorwo+)d 'e the di**eren&e 'etween a (i)) shot and e;posin! their position with nothin! to show *orit.

Mar&+s &)i&(ed in the settin!s in his s&ope as he Beroed his si!hts on the man0s head. Thatwas the )i*e o* a sniper - ho+rs/ e en da s/ o* sittin! and waitin! *o))owed ' intense/ sp)itse&ond/ )i*e and death de&ision-ma(in!. 7is adrena)ine was p+mpin!/ '+t he remained+nphased. 7e now on) had to *o&+s on his 'reathin! and tri!!er p+)) as the man stood ta)(in! to

one o* his Lie+tenants.<Tar!et &on*irmed/ &)eared to en!a!e/= 8 nes whispered.Mar&+s too( a deep 'reath and e;ha)ed s)ow) . 7is warm 'reath &ondensed in the &o)d/ dr

winter air. With a smooth tri!!er p+))/ Mar&+s sent the ro+nd downran!e. The '+))et hit theCo)one) in the temp)e mid-senten&e/ instant) droppin! him to the !ro+nd as 'rain mattersp)attered the o**i&er ne;t to him. The men were sent in a *renB as the s&attered to see( &o erand ')ind) ret+rned *ire.

Mar&+s and his spotter maintained their &o er/ &are*+) not to ma(e an mo ements or so+ndsto !i e awa their position. 2t that ran!e/ there was no wa the pani&(in! o**i&ers wo+)d 'e a')eto )o&ate their position *rom the sin!)e !+nshot. 2)) Mar&+s and his spotter needed to do now

was wait *or the d+st to sett)e as stra / +naimed ro+nds ripped at tree )im's 'eneath them andsent snow *) in!. 2 *ew min+tes )ater/ the !+n*ire stopped as the men dra!!ed the Co)one)0s

'od o+t o* the street and a patro) started +p the hi))side to their ri!ht.Mar&+s *roBe as he heard a tree )im' &ra&( to his )e*t. It hadn0t 'een a ro+nd stri(in! the

trees/ '+t someone steppin! on an o)d 'ran&h in the snow. 7e and 8 nes had s&o+ted the area prett we)) 'e*ore sett)in! on their &+rrent OP/ '+t random *oot patro)s were not +n&ommoneither. Mar&+s sna(ed his hand down to his 8eretta 5"4S sidearm.

<Get read to mo e/ (id/= Mar&+s whispered as the *ootsteps !rew near. 8 nes readied hishand!+n as we))/ tr in! to remain per*e&t) sti)). The wo+)d )a in wait/ hopin! the so)dierswo+)d wa)( past them.

2s the *ootsteps drew nearer/ Mar&+s &o+)d *ina)) see who had 'een ma(in! the noise. Thewere two men/ ea&h appearin! to 'e in their mid-twenties/ &arr in! 23-?@s s)+n! *rom theirne&(s. Mar&+s &)en&hed the '+tt o* his 8eretta as the men approa&hed. The didn0t appear toha e noti&ed Mar&+s and his spotter/ '+t the were on tra&( to st+m')e o er them.

The two men were within twent *eet o* Mar&+s and 8 nes. Mar&+s hated the idea o*shootin! them in 'road da )i!ht witho+t si)en&ed weapons. Their position wo+)d immediate) 'e!i en awa to the other patro). S+dden) / the men stopped. The )ead man motioned *or them to



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

t+rn toward the i))a!e 'e)ow them. Mar&+s 'reathed a si!h o* re)ie* as the &han!ed &o+rse.The wa)(ed a *ew *eet and stopped. Mar&+s wat&hed as the o+n!er )oo(in! !+ard p+))ed a

pa&( o* &i!arettes o+t o* his po&(et/ o**ered one to his &omrade/ and the 'oth )it +p.With their 'a&(s to him/ Mar&+s +nsheathed his 'oot (ni*e. 7e didn0t ha e time to wait.

Their ride/ a Marine U7-$ 7+e / wo+)d 'e at the rendeB o+s point in two ho+rs. The had a )oto* !ro+nd to &o er whi)e a oidin! enem &onta&t.

4o))owin! Mar&+s0 )ead/ 8 nes p+))ed o+t his (ni*e and *o))owed/ approa&hin! the so)dier tothe ri!ht. In +nison/ the 'oth !ra''ed their respe&ti e !+ards/ sho in! their (ni es into themen0s ne&(s whi)e &o erin! their i&tims0 mo+ths with their *ree hands. On&e the were s+re themen were dead/ the dra!!ed them o** into the 'r+sh. It was time to move.

Ma(in! s)ow and de)i'erate mo ements/ the two made their wa o er the hi)) toward the<mi)itar &rest= o* the mo+ntain ne;t to them. Sta in! three 9+arters o* the wa +p the mo+ntaina))owed them to a oid enem mo ements whi)e maintainin! a !ood ta&ti&a) ad anta!e and&on&ea)ment. 2n ho+r and a ha)* )ater/ the were in position/ hidin! in the wooded area that

opened to a &)earin! as the waited on their ride home.<So how does it *ee)>= 8 nes whispered.<7ow does what *ee)>= Mar&+s as(ed impatient) . <It0s *+&(in! &o)d.= 2 nati e o* So+th

4)orida/ Mar&+s hated &o)d weather. 7e was )oo(in! *orward to the da he &o+)d retire on hisho+se'oat in the 4)orida 3e s and throw awa a)) o* his winter &)othes in *a or o* *)ip *)ops andshorts.

<No/ I mean how does it *ee) to 'e done>= 8 nes pressed.<We0re not done +nti) we0re home/ now sh+t the *+&( +p/= Mar&+s !r+nted.

It was ,+st a*ter DPM when Mar&+s *ina)) made it to his tr+&( in the dep)o ment par(in!area. 2s Mar&+s made the *ina) t+rn onto the 'ase ho+sin! road in his $55? 4ord 8ron&o/ he

'reathed a si!h o* re)ie*. 2*ter three da s o* !oin! *rom 'ase to 'ase in E+rope on his wa 'a&(to Q+anti&o/ he was *ina)) home.

It was a)entine0s a / three da s 'e*ore he had ori!ina)) 'een s&hed+)ed to ret+rn. 7isCaptain had !i en him a three-da pass in honor o* his +p&omin! retirement and distin!+ishedser i&e. 7e was hopin! to show +p and s+rprise his wi*e/ spendin! the wee(end !ettin!rea&9+ainted a*ter a )on! time apart.

Mar&+s had married Rhonda M ers ,+st a ear 'e*ore his assi!nment to Q+anti&o. She had 'een a hairdresser at a )o&a) sa)on near F+ma MC2S. The met at a 'ar o+tside o* F+ma/2riBona and were married si; months )ater. The had no &hi)dren/ '+t on his *)i!ht home *romwar-torn 8osnia/ he had 'een thin(in! a'o+t (ids. 7e had a)wa s to)d her he was too o)d/ '+t



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

now that he was )ea in! the Corps and sett)in! down/ he was startin! to re&onsider. 8esides/ shewas sti)) in her ear) twenties. She wasn0t too o)d/ re!ard)ess o* how he *e)t a'o+t himse)*.

Mar&+s noti&ed an e;tra &ar on the street as he p+))ed into his d+p)e; dri ewa ne;t toRhonda0s Che Ca a)ier. 7e !+essed it m+st0 e 'een his nei!h'ors. 7e *i!+red he0d ha e toha e a ta)( with them a'o+t par(in! on his side o* the )ot/ '+t *or now/ he was ,+st )oo(in!*orward to seein! Rhonda. 7e )a+!hed at the <C)inton Gore H56= sti&(er on the 'a&( windshie)d.It was ironi& to Mar&+s that a person on a mi)itar 'ase was s+pportin! the same two po)iti&iansthat had 'een doin! their 'est to !+t the mi)itar .

< emo&rats/= he &h+&()ed to himse)* as he shoo( his head.7e started to p+)) o+t his (e s '+t then de&ided to tr the door. espite his warnin!s that it

was +nsa*e/ Rhonda a)wa s )e*t the door +n)o&(ed/ e en when she was a)one. 7e twisted thedoor(no' and p+shed. The dead'o)t was )o&(ed. Maybe she finally listened / he tho+!ht.Mar&+s *ished o+t his ho+se (e s and +n)o&(ed the door. 7e tossed his sea 'a! near the *rontdoor and )oo(ed aro+nd. The ho+se was 9+iet.

<Rhonda>= Mar&+s &a))ed o+t. There was no response. Mar&+s )oo(ed in the (it&hen. Therewere empt ta(eo+t 'o;es in the trash/ '+t the (it&hen was re)ati e) &)ean. Maybe she hadchanged while he had been gone.

Mar&+s t+rned toward the stairs. 7e s)ow) made his wa +p as the wooden stairs &rea(ed one er step. 7e &o+)d hear noises &omin! *rom their 'edroom. It so+nded )i(e she was +pwat&hin! T .

<G+ess who0s-= Mar&+s stopped in his tra&(s as he opened the door. The T was o**/ '+tthere was his wi*e/ on a)) *o+rs/ 'ein! mo+nted ' another man )i(e a do! in heat. The were

'oth na(ed e;&ept *or the man- he was wearin! Mar&+s0 'oonie hat.<Oh m God = Rhonda s&reamed as she ,+mped +p and &o ered herse)* with a stra pi))ow.

7er )o er ,+st stood there na(ed/ *roBen ' *ear as he &ontemp)ated his *i!ht or *)i!ht instin&t.Mar&+s too( a step *orward/ his *ists &)en&hed/ <FN$ 7errin!ton.= 7e re&o!niBed the

o**ender. 7e was an admin &)er( with the Na . 7errin!ton had he)ped pro&ess his tra e) &)aimon his )ast T F 'e*ore he )e*t *or 8osnia/ and now he was io)atin! his wi*e in his ho+se and inhis 'ed. 7errin!ton0s &ar had 'een the one par(ed o+t *ront.

S+dden) the man )eapt *orward/ &hoosin! *i!ht o er *)i!ht. 7is ri!ht arm sw+n! wi)d) atMar&+s as Mar&+s stepped 'a&( and d+&(ed/ sendin! the man st+m')in! awa na(ed +nder hisown moment+m.

<Fo+0 e !ot the ner e to tr to *i!ht me a*ter o+0 e 'een *+&(in! m wi*e>= Mar&+s!row)ed. <2nd wearin! m !oddamned hat>=

<She to)d me what a pie&e o* shit o+ are = 7errin!ton e))ed as he !athered himse)* and prepared to reatta&(.

Mar&+s !a e Rhonda a )oo( o* 'etra a). 7e had 'een !one *or three months/ ser in! his&o+ntr the 'est wa he (new how/ and pro idin! *or her whi)e she sat at home and )i ed are)ati e) &om*orta')e )i*e. Her repayment was to fuck this guy? An admin weenie?

<I s+!!est o+ p+t o+r *+&(in! &)othes 'a&( on and !o home 'e*ore o+ !et h+rt/= Mar&+ssaid to 7errin!ton as he waited *or an e;p)anation at a)) *rom Rhonda.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

<4+&( o+ = 7errin!ton said as he &har!ed Mar&+s. 2!ain/ he sw+n! wi)d) as he nearedMar&+s. Mar&+s too( another step 'a&( and redire&ted 7errin!ton0s moment+m into the dresser.Pi&t+res and a ,ewe)r 'o; went &rashin! to the *)oor.

<Mar&+s/ Ja&o'/ p)ease = Rhonda p)eaded.<This assho)e doesn0t deser e o+ = 7errin!ton e))ed as he !athered himse)* +p a third

time.Mar&+s *ina)) )ost his patien&e as the man pi&(ed himse)* 'a&( +p. 2s the man steadied

himse)*/ Mar&+s ,a''ed his throat/ &are*+) not to &r+sh his windpipe/ '+t eno+!h to ma(e him!asp *or air. 2s he do+')ed o er/ Mar&+s threw an e)'ow to the man0s ,aw/ dis)o&atin! itinstant) . 7e !ra''ed the man ' the 'a&( o* the ne&( and sent him head *irst into the dresser.8)ood !+shed *rom the man0s 'ro(en nose as he writhed in pain.

<2 *+&(in! emo&rat/ Rhonda> Serio+s) >= Mar&+s said as the man ro))ed in pain. <Fo+&heated on me with this p+ss > 2re o+ a )es'ian now>=

<Mar&+s o+ were a)wa s !one = Rhonda s&reamed.

<Whate er. Pa&( o+r shit and !et o+t = Mar&+s s&reamed.Mar&+s had s+r i ed three &on*)i&ts/ ha in! 'een shot at/ 'om'ed/ and *or&ed to s+r i e onhis own *or da s in the wi)derness/ '+t Rhonda0s 'etra a) h+rt him the most. 7e had ne er *e)tso +)nera')e 'e*ore. FN$ 7errin!ton spent two da s in the hospita) whi)e Mar&+s0 s+periorstried their 'est to (eep him o+t o* the 8ri! ' sett)in! *or a red+&tion in ran( and *or*eit+re o*

pa / '+t the dama!e was done. Mar&+s owed to ne er )et himse)* 'e so +)nera')e a!ain.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

Victor Alvarez

“New r!en"s”

Miami/ 4L$A Mar&h "##@

<Fo+0re m+&h 'etter than he is/= she said/ r+''in! the ')a&( hair on his &hest.i&tor 2) areB sat +p and sw+n! his *eet o er the side o* the 'ed. 7e )oo(ed o er at her.

She was )a in! there na(ed and sweatin! *rom their se&ond )o ema(in! session o* the e enin!.7er )on!/ dar( 'rown hair ,+st 'are) &o ered her e;posed 'reasts.

<We0 e !ot time *or one more/= she said as she sat +p and (issed his ne&(.i&tor 'r+shed his hands thro+!h his ,et ')a&( hair. These women always seemed to get so

clingy . <What time wi)) he 'e home>=<It0s Th+rsda ni!ht. Ja !oes to the tra&( on Th+rsda ni!hts/= she said as she &aressed his

'a&(.<There wi)) 'e more time *or +s )ater/= he said as he t+rned to (iss her. She !ra''ed his *a&e

and (issed him sens+a)) .<When are we !oin! to r+n awa to!ether )i(e o+ promised> I0 e a)read started ta)(in! to

di or&e )aw ers/= she said. 7er 'rown e es were deep with &on&ern. 7e had 'een wor(in! her*or the past two months. On the other hand/ ma 'e she had 'een wor(in! him. 7e had tro+')ethin(in! o* it as <wor(.=

<Soon/ m )o e/= he said/ (issin! her *orehead/ <'+t *or now/ I sho+)d !o so as not to ma(e as&ene when he ret+rns.=

i&tor stood/ !ra''in! his pants and shirt *rom the *oot o* the 'ed. The woman &raw)ed o+to* 'ed 'ehind him. 7e too( a moment to ta(e in her toned 'od and &arame) s(in. 7e )o ed this

,o' so m+&h.<Gi e me a moment and I0)) wa)( o+ o+t/= she said as she !ra''ed her ro'e and wrapped it

aro+nd her.i&tor smi)ed as he &ontin+ed p+ttin! on his &)othes. 2s she wa)(ed into the 'athroom/ he

s)ow) eased toward the dresser. Ne;t to it sat a dirt &)othes 'in. When she was sa*e) o+t o*iew/ he &are*+)) sear&hed the drawers. Nothing . 7e )oo(ed into the dirt &)othes and *o+nd a pair o* men0s s)a&(s. 7e pi&(ed them +p and d+! thro+!h the po&(ets/ p+))in! o+t two pie&es o* paper.

i&tor !)an&ed 'a&( to the 'athroom as he opened the two &r+mp)ed pie&es o* paper. The*irst was an 2TM re&eipt. Nothin! +n+s+a) - ,+st a one h+ndred do))ar trans*er. The se&ond wasa 'ettin! s)ip *or the 4)a!)er Gre ho+nd Tra&( in Miami.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

i&tor smi)ed as he st+**ed the papers 'a&( in the pants and then p+t them 'a&( into the&)othes 'in. 7e had what he needed.

<R+'io sa s this !+ is ten !rand in the ho)e/= the man said as he sat ne;t to 2) areB. It wasJose 7errera/ his most tr+sted asset in Miami. Jose was a nati e o* Miami. 7is parents had settheir roots in 7ia)eah in the )ate si;ties a*ter *)eein! C+'a/ and a)tho+!h he didn0t o**i&ia)) wor(*or the C+'an GI/ he was er m+&h on their pa ro))s.

The ire&&iKn Genera) de Inte)i!en&ia was the main state inte))i!en&e a!en& o* C+'a. Sin&eopenin! *or '+siness in )ate $56$/ the GI had 'een in o) ed in inte))i!en&e and espiona!eoperations a&ross the !)o'e. The had 'een in o) ed in aidin! )e*tist re o)+tionar mo ementsin 2*ri&a/ the Midd)e East/ and most) Latin 2meri&a. In the United States/ the GI had 'eenhea i) in o) ed with internationa) dr+! trade/ assistin! home!rown terrorist &e))s/ and

inte))i!en&e !atherin! operations *or third part &o+ntries.<Tota)>= 2) areB as(ed as he wat&hed the !re ho+nds speed ' on the tra&(. 7e waswearin! a white '+tton down shirt and straw *edora with (ha(i s)a&(s.

<This month/= Jose rep)ied.2) areB p+t down his 'ino&+)ars and )oo(ed at Jose. 7e had 'een +sin! them to sear&h *or

his tar!et in the opposite stands. 7e (new the man wo+)d 'e there. It was Th+rsda ni!ht/ a*tera)).

<R+'io m+st appre&iate that/= i&tor rep)ied. J+an R+'io was one o* the most i&io+s 'oo(ies in So+th 4)orida. 7e was (nown *or e;tra&tin! mone *rom his &)ients at an &ost andwith his ties to the Latin 3in!s !an!/ he was imm+ne *rom retri'+tion or prose&+tion. No one

dared to &ross him.<7e a)read owes R+'io *i e !rand/= Jose said/ )owerin! his oi&e/ <R+'io0s !i in! this !+

,+st eno+!h rope to han! himse)*.=2) areB &h+&()ed as he went 'a&( to his 'ino&+)ars. 7e s&anned the &rowd in the stands

a&ross *rom them )oo(in! *or his tar!et.<So he has the same p)an we do/= i&tor said as he wat&hed the man wearin! shorts and a

')+e po)o shirt. It was Spe&ia) 2!ent Ja Leon/ the new a!ent assi!ned to the 4orei!nInte))i!en&e Espiona!e des( o* the Miami 4ie)d O**i&e o* the 48I.

Jose shr+!!ed/ < o o+ want me to ta)( to him/ 'oss>=<See how m+&h mone it wi)) ta(e to '+ him o+t/= 2) areB responded. <I0m !oin! to ha e a

&hat with o+r new *riend.=

i&tor 2) areB waited patient) in the dar( &orner o* the IP room o* the &)+'. Strip &)+'swere idea) *or meetin!s )i(e this/ espe&ia)) the IP room. The )o+d m+si& and dar( rooms made



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

it harder *or peop)e to ea esdrop. Peop)e rare) paid attention to an thin! '+t the !ir)s/ and noone !a e a se&ond !)an&e to s+spi&io+s a&ti it .

8+t i&tor0s tar!et had no idea the were meetin!. i&tor0s presen&e in the &orner o* the)itt)e strip &)+' was the &+)mination o* months o* wor( spent se)e&tin! the tar!et/ wor(in! hiswa in/ and *indin! his )e era!e.

2 mid-)e e) a!ent in the GI/ i&tor 2) areB had spent his entire &areer wor(in! So+th4)orida. 7e had ser ed his &o+ntr ' '+i)din! a networ( o* inte))i!en&e assets thro+!ho+t the)o&a) &omm+nit . I* a *orei!n &o+ntr had an operation in Miami/ he was their man. 7e was

pro+d o* the wor( he had done. 7e was (nown as one o* the a!en& 0s most e**e&ti e operati es/espe&ia)) when it &ame to de e)opin! assets in !o ernment or!aniBations. 7is s+periors werea)wa s impressed at how he mana!ed to t+rn e en the most di**i&+)t tar!ets into prod+&ti einte))i!en&e assets.

Spe&ia) 2!ent Ja Leon was a pro,e&t i&tor0s own !o ernment had !i en him. The had&ontro) o* most o* the )o&a) po)i&e departments/ '+t their presen&e with the )o&a) *eds was

minima) at 'est. The on) had )ow-)e e) ana) sts who &o+)d *eed them in*ormation i* thehappened +pon it. The needed someone with a hand in 4edera) in esti!ations. The man wo+)d 'e their e es and ears/ and i* ne&essar / di ert attention *rom whate er operations the werewor(in!.

So when i&tor )earned that the 4orei!n Inte))i!en&e des( o* the 48I was !oin! to a newtrans*er ori!ina)) *rom the area/ he (new he wo+)d ha e his opport+nit . Leon0s *ather sti)))i ed in C+'a. 7e &o+)d 'e +sed as )e era!e i* ne&essar / i&tor had tho+!ht.

It hadn0t 'een ne&essar . i&tor wor(ed it the 'est wa he (new how in the 'edroom. 7ewat&hed Leon and his wi*e o er the &o+rse o* se era) wee(s. The had no (ids. She was a 'oredho+sewi*e *o))owin! her h+s'and *rom assi!nment to assi!nment. 7e &o+)d wor( with that.

2nd he did. ver and over again . 7e promised her ad ent+re and e;&itement. 7e promisedher a new )i*e and a romanti& !etawa . It was a)) a )ie/ o* &o+rse/ '+t it had !otten him &)oseeno+!h to !et the in*ormation he needed. 7e didn0t *ee) 'ad. She &o+)d do 'etter than Leonan wa . Leon apparent) had a !am')in! pro')em/ and ,+d!in! ' his *re9+ent trips to theesta')ishment i&tor was sittin! in/ a *ide)it pro')em as we)).

i&tor sat 'a&( as he wat&hed a stripper !+ide Leon +p the stairs and onto one o* the &o+&hes.She (issed his &hee( and wa)(ed awa / promisin! that his !ir) wo+)d 'e +p short) .

Leon )oo(ed aro+nd *or a se&ond/ and then 'e!an to +nBip his pants.<3eep o+r pants on/= 2) areB said *rom the &orner.Start)ed/ Leon ,+mped +p/ ho)din! his pants.<Who the *+&( are o+>= he demanded. <Where0s Cand >=<Prostit+tion is i))e!a) in 4)orida/ Mr. Leon/= 2) areB said smooth) .= Leon demanded/ Bippin! his pants. <7ow do o+ (now m

name>=<I (now e er thin! a'o+t o+/ Spe&ia) 2!ent Leon. P)ease sit down. Let0s &hat.=2) areB sat patient) as Leon approa&hed. <That0s ri!ht/ assho)e. Spe&ia) 2!ent. Now te))

me what the *+&( o+0re doin! here 'e*ore I arrest o+.=



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

<I* o+ want to &ontin+e 'ein! HSpe&ia) 2!ent0 Leon/ I s+!!est o+ sit down/ p)ease/=2) areB said. < oes the 8+rea+ (now a'o+t o+r !am')in! pro')em>=

Leon stopped in his tra&(s as 2) areB tossed a set o* )ar!e photo prints on the ta')e in *ront o*him. <Loo( *ami)iar>= 2) areB as(ed.

Leon pi&(ed +p the pi&t+res and st+died them. The were pi&t+res o* him sittin! in the standsat the tra&(.

<So what>= Leon as(ed indi!nant) . <2re o+ tr in! to ')a&(mai) me> Goin! to the tra&(isn0t i))e!a).=

2) areB said nothin! as he tossed two more pi&t+res on the ta')e. In them/ Leon was !i in!&ash to R+'io.

<So te)) on me/ I don0t *+&(in! &are. The 0)) s)ap me on the wrist and ma(e me !et&o+nse)in!. 8i! dea).= Leon was p)a in! it o** prett we)). 2) areB had to !i e it to him.

