Lt. Bach parks the rental car in a large lot that skirts a massive open air 
Aloha stadium, not far from Pearl Harbor. Short haircuts and camo differentiate the military from the civilians dressed in bright Maui shirts, shorts and scantily clad young women. On the way over, Bach explains the games are being held in different locations on the island, but the opening ceremonies will be held here. Although it allows for thousands of visitors, there’s a tactical advantage. Everyone has to enter through a door. Once in, those doors are sealed and monitored by Special Operators.
After standing in line, you finally gain entrance to the stadium. Tall 
bleachers encompass the field. A platform for dignitaries is situated midway. Thousands have already found seating.
“This way,” Bach says and grips your hand. He heads for the stage where a group of officers dressed in number ones, linger. A sea of white uniforms. The closer you get, you see the faces of the men in Alpha Squad are there as well. The Lieutenant pulls you into the tight circle of men.
An officer, tall and broad in frame, turns on his heel and polar-blue eyes connect with you then shift to the Lieutenant. A jagged scar runs down one side of his face. You stare, not because of the scar but because you’re standing a couple feet from a legend in the SEAL community.
“Lieutenant Bach. Good to see you.” The Admiral shakes his hand. “How’s Stingray?”
“Good evening, Admiral. He’s good. Talked to him a couple days ago. He’s enjoying Virginia Beach.” He pulls you a little closer. “Cricket, like you to meet Admiral Thane Austen.”
The Admiral steps aside and taps the shoulder of a petite woman with long dark luscious curls raining down her back. Her olive colored skin more apparent in the bright white dress she’s wearing. “Kayla, sweetheart.” She’s talking to Mace and Tinman and they’re laughing. He grips her shoulders and physically turns her. “Kayla, honey. Cricket’s arrived.”
A demure smile spreads across Kayla’s face, and she shakes your hand. “Nice to meet you. I hear we’ll be working together during the sea games.”
“And don’t forget me!” Nina says tapping you on the shoulder.
“Nina. Hey!”
Nina winks at you. “We’re gonna be the Three Amigos. I got conned into helping Kayla instead of lazing on the beach. But I only promised two days.”
“I’m relieved. I could never do this alone. Nina trained me.” You want to smack yourself. You couldn’t come up with something better than that?
“So I understand.” Kayla offers a reassuring smile. “You look terrified. Don’t worry. We’ll get through it together.”
The Admiral chuckles. “Says the savant of tactical manoeuver.”
Kayla elbows her husband.
Just as suddenly, the wind shifts and the frivolity is gone.
“Admiral,” Lt. Bach, steps closer. “I highly recommend someone else open these ceremonies. Cricket and I couldn’t make positive contact, but I think the recon is sound. Antar is residing at the resort we booked into. We sighted a man and woman, and I believe the man is Antar’s second in command. Mohammed Bazell.”
The Admiral’s sharp gaze grows harsh. “Appreciate your concern, Lieutenant, but there’s thousands of special operators from every branch and country in the world here tonight. Not to mention reg force, boat crews, air crews, D-Force Marines, the list goes on. If Antar is stupid enough to pull a weapon to take me out, he’ll be dead in seconds.”
“Not worried about him. Worried about one of his followers who doesn’t care if he dies today.”
Kayla’s arm wraps around her husband’s waist. She’s so much smaller than him, but when the Admiral looks into her eyes, you see the utmost respect in them, and love.
“I’ve been warned,” the Admiral states.
Kayla shakes her head with an expression of worry and barely concealed anger. “You die, and I’ll never forgive you,” she whispers up at him.
There’s an intimate pause as the Admiral looks into his wife’s eyes and you almost taste his desire to kiss her lips. The intensity so strong between them it makes your pulse rise and you look away.
The crowd cheers and heads tilt toward the sky as the Navy SEAL Leap
Frogs bright blue and yellow chutes glide toward the stadium.
“Admiral.” Another officer waves him over. People seem to know it’s time to get started.
Alpha Squad falls in beside you and Bach. He leads you to a set of bleachers to the right of the podium. The men are tense.
“Why does he insist on doing this?” you ask, settling on the warm metal bench seat beside Nina.
Mace leans forward to speak around her. “Because that man has never been afraid of anything. Dying least of all.”
“Doesn’t he have a family now?”
“Doesn’t stop a SEAL from doing what his country wants him to do. We play shell games and tempt the odds on every mission. Isn’t easy for our wives or family, but Ghost,” he says, usi
ng the Admiral’s team name, “he was the poster boy for looking the Reaper in the eye until the sonofabitch grabbed his sickle and backed off.”
A cheer rises from the stands surrounding the stadium. Night covers the Polynesian sky and the tiki torches burn brightly. Five military bands march through the massive open doors from a building attached to one end of the field. They’re part of the opening ceremonies, but also in competition with each other. You watch the flags and unit colors flying. Their precision impressive as the sound of snare and bass drums, percussion and flutes reach your ears.
The bands line up and face the Dias where Admiral Austen stands. The echo of the last note fades away and is replaced by applause. The highest ranking officers from around the world sit behind the admiral. Although they couldn’t officially call it the Military Olympics, that’s exactly what this week is.
When the applause from the audience subsides, Admiral Austen’s booming timbre greets the crowd.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the first annual Global Military Games. One week where the best of our nations will exemplify strength, endurance and prove their merit. Trained to the highest standards around the world, the men and women of the games have gathered here in Hawaii to compete. The making of a warrior is determined by their drive to succeed. To stay the course. Break boundaries.”
You look around the open air stadium. Instead of putting their skills to the test on the battlefield, the military forces who have come in droves will prove their prowess in peaceful competition. You wonder who the brain was behind this morale-boosting, global event.
Admiral Austen hooks thousands of onlookers with each word, but you’re sure the SEAL teams aware of the threat to the admiral’s life are relieved when he says, “Let the Military Games begin.”
The marching bands disappeared quietly while the Admiral spoke. Excitement wavered in between the few seconds of silence and the beat of a drum, then a drumline marches from the entry doors. You recognize the Top Secret Drum Core from Switzerland. The crowd erupts with cheers and stomping feet. The US Marine Corp Silent Drill Platoon follows, and many more.
The next time you look up two hours has passed, and Lt. Bach places his hand at your back. “We’ve been invited to the Admiral’s residence,” he says, guiding you through the throng of people.
It’s not possible to get lost, stuck between the men of Alpha Squad, all moving toward the parking lot. You breathe a sigh of relief that Antar didn’t make his play.
****
How ya doin’, Cricket? Looks to me like the games are about to begin. I wonder if it will be business before pleasure.
Next tasking link: RT Simulation
Go to this link. https://www.amazon.com/Natasza-Waters/e/B006HYRTGQ/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1493258276&sr=8-1
That’s me! Nat waves. Do me the honor of clicking on the “follow” link below my picture, so you’ll know when my next release comes out.
As you scroll down the page, you’ll see a book called Committed to _____ The missing word in the title is your next password.
