Swallowed by Time

The approaching storm was beginning to produce thunder and lightning in the distance, creating enough distraction that the teams were able to move quickly across the summit undetected. The thunder and lightning also helped mask their noise as they rushed to make up the time lost climbing the canyon wall. They moved into predetermined positions as they approached their objective and waited for the order to execute the plan. They waited several minutes and watched as the guard changed. Then once it was done, they reported in and notified Defiance that they were in position. Masters checked the time, and to his amazement, the team was now a few minutes ahead of schedule. On Defiance, Masters notified Lee, “Captain, the teams reported that there was a changing of the guard and that they are in position and waiting for your go order.” Lee paused for a moment to consider what they were about to do. This was a turning point they had not considered when making their plan. They were about to engage people who were brothers and sisters in arms, and some even friends. Though the arms they planned to use were non-lethal, they were still crossing a threshold they had not anticipated. They were about to take up arms against their own people. He prayed silently to himself, Lord, if there is another way, if there is anything else we should be doing, help me see it. He waited momentarily, hoping for a message from above, a voice or revelation, or maybe an angel stepping through a dimensional shift to show him another way. A safer way – but there was nothing. Masters, realizing Lee’s hesitation, asked again, “Captain?” After a very noticeable pregnant pause, realizing the answer to his prayer was not forthcoming, Lee replied with a heavy sigh, “Tell them they are weapons free to engage the sentries.” Masters then relayed Lee’s orders to the teams, and the two sniper teams, each led by experienced men, gradually moved closer to their targets to engage their objectives. Once it was clear they were within range of the first set of guards, they saw they were about 450 feet apart, and both were moving in an elliptical pattern. The snipers, equipped with long guns loaded with non-lethal tranquilizer darts, decided to take both guards simultaneously while they were walking away from each other. This way, they wouldn’t see the other fall if they were not immediately incapacitated. SGT Chandler and SGT Manaus had secured a close position to the guard patrolling the west ridge, while SGT Knotts and SGT Foster secured a close position to the guard patrolling the east ridge. Chandler used his spotter scope to watch Knotts and Foster as they inched slowly into position. Then, as they settled in and got comfortable, he saw Foster look over at them using his scope. Chandler then used hand signals to coordinate their attack. Knotts and Manaus both fired their tranquilizer guns simultaneously, and less than a second later, both guards fell to the ground. Chandler and Foster motioned for two men to advance from the rear and take their place. SPC Dawson and SPC Keubler, who were first in line and had been just out of sight, quickly ran forward, took their gear, and replaced the guards. Within seconds, the two SPCs began to walk the same route, and everyone else waited ninety seconds to see if anything would happen. Thick clouds had now moved in, further diminishing the ambient light. In the distance, thunder roared as lightning streaked through the tops of the clouds. A few minutes earlier, it had seemed miles away, but now it was much closer and threatening to unleash its power upon them as it began to push ever nearer to their position. Once it was clear that their movements had gone undetected, both sniper teams moved to the fallen guards and helped to secure them. Then, attempting to time their movements between the flashes of lightning, the four snipers moved forward to the next pair of guards. Once more, they advanced slowly, silently, and cautiously until they were about thirty yards from their targets. Again, they observed each other using their spotter scopes and, using hand signals, coordinated their attack. They watched as the two guards walked a predetermined route. By doing so, they determined that they were not walking mirrored routes, unlike the previous guards. When one of these guards was closest to the canyon rim, the other guard was at his midpoint. The snipers decided their best option was to take the guards while they were the farthest apart and closest to them. Communicating by hand signals, they coordinated their attacks. SGT Manaus was the first to fire his weapon. His guard dropped to the ground with very little noise, but with the guards only a few hundred feet apart, it was enough to alert the other guard. Realizing that his guard had been alerted to something amiss, SGT Knotts immediately took his shot and sedated the second guard before he could report the suspicious incident. Within seconds, two more soldiers advanced to take each guard’s place and began walking their routes. Once again, the two sniper teams moved to help secure the fallen guards. Now, there were only two guards left. ...