<I +nderstand/= 2) areB said as he tossed two more pi&t+res on the ta')e. This time/ the pi&t+res were ')a&( and white and o* him with a na(ed woman on top. <That doesn0t )oo( )i(e

o+r wi*e.=<I0m s+re that 'it&h is &heatin! on me an wa / and o+ &an0t pro e this is i))e!a)/= Leonrep)ied/ tossin! the pi&t+res 'a&( at 2) areB. <Now i* o+0)) !et the *+&( o+t o* here/ I0 e !ot anappointment.=

2) areB smi)ed as Leon mentioned his &heatin! wi*e. If he only knew.<2'o+t that !am')in! thin!/= 2) areB said/ p+))in! a pie&e o* paper o+t o* his po&(et. <Ten

tho+sand do))ars in the ho)e this month. Ten tho+sand )ast month. 4i e tho+sand do))ar de't toJ+an R+'io at 6# interest. Twent one h+ndred do))ars )e*t to o+r name. I don0t thin( Mr.R+'io or his asso&iates wi)) a&&ept Gam')ers 2non mo+s as pa ment/ 2!ent Leon.=

Leon st+m')ed 'a&( and sat 'a&( down on the &o+&h. <Who are o+> What do o+ want>=

<M name is i&tor/= 2) areB responded. <2nd I wo+)d )i(e to ma(e a)) o+r pro')ems !oawa .=

<I0m )istenin!/= Leon said/ &a+tio+s) )eanin! *orward.2) areB tossed a ')a&( d+**)e 'a! to Leon0s *eet. 7e waited as Leon +nBipped the top and

p+))ed o+t a sta&( o* neat) pa&(a!ed $## 'i))s.<There0s one h+ndred tho+sand do))ars in &ash in that 'a!/ 2!ent Leon/= 2) areB said as he

sat 'a&( and &rossed his )e!s. <Fo+ &an +se that to pa o** o+r de't to Mr. R+'io. 2*ter that/o+ are done with that tra&(. Fo+ wi)) then re&ei e ten tho+sand do))ars per month. 2)) &ash/ o*

&o+rse.=<In e;&han!e *or what> Wh wo+)d o+ do this>= Leon as(ed/ th+m'in! thro+!h the 'i))s.<4riendship.=<4riendship>=2) areB stood and e;tended his hand to Leon. <I wo+)d )i(e o+r *riendship/ Spe&ia) 2!ent.

That is a)).=Leon stared at the o+tstret&hed hand. 7e &onsidered it *or a moment/ and then !ra''ed

i&tor0s hand/ sha(in! it as he stood. 2) areB seemed to tower o er the short )itt)e man.<To *riendship/= Leon said with a &roo(ed smi)e.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

<Fo+0 e made the ri!ht &hoi&e/= 2) areB responded/ pattin! Leon on the sho+)der with his*ree hand.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

Cal "Spectre" Martin

“ !rst Im#ress!ons”

Warnin! 2rea ?6A2t)anti& O&ean$A Septem'er "##@

<Gator $$ is read .=<Gator $" is read /= he rep)ied as he wi!!)ed his *in!ers aro+nd the thrott)e and sidesti&( o*

his 4-$6. 7e was *i;ated on his *)i!ht )ead/ a mi)e and a ha)* down his win!)ine dire&t) to hisri!ht.

<Gators/ &he&( *ort *i e ri!ht.=4irst Lie+tenant Ca) Martin0s heart was ra&in! as he mane+ ered his 4-$6 into position

'ehind his *)i!ht )ead. It was his *irst *)i!ht with his new s9+adron/ and he wanted to ma(e a!ood impression. 2 Reser ist/ Martin was the *irst Gator hired o** the street to ma(e it thro+!hthe trainin! pipe)ine in o er ten ears. 2side *rom the a&ti e d+t pi)ots assi!ned to the %5 th 4i!hter S9+adron/ Martin was the most ine;perien&ed pi)ot in a s9+adron *+)) o* tho+sand p)+sho+r &om'at eterans.

<One point nine/= Martin &a))ed o er the radio as he too( a radar )o&(. The were doin! anO**ensi e 53 per&h set+p as part o* his *irst Mission Q+a)i*i&ation Trainin! +p!rade *)i!ht. 7is

*)i!ht )ead wo+)d !i e him the initia) ad anta!e and Martin0s ,o' was to mane+ er his 4-$6 *roma mi)e and a ha)* 'ehind his *)i!ht )ead into a position to !et a !+ns (i)).

7is *)i!ht )ead re ersed the dire&tion o* the t+rn to set +p the appropriate an!)e 'etween thetwo *i!hters *or Martin. With per&h set+ps/ Martin had 'een ta+!ht that the initia) parameterswere the most important. It was essentia) *or 'oth air&ra*t to 'e at the same airspeed/ a)tit+de/and an!)e o** tai) to ens+re the ri!ht si!ht pi&t+re *or *o))ow on mane+ erin!. It was part o* a

'+i)din! ')o&( approa&h to mo e *rom &anned/ &ontro))ed set+ps to more d nami& hi!h aspe&tdo!*i!htin! where the st+dent &o+)d then app) the si!ht pi&t+res he had seen 'e*ore.

<One point ei!ht/= Martin said as he wat&hed the ran!e &o+nt down in his 7ead Up isp)a .Martin was ner o+s. 7e was *) in! with the s9+adron0s Weapons O**i&er/ Ma,or <Ma!i&=Mann . 2 !ood !radesheet *rom Ma!i& wo+)d set the tone *or the rest o* his MissionQ+a)i*i&ation Up!rade Trainin!. 2 '+sted *)i!ht or <8e)ow 2 era!e= !rade wo+)d set him +p *ormore s&r+tin *rom other Instr+&tor Pi)ots. It was time to show o** what he had )earned in the 4-$6 8asi& Co+rse at L+(e 248.

<One point se en.= 7e wi!!)ed his *in!ers and toes/ tr in! to re)a; and &on&entrate on(eepin! his *)i!ht )ead0s 4-$6 +nder the 'oresi!ht &ross in the 7U . 2t a ran!e o* a mi)e and aha)*/ he was startin! the *i!ht o+tside the ima!inar <t+rn &ir&)e= the t+rnin! ad ersar 0s air&ra*t



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

tra&ed a&ross the s( . 7e wo+)d ha e to ro)) o+t/ re&o!niBe the t+rn &ir&)e entr &+es he had 'eenta+!ht/ and then s+&&ess*+)) a)i!n with the ad ersar air&ra*t0s *)i!ht path witho+t o er or+ndershootin!. Enter too ear) / and his atta&(er wo+)d &reate too man an!)es *or him to so) eand e ent+a)) ne+tra)iBe him. Enter too )ate/ and he wo+)d !o *rom o**ensi e to ne+tra) or e ende*ensi e as the atta&(er re ersed.

<One point si;.=<4i!ht0s on = Martin said as the ran!e rea&hed $.Anm in the 7U .Martin ro))ed win!s )e e) and se)e&ted *+)) a*ter'+rner as he wat&hed Ma!i&0s 4-$6 enter its

de*ensi e 'rea( t+rn and pop o+t *)ares. Martin dro e strai!ht ahead as he )oo(ed *or his t+rn&ir&)e entr &+es at *irst Ma!i&0s ,et wo+)d )oo( )i(e it was ,+st rotatin! in spa&e/ and then itwo+)d s+dden) !o *rom rotationa) to trans)ationa) motion as it Bipped past his &anop . J+st

'e*ore that/ his instr+&tors had to)d him/ he needed to 'e ro))in! and p+))in! whi)e startin! his2nti-G Strainin! Mane+ er.

2s Martin neared that point/ he &ross&he&(ed his airspeed. 7e was !oin! m+&h *aster than he

wanted to. 7e had *)own hea ier 4-$6 8)o&( ?"s with sma))er en!ines in s&hoo)/ '+t this 8)o&(%# 4-$6 was a hotrod. Its thr+st to wei!ht ratio easi) e;&eeded $:$ in its &+rrent &on*i!+ration/and the 'i! Genera) E)e&tri& en!ine had no tro+')e a&&e)eratin! the s)i&( 4-$6 thro+!h A## (nots

way too fast.Martin tried & &)in! the thrott)e *rom *+)) a*ter'+rner 'a&( to mi)itar power/ '+t it was too

)ate. 7e had to start his t+rn in that instant or he0d *) ri!ht o+t the 'a&( o* Ma!i&0s t+rn &ir&)eand he0d end +p de*ensi e. Martin too( a deep 'reath as he prepared *or the onset o* G-*or&esand s9+eeBed his a's and )e!s.

2s Martin started his p+))/ the ,et sta'i)iBed in the t+rn at a s+stained 5G p+)). 7e was now*ee)in! the *or&e o* nine times his 'od wei!ht pressin! a!ainst him/ p+))in! the ')ood *rom his

'rain into his *eet as his G-s+it in*)ated a!ainst his )e!s and torso. Martin strained a!ainst the G-*or&es as he too( short 'reaths e er three se&onds. I* he e;ha)ed &omp)ete) / he wo+)dn0t 'ea')e to !et air 'a&( in his )+n!s/ and wo+)d e ent+a)) 'e star ed o* o; !en. 7e strained as hardas he &o+)d as the G-*or&es &a+sed his ision to t+nne) s)i!ht) .

Ma!i& reoriented *rom s)i!ht) nose )ow to a more o')i9+e t+rn as Martin &ontin+ed his p+rs+it. Martin tried to maintain his position o* ad anta!e as Ma!i& spira)ed toward the &r sta) ')+e 2t)anti& O&ean 'e)ow them in an attempt to shrin( his t+rn &ir&)e and (eep Martin *rom 'ein! a')e to emp)o weapons.

2s Ma!i& neared their trainin! *)oor o* ten tho+sand *eet/ Martin maintained an a)tit+dead anta!e/ waitin! *or Ma!i&0s t+rn &ir&)e to open 'a&( +p as he &o+)d no )on!er !o downhi))/in&reasin! his t+rn radi+s. On&e Martin had his atta&( &+es/ he traded his a)tit+de ad anta!e andsadd)ed in 'ehind Ma!i&. 2s the transitioned to the *)oor/ the G-*or&es s+'sided and Martin*o&+sed on his !+n emp)o ment.

Martin p+))ed his nose aro+nd to p+t the &omp+ted !+n pipper on Ma!i&. Seein! that Martinwas in a !+n emp)o ment Bone/ Mann immediate) ro))ed into a t+&( +nder ,in(/ *or&in! Martinto reposition 'e*ore he &o+)d sadd)e in and shoot. 2s Ma!i& ro))ed o+t/ Martin s9+eeBed thetri!!er and wat&hed as the ima!inar '+))ets went thro+!h the *+se)a!e o* Ma!i&0s air&ra*t.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

<Gator $"/ (i)) iper )e*t hand t+rn/= Martin said o er their *i!ht *re9+en& .<Cop (i))/ Gators (no&( it o**/ Gator $$ (no&( it o**/= Ma!i& rep)ied/ si!na)in! that the set

was o er.<Gator $"/ (no&( it o**/= Martin responded as he repositioned his air&ra*t in a )oose *ormation

'ehind Ma!i&.2s the &)im'ed 'a&( +p to their startin! a)tit+de *or the ne;t set/ Ma!i& did a *+e) &he&( o er

the radio and set them +p *or another *i!ht.<Not too 'ad/= Ma!i& said/ o**erin! a rea) time assessment o* the pre io+s set/ <,+st a )itt)e

s)ow to !et to a !+ns tra&(/ and a s)i!ht) )ate t+rn &ir&)e entr .=<"/= Martin rep)ied sharp) . It was not a dis&+ssion. Win!man were e;pe&ted to (eep their

mo+ths sh+t and ears open.<Fo+0re !oin! to want to !et the 9+i&(est (i)) possi')e/ in &ase the 'andit0s '+ddies are in the

area/= Ma!i& &ontin+ed.<" =

<Let0s tr it a!ain/ an 9+estions>= Ma!i& as(ed as he !a e Martin the is+a) si!na) to mo eo+t to a ta&ti&a) *ormation.<Ne!ati e/= Martin rep)ied. 7e was determined to ma(e it ri!ht. 7e had to show Ma!i& that

he &o+)d !et the 9+i&( (i)). He wouldn!t screw it up this time.On&e the rea&hed the appropriate a)tit+de/ the ea&h &a))ed read as 'e*ore and Ma!i& &a))ed

the &he&( t+rn. Ma!i& re ersed his t+rn as Martin started &a))in! down ran!es.<4i!ht0s on = Martin &a))ed as he rea&hed a mi)e and a ha)*. 7e )it the a*ter'+rner and ro))ed

o+t as he dro e toward Ma!i&0s t+rn &ir&)e/ '+t this time he started a sha))ow &)im' and &he&(edawa to s)ow his a&&e)eration.

The sight picture was "ust different . 2s Ma!i& &ontin+ed his 'rea( t+rn/ Martin ro))ed into a

des&endin! t+rn and s)i&ed 'a&( toward him. The is+a) &+es were di**erent *rom what he wase;pe&tin!/ '+t a)most immediate) he saw what he tho+!ht to 'e atta&( &+es Ma!i&0s airp)aneappeared to 'e near) as )on! as it was wide.

Martin &ontin+ed to p+)) Ma!i&0s 4-$6 toward his 7U . It was !oin! to 'e a hi!h aspe&t !+nshot. 7e had one &han&e to !et it ri!ht 'e*ore Ma!i& &o+)d re erse/ '+t with the hi!her aspe&tan!)e/ Martin had more o* Ma!i&0s air&ra*t a ai)a')e to shoot.

Martin p+))ed 'a&( on the sidesti&( with e er thin! he had and tried to sta'i)iBe Ma!i& in the7U . 7e s9+eeBed the tri!!er/ ra(in! the pipper thro+!h Ma!i&0s ,et as it s&reamed ' him.On&e he )et o** the tri!!er/ he tried to p+)) +p to maintain his ad anta!e/ '+t Ma!i& had a)read&apita)iBed and the two were now side-' -side and ,o&(e in! *or position.

<Gator (no&( it o**/ Gator $$ (no&( it o**/= Ma!i& said o er the radio.<Gator $" (no&( it o**/= Martin e&hoed.<We &an ta)( a'o+t that one on the !ro+nd/ )et0s mo e on to the ne;t set/= Ma!i& said a*ter

&on*irmin! their *+e) state. Martin0s *a&e *e)t *)+sh. 7e wasn0t s+re i* he had !otten eno+!h o* asta')e tra&( to &o+nt as a (i))/ so he hadn0t &a))ed it. Either wa / he was a*raid Ma!i& nowtho+!ht he was terri')e *or not maintainin! the o**ensi e. So m+&h *or ma(in! a !ood *irstimpression.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

<Q+estions on the 'rie*>= Ma!i& as(ed as he stood in *ront o* the white 'oard in the sma)) 'rie*in! room.

<None/= Martin responded.<Q+estions on the motherhood>= Ma!i& as(ed/ re*errin! to the administrati e portion o* the

mission !ettin! to and *rom the airspa&e to *i!ht.<No/ sir/= Martin rep)ied. 7e was sti)) thin(in! a'o+t the *irst two sets. 7e had done *ine in

the s+'se9+ent short-ran!e 6###0 and %###0 sets/ '+t he *eared that the *irst two wo+)d 'eeno+!h to !i e him his *irst '+st as a Gator. Not a good way to shine as a new wingman.

Ma!i& )a+!hed and said/ < on0t &a)) me HSir.0 This is a Reser e s9+adron/ we0re a)) 'roshere.=<Fes/ sir/= Martin rep)ied. < ammit/ sorr =<O(/ )et0s ta(e a )oo( at the tapes/= Ma!i& said as he p+))ed +p the &omp+ter de'rie*in!

pro!ram. The <tapes= had )on! sin&e 'een rep)a&ed ' i!ita) ideo Re&orders/ '+t ears )ater/ peop)e were sti)) &a))in! them tapes.

2s the wat&hed the *irst set/ Ma!i& pa+sed the R as he wat&hed Martin a&&e)erate towardthe t+rn &ir&)e. <Fo+ see o+r airspeed> Fo+0re wa too *ast here. That0s wh it ta(es so )on!.Fo+0re not !ettin! a !ood rate and o+r t+rn &ir&)e is h+!e.=

Martin nodded and too( notes as Ma!i& hit PL2F a!ain.

<2nd that0s wh o+0re s+stainin! 5Gs *or so )on!. That had to h+rt/= Ma!i& said/ win&in!.Martin )oo(ed at his *orearms. The tin r+pt+red &api))aries/ or <G-eas)es= as the were

(nown/ that peppered his arm were e iden&e o* that.The &ontin+ed wat&hin! the *i!ht as Ma!i& !a e Martin pointers on how to *i; it proper) .<2n 9+estions on that set>= Ma!i& as(ed a*ter &on*irmin! that Martin0s !+ns tra&( was

a)id and s+**i&ient to &a)) a (i)).<None.=<O(/ )et0s wat&h the se&ond one/= Ma!i& said with a *rown. 7e ad an&ed the R to the

start o* the se&ond set.<Fo+r parameters )oo( !ood at the start/ '+t wh the &)im'>= Ma!i& said as he pa+sed the

R. The 7U showed Martin ten de!rees nose hi!h.<I was a*raid to !et *ast a!ain/ I wasn0t rea)) thin(in!/= Martin rep)ied *)at) . 7e didn0t want

to ma(e e;&+ses. Good win!man didn0t ma(e e;&+ses or tr to e;p)ain what the were thin(in!.<Cop . Tr mod+)atin! the thrott)e or +sin! speed 'ra(es ne;t time/= Ma!i& said as he hit

PL2F a!ain.Ma!i& )et the R p)a thro+!h as Martin went *rom nose hi!h to s)i&in! 'a&( down toward

Ma!i&0s ,et. 2s Martin p+))ed Ma!i&0s ,et into the 7U / Ma!i& stopped the R.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

<Strai!ht to the 7U / h+h> id o+ ha e o+r atta&( &+es met>= Ma!i& as(ed.Martin shoo( his head witho+t sa in! an thin!. It )oo(ed ri!ht in the air/ '+t he &o+)dn0t sa

that. The 'oo( answer was that he did not ha e the appropriate &+es to e;e&+te an atta&(. The&+es were spe&i*i& and de*ina')e. G+t *ee)in!s were not.

<This wi)) )ead to the ninet -de!ree o** o ershoot and s+'se9+ent re ersa)/= Ma!i& said as hehit PL2F a!ain.

The wat&hed in si)en&e as Martin sta'i)iBed Ma!i&0s air&ra*t in the 7U and the disp)ashowed the sim+)ated '+))ets hittin! Ma!i&0s air&ra*t.

<Wait/ o+ tried to shoot here>= Ma!i& said/ pa+sin! the *oota!e and rewindin!.Martin said nothin! as Ma!i& hit the rewind '+tton. 7e stopped as the !reen dots sim+)atin!

'+))ets started to hit his *+se)a!e/ and then started ad an&in! the *oota!e *rame ' *rame to &o+nt '+))ets.

2s he rea&hed twent -*i e/ he stopped the R/ starin! at it. Martin had more thane;&eeded the re9+ired n+m'er o* *rames to &a)) a (i)).

<Fo+ !+nned me o** the per&h in a 53 set/= Ma!i& said/ st+nned. < #ow / (id.=Martin )oo(ed +p *rom his notes. 7e had 'een win&in! as Ma!i& s)ow) went thro+!h the!+nshot. 7e (new that this was a prett 'i! ma(e or 'rea( moment *or him.

<I0 e on) (nown a *ew peop)e that &o+)d p+)) that o**/= Ma!i& said/ <and none o* them were 'rand new )ie+tenants.=

Martin tried not to smi)e as he rea)iBed the &omp)iment. It was a prett 'i! dea) to hear that*rom the s9+adron Weapons O**i&er.

<Were o+ tr in! to do that>= Ma!i& as(ed. <Or was it )+&(>=<I !+ess it was ,+st )+&(/= Martin said h+m') . <I ,+st did what )oo(ed ri!ht.=Ma!i& &onsidered the statement *or a moment/ &reatin! an +n&om*orta')e si)en&e as he

seemed to )oo( Martin +p and down.<We))/ )+&( or not/ it was a !ood shot. 8+t I wo+)dn0t ma(e a ha'it o* it. We tea&h )a! 84M

*or a reason. We want res+)ts o+ &an rep)i&ate o er and o er/ not )+&( shots. This is a 'it tooa!!ressi e. I* o+ miss a shot )i(e this in &om'at/ o+0re dead.=

Martin nodded.2*ter as(in! i* Martin had an *+rther 9+estions/ he ad an&ed to the ne;t set. The de'rie*ed

the *ina) *o+r shorter-ran!e sets the same as the *irst two/ and then Ma!i& sat down a&ross thede'rie*in! ta')e *rom Martin a*ter re&appin! their o',e&ti es.

<O era))/ I0d sa o+ did a !ood ,o' toda . e*inite) a'o e a era!e/= Ma!i& said )eanin! 'a&( in the &hair.

Martin e;ha)ed as the words <2'o e 2 era!e= h+n! in the air. 7e had 'een worried d+rin!the entire de'rie* that he mi!ht ha e to re*) the *)i!ht. 7e de*inite) wasn0t e;pe&tin! s+&h

praise.<Fo+0 e !ot !ood hands and a !ood attit+de. I saw o+r pi)ot trainin! !rade'oo(s. Fo+0 e

done we)). Fo+ mi!ht 'e a )itt)e too a!!ressi e/ and that &o+)d !et o+ in tro+')e/ '+t I &an wor(with a!!ressi e. It0s wa easier to thrott)e someone 'a&( than tr to ma(e them morea!!ressi e.=



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

Martin nodded sheepish) . 7e didn0t (now how to respond to s+&h hi!h praise.<7as the 'oss ta)(ed to o+ et>=<2'o+t what>= Martin as(ed/ ti)tin! his head to the side.Ma!i& )oo(ed at his wat&h and said/ <2'o+t wh it0s si; o &)o&( and there0s no *+&(in!

pop&orn et.=Martin0s *a&ed reddened. 2s the most ,+nior !+ in the s9+adron/ his additiona) d+t was to

(eep the s9+adron 'ar &)eaned and sto&(ed with 'eer and sna&(s/ and ens+re *resh ,a)apeno pop&orn was read e er e enin!.

<No e;&+se/= Martin said stoi&a)) .<I0m ,+st !i in! o+ shit = Ma!i& '+sted o+t )a+!hin!. <I meant a'o+t the 4-"" thin!.=

Martin !a e him a &on*+sed )oo(.<I !+ess not. We))/ don0t 'e s+rprised i* the 'oss ta)(s to o+ a'o+t it. I (now o+ ,+st !ot

here and e er thin!/ '+t the Reser es are standin! +p their 4-"" asso&iate pro!ram and )oo(in!*or a o+n! win!man with !ood hands to 'e the *irst o+n! Reser e !+ in the &omm+nit .

Thin( o+ mi!ht 'e interested>=<7e)) es = Martin rep)ied. 7is stoi& demeanor was rep)a&ed ' a &hi)dish enth+siasm. 7e&o+)dn0t &ontain himse)*.

<3eep doin! what o+0re doin! and o+ mi!ht ,+st 'e that !+ /= Ma!i& rep)ied.Martin was !rinnin! ear to ear. This s$uadron was awesome . 7e &o+)dn0t wait *or his ne;t

*)i!ht.<Now !o ma(e some pop&orn = Ma!i& 'ar(ed.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

Sean Baxter

“The Truth !s !n the $eta!ls”

7w %$AWest o* C)a ton/ Te;asD 2+!+st "#$##$%#L

Trooper Sean 8a;ter had on) 'een wor(in! ni!hts *or two wee(s/ '+t he hated it. 2s hedroned down the empt *o+r )ane &o+nt hi!hwa / he &+rsed himse)* *or o)+nteerin! to wor(

the &o+nt roads. Wee(ni!hts in East Te;as were +s+a)) prett 'orin!. No one sta ed o+t pastmidni!ht on wee(da s/ and when the did/ the were +s+a)) ,+st dr+n(en redne&(s that wereimpossi')e to dea) with. Not that tasin! dr+n(en redne&(s wasn0t *+n/ '+t he hoped it wo+)dn0t

'e the hi!h)i!ht o* his &areer.Sean 8a;ter had ,oined the Te;as State Troopers to 'e&ome a Te;as Ran!er. Son o* a Se&ret

Ser i&e 2!ent (i))ed in the )ine o* d+t / 8a;ter had !rown +p with the dream o* &ontin+in! the*ami) '+siness. 8+t with '+d!et &+t'a&(s and the &i i)ian se&tor str+!!)in! +nder a re&essionwhen he !rad+ated &o))e!e two ears prior/ the Se&ret Ser i&e ,+st wasn0t hirin!.

espite ha in! mo ed aro+nd *o))owin! his dad0s assi!nments most o* his o+n! )i*e/ 8a;ter&onsidered himse)* a Te;an. So it was on) nat+ra) that he0d want to 'e&ome a Te;as Ran!er

when the 4eds weren0t hirin!/ and sin&e the Ran!ers re9+ired the ran( o* Trooper II withepartment o* P+')i& Sa*et State Troopers/ 8a;ter0s on) option was to start as a Trooper.

