THE DAY IS NOW

War time current events.

It was a date with destiny, and we were ready. Firm in our resolve, we arrived at the predetermined rendezvous location. “This is it!” I whispered to Ty. “We live by the sword and now we die by the sword.” Only he knew what I meant. Today was the day planned long ago that our lives, as we knew, were to end. We were now Abdul-Baqi and Muhyi al Din, formerly known in another life as Tyler O’Brien and Pete Alexander. We are covert soldiers, special operatives, an elite part of the military.

It seemed a lifetime ago we were both fresh-faced recruits looking for adventure in the Halls of Montezuma as a Marine. Coming from both sides of the country we gravitated towards one another from the start. The common denominator was the same: honor, pride, integrity, and love of country. The two of us seemed to be cut from the same cloth. Time and again, if it wasn’t Ty going above and beyond his duty, it was I, who found myself noticed from the higher ups. As we became the Corps, the Corps became us. We were intertwined through every deployment here and there.

And now it has all come together in one final chapter. It was to happen right here in a hot spot in America. Who knew that long ago they were handpicked and literally being set up. They were training for this day from the moment they set foot on Parris Island. Intense months, turned into years of studying everything about the Marine Corps ethos. Living, breathing and advancing in training as snipers always towards one goal that would define their service to country. The necessary culture adjustment turned into believable Islamists in the Arab culture; from becoming fluent in Farsi, to learning every regional nuance and mannerism of customs in the life of an Arab. The bible was dead to us as the Quran became our life code. Every moment of preparation was planned in excruciating detail. We could not falter in our deception by disguise.

We were tested time and again by our own, in random kidnapping schemes, beaten and tortured and left to defend ourselves in arid conditions. We became stronger in our commitment and knew and understood the outcome. As Abdul-Baqi and Muhyi al Din, we were believable and convincing in the final meeting with Farouk and his chosen comrade. As double agents they knew we were trustworthy. Our loyalty to Allah was not questioned as we quoted from the Quran and were flawless during prayers. We were found by Farouk and his Salafiyya men in California’s Mohave Desert bound and gagged during one scheme. Unforeseen moments were staged by unknown operatives skilled in terror tactics. We passed the test.

The PC-12 NG aircraft was fitted with everything necessary for the jihad. We had trained them in this aircraft. Like Tyler O’Brien and Pete Alexander, we were given a window of air space to reach our destination. Ten minutes; no more, no less. After that fighter jets would be deployed, answers would be hard to find, and our work shattered.

Between Mohave’s Sidewinder and Hildago Mountains lay the secret strategic satellite installation station. It is a top-secret underground hotspot with secure communication links with the outside world in the event of a nuclear disaster. It was vitally important to the United States and worth much more as a smoldering destroyed hole in the ground to Farouk and the Salafiyya.

Abdul-Baqi and Muhyi al Din watched as the PC-12 took off for its fateful mission calculated to the moment of impact. In less than five minutes a thunderous explosion sent pulsating shock waves throwing debris over the mountaintops. A fireball of charred metal was evident in the distance as the aircraft plummeted to earth.

The country mourned the tragic deaths of the four including two pilots, Tyler O’Brien and Pete Alexander. The ‘black box’ evidence remained heavily and secretly scrutinized by ones on the ground not to be shared with the public.

“Four men died that fateful day in November. Four exceptional marines gave their lives that day in the desert. We salute and honor their commitment to the oath they took ‘to serve their country.’ The United States of America is stronger due to the commitment of the men and women of the military.” In the distance the horse drawn carriage slowly approached with the two coffins, American flags placed on top. The internment of the soldiers was a somber moment in Arlington National Cemetery. It seemed a surreal moment in time as the two disguised marines in the distance observed the proper traditional protocol as it was carried out. Shots rang out, a trumpet sounded taps, hats were off and then the air became silent.

“How did we get here?” Pete silently whispered to his buddy. Ty just shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. For a moment, Pete was in a state of confusion looking towards their final resting spot among the thousands who lay buried in the ground. He shook his head trying not to feel as though they were mocking the honor of a lifetime at this cemetery where others paid the price. In the distance was his family and he could see the stress and sadness. He knew that they were in a safe house. It would be a window of time going by when a letter would be delivered under cover to them to let them know their son and his buddy were safe. No more. No less.

Tyler O’Brien and Pete Alexander knew their own funeral was a ruse. It was enacted to conceal their own disappearance into another world where the stakes were higher than ever before. They were now, for the duration of this covert operation, Abdul-Baqi and Muhyi al Din. There was no turning back. They may have ceased to exist in one life, but they were very much alive in another. Their mission: To follow the snake back to its lair while holding the lighted torch of justice.

Abdul-Baqi and Muhyi al Din were the crucial actors on stage.