Excerpts

Mark observed two gentlemen watching his area. One kept an eye on Mark while the other talked to his supervisor. When they left, Mark approached his supervisor about possible corporate espionage.

If they didnt ask computer questions, what did they want? Mark asked.

They asked me some personal questions about you. Are you in some kind of trouble?

None that Im aware of. Did they tell you who they were?

One showed me a badge and said they wanted to know how you were working out here. I told them you were one of our top technicians. Are you in the witness protection program?

Cliff, youve known me for twenty-five years. I would have had to have been three to enter the program without you knowing. I dont get it. They didnt say anything else?

No. They just wanted to know how you were doing.

Well if they come back, Id like to talk to them.

Ill keep an eye out.



The elevator doors opened on the sixth floor. They went to Debbies office. Grab a drink out of the refrigerator.

Mark opened the fridge and saw only soda pop. What? No alcohol? Mark asked.

I want you sober. Come look at this. Debbie opened a sliding door revealing a table with sand and a model sitting on it. This commander is a model of where you are going.

Mark looked at the model and whistled. Doesnt look too shabby. Is this what is in the desert?

Im afraid so. The Saudis call it, El Aquarem Oasis. Very few know of this base. One division of elite soldiers has been sent there already. Mark, I cannot stress enough the importance of keeping this place secret. We have done every thing possible to keep this place from the terrorists ears. If they knew of it, they would attack it without hesitation. They would think the base was for western foreigners and theres no telling what they would do to you and your people. That is another reason that this is a covert operation. The Saudi government sent Colonel Ali Abdul to this place, as their trusted commander. They soon learned he wasnt to be trusted. General Ohmad of the Saudi high command asked us to send a UN unit to the base. This is where you people come in. But in order to carry out your mission we will need your complete cooperation. Colonel Abdul is to know nothing of what you are up to other than that you will be bringing rescued people back with you to the base. He is not to know how you get them until the Saudi command wants him to know. When you leave the base you will wear your UN uniforms. When you return you will be in UN uniforms. But when you attack the slave caravans you will be disguised as Saudi soldiers. We hope this will keep Abdul and the traffickers off guard. In reality, you will be doing his job. Let General Ohmad take care of him.



The armored squadrons headed northwest and to the third base. At dusk they arrived at the road leading north into the Iraqi desert. Abdul said that the base sat about fifteen miles from the camp. The scouts reported that the base was heavily guarded. They estimated that they would need at least five divisions of troops to even match the Iraqi force.

Too heavy, huh? the general mused.

We would be cut to ribbons, Sir, said one of the scouts.

Suddenly out of the desert came an Iraqi armored patrol, firing on the units.

Load up, let us get the Hell out of here, the general shouted.

The Iraqis were on top of them before they were loaded, forcing them to stand and fight. The Bradley's all turned northward and engaged the enemy.

The M113's turned to fight as Mark ran toward his Hummer. Anderson revved the engine waiting for Mark while Akada fired the fifty cal. machine gun at an oncoming Iraqi APC.

Mark managed to reach the side of the Hummer when the Iraqi M113 unloaded its arsenal. Mark felt a blazing shell enter his back and he collapsed Anderson, seeing Mark fall, positioned the hummer in front of Marks body. Akada managed to set the Iraqi M113 on fire when a tank came at them firing its cannon just missing the Hummer. Akada threw two incendiary grenades onto the ledge of the tank igniting the gas. The tank blew up along with several other Iraqi vehicles.

One of the M113's from John's squadron blazed, but its crew managed to crawl to a dip in the sand to wait.

Another Iraqi tank blew apart and caught fire. One of the Saudi Bradley's took a hit and although damaged continued to fight. The Iraqis for the moment began to retreat. The Saudi and UN units gave chase, but only a half mile, then turned back to assess their damages.



Mark sat away from the camp looking into the sky enjoying the stars, when John came out and joined him. A lot of stars up there. The sky's so clear we can see forever.

Yeah, I wonder how many of them have people on them as stupid as the ones we have here?

Oh I suppose a few out there have their share.

Ken came over and sat by them. The sky is beautiful tonight.

Its too bad that man is busy destroying himself, Ken remarked looking skyward.

God gave us the tools to do it with. In seminary, I read these things were predicted to happen, but seeing it first hand scares the Hell out of me, Ken. With the United States at war with itself and with all the internal wars going on everywhere else, the prophecies shoved down my throat as a kid, seem to be coming true. I feel it. Mark said.

Maybe this is one of those prophecies you studied. Our Father has the tendency to get His way here on earth and in heaven. Let me tell you gentlemen, I have studied several books on prophecies about the wars, the earthquakes, and the plagues that are now happening. Now I see it happening and its a little frightening. Like most people, I thought it was going to be far in the future, but here we are in that future, Ken said.