2nd so he *o+nd himse)* at *i*t -*i e mi)es per ho+r on a deso)ate &o+nt road in the weeho+rs o* the mornin! on a hot 2+!+st ni!ht. It wasn0t the a&tion-pa&(ed ,o' o* prote&tin! thePresident or &hasin! down &o+nter*eiters he had hoped *or. Instead/ he was re)e!ated to handin!o+t speedin! ti&(ets and 'eatin! down dr+n(s. 2side *rom the ni!ht transition/ it was sti)) )awen*or&ement and he sti)) )o ed it. Prote&tin! and ser in! was his &a))in!.

2s 8a;ter &ontin+ed down the *eat+re)ess hi!hwa in his standard-iss+e ')a&( and whiteCrown i&toria/ another sedan p+))ed o+t in *ront o* him o** a dirt road and a&&e)erated. 8a;tertapped the 'ra(es to a oid o err+nnin! the &ar and per(ed +p. Another drunk?

8a;ter pa&ed the &ar at a sa*e distan&e. It wasn0t swer in! or dri in! re&()ess) . 7is )e*ttai))i!ht was o+t/ '+t other than that/ the dri er hadn0t &ommitted an ma,or io)ations. The &ar

,+st appeared to 'e o+t )ater than e er one e)se.8a;ter0s *ather was (i))ed when 8a;ter was a o+n! teen/ '+t he had a)wa s ta)(ed to him

a'o+t 'ein! a !ood in esti!ator. <The tr+th is a)wa s in the detai)s/= he had said. 7is dad to)dhim &o+nt)ess stories o* doin! prote&tion detai)s or doin! in esti!ations in whi&h the tiniest detai)



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

had 'een the di**eren&e 'etween a &ase !oin! &o)d and an arrest and &on i&tion 'ein! made. The2&adem had honed those s(i))s/ and *or the time 'ein!/ the detai)s were 'otherin! him. #hatwas a car doing out here at this hour with a busted tail light?

8a;ter sped +p to within a &ar )en!th o* the sedan. It was a newer Che Ma)i'+. Thedri er0s side tai))i!ht wasn0t ,+st o+t. It was completely missing. 8a;ter ran the p)ate thro+!h his)aptop. The &ar and re!istered owner were &)ean- no arrest warrants or reports o* 'ein! sto)en.8a;ter de&ided to p+)) the &ar o er an wa .

7e t+rned on his )i!ht 'ar and &a))ed in the stop to dispat&h. The dri er p+t his t+rn si!na) onand p+))ed o er to the side o* the road +ne ent*+)) . 8a;ter &omposed himse)* and t+rned on thespot)i!ht on his dri er0s door. 7e !ra''ed his Trooper hat and stepped o+t o* the &ar.

The Ma)i'+0s dri er side door sw+n! open and a man started to e;it. 8a;ter0s handimmediate) went to his sidearm/ a G)o&( "$ &ham'ered in .?A2CP.

<Sir/ p)ease remain in o+r ehi&)e/= 8a;ter ordered *rom 'ehind his own door. The hair onthe 'a&( o* his ne&( was now standin! +p.

The man &omp)ied/ sw+n! his )e! 'a&( into the ehi&)e/ and &)osed the door. 7e )owered hiswindow and p+t his hands on the steerin! whee). 8a;ter &a+tio+s) approa&hed/ sti)) !+ardin!his G)o&( with his ri!ht hand and ho)din! a *)ash)i!ht with his )e*t. 2s he approa&hed the rear9+arter pane)/ he &o+)d see the tai) )i!ht wirin! han!in! )oose) . The '+)' and tai))i!ht assem')were missin! &omp)ete) .

8a;ter approa&hed the window &a+tio+s) . 7e had seen *ar too man trainin! ideos o*Troopers !ettin! shot in sit+ations )i(e these. 7e re*+sed to )ower his !+ard.

<Sir/ do o+ (now wh I stopped o+>= 8a;ter as(ed as he rea&hed the window. The man)oo(ed +p at him as 8a;ter shined his )i!ht into the &ar. 7e )oo(ed ner o+s. 7is hands were*id!etin! whi)e ho)din! the steerin! whee). <Fo+r )e*t tai))i!ht is o+t.=

The man didn0t respond.<Sir/ I0m !oin! to need o+ to t+rn o** the ehi&)e and !i e me o+r )i&ense/ re!istration/ and

proo* o* ins+ran&e/= 8a;ter said/ sti)) standin! sidewa s/ read to draw i* ne&essar .The man s)ow) rea&hed *or the !)o e &ompartment. 7e opened it/ and a *)ood o* papers *e))

o+t. 8a;ter wat&hed as the man *ished thro+!h them and *o+nd his re!istration and proo* o*ins+ran&e. 7e handed them to 8a;ter/ a)on! with his I . 8a;ter st+died the I *or a moment/wat&hin! *or a rea&tion o+t o* the &orner o* his e e. The man was shi*t . 7e had not said a word

et/ '+t his e es (ept dartin! *rom the *ront to 8a;ter and then to the 8a;ter0s &r+iser.<Sir/ p)ease step o+t o* the ehi&)e/= 8a;ter said as he stepped awa *rom the door.<Is there somethin! wron! o**i&er>= the man *ina)) as(ed. 7is oi&e was )ow and hoarse.<No sir/ I ,+st need o+ to stand 'a&( at the rear o* the ehi&)e whi)e I r+n o+r in*ormation.

It0s standard pro&ed+re/= 8a;ter rep)ied.The man hesitated *or a min+te and then s)ow) opened the door and !ot o+t. 7e was an

o)der man. 7is )i&ense showed him to 'e AA/ '+t he )oo(ed )i(e he was easi) in his )ate si;ties.7e was 'a)din!/ with pat&hes o* hair on the sides. 7e was wearin! a white t-shirt and ,ean shortswith sanda)s. 7e )oo(ed )i(e he hadn0t sha ed in a *ew da s.

8a;ter +shered him to the rear o* the ehi&)e and to)d him to wait. 8a;ter !ot in his &r+iser



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

and &a))ed in the in*ormation. 7e wat&hed the man as he waited *or the res+)ts. The truth isalways in the details. The man stood there/ arms *o)ded. 7is 'od )an!+a!e was *air) 'eni!n/

'+t his e es to)d another stor . 7e (ept )oo(in! at the tr+n( and )oo(in! 'a&( at 8a;ter. 8a;ter&a))ed it in and as(ed to ha e the &o+nt Sheri**0s 3-5 +nit on stand' *or 'a&(+p. The !+&o+)d ha e easi) 'een mo in! dr+!s this )ate at ni!ht.

8a;ter de&ided to write him a warnin! *or the tai))i!ht. 7e was more interested in what the!+ was so ner o+s a'o+t. 2*ter he *inished writin!/ he approa&hed the man &a+tio+s) .

<Mr. Jen(ins/= 8a;ter said/ readin! the man0s )i&ense/ <I0m !oin! to iss+e o+ a warnin! *oro+r '+sted tai) )i!ht. Fo+0re !oin! to need to !et that *i;ed as soon as possi')e.=

The man didn0t )oo( at 8a;ter. 7is !aBe was now shi*tin! 'etween the tr+n( and the aspha)t.<Is there somethin! wron!/ Mr. Jen(ins>= 8a;ter as(ed.<No/= the man m+m')ed/ sti)) starin! at the !ro+nd.<Where are o+ headed toni!ht>=The man m+m')ed somethin! +ninte))i!i')e.

<I0m sorr >= 8a;ter as(ed.The man repeated himse)*.<Sir/ ha e o+ 'een drin(in!>= 8a;ter as(ed. 7e had a)read 'een wat&hin! him *or si!ns

o* a)&oho) +se. 7e didn0t ha e it on his 'reath/ and his motor s(i))s and e es did not seem toindi&ate a)&oho) +se.

The man0s e es widened as he )oo(ed +p at 8a;ter. <No/ no/ no/ no/ no sir =< o I ha e o+r permission to sear&h o+r ehi&)e>=The man stood there/ starin! at 8a;ter )i(e a deer &a+!ht in head)i!hts. The man !)an&ed

'a&( at 8a;ter one )ast time. 8a;ter instant) re&o!niBed what was a'o+t to happen. The man*e)t &ornered/ and his *i!ht or *)i!ht instin&t had ,+st (i&(ed in. The man too( o** r+nnin! toward

the near' *ie)d. 8a;ter !a e &hase as he radioed in *or 'a&(+p.The man ma ha e )oo(ed ten ears o)der than he was/ '+t he ran )i(e a man twent ears

o+n!er. Wei!hted down ' his est and !ear/ it too( 8a;ter )on!er than he wo+)d )ater admit to&at&h the man thirt ears his senior/ '+t within se&onds/ he had the man pinned to the !ro+ndand &+**ed.

<Wh are o+ r+nnin!/ Mr. Jen(ins>= 8a;ter as(ed as he)d the man down.<The 0re so 'ea+ti*+)/ '+t I &o+)d on) (eep one/= the man said as he started so''in!.<Who0s 'ea+ti*+)> What are o+ ta)(in! a'o+t>= 8a;ter demanded as he p+))ed the man to

his *eet o+t o* the *ie)d.<She0s m )itt)e an!e)/= the man said 'etween so's.<Who is>= 8a;ter sho ed the man toward his &r+iser. On&e the rea&hed the rear 9+arter

pane)/ he sear&hed him *or weapons or dr+!s/ p+))in! o+t a (ni*e/ some Bip ties/ and a (e to a pad)o&(. 7e opened the rear door o* his &r+iser and p+t the man inside. 7e was &r in!+n&ontro))a') now.

With the man se&+red/ 8a;ter went 'a&( to the Ma)i'+. 7e sear&hed the *ront seats. Therewere *ast *ood 'a!s and wrappers e er where. 7e )oo(ed thro+!h the 'a&(seat/ '+t on) *o+nd)itt)e !ir)s0 &)othin! and empt !ro&er 'a!s.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

8a;ter went 'a&( to the *ront and p+))ed the tr+n( re)ease. 7is adrena)ine spi(ed as herea&hed the 'a&( and open the tr+n(. There )a a )itt)e !ir)/ her hands 'o+nd ' Bip ties and hermo+th !a!!ed. She was +n&ons&io+s. 8a;ter (e ed his radio re9+estin! medi&a) s+pport as he

pi&(ed +p the )itt)e !ir) o+t o* the tr+n(. 7er ')ond hair was dirt and her &)othes torn. 7er 'reathin! was sha))ow.

8a;ter &arried her toward his &r+iser as the *irst Sheri**0s ep+t &r+iser arri ed on s&ene.The dep+t !ot o+t o* his &r+iser and went strai!ht *or his tr+n(/ p+))in! o+t a ')an(et *or the)itt)e !ir) and openin! the 'a&( door *or 8a;ter to )a her down. The !ir) &ame to as 8a;tersear&hed her *or an wo+nds or ')eedin!.

<Where... Where am I>= she &roa(ed. She &o+)dn0t 'e o)der than 6 or @/ 8a;ter !+essed.<M name is Sean/ and I0m a po)i&e o**i&er/ o+0re sa*e/ now/= 8a;ter said reass+rin!) .

<What0s o+r name/ sweetie>=<3a )a/= the !ir) said timid) .<We))/ 3a )a/ it0s ni&e to meet o+/ e er thin! is !oin! to 'e o(/= 8a;ter said as he he)d the

)itt)e !ir)0s hands. She had dirt +nder her *in!ernai)s and a)) o er her hands.<Where0s 2'i!ai)> Where is she> = the !ir) s+dden) s&reamed.<Fo+0re o(. Fo+0re sa*e now. Who is 2'i!ai)>= 8a;ter as(ed/ tr in! to &a)m the !ir).<She0s m sister/= the !ir) rep)ied/ wipin! a tear *rom her e es.<Was she with o+> Can o+ te)) me what happened>= 8a;ter responded. 7e was s9+attin!

down ne;t to the !ir) as he tried to &a)m her down.<That man too( her/= she said *)at) / as she !aBed o** into the distan&e.8a;ter t+rned as a dep+t tapped him on the sho+)der. The stepped awa to the rear o* the

&r+iser.<That0s one o* the 7arris !ir)s/= he said. <Went missin! esterda . Twins. Parents said the

were o+t p)a in! in the woods and didn0t &ome home.=2n am'+)an&e arri ed as 8a;ter wa)(ed 'a&( to ta)( to the )itt)e !ir).<3a )a/ &an o+ te)) me where o+ were>= 8a;ter as(ed. 7e was tr in! to pie&e to!ether the

p+BB)e. The man had mentioned on) 'ein! a')e to ta(e one o* the !ir)s and )itt)e 3a )a was pani&(ed a'o+t her sister. 7e hoped he &o+)d !et some in*ormation to *ind the missin! twin.

<I don0t (now/= she 'e!an/ <it was so dar(. I (i&(ed +nti) there was )i!ht/ '+t it didn0t stop.=8a;ter tho+!ht 'a&( to the tai))i!ht. The )itt)e !ir) m+st ha e (i&(ed it o+t whi)e the were

dri in!.< id o+ hear an thin!> 2n thin! at a))>= 8a;ter prodded.<Moo = the !ir) said/ )oo(in! +p at 8a;ter.<Moo>==<Where0s 2'' > I want m momm /= the !ir) said as she started to &r .<We0)) *ind her/= 8a;ter ass+red the )itt)e !ir). 7e stepped 'a&( as the paramedi&s wa)(ed +p

to )oo( the !ir) o er. 8a;ter wa)(ed 'a&( to where the dep+ties were standin!/ dis&+ssin! themissin! !ir).



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

<We0)) trans*er Jen(ins to )o&(-+p/= the dep+t said.<The other )itt)e !ir) is sti)) missin!/= 8a;ter rep)ied with a *rown. 7e (new time mi!ht ha e

a)read r+n o+t. There was no te))in! what that ps &hopath had done to )itt)e 2'i!ai) 7arris.<The )i e in the ne;t &o+nt o er/= the dep+t responded. <7e &o+)d ha e ta(en them

an where.=8a;ter tho+!ht a'o+t it *or a moment. Witho+t sa in! a word/ he wa)(ed +p to his &r+iser

and opened the 'a&( door. <Get o+t/= he said as he !ra''ed Jen(ins0 arm and p+))ed him o+t o*the &ar. Jen(ins re)+&tant) &omp)ied/ st+m')in! as he was p+))ed o+t o* the &ar.

<Where0s the other !ir)>= 8a;ter as(ed.<She0s an an!e) now/= the man responded. 7e was sti)) so''in!.<Fo+ son o* a 'it&h/ what did o+ do to her>= 8a;ter demanded as he s)ammed the man

a!ainst the &r+iser.<She0s s)eepin! now/= the man responded. 8a;ter !ra''ed the man and sho ed him toward

the other dep+t . The dep+t &a+!ht him as he near) tripped and *e)).

8a;ter wa)(ed 'a&( to the man0s &ar. The tr+n( was sti)) open. 7e )oo(ed inside/ seein! dirtand d+st e er where. It )oo(ed )i(e red dirt or &)a .< ep+t = 8a;ter said/ motionin! to the Sheri**0s ep+t he had 'een ta)(in! to.<What0s +p>= the dep+t as(ed as he *inished he)pin! the other dep+t st+** Jen(ins in his

&r+iser.<This !+ p+))ed onto the hi!hwa o** a dirt road a'o+t a mi)e that wa /= he said/ pointin!

past the &r+isers and am'+)an&e.<Feah>=< o o+ (now what0s down that road>=<Most) past+res/ a *arm/ and a pond/ I thin(/= the dep+t rep)ied.

<Get in o+r &ar and *o))ow me = 8a;ter said as he sprinted toward his &r+iser. The&on*+sed dep+t hesitated and then too( o** toward his &ar as 8a;ter s)ammed his door sh+t. 7emade a +-t+rn and *)oored it/ headin! toward the road the man had p+))ed o+t *rom as the Crown

i&0s D en!ine s&reamed.2s 8a;ter rea&hed the road/ he made a )e*t/ s)owin! as his whee)s hit the pa&(ed !ra e). 7e

t+rned on his spot)i!ht and )oo(ed o+t. There were *ie)ds with 'ar'ed wire *en&es on either side.The Sheri**0s ep+t *ina)) &a+!ht +p 'ehind him and a)so 'e!an sear&hin! with his spot)i!ht.8a;ter (ept dri in! s)ow) . 7e didn0t rea)) (now what he was )oo(in! *or e;a&t) / '+t he (newhe0d re&o!niBe it i* he saw it. The truth was in the details.

2*ter a ha)* mi)e/ the road &ame to a T-interse&tion with another !ra e) road. 8a;ter stoppedand !ot o+t o* his &ar. 7e wa)(ed into the midd)e o* the interse&tin! road with his *)ash)i!ht. Tohis )e*t/ it )oo(ed )i(e there was a !ate that )ed to more *ie)d. The path to his ri!ht seemed to !oon *or another mi)e or so. The dep+t !ot o+t and approa&hed 8a;ter as he stood &ontemp)atin!whi&h wa to !o.

<Where does that road )ead>= 8a;ter as(ed/ pointin! to his ri!ht down the dar( !ra e) road.<More *arms/ woods/ and 'a&( o+t to the hi!hwa /= the dep+t rep)ied.8a;ter &onsidered it *or a se&ond. 2s he stared at the meta) !ate/ it hit him. 7e p+))ed o+t



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

the (e he0d ta(en *rom Jen(ins d+rin! the pat down.<Worth a shot/= 8a;ter said as he wa)(ed 'a&( to his &ar.The two dro e +p to the meta) !ate. 8a;ter !ot o+t and +sed his *)ash)i!ht to )oo( aro+nd.

The meta) !ate !a e wa to a !rass path that was *resh) )aid down. Someone had dri en o erit re&ent) . 8a;ter de&ided to tr the (e . 2s he twisted it/ the pad)o&( &)i&(ed open and he

p+))ed the iron &hain awa *rom the meta) !ate.<Winner/= 8a;ter said as he p+shed the !ate open. 8a;ter and the dep+t wa)(ed down the

path/ their *)ash)i!hts dartin! a'o+t as the )oo(ed *or &)+es. The stopped in their tra&(s as theheard a r+st)e. 8oth men drew their weapons/ on) to rea)iBe it was a &ow. There were three o*them !raBin! ri!ht ' the *en&e )ine. The path the were on ran para))e) to the northern *en&e)ine o* the *ie)d. The cow% The were on the ri!ht tra&(.

8a;ter and the dep+t *o))owed the ehi&)e tra&(s. The *+)) moon near) t+rned ni!ht intoda / )i!htin! +p the sma)) pond and &a'in in the distan&e. 2s 8a;ter and the dep+t approa&hed/the )oo(ed *or si!ns o* )i*e/ '+t it was &omp)ete) a&ant.

<Now what>= the dep+t as(ed as the rea&hed the ed!e o* the pond.<We !o in/= 8a;ter said as he he)d +p the (e . <Pro'a')e &a+se.=The two &a+tio+s) approa&hed the &a'in. It was sma)) and it )oo(ed )i(e it had 'een there

*or de&ades. The wood appeared to 'e rottin!. 8a;ter tried the door hand)e. It was +n)o&(ed.7e p+shed the door open &are*+)) / &rossin! his !+n and o er his *)ash)i!ht as he swept the room.

There was a 'ed in the &orner and a sma)) sto e/ '+t otherwise it was 'arren. 2s 8a;terswept the room with the *)ash)i!ht/ he &o+)d see strea(s o* ')ood on the *)oor and sheets. Thetwo mo ed *orward/ toward the 'a&( door.

<Jes+s/= the dep+t said. <Fo+ thin( this is where he did whate er it is he did>=<I don0t (now/= 8a;ter said as he approa&hed the 'a&( door. <8etter &a)) it in.=

The dep+t radioed to dispat&h as 8a;ter opened the 'a&( door. The door opened +p toanother side o* the pond. There was a )ar!e pine tree s+rro+nded ' dirt. 8a;ter t+rned to hisri!ht and noti&ed a sho e) )eanin! a!ainst side o* the &a'in. 7e pi&(ed it +p. It sti)) had dirtaro+nd the ed!es. 7e pi&(ed o** a pie&e o* dried dirt with his *in!ers.

<Red dirt/= he said to himse)* as he e;amined the dirt. 7e remem'ered the tr+n(. There had 'een red dirt e er where. 8a;ter *ranti&a)) shined his *)ash)i!ht aro+nd the sma)) pond as heapproa&hed the )one tree.

<8a&( +p is on the wa /= the dep+t said as he ,oined 8a;ter.<Loo( *or *resh dirt/= 8a;ter said as he he)d +p his *in!ers. <Someone has 'een di!!in!.=The two wa)(ed aro+nd the pond/ sear&hin! *or si!ns o* *resh) mo ed earth. 8a;ter *roBe as

his *)ash)i!ht !)an&ed a&ross a &)+mp o* dirt near the water0s ed!e. #as that it? 8a;ter sprinted*or the sho e). 7e pi&(ed it +p o** the !ro+nd and ran 'a&( to where he had seen the &)+mp o*dirt. It )oo(ed as i* Jen(ins had tried to pa&( it down/ '+t had done a poor ,o'. 7e started to di!.The dep+t sear&hed the o+tside o* the &a'in and *o+nd another sho e).

The two immediate) started di!!in!/ hittin! somethin! so)id on) min+tes )ater. <4o+ndsomethin! = 8a;ter e))ed. 7is on&e-neat) -pressed +ni*orm was &omp)ete) &o ered in dirt anddren&hed in sweat. The desperate) &ontin+ed di!!in!/ *ina)) re ea)in! a sma)) wooden 'o;.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

On&e it was e;posed eno+!h/ 8a;ter +sed the sho e) as )e era!e to pr the 'o; open. It had 'eennai)ed sh+t.

<Jes+s Christ/= 8a;ter said as he p+))ed the wooden top o**. There he saw a sma)) !ir)/ &+r)edin the *eta) position. 7er mo+th was !a!!ed and her hands had 'een Bip-tied to!ether. She was

pa)e and dirt / wearin! on) her +nderwear. The dep+t stepped 'a&( in horror.8a;ter (ne)t down ne;t to the )itt)e !ir). It was horri*i& seein! the )itt)e !ir) )i(e that. That

sick son of a bitch / he tho+!ht. 7e rea&hed down and to+&hed her arm. It was &oo) and &)amm .7e mo ed +p to her ne&( and started to &he&( her p+)se.

<This is si&(/= the dep+t said. <7ow &o+)d an one do this> There0s no wa she0s a)i e.=8a;ter i!nored him. 7e mo ed his two *in!ers to the side o* her ne&(. 7e *e)t nothin!.

8a;ter &)osed his e es and si!hed. S+dden) he *e)t what he tho+!ht to 'e a p+)se. It was wea(and thread / '+t he *e)t somethin!. 7e swapped hands/ thin(in! he was wi))in! himse)* to

'e)ie e she was sti)) a)i e.<She has a p+)se = 8a;ter s&reamed. <7e)p me !et her o+t =

8a;ter pi&(ed +p the sma)) !ir) and p+))ed her to the side o* the sha))ow !ra e. She had to!et to a hospita) soon. She was 'are) 'reathin!/ '+t she was a)i e.<I0)) &a)) it in = the dep+t said.<She doesn0t ha e time = 8a;ter said as he pi&(ed +p the )itt)e !ir) and started r+nnin!

toward his &r+iser. The !ir) &o+)dn0t ha e wei!hed more than si;t po+nds/ '+t 8a;ter0s )e!swere '+rnin! as he tried to r+n/ &arr in! her to his &ar. The dep+t sprinted ahead/ openin! the

'a&( door o* 8a;ter0s &r+iser and !ettin! in his own &ar to !et o+t o* the wa . 8a;ter )aid thesma)) !ir) down on the 'a&( seat and &o ered her with a ')an(et. 7e !ot in his sti)) r+nnin!&r+iser and *)oored it in re erse/ (i&(in! +p ro&(s and !ra e) as he t+rned aro+nd.

2s the rea&hed the hi!hwa / the two po)i&e &ars stormed down the empt road/ 'oth with

)i!hts and siren ')arin!. The town o* C)a ton was on) a *ew mi)es down the road/ '+t the )itt)e!ir) needed e er se&ond she &o+)d !et. 2 )one &ar p+))ed o er to the side o* the road as the two&r+isers ro&(eted ' . 8a;ter radioed ahead to ha e the ER read +pon his arri a).

The tra+ma team was waitin! as 8a;ter ro+nded the &orner 'ehind the dep+t 0s &ar into theER )oadin! 'a . The )oaded the !ir) onto a !+rne and p+t her on $## o; !en immediate) asthe whee)ed her into the Emer!en& Room. 8a;ter wat&hed as the wor(ed. The !ir) was*adin! *ast/ '+t sti)) a)i e. 7e &o+)dn0t 'e)ie e it. She had 'een '+ried a)i e in a sha))ow !ra e.It was on) )+&( that he had *o+nd her. L+&( and the na!!in! oi&e o* his *ather to a)wa s paattention to the detai)s.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

Joe Carpenter

“Haw% H!%hwa&”

8ami an Chari(ar 7i!hwa8ami an Pro in&e/ 2*!hanistanJ+) "#$% $D##L

The si;- ehi&)e &on o dro e steadi) down the new) pa ed a))e hi!hwa . The *o+rMR2Ps and two 7UM EEs were seemin!) the on) ehi&)es within mi)es as the mo+ntain

pea(s on either side &ast their shadows onto the hot aspha)t/ shie)din! them *rom the hot deserts+n the had 'een e;posed to a)) da .

The d+)) dronin! o* the a))-terrain tires on the 'are) pa ed aspha)t was a)most re)a;in! toTe&h S!t Joe Carpenter. I* it weren0t *or the *i*t po+nds o* !ear and )a&( o* air*)ow thro+!h the+p-armored 7UM EE he was ridin! shot!+n in/ it mi!ht ha e made *or a ni&e en ironment tota(e a nap.

2 nap so+nded !reat to Carpenter as he stared )ist)ess) at the MR2P in the &on o ahead o*them. 7e had !one o+tside the wire ear) that mornin! with an Internationa) Se&+rit 2ssistan&e4or&e &omposed most) o* U.S. 2rm and a *ew 2*!han Nationa) 2rm so)diers. The hadspent most o* the da in the 8ami an Pro in&e/ assistin! the )o&a) po)i&e with se&+rit and !i in!the 2N2 so)diers more on-the-,o' trainin! 'e*ore the +p&omin! troop drawdown.

It was Carpenter0s se&ond time in 2*!hanistan/ a)tho+!h it was his *irst in an 2ir 4or&e+ni*orm. 7e had hi(ed those same mo+ntain pea(s as an 2rm Ran!er si; ears prior/ !oin!door to door to *ind and &apt+re or (i)) Ta)i'an *i!hters. The iron that he was 'a&( in the same

part o* the &o+ntr with the 2rm had not es&aped him.<I *+&(in! hate this time o* da /= SSGT GomeB said/ 'rea(in! the si)en&e. GomeB was a

nati e Te;an who had 'een in the 2rm sin&e he was ,+st o+t o* hi!h s&hoo). 7e had to)dCarpenter that it was the on) thin! (eepin! him o** the streets o* E) Paso and !an!s.

<2t )east we0re headin! 'a&(/= Carpenter o**ered. <It0s on) another ho+r or so to 8a!ram.=<I don0t &are a'o+t 'ein! o+t. I )o e 'ein! o+t. It0s this shadow a))e shit I hate. It0s too

'ri!ht *or N Gs/ '+t there are too man *+&(in! shadows o+t there to see assho)es snea(in!a&ross rid!es. We0re ,+st tar!ets on this hi!hwa . It0s *+&(in! st+pid/= GomeB rep)ied. Thewere the on) two in the ehi&)e/ dri in! &)ose) 'ehind the )ead MR2P- the 2rm 0s Mine-Resistant 2m'+sh Prote&ted armored *i!htin! ehi&)e desi!ned to withstand IE atta&(s andam'+shes.

<I hear a man. 8+t it0s 'een prett 9+iet o+t here the )ast *o+r months/= Carpenter rep)ied/shr+!!in! +nder his 'od armor.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

<Feah/ *+&(in! than(s Ma(e m point *or me Too *+&(in! 9+iet = GomeB responded.Carpenter si!hed. 7e remem'ered that *ee)in! *rom his time in the 2rm . This was his *irst

rea) dep)o ment o+tside the wire sin&e those da s/ ha in! spent most o* his dep)o ed time in the2ir 4or&e within the &on*ines o* 8a!hdad Internationa) 2irport and the Green one in Ira9.

7e had 'een an 2ir 4or&e Ta&ti&a) 2ir Contro) Part 9+a)i*ied as a Joint Termina) 2tta&(Contro))er *or three ears a*ter !oin! Green to 8)+e in sear&h o* a more a iation-oriented &areer.Una')e to *) 'e&a+se o* a &o)or ision test/ he )anded ri!ht 'a&( with the 2rm / as an em'edded2ir 4or&e JT2C.

oin! perhaps one o* the most ph si&a)) demandin! ,o's in the 2ir 4or&e/ JT2Cs were*ront)ine 'att)e*ie)d airmen. The were em'edded with !ro+nd *or&es to ad ise the !ro+nd&ommander on 2ir 4or&e air power &apa'i)ities/ and in the heat o* 'att)e/ to &ontro) air&ra*td+rin! &)ose air s+pport s&enarios. O* &o+rse/ it was ,+st Carpenter0s )+&( that he0d !et o+t o* the2rm ,+st to !o 'a&( in a di**erent +ni*orm/ '+t he didn0t mind/ he was at the tip o* the spear andhe )o ed it.

To Carpenter/ tho+!h/ the 'est thin! a'o+t wor(in! *or Mother 8)+e was the to s. 7e (newthe 2rm had the same te&hno)o! and &apa'i)ities/ '+t in the 2ir 4or&e/ he a)wa s seemed toha e the )atest and !reatest at his *in!ertips.

<Mo ement +p ahead/ so+th rid!e )ine/= a oi&e said o er their dis&rete &on o&omm+ni&ations *re9+en& .

<See> No !ood &an &ome o* this/= GomeB said as he strained to )oo( aro+nd the MR2P in*ront o* them *or the mo ement that had ,+st 'een &a))ed o+t.

Carpenter p+))ed a set o* 'ino&+)ars *rom his 'a&(pa&( and )oo(ed o+t onto the rid!e. 7es&anned *or an mo ement or a&ti it as the &ontin+ed down the hi!hwa .

<I don0t see an -= Carpenter was interr+pted ' the ')ast. The MR2P in *ront o* them

seemed to 'e )i*ted +p and thrown 'a&( to the !ro+nd as GomeB swer ed the 7UM EE to a oidhittin! it. It s(idded to a stop in the dit&h para))e)in! the road as it showered the road with spar(sand d+st.

<IE We0re hit Sandman $$ is hit = the dri er o* the )ead ehi&)e said o er radio.<3eep mo in! = another oi&e said o er the radio. To Carpenter/ it so+nded )i(e the Con o

Commander. 7e had 'een ridin! with Carpenter and GomeB a)) da / '+t at the )ast i))a!e hadswapped to the MR2P ser in! as a !+n tr+&( 'ehind them.

<Una')e sir $$ has )ost steerin! = the )ead ehi&)e &ommander rep)ied.<7o) shit = GomeB said as the p+))ed +p ne;t to the dama!ed MR2P that was now restin!

nose *irst in the dit&h. <That *+&(in! thin! ')ew o** a whee) =Carpenter instin&ti e) d+&(ed as ro+nds started pepperin! the armor o* their 7UM EE.<2m'+sh = GomeB e))ed o er the radio. The mo+nted !+n on the disa')ed MR2P &ame

a)i e as it sent ro+nds toward the rid!e)ine<2)) p)a ers/ ')o&(in! positions/ set +p a perimeter aro+nd Sandman $$/= the Con o

Commander dire&ted.<I0)) !et on that *i*t /= Carpenter said as he s)id ' GomeB toward the roo*-mo+nted .A#

&a)i'er ma&hine !+n.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

Carpenter &)im'ed into the !+nner0s seat and &he&(ed the .A#. 7e was s+rro+nded on a))sides ' '+))etproo* pane)s/ '+t he had a m+&h 'etter iew than he0d had inside the 7UM EE.7e tried to pinpoint the dire&tion o* *ire as the three other MR2Ps and 7UM EE mo ed into

position aro+nd the dama!ed )ead MR2P.<Mortars In&omin! = Carpenter heard o er the radio as the '+))ets &ontin+ed p)in(in!

a!ainst the dri er0s side o* the 7UM EE. Carpenter d+&(ed down as the *irst mortar hit. It)anded in the dirt/ ,+st a *ew meters o** the road near the downed MR2P. It shot +p dirt andde'ris in a &)o+d o* d+st as it hit with a )o+d e;p)osion.

Carpenter rotated the t+rret and started *irin! in the dire&tion o* the in&omin! *ire/ hopin! to)a down s+ppressi e *ire as the .A# &a) roared to )i*e. 7e pi&(ed +p mo ement o+t o* the &ornero* his e e and t+rned. 7e immediate) *o+nd one o* the enem *i!hters on one (nee sporadi&a))*irin! his 23-?@. Carpenter t+rned and *ired/ rippin! the man to shreds with his )ar!e &a)i'erma&hine !+n.

2s Carpenter &ontin+ed to *ire in the i&init o* the )ast *i!hter/ he saw a *i!+re approa&h as

men *rom the MR2Ps dismo+nted. The man was short/ e en with 'oots and a he)met/ '+t hewa)(ed as i* he were se en *eet ta)) and '+))etproo*. espite the '+))ets Bippin! ' and mortarsat random inter a)s/ he seemed &omp)ete) +na**e&ted as he &a)m) wa)(ed to Carpenter0s7UM EE and &)im'ed in.

<GomeB/ re)ie e Carpenter on that *i*t /= he 'ar(ed. <Carpenter/ !et o+r ass down here/ weneed air s+pport.= It was Ma,or 7i)ton/ the no-nonsense &on o &ommander who had 'eenridin! with them most o* the da +nti) the trip 'a&( to 8a!ram.

Carpenter and GomeB swapped positions and Carpenter went to wor( with his !ear. 7e p+))ed o+t his 7arris PRC-$$@4 and powered it +p. The dismo+nted radio/ &a))ed a manpa&(/ser ed as a m+)ti-'and/ m+)timode radio that &o ered the !am+t o* wa e*orms. 4re9+en&ies

&o ered in&)+ded 74/ U74/ and U74 S2TCOM radio. The +nit was a)so &ompati')e with theSin!)e Channe) Gro+nd and 2ir'orne Radio S stem/ an 2rm s stem. It ser ed as a )i*e)ine *oran JT2C to s+pport assets in the air.

<Son/ o+ need to &a)) this in. We0 e !ot a disa')ed MR2P and I estimate appro;imate) oneh+ndred *i!hters approa&hin! *rom two separate )o&ations. We0re !oin! to need C2S 'irds andISR to ma(e s+re the rest o* the ro+te is &)ear/ +nderstand>=

Carpenter nodded as he wrote down the sit+ation report in the appropriate *ormat. 7e neededto &a)) in to the 4IRES des( to re9+est the C)ose 2ir S+pport and Inte))i!en&e/ S+r ei))an&e/ andRe&onnaissan&e tas(in! orders. With the air order o* 'att)e he had seen ear)ier in the da / he was

prett s+re he &o+)d at )east !et a Predator drone on station to s&an the ro+te *air) 9+i&() / '+t hewasn0t s+re what assets wo+)d 'e a ai)a')e *or the C2S mission.

7e !a e the report and &opied down the rep) *rom the JT2C sittin! at the 4IRES des(.The were )a+n&hin! a *)i!ht o* two 2-$#s that were sittin! a)ert at 8a!ram sin&e there were noother *i!hters near' . The wo+)d 'e on station in *i*teen min+tes. Carpenter 'reathed a si!h o*re)ie*.

<4)i!ht o* two 7aw!s/ sir/= Carpenter said/ t+rnin! to Ma,or 7i)ton.<4+&(in0a0 ri!ht son/ !ood ,o'/= 7i)ton rep)ied as he started to e;it the 7UM EE. <Now



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

!ra' a ri*)e and o+r radio and )et0s (i)) these sons o* 'it&hes.=Carpenter !ra''ed his ri*)e and radio and *o))owed 7i)ton to a &o ered position 'ehind the

7UM EE. The had set +p a %6#-de!ree de*ensi e perimeter aro+nd the ehi&)es as the enem*i!hters &ontin+ed to assa+)t their position. Carpenter made s+re his headset was p)+!!ed in andswit&hed to the ta&ti&a) *re9+en& that the *i!hters wo+)d &he&( in on.

Carpenter wat&hed as Ma, 7i)ton mo ed *rom position to position/ ra)) in! the troops andredire&tin! their e**orts. The man was a <)ead *rom the *ront= (ind o* !+ . Carpenter respe&tedthat a'o+t him. 7e seemed to ha e no *ear at a)).

Carpenter too( &o er 'ehind the 7UM EE as another mortar whist)ed toward their position.It hit with a th+d on the road a'o+t *ort meters *rom them and then nothin! happened. It was ad+d.

<4+&(in! d+m'asses = GomeB e))ed *rom the t+rret 'e*ore +n)eashin! another o))e o*ro+nds toward the mortar0s position.

<Sandman/ Ca,+n %? *)i!ht &he&(in! in/= the meta))i& oi&e said o er the se&+re radio.

Carpenter )oo(ed +p he &o+)d see two spe&s &ir&)in! o erhead in trai) o* ea&h other. The *)i!hto* two 2-$#s had *ina)) made it on station.Carpenter &he&(ed in the two ship with the sit+ation +pdate. 7e ta)(ed them on is+a)) to

*riend) positions and !a e them a)) the in*ormation o* the s+spe&ted enem am'+sh he had.There were two primar rid!e)ines on the north and so+th sides o* the road where the atta&(sappeared to 'e ori!inatin!. Their main &on&ern was the ad an&in! o* the Ta)i'an *i!hters ando err+nnin! their position 'e*ore the &o+)d ma(e the ne&essar repairs and !et mo in! a!ain.

On&e the or'itin! 2-$#s had their re9+ired in*ormation/ the responded with their *i!hter to42C 'rie*in!. The were a *)i!ht o* two 2-$#s ea&h e9+ipped with *i e h+ndred po+nd )aser!+ided 'om's/ GPS !+ided 'om's/ and $/%A# ro+nds o* %#MM '+))ets.

<Ca,+n %? this is Sandman ?$/ re9+est a show o* *or&e east to west/= Carpenter rep)ied. 7ewas as(in! the 2-$# pi)ots to *) )ow o er the 'ad !+ s0 heads to )et them (now that the 2-$#swere on station. 7is hope was that the *i!hters wo+)d rea)iBe that the were se ere) o+tmat&hedand *)ee. It had wor(ed 'e*ore/ and the r+)es o* en!a!ement en&o+ra!ed it o er the +se o* )etha)*or&e.

<Ca,+n %? &opies/ we0)) !et their heads down/= the )ead pi)ot &on*irmed.<Cease *ire 2-$#s in'o+nd = Carpenter e))ed o er his sho+)der. The !+ns *e)) si)ent as the

so)diers e&hoed the &ease-*ire &ommand. The so)diers (ept &on&ea)ed as an o&&asiona) ro+nd p)in(ed o** the side o* the armored ehi&)es.

Carpenter wat&hed as the *irst 2-$# ro))ed in whi)e spittin! o+t se)*-prote&tion *)ares. The*)ares were +sed to de&o an possi')e s+r*a&e to air in*rared missi)es and were a)so +se*+) to !etthe enem 0s attention. The *irst 2-$# s&reamed )ow o erhead at re)ati e) hi!h speed. Thewhine o* its twin t+r'o*an en!ines was near) dea*enin!. 2s it passed o erhead/ it made ana!!ressi e &)im'in! )e*t-hand t+rn as it popped o+t more *)ares.

The se&ond 2-$# was ,+st as impressi e as it *)ew o er thirt se&onds )ater. This time/ the pi)ot 'an(ed ri!ht and &)im'ed/ a)so emittin! se)*-prote&tion *)ares as it &)im'ed o erhead.Carpenter was ,ea)o+s. That looked fun.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

<2meri&a 4+&( eah = GomeB s&reamed/ p+mpin! his *ist in the air.Carpenter saw GomeB s)+mp o er in the t+rret 'e*ore he e en heard the re!ister o* the ro+nd.

2 sniper had ta(en ad anta!e o* GomeB0 &are)essness and had hit him in an area not prote&ted 'e 'od armor.

2s Carpenter sprinted *or the 7UM EE door/ he pra ed it wasn0t *ata). 7e opened the doorand rea&hed in. 8e*ore he &o+)d &)im' in a)) the wa / he heard a oi&e 'ehind him.

<Carpenter> What the he)) are o+ doin!> I need o+ wor(in! these *i!hters o+0re not a!oddamned medi& = It was Ma, 7i)ton. 7e had mana!ed to appear o+t o* nowhere.

<GomeB is hit/ sir/= Carpenter said as he tried to !ra' GomeB.Ma, 7i)ton !ra''ed Carpenter and p+))ed him o+t o* the 7UM EE ,+st as a &om'at medi&

arri ed. < o o+r ,o'. The wi)) do theirs. That0s how this wor(s/ hooah>=Carpenter shoo( it o** and p+))ed o+t his 'ino&+)ars to )o&ate the troops on the rid!e)ine. 7e

*o+nd se era) *i!hters re!ro+pin! as the shootin! started a!ain. The *i*t on the MR2P )it +p 'ehind him as it ret+rned *ire.

<Ca,+n %?/ Sandman/ ad ise when read *or *irst nine )ine/= Carpenter said/ &a)min! himse)*down. 7e wat&hed as the p+))ed GomeB o+t o* the 7UM EE and onto the !ro+nd to treat him.7e had 'een hit 'etween his &o))ar and the 'od armor. There was ')ood e er where. 7e wassti)) 'reathin!/ '+t he needed to 'e e a&+ated soon.

<Send it/= the 2-$# pi)ot said &oo)) .Carpenter !a e them the re9+ired in*ormation in the nine )ine *ormat/ readin! to them the

tar!et )o&ation/ des&ription/ and distan&e *rom *riend)ies. 7e didn0t ha e his &oordinate!eneratin! )aptop open at the time/ so he +sed a is+a) ta)(-on to mar( the enem position.

2*ter the *i!hters read 'a&( the tar!et )o&ation and *riend) position/ Carpenter !a e themtheir atta&( restri&tions. 7e wo+)d &)ear them to re)ease ordnan&e on&e he &on*irmed the were

on the appropriate headin! and atta&(in! the ri!ht tar!et.The 2-$#s too( a min+te to &oordinate amon!st themse) es and then &a))ed read . The

wo+)d 'e droppin! GPS 'om's +sin! &oordinates the !enerated thro+!h their on 'oard sensors.<Ca,+n %? in/ headin! %6#/= the *irst *i!hter &a))ed as he made his atta&( r+n.<Ca,+n %?/ &)eared hot/= Carpenter rep)ied o er the radio.Carpenter t+rned toward the other so)diers and e))ed/ <Thirt se&onds = 2s 'e*ore/ the

e&hoed the &ease-*ire and p+t their heads down. This time/ the &on&ern wasn0t shootin! the )ow*) in! 2-$#s/ '+t !ettin! hit ' a stra pie&e o* shrapne) or de'ris.

2s the *irst 'om' impa&ted the rid!e)ine/ it er+pted in a *ire'a)) that shoo( the !ro+nd. Thewere se era) h+ndred meters awa / '+t he &o+)d *ee) the hot air on the 'a&( o* his ne&( as heh+n(ered down.

<Ca,+n %A in/ headin! %AA/= the se&ond *i!hter &a))ed. This time it was a *ema)e oi&e.Carpenter popped 'a&( +p to ens+re the *i!hter was indeed pointed at the &orre&t tar!et and nothis own position.

<Ca,+n %A/ &)eared hot = Carpenter rep)ied. 2!ain/ he !a e the troops a <Thirt se&onds =&a)) and the 'ra&ed *or the se&ond 'om'. Li(e the *irst/ it hit on tar!et.

<Good 'om's = Carpenter said on the se&+re radio.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

Carpenter t+rned to the medi& that was treatin! GomeB. The medi&s had his he)met o** andwere ta)(in! to him/ '+t there was a poo) o* ')ood aro+nd him. <7ow0s he doin!>=

<7e0s sta')e/ '+t we need to !et him 'a&( on 'ase soon/ &an o+ !et a mede a&>= the medi&as(ed.

<Ne!ati e/ L is too hot at this point/= Carpenter said/ d+&(in! as another mortar )anded onthe opposite side o* the road.

<Ca,+n/ this is Sandman/ ad ise when read *or ne;t ta)( on/= Carpenter said as he pi&(ed +phis 'ino&+)ars to *ind the enem mortar position. The shadows *rom the mo+ntains were ma(in!it hard to see as it was nearin! s+nset. The had 'een entren&hed *or o er an ho+r sin&e the IEtoo( o+t the )ead MR2P.

<Ca,+n %? read to &op /= the oi&e rep)ied.<Ca)) is+a) *riend) positions/= Carpenter said.<Ca,+n %? is+a)/= the 2-$# pi)ot rep)ied.<4rom the *riend) position/ the road 'ends to the north/ &a)) &onta&t the 'end in the road.=

<Conta&t.=<4rom o+r position to that 'end/ we0)) &a)) that one +nit o* meas+re. 4rom that 'end in theroad/ mo e o+r tar!etin! pod two +nits o* meas+re to the so+th and o+ wi)) see a !ro+p o* treesnear a rid!e )ine.=

<Conta&t. I0 e !ot a !ro+p o* indi id+a)s h+dd)ed aro+nd what )oo(s to 'e se era) mortar positions/= the 2-$# pi)ot responded.

<Ro!er/ that0s o+r tar!et. Ca)) in with headin!/ e;pe&t &)earan&e on *ina)/= Carpenterresponded.

2s the 2-$#s set +p *or their ne;t atta&(/ Carpenter swit&hed to the 'a&(+p radio and &a))edin the +r!ent ME E 2C mission 'a&( at the 4IRES des( at 8a!ram. The L was &+rrent) too

hot/ '+t he was hopin! that with a *ew more atta&(s *rom the 2-$#s/ it wo+)d 'e &)ear *or thehe)i&opter to )and to pi&( +p GomeB and an wo+nded *rom the initia) IE atta&(.

2 min+te )ater/ the *irst 2-$# &a))ed in/ <Ca,+n %?/ in/ headin! "##.=<C)eared hot/= Carpenter responded. 2!ain/ he !a e the thirt se&ond &a)) to warn the troops

aro+nd them to (eep their heads down.2s the *irst 'om' hit/ sha(in! the trees and throwin! +p a *ire'a))/ the se&ond 2-$# made her

<in= &a)).Carpenter a!ain &on*irmed that her nose was pointed at the &orre&t tar!et and &a))ed/

<C)eared hot.=The se&ond 'om' hit the remainin! mortar position as the 2-$# p+))ed o** tar!et 'a&( into its

o erhead or'it.<Good 'om's/= Carpenter said. <8e ad ised/ we ha e a ME E 2C mission in'o+nd/

&a))si!n Pedro @$.=<Ca,+n &opies. 8e ad ised Ca,+n %A is o** station to the tan(er at this time/= the 2-$# *)i!ht

)ead said.<Cop that. Re9+est armed o erwat&h whi)e we se&+re the perimeter and read the patient.=The 2-$# pi)ot a&(now)ed!ed as he or'ited hi!h a'o e. The s+n was 'e!innin! to set/



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

)ea in! an oran!e ha)o o er the rid!e)ine. It was eeri) 9+iet. The shootin! had stopped with thedestr+&tion o* the mortar position. Carpenter p+))ed his Ni!ht ision Go!!)e &ase o+t o* hista&ti&a) 'a! and prepared them *or the +p&omin! ni!ht ops.

<Carpenter = Ma, 7i)ton 'ar(ed as he wa)(ed +p to him. <What0s the ET2 on that he)o>=Carpenter &he&(ed his wat&h. It had 'een ten min+tes sin&e their proposed )a+n&h time.

The sho+)d 'e &he&(in! in with him in the ne;t *i e to ten min+tes.<The sho+)d 'e on station within ten/ sir/= Carpenter rep)ied.<Good. I0m sendin! m team o+t now to sweep the L *or an IE s. Let them (now to )and

on the west side. West side on) / o+ !ot that>=<Fes/ sir.=Ma, 7i)ton t+rned and wa)(ed 'a&( to the )itter team that was preppin! GomeB. When the

Pa e 7aw( he)i&opter )anded/ the wo+)d meet the 2ir 4or&e Parares&+emen and hand o**GomeB and the other so)dier who had !otten shrapne) wo+nds *rom the )ast mortar.

<Sandman/ Ca,+n %?/= the )ead 2-$# pi)ot &a))ed.

<Go ahead/= Carpenter responded as he wa)(ed 'a&( to the 7UM EE.<I0 e !ot se era) personne) approa&hin! *rom the northeast on *oot/ )oo(s to 'e a'o+t a doBenor so.=

<What0s the ran!e>= Carpenter as(ed as he p+))ed o+t his ni!ht opti&s and 'e!an )oo(in! inthe dire&tion the pi)ot had ,+st &a))ed.

<4rom o+r northernmost ehi&)e/ a'o+t one h+ndred meters/= the pi)ot rep)ied.<Cop / stand' /= Carpenter responded. 7e t+rned and wa ed *or Ma, 7i)ton who was sti))

!i in! dire&tions to the )itter team *or their +p&omin! e;tra&t.<What do o+ ha e/ Carpenter>=<Sir/ *i!hters report a doBen indi id+a)s in that tree)ine a'o+t one h+ndred meters northeast.

That wo+)d ma(e them dan!er &)ose/= Carpenter responded. +e to the possi'i)it o* *riend)in&apa&itation and *ra!mentation in,+ries *rom *riend) air&ra*t/ de&)arin! an enem <dan!er&)ose= re9+ired spe&ia) hand)in! and !ro+nd &ommander initia)s *or the air&ra*t to emp)oordnan&e.

Ma, 7i)ton pa+sed and &onsidered his ne;t mo e. The so+nd o* the 77-6# Pa e 7aw(he)i&opters 'e&ame apparent in the distan&e. The ME E 2C he)i&opters wo+)d 'e &he&(in! insoon.

<Co+)d 'e )o&a)s or it &o+)d 'e hosti)es. I* the start shootin!/ m initia)s are Sierra 7ote).Otherwise/ monitor them and we0)) dea) with them i* the &ome within *i*t meters.=

2s i* on &+e/ one o* the other so)diers e))ed/ <RPG = Carpenter and 7i)ton hit the !ro+nd asthe ro&(et-prope))ed !renade the MR2P ne;t to them/ sendin! spar(s and meta) *ra!mentse er where. The !+n t+rrets on the MR2P and dismo+nted troops immediate) ret+rned *ire inthe dire&tion o* the RPG atta&(.

<Sandman ?$/ Pedro @$/ we0re &he&(in! in/ *)i!ht o* two/ ten mi)es to the east/= the Pa e7aw( pi)ot &a))ed o er the radio.

<Sandman/ Ca,+n/ I0m e e'a)) the shooter/ read *or ne;t nine )ine/ dan!er &)ose/= the 2-$# pi)ot said. 7is oi&e had !one *rom &a)m to e;&ited. 7e had ,+st wat&hed the entire RPG atta&(



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

+n*o)d in his tar!etin! pod ideo.Carpenter &omposed himse)* as he pi&(ed himse)* +p and res+med his &o er position 'ehind

the 7UM EE. <Ca,+n/ stand' . 8rea( 'rea(/ Pedro @$/ this is Sandman ?$/ we &+rrent) ha ea hot L / sa p)a time.=

<Sandman/ Pedro/ we ha e thirt min+tes o* p)a time/= the he)i&opter pi)ot responded.<Sandman &opies/ ho)d ten mi)es east/ hot L / stand' /= Carpenter responded. <8rea(/

Ca,+n %?/ &on*irm o+ sti)) ha e e es on the shooter>=<Ca,+n %? a**irm/ the 0re now at ei!ht meters and approa&hin!/ dan!er &)ose/= the 2-$#

pi)ot responded. Carpenter strained to hear his radios o er the !+n*ire aro+nd him.<Cop that/ re9+est stra*e east to west or west to east/ do not o er*) *riend)ies/ !ro+nd

&ommander initia)s are Sierra 7ote)/= Carpenter rep)ied.The 2-$# *)i!ht )ead read 'a&( the initia)s and restri&tions and then set +p *or his atta&(.

With the mo+ntains on either side/ he &ame in at a )ow an!)e and a)tit+de as he readied his%#MM &annon. <4i!hters in'o+nd = Carpenter e))ed.

Carpenter wat&hed as the 2-$# ro))ed in para))e) to the road and the pi)ot &a))ed/ <Ca,+n %?in/ headin! "D#.=<C)eared hot = Carpenter e))ed. Se&onds )ater/ the ro+nds hit the tree)ine as the si!nat+re

so+nd o* the G2U-D 2 en!er !+n on the nose o* the 2-$# !row)ed in his ears. 7e wat&hed astree )im's and dirt were (i&(ed +p ' the massi e %#MM '+))ets.

<Mo e o+r '+))ets twent meters north/ re9+est immediate reatta&(/= Carpenter dire&ted.7e wanted to ens+re the too( o+t an hidin! ad ersaries as we)).

<Ca,+n %?/= the pi)ot responded as he made a sharp/ &)im'in! ri!ht hand t+rn to set +p *oranother atta&(.

Less than a min+te )ater/ the 2-$# ro))ed 'a&( in *or another atta&(/ <Ca,+n %? in/ headin!

"@#.=<C)eared hot = Carpenter responded.The '+))ets &ra&()ed and (i&(ed +p d+st a!ain as the 2-$# p+))ed o** tar!et/ its !+n !row)in!

as it & &)ed in the nose.<Good hits = Carpenter &a))ed.<Ca,+n %? is !oin! to !o to the tan(er/ Ca,+n %A is 'a&( on station/= the )ead 2-$# pi)ot said.<Cop a)) &on*irm Ca,+n %A is ta)) )ead0s hits>= Carpenter as(ed.<Ca,+n %A/ ta)) tar!et/ is+a) *riend)ies/= the *ema)e win!man responded.Carpenter waited *or a moment *or ret+rn *ire. 2t *irst/ there was nothin! '+t si)en&e. The

two !+n r+ns seemed to ha e wor(ed. Carpenter waited an;io+s) / hopin! it was o er.J+st as Carpenter was a'o+t to re9+est Ca,+n %A ret+rn to o erwat&h/ another o))e o* sma))

arms *ire peppered the road and sides o* the MR2Ps.<Ca,+n %A/ *rom )ead0s hits/ wa)( o+r '+))ets *i*t meters east/ re9+est immediate reatta&(/=

Carpenter dire&ted.The win!man a&(now)ed!ed and set +p *or her atta&(. This time/ the 2-$# opted to approa&h

*rom the west *or a 'etter an!)e.<Ca,+n %A/ in/ headin! $##/= she said as Carpenter wat&hed her win!s )e e).



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

<C)eared hot = Carpenter responded.2s 'e*ore/ the 2-$# +n)eashed a *+r o* %#MM '+))ets at the tar!et/ p+))in! 'a&( +p into the

o erhead or'it a*ter. Carpenter waited *or a moment *or the !+n*ire to ret+rn. There was none.<Ca,+n %A/ &an o+ p+t o+r sensors 'a&( on the )ast tar!et area and &on*irm there0s no

mo ement>= he as(ed. 7e was hopin! she &o+)d !et in*rared *oota!e thro+!h her tar!etin! podto &on*irm there were no *+rther armed indi id+a)s.

2 *ew min+tes )ater/ Ca,+n %A responded/ <Pre io+s tar!et area has no mo ement.=Carpenter t+rned and !a e the th+m's +p to Ma, 7i)ton. 7e was sti)) standin! with the )itter

team as the waited *or the )andin! area to 'e &)eared.<Pedro @$/ o+0re &)eared in. L has pre io+s enem a&ti it / re&ommend Pedro @" or'it

)ow &o er whi)e Pedro @$ re&ei es &as+a)ties.=The air&ra*t &ommander o* the res&+e he)i&opter a!reed and dire&ted the other air&ra*t to

or'it/ trainin! its d+a) mini-!+ns on the two rid!e )ines *or &o erin! *ire in &ase o* another atta&(.The )ead he)i&opter wo+)d 'e most +)nera')e to RPG and IE atta&(s whi)e on )oadin! the

patients.The )ead he)i&opter &ame in )ow and *ast/ )andin! ,+st west o* the &)eared perimeter o* the&on o whi)e the other he)i&opter &ir&)ed a'o e in a ri!ht hand or'it. 2s its main whee)s to+&heddown/ the two 2ir 4or&e Parares&+emen e;ited with their ri*)es )ow and read .

The )itter team )ed ' Ma, 7i)ton approa&hed the two PJs with GomeB as the other medi&swith the two in,+red wa)(ed &)ose) 'ehind. The )ead medi& !a e the PJ the patient ita)s andsit+ation as the &arried GomeB to the waitin! he)i&opter. On&e a)) patients were sa*e) on'oard/the &)osed the open side door and )i*ted o**. 4rom the time the )anded +nti) the o**)oad/ thehad on) 'een on the !ro+nd *or three min+tes. Carpenter was impressed.

<Pedro @$ is air'orne/ &)earin! to the east/= the )ead pi)ot said o er the se&+re radio.

<Sandman &opies/ we appre&iate the wor(/= Carpenter rep)ied.With the &as+a)ties !one/ Ma, 7i)ton *o&+sed his attention on !ettin! the dama!ed MR2P o+t

o* the dit&h and 'a&( in dri in! &ondition. Carpenter he)ped se&+re the perimeter whi)emaintainin! &omm+ni&ations with the 2-$#s o erhead.

2n ho+r a*ter the Pa e 7aw(s )e*t with the wo+nded patients/ an 2ir 4or&e MC-$" &he&(edin o erhead with Carpenter. Usin! their on'oard sensors/ the were a')e to &on*irm that no*+rther enem &om'atants were near' or a)on! their ro+te. The &o+)d a)so *ind no other hotspots or potentia) areas *or IE emp)a&ements.

With the MR2P whee) repaired and read *or a&tion/ the &on o mo+nted +p on&e a!ain/near) *o+r ho+rs a*ter their initia) stop. To Carpenter/ it had *e)t )i(e m+&h )on!er. 7e hopedGomeB was doin! o( 'a&( at the 'ase.

With Ma, 7i)ton ridin! shot!+n/ Carpenter p+))ed thro+!h the !ates o* 8a!ram 2ir 8ase ,+sta*ter midni!ht. 7e had 'een !one *or se enteen ho+rs. To date/ it was the )on!est time o+tsidethe wire in his *o+r-month dep)o ment.

<I0m !oin! to !o &he&( on GomeB/ o+ &an drop me o** here i* o+ )i(e/= 7i)ton said as therea&hed the main road r+nnin! thro+!h 8a!ram 2ir 8ase.

<I0)) !o with o+/= Carpenter rep)ied.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

7i)ton nodded and the two sat in si)en&e as the made their wa to the 'ase hospita). 2*terta)(in! to the &har!e n+rse/ the *o+nd GomeB in intensi e &are. 7e had ,+st !otten o+t o*s+r!er and was s)eepin!/ &)+t&hin! a pi&t+re o* his !ir)*riend. The e;pe&ted him to ma(e a *+))re&o er / she said.

Carpenter 'reathed a si!h o* re)ie*. 7e was than(*+) e er one had made it o+t a)i e.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

Chloe Moss

“'(er the E"%e”

7omestead 2R8/ 4L$A 2+!+st "#$%$%##L

<To re&ap/ o+r o era)) o',e&ti es are to (i)) and s+r i e/= she said as she stood re*eren&in!the o',e&ti es written in dr erase mar(er on the white'oard 'ehind her. <We wi)) do this 'maintainin! m+t+a) s+pport/ one h+ndred per&ent a)id shots and (i))s/ and time) and e**e&ti e

o**ensi e and de*ensi e transitions as appropriate.=She waited as her instr+&tor sittin! at the ta')e a&ross *rom her *inished ta(in! notes. 7e was

an o)der Co)one)/ '+t he )oo(ed m+&h o)der than he was. 7is *)i!ht s+it h+n! )oose) o er histhin *rame. 7is hair was near) &omp)ete) white. 2 *ew Lie+tenants had ,o(ed that he )oo(ed)i(e a Wor)d War I *i!hter pi)ot raised *rom the dead/ '+t none dared sa it in *ront o* him. 7ewas/ a*ter a))/ the Operations Gro+p Commander/ and in &har!e o* a)) *) in! operations *or the%5th Operations Gro+p and 4i!hter S9+adron.

<Sir/ an 9+estions>= she as(ed. 7er )on!/ &+r) 'rown hair ,+st 'are) to+&hed hersho+)ders. She *id!eted as she waited *or his response. Capt Ch)oe <E e= Moss was 'rie*in! her" $ 2ir Com'at Mane+ erin! sortie. She and her instr+&tor wo+)d !o o+t and pra&ti&e air-to-air en!a!ements within is+a) ran!e o* their ad ersar / another 4-$6. She was ner o+s sin&e thiswas her se&ond attempt at *) in! this *)i!ht )ead +p!rade sortie. 7er *irst had 'een &an&e)ed d+eto weather/ '+t the 'rie* had not !one we))/ and her instr+&tor had to)d her that she wo+)d ha ehad to re*) it e en i* the weather had 'een &)ear and a mi))ion.

2*ter a pre!nant pa+se/ Co)one) Ross <Coa&h= Lo+han *+rrowed his wrin()ed 'row and said/<Is that o+r 'rie*>=

Moss0 *a&e t+rned red. She *e)t a pani& o erwhe)m her. #hat did I forget? Is he going tono&step bust me? <Sir>=

<2re o+ done>= he as(ed/ ta(in! his readin! !)asses o** his &roo(ed nose.

<Fes/ sir/= she responded ner o+s) . She wasn0t s+re where he was !oin! with his9+estionin!/ '+t she (new he was tr in! to &a)) o+t somethin! she had done wron!. 4)i!ht

'rie*in!s were a)wa s ended with a &a)) *or 9+estions or &)ari*i&ations. 7e o' io+s) (new her 'rie*in! was &omp)ete.

<What a'o+t the 24RC Spe&ia) Interest Item>= he as(ed/ pointin! to the *ramed pie&e o* paper on the wa)) 'ehind her. It was an additiona) 'rie*in! item handed down ' hi!herhead9+arters !enera)) to emphasiBe sa*et or another emer!in! iss+e amon! air&rew.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

<Sir/ that SII does not app) to +s/= she said timid) . She wasn0t s+re wh it was e en on thewa)). The &+rrent 2ir 4or&e Reser e Command Spe&ia) Interest Item reminded air&rew to ens+re

passen!ers and &ar!o were proper) se&+red d+rin! *)i!ht thro+!h moderate t+r'+)en&e-somethin! a sin!)e seat 4-$6 pi)ot wo+)d not 'e &on&erned with.

<It0s a mandator 'rie*in! item *rom hi!her head9+arters/= he stated *)at) . She wasn0t s+rei* he were ,+st tr in! to ma(e a point or tr in! to ratt)e her. 7e was de*inite) s+&&eedin! at the)atter. She &o+)d *ee) sweat start to 'ead aro+nd her *orehead.

<Fes/ sir/= she said as she t+rned to read the *ramed paper 'ehind her. <2ir&rew arereminded that whi)e *)i!ht into t+r'+)ent &onditions is not desira')e/ air&ra*t &ommanders sho+)dens+re that )oad masters &he&( inte!rit o* &ar!o straps and eri* that passen!ers are proper)seated and )ap 'e)ts ti!ht d+rin! e;tended *)i!ht into t+r'+)ent &onditions.=

Coa&h nodded sm+!) / <I ha e no *+rther 9+estions. I0)) see o+ at step.=Moss didn0t mo e as Coa&h pi&(ed +p his )ine+p &ard and !)asses and then wa)(ed o+t. She

was sti)) ratt)ed *rom his )ine o* 9+estionin!. It was her *irst *)i!ht with him sin&e he had ta(en

o er as Operations Gro+p Commander *or the %5th. She had on) (nown him pre io+s) *romwhat her *ian& / Ca) Martin/ had to)d her. 7e was a *ormer 4-$6 pi)ot who had 'een !ro+ndeda*ter an in&ident in Ira9. Ca) ')amed Coa&h *or r+inin! his &areer/ and Ch)oe was startin! to seewh . The man )i ed +p to his rep+tation.

Moss !athered her 'rie*in! !+ides and )ine+p &ard and wa)(ed o+t o* the 'rie*in! room. 2sshe made her wa thro+!h the )on! ha))wa o* the *i*teen tho+sand s9+are *oot a+)t/ Ma,or<Po+nder= an Pe)t/ the s9+adron0s Weapons O**i&er was waitin! *or her ' the a+)t door.

<7eard o+ had a ro+!h 'rie*in!/= he said with a sni&(er. #ord seemed to travel faster thanthe supersonic '&()s in this place . She wasn0t s+rprised. E er sin&e the s9+adron had *o+nd o+tthat she had pi&(ed +p an a&ti e d+t assi!nment to their reser e s9+adron/ the had 'een o+t to

!et her. She was the *irst *ema)e pi)ot. *uch blasphemy could not stand in their boys&only flyingclub . So the resisted/ '+t the ne er e;pe&ted her to p+sh 'a&(. The ne er e;pe&ted her*ormer U.S. Representati e mother to ma(e a &as+a) phone &a)) to the three star at 24RC and

po)ite) s+!!est that a *ema)e *i!hter pi)ot ')aBin! the trai) *or others was !ood *or the mi)itarand Reser es in !enera). She had won the 'att)e/ '+t the war wa!ed on.

2s she stood there starin! at Coa&h0s *a orite Weapons O**i&er and !o)den 'o / shewondered what e;a&t) she had won. 7er &areer !rowth had 'een st+nted. She was +p!radin! to*)i!ht )ead we)) a*ter her a&ti e d+t peers/ and to ma(e matters worse/ the were nit-pi&(in!e er )itt)e thin! a'o+t her sorties and ma(in! her re*) the rides. She reso) ed to not )et theirhate and ,ea)o+s !et to her/ '+t it was !ettin! harder ' the da . They never seemed to relent.

<I didn0t 'rie* the SII. It0s a re9+ired item. I sho+)d ha e 'rie*ed it in detai). 2*ter a))/wouldn!t want to get a passenger hurt during turbulence /= she said with a strai!ht *a&e.

<We)) o+0re sti)) !ettin! to *) . on0t s+&(/= he rep)ied as he t+rned 'a&( toward his&+'i&)e.

+on!t suck . ,reat advice. #hich lesson was that at #eapons *chool? It was a dai)str+!!)e/ the &ross she 'ore *or 'ein! a pioneer. She (new she wo+)d show them a)) one da andthe Po+nders and Coa&hes o* the wor)d wo+)d eat &row. *he was sure of it.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

Moss &ontin+ed o+t to )i*e s+pport to retrie e her *)i!ht !ear. She p+))ed her hair into a '+nand p+t her G-s+it and harness on 'e*ore st+**in! her he)met in her he)met 'a!. Coa&h didn0te en a&(now)ed!e her as he *inished Bippin! his G-s+it. Moss *e)t aw(ward. Nice to have awingman who hates you / she tho+!ht.

< on0t worr / o+0)) do !reat/= a oi&e *rom 'ehind her said. It was Lt Co) <Ma!i&= Mann /the s9+adron0s ire&tor o* Operations. She had a)wa s )i(ed him. 7is 'rown e es seemed to)i!ht +p at the tho+!ht o* *) in!. He was one of the good ones.

<Than(s/ !o eas on +s/= she said. Ma!i& wo+)d ser e as the ad ersar *or their sortie. 7ewo+)d sim+)ate an enem MiG in his 4-$6 as she and Coa&h wor(ed to!ether to de*eat hissim+)ated missi)es and !+nshots.

Mann !a e a win( and smi)ed. Moss *e)t s)i!ht) reass+red. Un)i(e other Gators/ she (newMa!i& wasn0t o+t to !et her. 7e wo+)d p)a ' the r+)es and 'e *air in sim+)atin! the enem . 7ewo+)dn0t do an thin! to ma(e her )oo( 'ad. I* it weren0t *or her win!man/ she wo+)d0 ea&t+a)) *e)t at ease.

2*ter re&ei in! their step 'rie*in!/ the wa)(ed to their ,ets on the )ar!e/ open ramp )inedwith rows o* 4-$6s. The Gators0 *)eet o* 8)o&( @# 4-$6s was the prod+&t o* a &reati e +p!rade pro!ram *rom the &+rrent Chie* o* Sta** o* the 2ir 4or&e who *o+nd *+nds to '+ 2ES2 radarsand a host o* other e)e&troni& +p!rades to moderniBe an a!in! *)eet o* 4-$6s. The a&ti e d+twas )+&( eno+!h to !et 'rand new ,ets o** the showroom *)oor in 4ort Worth/ 'ased on the U2E8)o&( 6# ariants/ whi)e the G+ard and Reser e &omponents were *+nded to +p!rade their 8)o&(%#s and ?#s to the 8)o&( @# standard. These +p!rades in&)+ded &on*orma) *+e) tan(s/ &o)or LCdisp)a s/ and he)met-mo+nted &+ein! s stems.

Moss ret+rned the sa)+te o* her &rew &hie* and shoo( his hand as she approa&hed her air&ra*t.2*ter a 9+i&( wa)( aro+nd/ she &)im'ed the )adder and strapped in. With her pre-*)i!ht &he&(s

done/ she mo ed the J4S swit&h to ST2RT " and the Jet 4+e) Starter s stem whirred to )i*e. 2sthe 4-$60s 'i! GE en!ine started to t+rn/ she mo ed the sin!)e thrott)e *rom the &+t-o** positionto I LE and the en!ine 'e!an its start se9+en&e. On&e started/ she )owered the 'i! '+'')e&anop and 'e!an powerin! on her a ioni&s.

<Gator $$/ &he&(/= she said o er the primar *re9+en& at the appointed &he&( in time.2*ter a )on! si)en&e/ she heard/ <%.=<Gator $$/ &he&(/= she said a!ain/ hopin! Coa&h wo+)d &ome +p this time.<%/= &ame the rep) a*ter another si)en&e. At least Magic was on fre$uency / she tho+!ht.8e*ore she &o+)d tr another &he&( in/ Coa&h &ame +p on the primar *re9+en& / <Gator $".=Satis*ied that a)) p)a ers were on the same *re9+en& and read / she &a))ed !ro+nd *or ta;i

&)earan&e *or the three ship. The *)i!ht ta;ied o+t to the end o* the r+nwa . 2*ter their *)areswere armed and *ina) &he&(s a&&omp)ished ' the End o* R+nwa &rew/ Moss &a))ed *or&)earan&e *or ta(eo**.

2*ter a 'rie* de)a *or a C+stoms U7-6# 8)a&(haw( to e;e&+te an approa&h/ Moss0 threeship was &)eared *or ta(eo**. The too( the r+nwa and too( o** se9+entia)) in ten se&ondinter a)s. Coa&h re,oined in a ta&ti&a) )ine a'reast *ormation a mi)e o** Moss0 ri!ht win!/ andMa!i& maintained a one-mi)e trai) as the stin!er.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

2s the made their wa o er the &r sta) ')+e waters o* the 2t)anti&/ Moss &he&(ed in withMiami &enter and the were &)eared to wor( *rom s+r*a&e to *i*t tho+sand *eet within the&on*ines o* Warnin! 2rea W-?6A. 2*ter a 9+i&( ninet de!ree/ AG &he&( t+rn to the )e*t/*o))owed ' a one h+ndred ei!ht de!ree @G t+rn to the ri!ht to ens+re their 'odies and s stemswere read to s+stain hi!h G mane+ erin!/ Moss set +p the *irst en!a!ement.

<Ne;t set wi)) 'e a de*ensi e per&h set+p/= she said o er the primar *re9+en& . She andCoa&h wo+)d *) )ine a'reast o* ea&h other whi)e Ma!i& wo+)d maintain one-mi)e trai). 2t the<4i!ht0s On= &a))/ the wo+)d assess who Ma!i& was en!a!in! and e;e&+te a &oordinatedde*ensi e 'rea( t+rn. The intent o* the e;er&ise was to sim+)ate ha in! a 'andit snea( +p onthem/ *or&in! them to mane+ er to de*eat an shots/ and wor( to!ether to (i)) the ad ersar .

On&e the were at the appropriate a)tit+de and airspeed/ Moss &a))ed/ <Gator $$ is read .=<Gator $" read /= Coa&h rep)ied.<2d ersar read /= Ma!i& e&hoed.<Gator0s *i!ht0s on/ Gator $" 'rea( ri!ht/ 'o!e si; o0&)o&(/ two mi)es = Moss &a))ed/ seein!

the tin spe&( o* Ma!i&0s 4-$6 dire&t) 'ehind Coa&h.Moss ti!htened her )e!s and a's as she started the hard 'rea( t+rn to the ri!ht. She *o&+sedon her 2nti-G Strainin! Mane+ er as the *or&e o* se en times her 'od wei!ht pressed down onher. 2s she made it thro+!h the t+rn/ she &o+)d see Ma!i&0s 4-$6 sadd)in! +p 'ehind Coa&h ashe a)so 'ro(e ri!ht whi)e e,e&tin! se)*-prote&tion *)ares. 2s Coa&h and Ma!i& mer!ed/ Coa&hre ersed the dire&tion o* his t+rn/ *or&in! the *i!ht awa *rom Moss0 ,et. It was e;a&t) as shehad 'rie*ed in a&&ordan&e with 4-$6 standard ta&ti&s. She &he&(ed *or a !ood tone *rom the&apti e &arr 2IM-5 trainin! missi)e on her ri!ht win! and pressed the red pi&()e '+tton on thesidesti&(/ sim+)atin! an 2IM-5 shot.

<Gator $$/ (i)) hosti)e iper )e*t hand t+rn/ )ow/= she anno+n&ed o er the primar *re9+en& .

<Gator $% &opies (i))/= Ma!i& responded as he dis&ontin+ed the en!a!ement.Moss e;ha)ed 'ehind her mas(. 7er *irst en!a!ement had 'een a 9+i&(/ de&isi e (i)). It was

e;a&t) what she *e)t she needed a*ter a ro&( 'rie* and not 'ein! a')e to !et Coa&h +p on &ommsin the &ho&(s. 7er &on*iden&e was *ina)) &omin! 'a&(.

Moss set +p the *)i!ht *or another en!a!ement as 'e*ore. This time/ Coa&h &a))ed *or her to 'rea( )e*t as Ma!i& started at her si; o0&)o&(. The set+p went e;a&t) a&&ordin! to p)an/ and asshe mer!ed with Ma!i& and re ersed her t+rn/ Coa&h &a))ed the (i)). 7er *)i!ht was two *or twoin s+&&ess*+) en!a!ements. She ,+st needed one more and the *)i!ht wo+)d 'e a s+&&ess.

Moss per*ormed an ops &he&( to ens+re a)) *i!hters had s+**i&ient *+e) *or anotheren!a!ement. The were a)) nearin! 8in!o/ the pre'rie*ed *+e) state to !o 'a&( to 'ase/ '+t thehad eno+!h *+e) *or another en!a!ement.

On&e a)) *i!hters &a))ed read / Moss &a))ed the <4i!ht0s On.=<Gator $$/ 'rea( )e*t/ 'o!e o+r si;/= Coa&h &a))ed &a)m) . There was no emotion or pit&h

in his monotone oi&e. 7e mi!ht as we)) ha e 'een te))in! her she had somethin! in her teeth.Moss ro))ed the ,et and 'e!an a des&endin! @G )e*t hand t+rn. She tried to )oo( o er her

sho+)der to *ind Ma!i&0s ,et/ '+t was ')inded ' the s+n.<8o!e swit&hed/= Coa&h &a))ed/ indi&atin! that Ma!i& had disen!a!ed *rom her air&ra*t and



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

was now a&ti e) *i!htin! Coa&h. 2s Moss &omp)eted the t+rn/ she &o+)d ma(e o+t the two 4-$6s swir)in! toward the o&ean in a ti!ht spira). In &om'at/ she &o+)d ha e easi) pi&(ed o+t the4-$6 *rom the MiG/ '+t in trainin!/ it was near) impossi')e to te)) whi&h ,et was *riend) andwhi&h was *oe.

<Gator $"/ stat+s hi!h or )ow>= she as(ed. She &o+)d &)ear) see one air&ra*t 'ehind ands)i!ht) a'o e the other. She had to 'e s+re 'e*ore emp)o in! ordnan&e. 2 *ratri&ide wo+)d&ertain) 'e the a'r+pt end to her s)ow) impro in! da .

<Gator $" is hi!h man/= Coa&h responded. She &o+)d hear him 'reathin! hea i) as he (e edthe mi(e.

Ch)oe )o&(ed the air&ra*t in the de*ensi e position. With Coa&h o**ensi e/ there was no needto ta(e the shot and ris( a *ratri&ide.

<Stat+s shot>= Coa&h demanded. <Gator $" de*ensi e =Ch)oe was &on*+sed. 7e had &a))ed <hi!h man= ear)ier/ whi&h was &)ear) the o**ensi e

*i!hter/ '+t now Coa&h was &a))in! de*ensi e. She 'ro(e )o&(/ *earin! that she had inad ertent)

)o&(ed Coa&h instead.<Gator $$/ ta(e the shot = Coa&h e;&)aimed.Ch)oe )o&(ed the trai) air&ra*t and hit the pi&()e '+tton/ sim+)atin! the missi)e shot.<Gator $$/ (i)) hosti)e iper/ )e*t hand t+rn/= she rep)ied.Ch)oe0s heart san( as she )oo(ed at her *+e). She had &omp)ete) missed her <8INGO=

warnin! and had '+rned we)) 'e)ow 8in!o *+e). She needed to &)im' +p and !et pointed towardhome.

She &)eared Coa&h to re,oin and Ma!i& to !et his own separate &)earan&e 'a&( to 7omesteadas she &onta&ted Miami &enter. She wo+)d ha e to &)im' +p thro+!h air)iner ,et ro+tes to ma(e ithome sa*e) / so she de&)ared a *+e) emer!en& . The Miami &ontro))er was more than wi))in! to

he)p/ and &)eared her dire&t) to 7omestead at whate er a)tit+de she needed.2*ter the )on! des&ent dire&t) to the *ie)d/ Moss )anded with ,+st +nder $"## )'s o* !as/ we))

within )e!a) )imits. She had 'een &onser ati e in de&)arin! an emer!en& / '+t she was s+re thati* she hadn0t she wo+)d not ha e had s+**i&ient *+e) to )and sa*e) .

2*ter si!nin! the *orms with maintenan&e and han!in! +p her *)i!ht !ear in )i*e s+pport/Moss re!ro+ped with Coa&h and Ma!i& in the a+)t to de'rie*. She *o+nd an empt 'rie*in!room and &+ed their i!ita) ideo Re&orders to the <4i!ht0s On= o* the *irst en!a!ement.

<2n thin! *or motherhood>= she as(ed as she started the de'rie* pro&ess. The <motherhood=o* the mission re*erred to the administrati e portions that in&)+ded !ettin! to and *rom thetrainin! airspa&e.

<Fo+ were )ate on &he&( in/= Coa&h said as he )oo(ed at the notes he had s&ri'')ed on his&ard.

Moss *rowned and )oo(ed at Ma!i& *or s+pport. She didn0t want to ar!+e with her instr+&tor/ '+t Coa&h had &)ear) '+**ooned the &he&(-in. She was hopin! Ma!i& wo+)d inter ene/ '+t he)oo(ed awa in si)en&e.

<2nd most important) / o+ o er*)ew o+r 'in!o and then de&)ared an emer!en& when o+didn0t need to/= Coa&h said as he p+))ed o* his !)asses.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

=<I *+&(ed +p/ sir/= Moss *ina)) admitted.Satis*ied/ Coa&h motioned *or Moss to pro&eed. The went thro+!h the *irst two *i!hts

wat&hin! the irt+a) p)a 'a&( o* the ,ets on the de'rie*in! s stem. Moss0 ,et was represented 'a ')+e 4-$6/ Coa&h0s ,et was !reen/ and Ma!i&0s ,et was s m'o)iBed ' a red MiG-"5 as thewat&hed the !od0s e e iew o* the *i!hts. 2t the end o* ea&h o* the *irst two en!a!ements/ Mosswrote down )earnin! points to dis&+ss/ '+t o era))/ the had !one e;a&t) as ad ertised. Mosswas &a+tio+s) optimisti&.

The wat&hed the third en!a!ement in rea) time. Initia)) / Ma!i& had )o&(ed onto Moss0air&ra*t +nti) swit&hin! to *i!ht Coa&h. Moss0 heart san( as she wat&hed the en!a!ement

'etween Coa&h and Ma!i& p)a o+t. The red MiG-"5 was de*ensi e the entire time. Shewat&hed as her ,et t+rned the &orner and )o&(ed Ma!i&0s ,et/ on) to 'rea( )o&( and shootCoa&h0s ,et. She had &ommitted a ')+e-on-')+e *ratri&ide. 7er e es started to water as she

stopped the tape.<Gator $$ &a))s a (i))/ ')+e on ')+e with Gator $"/= she said. 7er oi&e was sha(in!. She&o+)d see the &on&ern in Ma!i&0s *a&e. 7e was pro,e&tin! empath . Coa&h !rinned sm+!) as he*+rio+s) s&ri'')ed notes on his &ard.

<That wi)) 'e a (e! *or the s9+adron 'ar/ and o+0)) 'rie* this at dri)) wee(end/= Coa&h said/sti)) !rinnin!. <I pre*er a dar( 'eer.=

Moss he)d 'a&( tears as the went thro+!h the )earnin! points o* the en!a!ement. She (newCoa&h had set her +p ' &a))in! the wron! stat+s/ '+t there was nothin! she &o+)d do or sa to&han!e what she had done. 7er on) option was to ta(e the so)e responsi'i)it so as not to 'eseen as 9+i'')in!. She hated it with e er *i'er o* her 'ein!.

2s the &on&)+ded the *)i!ht de'rie*/ Coa&h &)eared Ma!i& o**. 7e !a e Ch)oe an apo)o!eti&)oo( as he wa)(ed o+t and &)osed the door 'ehind him. Ch)oe too( a seat at the 'rie*in! roomta')e as Coa&h stood. She had )ed the *)i!ht portion o* the de'rie*/ '+t now it was time *orCoa&h/ as her instr+&tor/ to !i e the instr+&tiona) *eed'a&(.

<O(/ wow/ where to 'e!in>= he said with a si!h as he *)ipped o er his )ine+p &ard to read thenotes he had s&ri'')ed.

Ch)oe said nothin! and sat with her pen in hand/ read to ta(e notes.<4irst o**/ o+r 'rie*. Fo+ need to !et with Po+nder and wor( on it. There are mandator

'rie*in! items *or a)) *)i!hts. The SII is one o* them.=<Fes sir/= Ch)oe responded as she s&ri'')ed on her )ine+p &ard. She sti)) tho+!ht it was

+tter) ridi&+)o+s to 'rie* somethin! that had no app)i&a'i)it to her mission. No one else in the s$uadron ever briefed it.

<We ta)(ed a'o+t !ro+nd ops. Fo+ ha e to start the *)i!ht with a &ommandin! presen&e.on0t *+&( +p the &he&( in ri!ht o+t the !ate/= he said as he &he&(ed o** the se&ond '+))et point

on his &ard.Ch)oe nodded. There was no pointin! in ar!+in!. It wo+)dn0t !et her an where. She was

+sed to it ' now an wa . The who)e s9+adron did this to her when the *)ew with her.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

Coa&h )a+!hed as he read the ne;t '+))et point on his &ard. <Fo+ shot me. That0s the *irsttime I0 e e er 'een (i))ed ' m own *)i!ht )ead. Ma(e s+re o+ wear o+r ')+es when o+ 'rie*the s9+adron. 2)wa s ma(e s+re o+ positi e) I what o+0re shootin! at.=

Ch)oe0s e es we))ed +p. 4ratri&ide was a 'i! dea). She had ne er done it 'e*ore/ and she hada)wa s tho+!ht she ne er wo+)d. There was ,+st no e;&+se *or it/ e en i* he had ta)(ed her into itair'orne. She sti)) was the one that hit the pi&()e '+tton.

<2nd *ina)) the *+e) iss+e. That0s the part that &on&erns me the most. Fo+ ,+st a'o+t rano+rse)* o+t o* !as and made the Operations Gro+p )oo( 'ad with Miami Center ' de&)arin! an

emer!en& and ma(in! them rero+te air)iners a)) o er the p)a&e. Fo+r poor airmanship does notma(e it o( to ,+st de&)are an emer!en& whene er o+ *+&( +p. Fo+ sho+)d ne er ha e !otten

o+rse)* into this position in the *irst p)a&e.= Coa&h pa+sed *or e**e&t. 7e p+t his )ine+p &ard onthe ta')e and too( o** his readin! !)asses.

<Now o+ (now/ I don0t ha e an thin! a!ainst women *) in! *i!hters or e en 'ein! in themi)itar . I thin( it0s !reat/= Coa&h &ontin+ed/ <'+t i* this is the per*orman&e o+0re !oin! to !i e

+s/ o+0re not )i in! +p to the e;pe&tations set ' those women that ha e !one 'e*ore o+. Noone is !oin! to !i e o+ a *ree pass ,+st 'e&a+se o+ happen to 'e a woman. I* o+ &an0t ha&( it/ma 'e o+ sho+)d thin( a'o+t a &areer in the USO instead.=

Coa&h pi&(ed +p his !)asses and p+t them in his po&(et. <That0s a)) I0 e !ot. I0m !oin! toha e them ta(e o+ o** the *) in! s&hed+)e *or a &o+p)e o* da s. Fo+0re !oin! to need to see this*)i!ht a!ain.=

She sat in the 'rie*in! room in st+nned si)en&e as Coa&h wa)(ed o+t. 2s the door sh+t 'ehindhim/ she started to &r .

< 'uck this s$uadron /= she said so*t) as she wiped awa the tears.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

An E)cer#t from S#ectre R!s!n%

http://www.amazon.com/Spectre-Rising-ebook/dp/B00ESF04HW

http://www.amazon.com/Spectre-Rising-ebook/dp/B00ESF04HW



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

PROLOG !

Basra, Iraq 2009

< h+nder ?"/ 3ni*e $$/ stand' *or new tas(in!/= the se&+re radio hissed and &ra&()ed to)i*e. It was the oi&e o* the 8ritish Joint Termina) 2tta&( Contro))er JT2C whom he had 'eenwor(in! with *or the )ast two ho+rs.

<3ni*e $$/ Th+nder ?"/ !o ahead/= he rep)ied/ st+**in! his water 'ott)e 'a&( in his he)met 'a!. 7e had 'een air'orne in his 4-$6 *or o er *o+r ho+rs/ ha in! re*+e)ed three times. It was thestandard mission in the new Ira9. Ta(eo**/ &he&( in with the JT2C/ stare at dirt thro+!h thetar!etin! pod *or an ho+r/ hit a tan(er/ &he&( 'a&( in with the ne;t JT2C at the ne;t tas(in!/wash/ rinse/ and repeat/ +nti) the mission window ended si; ho+rs )ater and it was time to )and.

Not 9+ite as !)amoro+s as the ear) da s o* the war where e er one &)eaned o** their weaponsra&(s on e er sortie.

8+t Captain Ca) <Spe&tre= Martin had ne er seen that Ira9. It was his se&ond dep)o ment/and despite his air meda)/ he had a)wa s mana!ed to 'rin! his 'om's home. 7e had &ome &)oseto droppin! 'om's man times o er his thirt &om'at sorties/ +s+a)) arri in! ,+st as thehosti)ities were d in! down/ or 'ein! &a))ed o** 'e&a+se the )o&a)s had ta(en &are o* the pro')ema)read . The price of success / he tho+!ht.

It tr+) was a new Ira9. In )ate "##D/ the United States and Ira9i !o ernments &ame to termson a Stat+s o* 4or&es a!reement. This a!reement de*ined the withdrawa) o* &oa)ition *or&es *romma,or Ira9i &ities and )aid the *o+ndation *or their e ent+a) troop drawdown. It a)so re9+iredwarrants *or sear&hes o* an homes and '+i)din!s not re)ated to &om'at. It was the *irst step o*

the United States !o ernment handin! 'a&( the (e s o* Ira9 to the Ira9i peop)e.2s a res+)t o* this new a!reement/ howe er/ the r+)es o* en!a!ement *or &oa)ition *or&es 'e&ame more restri&ti e. No )on!er &o+)d a JT2C desi!nate a tar!et *or destr+&tion 'ased onenem a&ti it . Sear&h warrants had to 'e a&9+ired. Ira9i po)i&e had to 'e noti*ied. Theremainin! airpower/ 4-$6s doin! twent *o+r-ho+r patro)s o er predesi!nated areas/ wasre)e!ated to sear&hin! *or s+spi&io+s a&ti it thro+!h their ad an&ed tar!etin! pods.

2nd Spe&tre had 'een doin! ,+st that. 7e had &he&(ed in with 3ni*e $$ to )oo( *ors+spi&io+s a&ti it - peop)e p)a&in! Impro ised E;p)osi e e i&es on (nown s+pp) ro+tesmost) . 7e was n+m'er two in a *)i!ht o* two/ separated ' thirt mi)es wor(in! with twodi**erent JT2Cs - standard ops with *ewer ,ets to patro) the s(ies these da s.

<Th+nder ?"/ we ha e a TIC at MSR NOL2/ &on o re9+ests immediate s+pport/ &onta&tWhis(e D# on Green $#/ how &op >= the JT2C responded in his thi&( 8ritish a&&ent.

7e had heard it se era) times 'e*ore on his *irst dep)o ment - TIC/ or Troops In Conta&t/was the ma!i& a&ron m indi&atin! *riend) *or&es were &+rrent) en!a!in! hosti)es. Under the&+rrent ROE/ it was the on) wa air'orne weapons emp)o ment was a+thoriBed. 2*ter ho+rs o*)ethar! / it was the on) phrase that !ot his ')ood p+mpin!. Someone on the !ro+nd was in



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

tro+')e/ and he was the &a a)r . It was his *irst time hearin! it on this to+r/ and he ,+st hoped he&o+)d !et there in time to ma(e a di**eren&e.

<Th+nder ?" &opies a))/ wi)) &onta&t Whis(e D# on Green $#/ &op troops in &onta&t/=Spe&tre rep)ied in an +nsha(a') &oo)/ &a)m tone despite the adrena)ine now &o+rsin! thro+!h his

eins.<C)eared o**/ and happ h+ntin!/= the 8rit rep)ied.7e &he&(ed the &heater &ard on his (nee'oard *or the *re9+en& &a))ed Green $# and t ped it

in the +p*ront &ontro) o* the 4-$6. 7e t ped in the &oordinates *or the &enter point o* MSR NOL2/ the &odename *or the main hi!hwa west'o+nd o+t o* 8asra. +rin! da )i!ht ho+rs/ itwo+)d ser e as a '+s hi!hwa *or &i i)ian and mi)itar tra**i&/ '+t now at #"## and with a&+r*ew in e**e&t/ it wo+)d on) 'e +sed ' the mi)itar and those )oo(in! *or a *i!ht.

O* &o+rse/ Spe&tre (new the weren0t rea)) )oo(in! *or a *i!ht. The peop)e sti)) *i!htin! inIra9 were terrorists. The were )oo(in! to &reate *ear and pani&/ and disr+pt the pro!ress o*re'+i)din! Ira9. The wanted the in*ide)s o+t o* their )and/ so the &o+)d &reate a stri&t Is)ami&

re!ime that wo+)d +)timate) 'e +sed to oppress the Ira9i peop)e. The were &owards who&o+)dn0t win a head on *i!ht with e en the '+ddin! Ira9i Se&+rit 4or&es. So instead/ the p)a edthe as mmetri& war*are !ame: am'+sh the +)nera')e &on o with IE s/ harass the 2meri&an

'ases with Indire&t 4ire atta&(s/ and (i)) the women and &hi)dren o* those who so+!ht to ma(etheir &o+ntr 'etter. It was a)) part o* the desperate )ast stand o* a de*eated !ro+p.

With his sophisti&ated Em'edded GPS INS na i!ation s stem now dire&tin! him to the hotBone/ Spe&tre sped to the area at near) A## (nots. 7e (new in these sit+ations time &o+)d meanthe di**eren&e 'etween )i*e and death *or the !+ s on the !ro+nd. The were the rea) reasonthin!s were !oin! so we)) in Ira9/ and he wasn0t a'o+t to )et the &owards the were *a&in! !et ina s+&(er p+n&h.

7e (e ed his a+;i)iar radio to &onta&t his *)i!ht )ead. espite ha in! *)own most o* themission a)one/ he was sti)) the win!man/ and his *)i!ht )ead wo+)d 'e the +)timate de&isionma(er. 7e needed to !et the in*ormation to his *)i!ht )ead as 9+i&() as possi')e so their*irepower wo+)d 'e a ai)a')e to the &on o in tro+')e.

<Th+nder ?$/ ?" on 2+;/= he said/ indi&atin! that he was &a))in! his *)i!ht )ead on theirse&ondar radio.

<Go ahead Spe&tre/= he rep)ied. Ma,or 8rett <Po+nder= an Pe)t was an e;perien&edInstr+&tor Pi)ot IP and *)i!ht )ead. 7e had 'een to Ira9 three times prior. 7e had seen thetransition *irsthand *rom the <Wi)d West= to the restri&ted <)oo( '+t don0t to+&h= mindset.

<We0 e !ot a TIC at MSR NOL2 I0m in'o+nd to &onta&t Whis(e D# on Green $#.=<Cop / !o &he&( in with the JT2C/ I0m on m wa / don0t do an thin! witho+t me/= Po+nder

rep)ied stern) . 7e was a *ast '+rner in the 4-$6 &omm+nit / ha in! ser ed as an operationa) test pi)ot testin! the )atest and !reatest weapons *or the a&ti e d+t 'e*ore ,oinin! the reser es. J+st prior to the dep)o ment/ he was e en se)e&ted ' the 2ir 4or&e Reser e Command as thea)ternate to !o to the &o eted 2ir 4or&e 4i!hter Weapons S&hoo). Po+nder was !oin! p)a&es.

The &on o was o er A# mi)es awa / '+t Spe&tre arri ed on s&ene in ,+st o er *i e min+tes.7e &he&(ed in with the JT2C/ &a))si!n Whis(e D#/ who !a e him the on s&ene sit+ation. 2



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

sma)) &on o had 'een mo in! *ood and medi&a) s+pp)ies a)on! MSR NOL2 *rom 8asra to ai))a!e near +'a r when an IE e;p)oded/ wo+ndin! two Ira9i so)diers and se ere) dama!in!

one o* their 7UM EEs.<Re9+estin! armed o erwat&h whi)e we mo e the wo+nded to the MR2P and repair the

7UM EE/ !o with 4i!hter to 42C/= the e;&ited oi&e said o er the se&+re radio. It wasWhis(e D#/ the 2meri&an JT2C in the &on o . 7e so+nded o+n! - couldn!t be older than -( Spe&tre tho+!ht. #hat a shame not even old enough to drink legally in America but old enoughto have people try to blow him up .

<Ro!er/ we0 e !ot one 4-$6 with one on the wa / ea&h ,et with two ' G8U-$"/ two 'G8U-%D/ and *i e h+ndred-*i*t ro+nds o* "# mi))imeter/ thirt min+tes o* p)a time. Understandarmed o erwat&h/ &on*irm o+0re stro'in!>= he as(ed/ repeatin! the instr+&tions and !i in! the*i!hter to 42C 'rie*/ an a''re iated wa *or pi)ots to !i e 4orward 2ir Contro))ers on the !ro+ndtheir weapons )oad o+t and time on station. Toni!ht ea&h ,et was )oaded o+t with two A##)'G8U-$" Laser G+ided 8om's/ two A##)' G8U-%D GPS !+ided 'om's/ and AA# ro+nds in the

"#MM +)&an &annon sittin! o er his )e*t sho+)der.<We are now/= Whis(e D# rep)ied/ indi&atin! that he had t+rned on his In*rared Stro'e tomar( their position.

Spe&tre too( his Ni!ht ision Go!!)es o+t o* their &ase and atta&hed them to his he)met. 7ehad 'een *) in! a)) ni!ht with them o**. 7e hated them. Un)ess there was some ta&ti&a)importan&e to wearin! them/ he a oided it at a)) &osts - the ,+st !a e him a heada&he. I* therewere e er a time o* ta&ti&a) importan&e/ it was now. 2*ter a 9+i&( s&an/ he 9+i&() pi&(ed +p the

'ri!ht stro'e *)ashin! amon!st the head)i!hts on the hi!hwa . 7e pi&(ed o+t si; ehi&)es/ andthen s)ewed his Litenin! II 2d an&ed Tar!etin! Pod to their position.

Usin! the 4orward Loo(in! In*rared mode o* his tar!etin! pod/ he &o+)d easi) ma(e o+t the

ehi&)es. The *irst two were 7UM EEs/ *o))owed ' three MR2PS - the 2rm 0s armored*i!htin! ehi&)e desi!ned to withstand IE atta&(s and am'+shes/ and one 7UM EE at the rear.The ')a&( and white pod ima!e wasn0t er &)ear at that a)tit+de/ '+t it appeared that the rear

ehi&)e was the dama!ed one.2*ter &on*irmin! the JT2C0s position/ he 'e!an s&annin! the near' area *or threats. 7e p+t

the ,et into a ?A-de!ree 'an(/ ri!ht hand t+rn and set the a+topi)ot to ho)d that t+rn so he &o+)d*o&+s on the !ro+nd. The ri!ht hand <whee)= (ept the 4-$6 in an or'it o er the tar!et area/(eepin! the tar!etin! pod that was mo+nted on the ri!ht &hin mo+nt *rom 'ein! mas(ed ' the*+se)a!e.

Po+nder &he&(ed in ,+st as he sett)ed into his sear&h. < o o+ hear me on se&+re>= he as(edon a+;.

<Ne!ati e/ I0m ta)(in! to the JT2C now/= Spe&tre rep)ied.= Po+nder demanded.When he was a Lie+tenant/ Spe&tre ne er appre&iated Po+nder0s attit+de/ '+t now it was ,+st

*)at o+t anno in!. 2 sit+ation was de e)opin! on the !ro+nd and *or whate er reason Po+nder&o+)dn0t !et his hands in it/ so he was 'ein! short.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

<There0s a disa')ed ehi&)e and wo+nded/ we0re tas(ed with 2rmed O erwat&h. I0)) passo+ the &oordinates on the data)in(/ '+t so *ar nothin! is happenin!/= he said/ tr in! not to show

his irritation.<So+nds )i(e Ira9i standard - h+rr +p and do nothin!. We)) I0m a)most at Tan(er 8in!o/ so

we0)) ha e to o- o/ thin( o+ &an hand)e it ' o+rse)*>= Po+nder as(ed. 7e was nearin! the prep)anned *+e) state to dis&ontin+e whate er ta&ti&a) operations the were &ond+&tin! so the&o+)d ma(e the tan(er or !o home with eno+!h *+e) to )and sa*e) . With o- o operations/Spe&tre wo+)d sta on station a)one +nti) Po+nder &o+)d !et *+e) on a tan(er and ma(e it 'a&(.On&e 'a&(/ the wo+)d &omp)ete a hand o** and Spe&tre wo+)d head to the tan(er a)one/ ens+rin!a *i!hter wo+)d a)wa s 'e o erhead.

<I0 e sti)) !ot "# min+tes +nti) 8in!o/ I &an hand)e it/= Spe&tre rep)ied.<4ine/ '+t don0t do an thin! witho+t me. I0)) 'e 'a&( in "# min+tes.=Spe&tre a&(now)ed!ed and &ontin+ed with his sear&h. 7e (new the r+)es. E er sin&e a o+n!

win!man near) hit *riend)ies on a drop whi)e his *)i!ht )ead was at a tan(er/ the rei!nin!

Operations Gro+p Commander had de&reed that no air&ra*t wo+)d drop ordnan&e as a sin!)eton/no matter what the sit+ation. 4)i!ht )eads were not s+pposed to )ea e their win!men a)one onstation/ '+t !i en the sit+ation/ Spe&tre wasn0t a'o+t to ar!+e and )ea e these !+ s a)one on theside o* a hi!hwa in the wee ho+rs o* the mornin!.

<Th+nder ?"/ this is Whis(e D#/ we are ta(in! *ire = the JT2C s&reamed. 7is oi&e was&ra&(in!. Spe&tre &o+)d hear !+n*ire in the 'a&(!ro+nd. 7is e es snapped 'a&( to his tar!etin!

pod. 7e &o+)d see the *riend) troops hidin! 'ehind the ehi&)es on the road. oomin! o+t the pod ima!e/ he pi&(ed +p two tr+&(s on the other side o* the road with se era) &om'atants in the 'a&(. 7e &o+)dn0t te)) what (ind o* weapons the were ho)din!/ '+t the appeared to 'e shootin!.

<Th+nder ?"/ Whis(e D#/ we ha e troops in &onta&t/ dan!er &)ose/ stand' *or 5 )ine/= he

s&reamed on&e a!ain. More shots &o+)d 'e heard in the 'a&(!ro+nd. The were +nder hea *ire.The 5 )ine ser ed as a wa *or the 4orward 2ir Contro))er to pass tar!et in*ormation in a C)ose2ir S+pport sit+ation.

Spe&tre hesitated. 7e had stri&t mar&hin! orders *rom Po+nder and the r+)es o* en!a!ement -don!t do anything solo . 7e &o+)d see the *riend)ies ta(in! hea *ire on the !ro+nd. The didn0tha e the *irepower to ho)d the enem &om'atants o** ' themse) es *or )on!/ and he had no ideawhen Po+nder wo+)d 'e 'a&(. 7e didn0t ha e time to wait.

<Th+nder ?" read to &op 5 )ine/= he rep)ied. 'uck it. 7e was there to prote&t the troops onthe !ro+nd/ not wat&h them die whi)e he sat id) ' with his hands tied ' ridi&+)o+s r+)es to&o er some !enera)0s ass.

The JT2C s&reamed the re9+ired in*ormation to him and then said/ <Re9+est o+ stra*ethese *+&(ers NOW We0re ta(in! hea *ire and the are ad an&in! on o+r position =

7e had a)) the in*ormation he needed. With the pro;imit o* the enem to the *riend)ies/ the*ra!ments *rom the 'om's wo+)d potentia)) in,+re them. 7e had to 'e s+r!i&a)/ and the "#MMwas his &hoi&e. Loaded with 7i!h E;p)osi e In&endiar ro+nds/ the '+))ets wo+)d disa')e an

ehi&)es and rain *ire +pon the &owards who had am'+shed the &on o .



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

7e &a))ed +p the stra*e pipper in the 7ead Up isp)a and set the air&ra*t s stems +p *or hisstra*e pass. 7e wo+)d ma(e his ro))-in para))e) to the *riend)ies so as not to shoot o er them ortoward them.

7is adrena)ine was now *+)) thrott)e. espite that/ he remained *o&+sed. 7e ro))ed in/esta')ishin! a %#-de!ree nose )ow di e +sin! the pit&h )adders and *)i!ht path mar(er in his7U . 7e set the !+n &ross at the top o* the 7U on the tar!et. It was the *irst tr+&(.

<Th+nder ?"/ in *rom the east/ ta)) tar!et/ is+a) *riend)ies/= he said/ his sti))-&a)m oi&emas(in! the *ear and e;&itement he was *ee)in!.

<Fo+0re &)eared hot = the JT2C rep)ied/ indi&atin! Spe&tre was &)eared to e;pend ordnan&eon the tar!et.

7e steadied the 'oresi!ht &ross on the tr+&( as the !+n pipper s m'o)o! rose to meet thetar!et. The pipper in the 4-$6 !a e a &onstant) &omp+ted indi&ation o* where the '+))ets wo+)d!o at an !i en time. It was &ommon) re*erred to as the <death dot= 'e&a+se where o+ shot/death wo+)d *o))ow.

2s he rea&hed the prep)anned ran!e with the pipper on the tr+&(/ he s9+eeBed the tri!!er.The ,et i'rated with a meta))i& ratt)e as the +)&an &annon spat one h+ndred ro+nds per se&ond.7e he)d the tri!!er *or three se&onds/ then re)eased the tri!!er and 'e!an a AG re&o er *rom thedi e.

4or what seemed )i(e ho+rs/ there was 9+iet on the radio. 7e reesta')ished his ri!ht handwhee) and pi&(ed +p the tar!et a!ain in the tar!etin! pod. 7e &o+)d ma(e o+t er )itt)e as thed+st sett)ed *rom where he hit.

<Good hits Good hits = the JT2C e;&)aimed. <Fo+0re &)eared immediate reatta&( on these&ond tr+&(/ o+0re &)eared hot =

Spe&tre pi&(ed +p the se&ond tr+&( is+a)) thro+!h his Ni!ht ision Go!!)es. It was now

speedin! west'o+nd towards the *ront o* the &on o .<Con*irm the tr+&( is mo in! to o+r position/= Spe&tre as(ed/ tr in! to s)ow thin!s down

so as not to 'e too r+shed and ma(e a mista(e.<That0s a**irm/ he ,+st... oh shit = the rep) was &+t o**. Spe&tre0s heart san(. 7e saw the

!)owin! strea( o* somethin! )ar!e and hot shootin! *rom the tr+&( in his 4LIR. 7e (new itimmediate) . It was an RPG. 7e wat&hed as the se&ond 7UM EE in the &on o was ro&(ed 'the e;p)osion and the in*rared tar!etin! pod ima!e washed o+t *rom the heat o* the ')ast.

The sit+ation had !one *rom 'ad to worse. The radio was si)ent. 7e wat&hed he)p)ess) asthe tr+&( that had *ired the RPG t+rned 'a&( awa *rom the &on o to di! in and &ontin+e itsassa+)t. 7e was a)read ris(in! it/ '+t witho+t a JT2C on the !ro+nd/ he &o+)d not shoot.

<7e)p = a s&ream &ame o er the radio.<Sa a!ain/= Spe&tre as(ed/ hopin! it was the JT2C.<This is the MR2P &ommander/ we are +nder hea *ire with se era) &as+a)ties/ o+r JT2C

is down/ re9+est Emer!en& C2S/ m initia)s are 7ote) Sierra =Un)i(e wor(in! with a 9+a)i*ied JT2C/ Emer!en& C)ose 2ir S+pport was the most di**i&+)t

C2S s&enario to mana!e. It re*erred to a sit+ation in whi&h a *i!hter pro ided s+pport with a!ro+nd &ontro))er who was not a 9+a)i*ied air &ontro))er. Someone with no prior trainin! wo+)d



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

'e !+idin! 'om's and '+))ets *rom *i!hters onto near' tar!ets. The r+)es o* en!a!ementa))owed it/ '+t on) at the dis&retion o* the operator in the air/ and on) in the direst o* sit+ations

'e&a+se o* the ris( o* *riend) *ire.7e &a))ed the MR2P &ommander 'a&(. Time to go to work . 7e &on*irmed that no personne)

or ehi&)es had mo ed *rom the hi!hwa . The se&ond tr+&( was sti)) the tar!et.7e pi&(ed +p the se&ond tr+&( is+a)) and ro))ed in ,+st )i(e the *irst time/ esta')ishin! a

%#-de!ree di e and p+ttin! the 'oresi!ht &ross on the tr+&(.<Th+nder ?"/ in *rom the west/= he said/ hopin! his new &ontro))er wo+)d respond.< o it Ta(e them o+t = the MR2P &ommander e;&)aimed.7e e;ha)ed a 'it. 2t )east he had positi e &onta&t with someone. On&e in ran!e/ he p+t the

pipper on the tr+&( and s9+eeBed the tri!!er *or two se&onds. The '+))ets spat *rom the tr+st"#mm ,+st has the had done 'e*ore +nti) the !+n was empt

J+st as he 'e!an his re&o er *rom the atta&(/ he heard <2'ort/ a'ort/ a'ort = It was the &a))reser ed *or dis&ontin+in! the atta&(.

7is heart san(.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

C#AP !R O$!

Homestead, FLPresent Day

Vi&tor 2) areB stood a)one in the !rass par(in! )ot. It was sti)) dar( o+t/ '+t the horiBon!)owed oran!e in the distan&e as the s+n 'e!an its +pward tre(. 7e hated mornin!/ espe&ia))So+th 4)orida mornin!s. The air was a)most &omp)ete) sat+rated with moist+re/ and a)tho+!h itwas a)most *a))/ it was sti)) ei!ht de!rees.

The par(in! )ot was re)ati e) iso)ated. It had ta(en him twent min+tes o* dri in! down adirt road to rea&h it. It had pre io+s) ser ed as a par(in! )ot *or *ie)d wor(ers to drop o** their

ehi&)es/ '+t with the re&ent re&ession and the *ore&)os+re o* the )andowner/ it was now ,+st aa&ant )ot. 7e was in an area (nown as the Red)ands o* 7omestead. On) min+tes *rom the

E er!)ades/ it was most) open *arm)and with a *ew ho+ses s&attered here and there. It was the per*e&t p)a&e to es&ape the &on!estion o* Miami/ or the e es o* an +nwe)&ome third part

o'ser er.2) areB )eaned a!ainst his &ar as a )one pair o* head)i!hts approa&hed *rom the distan&e. It

was a)most si; o0&)o&( in the mornin!. 7e p+))ed a hand(er&hie* o+t o* his po&(et and wiped thesweat awa *rom his 'row. espite ha in! spent his who)e )i*e in this &)imate/ he had sti)) ne er*+)) em'ra&ed it.

The &ar p+))ed to a stop ne;t to his. The si) er 7onda Ci i& was m+&h )o+der than hee;pe&ted. It must have a broken muffler or something / he reasoned. Not 9+ite what he wase;pe&tin! *rom a man )i(e the one he was a'o+t to meet/ '+t in this '+siness/ he had )earned notto ass+me an thin!/ espe&ia)) not when dea)in! with 2meri&ans.

2) areB ran his *in!ers thro+!h his ,et-')a&( hair and &as+a)) approa&hed the &ar. 7e was

ho)din! a sma)) en e)ope in his )e*t hand and restin! his hand on his ho)stered !+n with his ri!ht.The man in the 'attered Ci i& was ri!ht on time and at the ri!ht p)a&e/ '+t that didn0t ma(e himtr+st the stran!er ,+st et.

<2re o+ i&tor>= the man in the &ar as(ed. It was too dar( in the &ar to ma(e o+t his *a&e.<Fes/ do o+ ha e the do&+ments>= he rep)ied with a thi&( Spanish a&&ent.<7ere0s e er thin! o+ as(ed *or/ *) in! s&hed+)es/ personne) *i)es...e er thin!/= the man

responded ner o+s) / handin! 2) areB a thi&( mani)a en e)ope thro+!h the &ar0s window.2) areB )eaned on the roo* o* the &ar. 7e was a ta)) man/ and the )ow ride hei!ht o* the &ar

'ro+!ht the window on) +p to waist )e e). 7e too( the en e)ope *rom the man and p+t it on theroo* o* the &ar. 2) areB then handed the man the sma)) en e)ope that he had 'een ho)din!.

<These are o+r instr+&tions. The *irst o* the *+nds has a)read 'een trans*erred. The restwi)) 'e de)i ered +pon &omp)etion o* this operation.=

<Oh...o(... +h... 8+t no one (nows m name ri!ht> There0s nothin! pointin! to me when thisis o er/ ri!ht>= The man was *id!etin! in his seat.

<Fo+r !o ernment wi)) ne er *ind o+t/= 2) areB reass+red him. < on0t worr .=



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

2) areB had seen it man times 'e*ore. 7e had 'een an a!ent with the C+'an ire&&iKnGenera) de Inte)i!en&ia *or ten ears. 7e had spent most o* those ears in So+th Miami. It waseas to ')end in there. The ma,orit o* the pop+)ation was C+'an or 7ispani&/ and a)moste er one spo(e Spanish *)+ent) . No one e en raised an e e'row. 7e had +sed 2meri&ans mantimes 'e*ore. O&&asiona)) it was *or inte)/ '+t o*ten it was *or assistan&e. The seemin!)a)wa s tried to ,+sti* what the were doin!/ whether it was *or their *ami)ies or some po)iti&a)reason. 2) areB didn0t &are/ '+t he sti)) didn0t respe&t them. 7e needed them *or his operations/

'+t the were traitors to their &o+ntr / p)ain and simp)e.2) areB wat&hed as the man opened the en e)ope and read the instr+&tions. 7e )oo(ed *or

an si!ns o* hesitation or wea(ness. 7e had 'een ass+red that his new &onta&t wo+)d *o))owthro+!h/ '+t he was more than read to terminate their arran!ement with a 5MM ro+nd to theman0s temp)e at the *irst si!n o* wea(ness.

< o o+ ha e an 9+estions>= he as(ed with a tooth !rin.<No/ I &an do it.=

<Good. Go. Fo+0)) 'e ,+st *ine.= 2) areB !ra''ed the *i)es o** the roo* o* the &ar and p+))edo+t his &e)) phone as he wa)(ed 'a&( toward his &ar. The )itt)e Ci i& so+nded )i(e a '+m')e'ee asit sped o** into the now risin! s+n. 7e dia)ed the n+m'er he had 'een !i en ' his hand)er. It wastime to &he&( in.

<7ow did it !o>= the oi&e as(ed.<It is done. We ha e e er thin! we need to pro&eed.= 2) areB (new his &e)) phone was

pro'a') 'ein! monitored. The ire&&iKn Genera) de Inte)i!en&ia was the main state inte))i!en&ea!en& o* C+'a. Sin&e openin! *or '+siness in )ate $56$/ the GI had 'een in o) ed ininte))i!en&e and espiona!e operations a&ross the !)o'e. The had 'een in o) ed in aidin! )e*tistre o)+tionar mo ements in 2*ri&a/ the Midd)e East/ and most) Latin 2meri&a. In the United

States/ the GI had 'een hea i) in o) ed with internationa) dr+! trade/ assistin! home!rownterrorist &e))s/ and inte))i!en&e !atherin! operations *or third part &o+ntries. The CI2/ NS2/ and48I a)) had them on their wat&h )ists.

<E;&e))ent. Se)e&t the tar!et and do what is ne&essar .=<Fes/ "efe. Fo+ won0t 'e disappointed.= 7e h+n! +p the phone and tossed the do&+ments on

the passen!er seat o* his &ar. This was the *irst operation he had +nderta(en witho+t the(now)ed!e o* his !o ernment. It was !oin! to ma(e him a hero and wi)d) ri&h. 7e had a )ot o*wor( ahead o* him/ and a er short time)ine.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

C#AP !R %O

R-2901Four Months Later

&R att)er "$/ Th+nder $$ &he&(in! in as *ra!!ed/ read *or words/= the meta))i& oi&e saido er the 7arris PRC-$$@4 Manpa&( Radio. The dismo+nted radio/ &a))ed a manpa&(/ ser ed as am+)ti-'and/ m+)timode radio that &o ered the !am+t o* wa e*orms. 4re9+en&ies &o eredin&)+ded 74/ U74/ and U74 S2TCOM radio. The +nit was a)so &ompati')e with the Sin!)eChanne) Gro+nd and 2ir'orne Radio S stem/ an 2rm s stem. It ser ed as a )i*e)ine *or anJT2C to s+pport assets in the air.

<Ro!er Th+nder $$/ Ratt)er has o+ )o+d and &)ear/ sit+ation is as *o))ows: we ha e se era)wo+nded *riend) *or&es ho)ed +p in the +r'an i))a!e. The are +na')e to mo e at this time andare s+rro+nded ' m+)tip)e hosti)es in pi&(+p tr+&(s/= he rep)ied )oo(in! +p at the ,ets &ir&)in!o er their position. 4rom his o'ser ation position/ he &o+)d 'are) hear the two 4-$6s in a ri!ht

hand or'it hi!h a'o e/ '+t with the o er&ast s( / he &o+)d &)ear) see two dar( spe&(s speedin!a&ross the &)o+ds )i(e ants on a ')an(et.

The two men were set +p on the roo* o* a meta) '+i)din! o er)oo(in! a series o* tin '+i)din!s ,+st a 9+arter mi)e awa . The terrain was re)ati e) *)at/ and *rom atop the two-stor '+i)din!/ the had a re)ati e) +no'str+&ted iew o* the i))a!e. E en *or a i))a!e/ it wasn0tm+&h. 2 dirt road r+nnin! north *rom their o'ser ation position was sp)it ' *i*teen tin '+i)din!s

'e*ore interse&tin! another dirt road that )ed o+t to a narrow tree )ine.< o o+ re&o!niBe the oi&e>= he as(ed/ t+rnin! to the man standin! ne;t to him. The man

was a'o+t si; *eet ta)) with a narrow *rame and m+s&+)ar '+i)d. 7e wore (ha(i A.$$ Ta&ti&a) pants with a ')a&( S+r i a) 3ra Ma!a t-shirt. Oa()e 7a)* Ja&(et mirror tinted s+n!)asses

mas(ed his deep set/ ')+e-!ra e es/ and a desert &amo+*)a!e 'oonie hat &o ered his )i!ht 'rownhair. 7is s9+are ,aw &)en&hed as he pondered the 9+estion.

<C0mon Joe/ o+ (now I don0t *) with those assho)es an more/= the man rep)ied with a!rin.

Te&h Ser!eant Joe Carpenter )a+!hed and t+rned 'a&( to his To+!h'oo( Laptop and PRC-$$@ radio. 7e was wearin! the standard iss+e 2ir 4or&e 28U di!ita) &amo+*)a!e +ni*orm&omp)ete with *)a( est and 'a))isti& he)met. 2 *ormer 2rm Ran!er/ he had 'een a JT2C *orthree ears a*ter !oin! Green to 8)+e in sear&h o* a more a iation-oriented &areer. Una')e to *)

'e&a+se o* a &o)or ision test/ his sear&h )anded him ri!ht 'a&( with the 2rm / as an em'eddedJT2C.

Perhaps one o* the most ph si&a)) demandin! ,o's in the 2ir 4or&e/ JT2Cs were *ront)ine 'att)e*ie)d airmen. The were em'edded with !ro+nd *or&es to ad ise the !ro+nd &ommander on2ir 4or&e air power &apa'i)ities/ and in the heat o* 'att)e/ to &ontro) air&ra*t d+rin! &)ose airs+pport s&enarios. O* &o+rse/ it was ,+st Carpenter0s )+&( that he0d !et o+t o* the 2rm ,+st to !ori!ht 'a&( in a new +ni*orm/ '+t he didn0t mind/ he was at the tip o* the spear and he )o ed it.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

To Carpenter/ tho+!h/ the 'est thin! a'o+t wor(in! *or Mother 8)+e was the to s. 7e (newthe 2rm had the same te&hno)o! and &apa'i)ities/ '+t in the 2ir 4or&e/ he a)wa s seemed toha e the )atest and !reatest at his *in!ertips. 2t the moment/ the )atest and !reatest happened to

'e his To+!h'oo( Laptop e9+ipped with the newest Pre&ision Stri(e S+ite *or Spe&ia) Operation4or&es so*tware - PSS-SO4. With PSS-SO4/ he &o+)d pass air'orne operators hi!h *ide)it GPS&oordinates o* his own position or the enem *rom the &om*ort o* whate er *o;ho)e he happenedto 'e operatin! o+t o*.

< amn Spe&tre/ sti)) no )o e *or the Gators>= Carpenter as(ed sar&asti&a)) . The Gators werethe %5th 4i!hter S9+adron stationed o+t o* 7omestead 2ir Reser e 8ase in So+thern 4)orida. Oneo* on) two *i!hter s9+adrons remainin! +nder the 2ir 4or&e Reser e Command/ the Gators had

'een Spe&tre0s s9+adron +nti) the a*termath o* his *ina) *)i!ht that ni!ht in the s(ies o er Ira9.<None. on0t o+ thin( o+ sho+)d pass them a nine )ine and !et this part started>= Spe&tre

was ne er (nown *or his ta&t. It was one o* man reasons he and Carpenter !ot a)on! so we)).Carpenter nodded and (e ed the mi&rophone as he read *rom his To+!h'oo(/ <Th+nder ?$/

nine )ine is as *o))ows: items one thro+!h three are N2/ )ine *o+r: one h+ndred twent *eet/ )ine*i e: !ro+p o* tr+&(s/ )ine si;: One Si; Romeo Mi(e Lima Nine Three Ei!ht 4o+r 4o+r Ei!htero Si;/ )ine @ N2/ Line D: *i e h+ndred meters so+theast/ )ine 5 as re9+ired/ remar(s: *ina)

atta&( headin! "@# p)+s or min+s $# de!rees. Ca)) in with *ina) atta&( headin! and e;pe&t&)earan&e on *ina). Read 'a&( )ines ?/ 6/ and restri&tions.=

The *i!hter repeated the 5-)ine per*e&t) as the 4-$6s mane+ ered into position o erhead. 8+sin! the standard 5-Line *ormat/ Carpenter had !i en the *i!hters a)) the in*ormation theneeded to ta(e o+t the tar!et/ in&)+din! e)e ation/ &oordinates *ormatted in Mi)itar GridRe*eren&e S stem/ distan&e *rom *riend) positions and restri&tions on atta&( dire&tion.

<It0s Ma!i&/= Spe&tre m+ttered.

Carpenter t+rned and !a e Spe&tre a p+BB)ed )oo(.<Ma!i&> No man/ it0s s&ien&e. We !i e them the &oordinates o* the 'ad !+ s with this *an&

)aptop/ the p)+! it into their s stem/ and the 'ad !+ s !o 'oom.=<No shit smartass/ I mean the !+ *) in!. It0s Ma!i& Mann /= Spe&tre *ired 'a&(. Lt Co)

Ste e <Ma!i&= Mann was the ire&tor o* Operations *or the Gators.Carpenter pi&(ed +p his 'ino&+)ars with one hand and the handset o* his radio in the other as

he wat&hed the 4-$6 ro)) in on its tar!et.<Th+nder $$/ in headin! "@A/= anno+n&ed the tinn oi&e o* Ma!i& o er the PRC-$$@.<Fo+0re &)eared hot/= Carpenter rep)ied/ &)earin! the pi)ot to emp)o ordnan&e whi)e

ens+rin! that the *i!hter0s nose was pointin! at the ri!ht tar!et.Spe&tre wat&hed as the 4-$6 ro))ed in and h+r)ed itse)* toward the !ro+nd. Se&onds )ater/ two

o',e&ts *e)) as the ,et t+rned 'a&( s( ward. 7e win&ed in anti&ipation o* the impa&t on) to 'e!reeted ' two 'are) a+di')e th+ds.

<Good hits Good 'om's = Carpenter e;&)aimed on the radio.<Inerts are so anti&)ima&ti&/= Spe&tre si!hed.<What do o+ e;pe&t> The drop two *i e h+ndred po+nd pie&es o* &on&rete that are shaped

to )oo( )i(e rea) 'om's. It0s wa 'etter than when the ro)) in and ,+st Hsim+)ate0 witho+t



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

an thin! &omin! o** the ,et. Now that is 'orin!.= Carpenter a)wa s had a wa o* p+ttin! a positi e spin on thin!s.

J+st as Spe&tre was a'o+t to e;p)ain the merits o* trainin! witho+t an ordnan&e on theair&ra*t/ his &e)) phone ran!. It was his 'oss.

<I ha e to !o Joe/ than(s *or )ettin! me spot *or o+/= he said as he h+n! +p the phone.Carpenter !a e him a nod and t+rned 'a&( to the tar!et. 7e had in ited Spe&tre to ma(e the

dri e *rom 7omestead to 2 on Par( to &at&h +p and o'ser e the 4orward 2ir Contro))er side o*C)ose 2ir S+pport. The had 'een *riends sin&e &o))e!e/ '+t aside *rom an e-mai) or phone &a))here and there/ the rare) !ot to see ea&h other near) ten ears )ater.

Spe&tre pi&(ed +p his 'a&(pa&( and &)im'ed down the &onne; &ontainer to 'e!in the mi)ehi(e 'a&( to his tr+&(. 7is 'oss had 'een 'rie* '+t the sense o* +r!en& was apparent in his

oi&e. It was time to 9+it p)a in! and !et 'a&( to the o**i&e - something new had come up .With the 'oss as a!+e as he was/ Spe&tre was *or&ed to wonder what &o+)d 'e !oin! on

+nti) &omp)etin! the three-ho+r dri e 'a&( to 7omestead to *ind o+t. #as the store finally going

to be bought out by a bigger chain? +id some new rare find show up that needed an immediateappraisal? These were the new 9+estions that wei!hed hea i) on his mind sin&e his transition to&i i)ian )i*e.

It wasn0t a er eas transition to ma(e. When Spe&tre was to)d ' his s+periors +ponret+rnin! *rom Ira9 that he0d ne er *) an 2ir 4or&e Reser e air&ra*t a!ain/ he re*+sed the non-*) in! sta** ,o' the tried to *or&e on him. 4or him/ *) in! the 4-$6 hadn0t 'een a'o+t theadrena)ine r+sh or the need *or speed. It was a'o+t ser in! a hi!her p+rpose. In the &+rrent wor)d&)imate/ that meant pro idin! &)ose air s+pport *or 'oots on the !ro+nd. When the powers that 'ede&ided he was no )on!er *it to do that/ he de&ided his ser i&es &o+)d 'e 'etter +sed e)sewhere.

Un*ort+nate) *or Spe&tre/ the e&onom he es&aped to wasn0t &ond+&i e to his +ni9+e s(i))

sets. 2nd a*ter se era) re,e&ted app)i&ations to a m riad o* three )etter a!en&ies and pri ate&ontra&tors/ he *o+nd himse)* 9+i&() '+rnin! thro+!h his sa in!s.

That was +nti) he met Mar&+s 2nderson. The !r+** Mr. 2nderson had 'een a &)assmate o*Spe&tre0s in their S+r i a) 3ra Ma!a &)ass. 2nd a)tho+!h Mar&+s was near) twent ears hissenior/ the two 'e&ame *ier&e sparrin! partners. The *ormer Marine ers+s the *ormer *i!hter

pi)ot/ ea&h did a !ood ,o' o* (eepin! the other on his toes. 2 ')a&( 'e)t himse)*/ Mar&+s hadhe)ped Spe&tre earn his ')a&( 'e)t in 3ra Ma!a.

Thro+!h their trainin! and &onstant ri''in!/ the two 'e&ame !ood *riends. 2nd whenMar&+s )earned that Spe&tre was down on his )+&(/ he didn0t hesitate to 'rin! him in on the*ami) '+siness.

2nderson Po)i&e S+pp) in 4)orida Cit / 4L was esta')ished in $5D$ ' the )ate John2nderson. 2 *ormer Miami- ade Co+nt dete&ti e/ John 2nderson had retired to the more r+ra)4)orida Cit to es&ape the e;p)osi e e;pansion o* Miami and 4t La+derda)e/ whi)e sti)) 'ein!&)ose eno+!h to isit. What ori!ina)) started as a ho'' o* &o))e&tin! rare and +ni9+e !+ns soon

'e&ame a *air) )+&rati e '+siness *or John. 7is '+ddies *rom the *or&e appre&iated the dis&o+ntson *irearms and s+pp)ies/ whi)e the )o&a)s en,o ed ha in! a *+)) ser i&e *irearms dea)er with ah+!e in entor ri!ht down the street.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

2*ter ret+rnin! home a de&orated Marine Re&on Sniper in $555/ Mar&+s de&ided to )ea e theCorps and ,oin his *ather in r+nnin! the store. 8 the time his *ather passed awa in "##$/Mar&+s had wat&hed the store !row *rom the 'a&( &orner o* a 'ait and ta&()e shop to a "#/###s9+are *oot *a&i)it e9+ipped with an indoor shootin! ran!e and a *+)) &on*i!+ra')e e)e&troni&shoot ho+se.

When Mar&+s )earned that Spe&tre had a '+siness de!ree and e;tensi e we' desi!ne;perien&e *rom &o))e!e/ he didn0t *ee) so 'ad a'o+t !i in! Spe&tre a &han&e. 2nd a*ter on) a

ear/ 2nderson Po)i&e S+pp) had 'e&ome one o* the *oremost on)ine dea)ers *or *irearms andta&ti&a) !ear.

Spe&tre arri ed at the store we)) a*ter '+siness ho+rs/ '+t the par(in! )ot was sti)) *+)).*omething must really be going on / he tho+!ht. 7e had spent the three-ho+r dri e !oin! o er the

possi'i)ities in his head/ '+t none o* them seemed )i(e) eno+!h to &a+se Mar&+s to 'e so ti!ht)ipped. 7e rea)) had no idea what to e;pe&t.

7e swiped his a&&ess &ard and opened the hea meta) door as the )o&( &)i&(ed open. The

a&&ess &ontro) s stem had 'een insta))ed short) a*ter the )atest reno ations/ a))owin! 'etter&ontro) and tra&(in! o* those emp)o ees who were a')e to a&&ess the '+i)din! a*ter ho+rs. 7ethen pro&eeded inside the )ar!e showroom/ &omp)ete with m+)tip)e !)ass show&ases. 7and!+nso* a)) &a)i'ers and t pes were pro+d) on disp)a inside ea&h &ase/ or!aniBed ' man+*a&t+rer.Ri*)es o* ar in! &a)i'ers and siBes were mo+nted 'ehind ea&h o* show&ases on the wa)). It was a!+n )o er0s hea en.

Spe&ter noti&ed the sta** &rowded aro+nd the ran!e renta) &o+nter o* the store. 7e &o+)d 'are) ma(e o+t Mar&+s0 !ra hair standin! 'ehind it/ apparent) ta)(in! to the sta**. 7e threwhis 'a&(pa&( on one o* the show&ases witho+t s)owin! down and &ontin+ed to where the otherswere !athered aro+nd.

<No/ it does not mean o+0)) )ose o+r ,o'/= Mar&+s &ontin+ed/ apparent) a)read midwathro+!h his spee&h. 7e pa+sed and nodded as he noti&ed Spe&tre ,oin the &rowd.

<Then what does it mean>= one o* the ,+nior sa)esmen as(ed.<Wo+)d o+ )et me *inish> o o+ thin( I won0t te)) o+>= Mar&+s 'ar(ed. The ,+nior

sa)esman retreated/ his *a&e red. Spe&tre &h+&()ed.That was Marcus. Patien&e and dip)oma&wo+)d ne er 'e his )e!a& .

<What0s !oin! on>= Spe&tre whispered to the !ir) ne;t to him. She was 'are) *i e *eet ta))with )on! 'rown hair and 'ri!ht ')+e e es. To Spe&tre/ and most o* the ma)es in the store/ shewas pro'a') the most attra&ti e !ir) there. Were it not *or his pendin! en!a!ement/ he mi!htha e made a mo e on her. Perhaps e en more s+&&ess*+)) than the h+ndreds o* !+ s that were

'ein! shot down on a dai) 'asis.<The 'oss ,+st anno+n&ed that the store is downsiBin!/= she rep)ied.< ownsiBin! how>=She rep)ied with a *in!er to her mo+th and pointed to Mar&+s who was sti)) starin! down the

,+nior sa)esman. E en at A05= and ,+st o er $@# )'s/ Mar&+s was an e;pert in &reatin! the *ear o*God in ,+st a'o+t an one.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

<2s I was sa in!/= he &ontin+ed/ <we0re not downsiBin! sta** *or now. We0re !oin! to mo ea )ot o* the *)oor sa)esmen... err... sa)espeop)e to the &orporate a&&o+nts/ internet sa)es/ and ran!e.We0re a)so !oin! to 'e &+ttin! 'a&( on the store ho+rs. I don0t want to ha e to )et peop)e !o/ '+t

o+0re a)) !oin! to ha e to wor( with me. This is the 'est I &an do with the shit sandwi&h we0 e 'een !i en.=

Mar&+s made a point to ma(e e e &onta&t with e er man and woman standin! aro+nd that&o+nter as i* he were read in! the troops *or a *ina) &har!e into 'att)e. To Mar&+s/ that wasn0tthat *ar *rom the tr+th. 4or his '+siness/ this was do or die time. The had to either p+))themse) es o+t o* the red and adapt to a &han!in! e&onom / or *a&e e;tin&tion.

<That0s a)) I &an sa *or now/ *o)(s. J+st (now that we0re !oin! to wor( to!ether and p+))this thro+!h. Ca)/ &an I ta)( to o+ in pri ate>=

Spe&tre nodded and wa)(ed 'ehind the &o+nter. 7e *o))owed Mar&+s into his o**i&e and&)osed the door 'ehind them. Mar&+s &o))apsed into his 'i! )eather &hair and r+''ed his temp)es.

<Ni&e spee&h/ 'oss. The troops are read *or war/= Spe&tre po(ed with a !rin.

<War is a )ot easier than this shit. #ay easier. Fo+ ha e a tar!et. Fo+ ha e an o',e&ti e.Fo+ (i)) him. This> This is a &)+ster *+&(.=<What0s !oin! on> When I )e*t esterda / thin!s weren0t so doom and !)oom. S+re we had a

'ad 9+arter/ '+t nothin! we ha en0t seen 'e*ore/= Spe&tre rep)ied. 7e was re*errin! to the9+arter) *inan&ia) reports their a&&o+ntin! sta** had p+t to!ether the da prior. 2s e;pe&ted/ !+nsa)es were down a&ross the 'oard. The on) thin! doin! we)) was the internet sa)es department.

<We were doin! *ine. Unti) this mornin!/ and I !ot this/= he said as he handed Spe&tre a)etter.

Spe&tre too( the )etter and started readin!. 7e &o+)dn0t 'e)ie e it. It was non-renewa) noti&e*rom the )o&a) C+stoms and 8order Prote&tion 'ran&h. One o* their )ar!est !o ernment &ontra&ts

*or s+pp) in! *irearms/ amm+nition/ and ta&ti&a) !ear was 'ein! terminated.<I0 e !ot a '+dd at C8P I0)) as( what0s !oin! on.=< on0t 'other/ I a)read ta)(ed to the 2ir and Marine 8ran&h Chie* in 7omestead/= Mar&+s

said/ e es &)osed as i* what he was sa in! was a)so ph si&a)) pain*+)/ <the President has &+t*+ndin! to a)) C+stoms 2ir and Marine 'ran&hes nationwide. 7e thin(s this one mi!ht 'e &)osin!a)to!ether.=

<It &an0t 'e This is one o* the '+siest 'ran&hes in the &o+ntr = Spe&tre was 'eside himse)*.The 7omestead 2ir and Marine Interdi&tion 'ran&h o* C8P was the *ront )ine in the &o+ntr 0s

'att)e a!ainst sm+!!)ers/ dr+! r+nners/ i))e!a)s/ and terrorists. With a *)eet o* 8)a&(haw(he)i&opters/ 2ST2RS he)i&opters/ ash-D s+r ei))an&e air&ra*t/ and trained interdi&tion a!ents/ itwas se&ond on) to the T+&son 'ran&h in a&ti it .

<I (now. 4+&(in! emo&rats.= Mar&+s si!hed.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

C#AP !R #R!!

Homestead, FL

&' )o e o+/ I0m ,+st not in love with o+ an more/= she said. 7er e es were waterin!/ '+ther tone was +nwa erin! and she )oo(ed him ri!ht in the e es. There was nothin! )e*t *orinterpretation.

<Ch)oe/ I don0t +nderstand. Where did this &ome *rom>= Spe&tre was sittin! on the &o+&hri!ht a&ross *rom Ch)oe Moss. 7e was )eanin! *orward/ han!in! on e er word and e er!est+re *rom the woman he )o ed. The woman who/ +nti) ,+st se&onds a!o/ he tho+!ht )o ed himtoo.

<I0 e 'een thin(in! a'o+t this *or a )on! time/ 'a' . It0s ,+st not the same an more. Fo+0renot the same an more.=

7e )eaned 'a&( on the &o+&h. #here did this even come from? The had 'een to!ether *ornear) *i e ears/ the )ast two o* whi&h the had 'een en!a!ed. 2nd despite no *irm date *or their

weddin!/ he had ne er 9+estioned their m+t+a) reso) e to 'e to!ether.<What do o+ mean I0m not the same an more> I0m the same man o+ *e)) in )o e with

when o+ *irst showed +p to the s9+adron. What0s !oin! on>=4rom the moment the *irst met/ Spe&tre tho+!ht Ch)oe Moss wo+)d 'e the on) !ir) he

wo+)d e er )o e. With her &+r) )i!ht 'rown hair and 'ri!ht !reen e es/ Spe&tre was entran&ed 'her the er *irst time the met at his des(.

<E;&+se me/ &an o+ te)) me where Li*e S+pport is> I need to drop this st+** o**.=Spe&tre )oo(ed +p *rom his &omp+ter in what he0d )ater des&ri'e as a sensor o er)oad. E en

in the standard iss+e *)i!ht s+it/ she was 'ea+ti*+). 7er oi&e was an!e)i&. She e en sme))ed prett .

<7+h>= he rep)ied. 7e was !aw(in!/ and a sin!)e s ))a')e !r+nt was a'o+t the 'est he &o+)dha e hoped *or !i en his s+rprise.

<7i/ I0m the new pi)ot here. Lie+tenant Ch)oe Moss/= she said/ e;tendin! what amo+nted toher *ree hand as she str+!!)ed to ho)d her !-s+it/ he)met/ and harness with 'oth hands.

7e sat there *or a se&ond starin! at her 'are) o+tstret&hed hand/ and then rea)iBed what washappenin!. She was the new 2&ti e +t e;&han!e pi)ot e er one had 'een ta)(in! a'o+t. 2*terre!ainin! his senses/ he shoo( her hand and !ra''ed the *a))in! harness *rom her arm.

<7ere/ )et me he)p o+/ )i*e s+pport is this wa . I0m HSpe&tre0 Martin. 8+t o+ &an &a)) meCa). Or Spe&tre. Or Captain Martin. Or H7e Fo+/0= he said with a sheepish !rin. *mooth. /eal

smooth 0al. #ant to go ahead and tell her the names you "ust picked out for the children you!re going to have too while you!re at it?

2&&eptin! the he)p/ she *o))owed him to the Li*e S+pport shop where pi)ots (ept their *) in!!ear.

<Than(s/ Captain Ca) HSpe&tre0 Martin. Fo+ &an &a)) me Ch)oe. Or E e sin&e that0ste&hni&a)) m &a))si!n/= she said with a win(.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

4rom that point on/ their re)ationship pro!ressed at re&ord pa&e. Within a *ew months/ ,+st asSpe&tre was a'o+t to dep)o on what wo+)d 'e the )ast dep)o ment o* his &areer/ the s9+adron&a+!ht wind o* their re)ationship.

espite the *a&t that the were essentia)) the same ran(/ and no +nd+e in*)+en&e e;isted intheir re)ationship/ the )eadership was who)e-hearted) opposed to their re)ationship. To them/ i* itwasn0t 'ad eno+!h that she was the *irst *ema)e *i!hter pi)ot/ it was worse that one o* their ownReser ists was datin! her. It could not stand.

2nd that 'e!an Spe&tre0s down*a)) with the Gators. 2s the )eadership p+shed 'a&(/ here*+sed to ie)d. What he was doin! wasn0t i))e!a)/ and the had determined that the were in)o e. To Spe&tre/ separation was not an option. The s9+adron )eadership e en threatened to ha eher reassi!ned/ and the wo+)d ha e too/ i* not *or a po)iti&a) *a or &a))ed in ' her mother/ the*ormer Con!resswoman.

espite the s9+adron p+sh'a&(/ their re)ationship seemed to press on stron!er than e er.Spe&tre dep)o ed with the s9+adron that had 'e&ome er m+&h a!ainst him whi)e Ch)oe sta ed

home and &ontin+ed her initia) +p!rade to 'e&ome a Com'at Mission Read Win!man.2*ter 'ein! sent home ear) *rom Ira9/ Ch)oe and Spe&tre e en too( it a step *+rther/ optin!to mo e in to!ether with their two do!s. Their re)ationship &ontin+ed to speed a)on! as the

'e&ame more and more &ommitted to ea&h other.2nd a)tho+!h Ch)oe &ontin+ed to *) and s)ow) ma(e pro!ress with her &areer whi)e

Spe&tre awaited the o+t&ome o* his now *amo+s stra*in! in&ident/ the two ne er )et it !et 'etween them.

Spe&tre s+pported her as she str+!!)ed thro+!h the +p!rade pro!ram. The s9+adron seemedto ha e it o+t *or her/ determined to ma(e it pain*+) *or her to +p!rade. She had re*)own se era)o* the +p!rade rides and her instr+&tors had threatened a *ew times to ha e her p+))ed *rom the

+p!rade pro!ram to !i e her more time in the ,et 'e*ore tr in! a!ain.Spe&tre he)ped her prepare and st+d *or e er *)i!ht/ !i in! her ad i&e on how to dea) with

the s9+adron that had t+rned its 'a&( on him/ whi)e Ch)oe )istened patient) and !a e him ad i&ewhi)e he re)i ed his own )i*e &han!in! moments o er and o er.

It had 'een a to+!h de&ision to )et it a)) !o/ '+t with his &areer 'ehind him and the Genera)s!i in! him a *irm <he)) no= on ret+rnin! to the ,et/ Spe&tre de&ided to mo e on to &i i)ian )i*e. 7ewo+)d not )ose Ch)oe and his &areer. 7e &o+)d mana!e mo in! with her e er three ears. 7e)i(ed the sta'i)it the re)ationship !a e him. So he *ina)) proposed.

Now he was sittin! on their &o+&h starin! at the rin! he had !i en her as she twisted itaro+nd on her *in!er. It had 'een his mother0s rin!. 7is *ather had !i en it to him a*ter she had

'een (i))ed in a &ar a&&ident. It had 'een his !randmother0s rin! 'e*ore that. It was the !reatest!est+re o* )o e he &o+)d thin( o* at the time.

<Ca)/ I )o e o+/ '+t the spar( is ,+st not there an more. Fo+ and I ha e !rown apart/ and Idon0t thin( o+ e en (now who o+ are sin&e o+ 9+it *) in!/= she said. She was no )on!er)oo(in! at him/ '+t starin! at the rin! as she twisted it on her *in!er.

<So what does this mean> Fo+0re done> It0s o er> Fo+0re the one We &an ma(e this wor( =7is e es were startin! to water.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

<I0m sorr 'a' / '+t I ,+st don0t thin( so/= she rep)ied with a tear ro))in! down her &hee(. oesn0t that mean an thin! to o+>= Spe&tre

p)eaded. It was a ni&(name Ch)oe had &a))ed him sin&e the da he proposed. It was a term &oined ' P)ato re*errin! to two ha) es earnin! to 'e ,oined as one. 7owe er/ as Spe&tre as(ed the9+estion/ he rea)iBed she hadn0t &a))ed him that in a whi)e. Maybe they really were growingapart after all .

Ch)oe *rowned. She p+))ed o** the rin! and )oo(ed at it. Time seemed to stand sti)) as sheo**ered it to Spe&tre.

<J+st )i(e that>= he as(ed. 7is *a&e *e)t *)+sh and his heart san( as he too( the rin! *rom her.<I0)) s)eep in the !+est room +nti) we *i!+re o+t what we0re !oin! to do with the ho+se/= she

o**ered as she wiped awa the tears. 7er tone had s+dden) t+rned er '+siness-)i(e. She !ot +pand wa)(ed past him/ pa+sin! to to+&h his sho+)der. 7e !ra''ed her hand.

<It0s *or the 'est/= she said. She withdrew her hand and wa)(ed into the 'edroom/ &)osin! thedoor 'ehind her as her Go)den Retrie er *o))owed in trai).

Spe&tre sat there/ head in hands/ tr in! to di!est what had ,+st happened. e+s/ his $## )'German Shepherd/ s)ow) approa&hed and n+d!ed his e)'ow with his nose. The do! sensed the pain/ and was tr in! to &+shion the ')ow the on) wa he (new how.

<What the *+&( ,+st happened/ e+s>= 8+t there were no e;p)anations *or Spe&tre/ not e en*rom the in&redi') per&epti e *ormer mi)itar wor(in! do!.

<Mom/ I did it. It0s o er/= she said ho)din! the &e)) phone to her ear as she &o))apsed on the 'ed. 7er oi&e was trem')in! as she tried to ho)d 'a&( the *)ood o* tears.

<Good *or o+ sweetheart. 7e wasn0t !ood eno+!h *or o+/= Ma+reen Rid)e responded.7er oi&e was *)at and +nemotiona).

Ch)oe sat +p and r+''ed her ')oodshot e es with her *ree hand. 7er mom had ne er )i(edCa)/ '+t Ch)oe had a)wa s tho+!ht she0d e ent+a)) &ome aro+nd/ espe&ia)) a*ter Ca) so)idi*iedtheir re)ationship with his proposa).

<Mom/ I (now o+ didn0t )i(e him/ '+t this is sti)) hard/= Ch)oe said. < 1verything is hardri!ht now.=

<Sweetie/ o+0re o+n!. Fo+ wi)) *ind the ri!ht !+ /= Ma+reen responded reass+rin!) .Ch)oe hesitated *or a min+te. Part o* her wanted to )et her mom (now a'o+t her se&ret/ '+t

she sti)) wasn0t 9+ite s+re what was !oin! to happen and she was a*raid what her mom mi!ht sa . It was all such a blur.<Than(s mom. I ,+st *ee) o erwhe)med/= Ch)oe *ina)) responded a*ter a )on! si)en&e.<Is the s9+adron sti)) !i in! o+ tro+')e>=<E er da is a new 'att)e/ ,+st )i(e o+ to)d me it wo+)d 'e/= Ch)oe rep)ied. 2s a

Con!resswoman/ her mom had seen *irsthand what it was )i(e to 'e a s+&&ess*+) woman in ama)e dominated pro*ession. It was a &onstant +phi)) 'att)e.



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

< o I need to ma(e more phone &a))s>= Ma+reen as(ed.<No/ mom/ it0s *ine. The 0re ,+st doin! it 'e&a+se I0m the *irst *ema)e *i!hter pi)ot. I won0t

)et them !et to me. I0)) show them.=<That0s m !ir)/= her mom responded. <Fo+0)) !et thro+!h this )i(e o+0 e !otten thro+!h

e er thin! e)se. I0m pro+d o* o+.=



SPECTRE: ORIGINS

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SPECTRE: ORIGINS

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Spectre Origins (Spectre Prequel Series)