Red Zone Son

Chapter 11

It was mid-February when Solomon got the training order, so he had a flash of déjà vu when he got off the bus in front of the base and stepped right into a blast of ice-cold wind. He didn’t think the training would be like boot camp, though. He hoped not, at any rate.

When he got assigned to a double occupancy room instead of a barracks he began to feel his hopes might be justified. He started unpacking. He was almost done, and about to turn on the pre-loaded tablet the duty sergeant had given him when he’d arrived, when the door behind him opened to reveal Rithvik.

“Hey!” he said, grinning. Solomon found himself grinning too. It was kind of surprising he hadn’t run into him again since basic training, actually. The Westsylvania zone wasn’t that big compared to some of the other zones. He’d known a lot of the guys he’d done sentry duty with already since they’d been part of his cycle at boot camp.

“How’s it going?” Solomon asked, sitting down on his bed.

Rithvik updated him as he unpacked. From the sound of it, he had done pretty well for himself in the militia. He’d gotten sent into advanced training and now had a position analyzing surveillance data. “I spend most of my time in front of a display. Although they did send me out to direct traffic in East Liberty for a while.” He gave Solomon a glance. “I guess you didn’t know to tell anyone you were good with computers. They want guys who are. You could’ve gotten out of sentry duty.”

“Do they pay more?” Solomon asked.

“Not really. They eventually give bonuses for specialized work, but not at my current level.”

“Who would I even tell?”

“Wilson.”

Solomon blinked. “You mean… our drill instructor?”

“My parents told me to talk to him after basic. I didn’t want to, at first, because, well, you know, but they told me that now that I was in the militia I had to treat it like any other job. Ask for advice, ask for help. My father kept telling me, you’re on the same team as your instructors now, so finally I asked Wilson and thankfully he thought the same way as my father, he was happy to help me out.” Solomon supposed Rithvik could sense his hesitation, because he continued, “He’s really not the asshole he was in boot camp, I think it’s just some kind of act the drills put on to train us. And isn’t he the one running this mission into the blue zone? That’s what I read in the briefing report.” Rithvik gestured at the tablet he put down on the desk when he came in. “He’s the one you should tell.”

“He already knows,” Solomon replied evenly. He was torn between trying not to feel jealous that Rithvik had parents to advise him, and knowing that even if Umma and Dad had told him to talk to Wilson, he wouldn’t have wanted to listen to them. Not that it mattered. He didn’t think Wilson respected him enough to want to help him. He was pretty sure he’d blown his chance by packing his Bible during that last exercise in boot camp. “Anyway, I have to read this thing.”

“Me too, I’m going to finish it now. We have that introductory session scheduled soon.”

Solomon fired up his tablet. It made sense that he would run into Wilson again. As he’d noticed before, the Westsylvania zone wasn’t that big. He couldn’t claim to feel very excited about it though.

***

The base had been built up a lot since Solomon was last there. It was still mostly Quonset huts on every flat corner of land, including beside retaining walls at the bottom of hills, but the construction that had just started when he was at basic was now either done or close to it. There was a new sleek, glass-paneled command center that Rithvik and he headed toward. They went through the double doors, past the lobby, and up the stairs to the lecture hall.

By the time they got there, the lecture hall was about half-filled with around fifty people. They were called to attention, and then someone he didn’t know, a captain, came to the front and told everyone to take a seat. “Gentlemen,” he began. “I am Captain Daniel Reynolds, your commanding officer for this mission. Today, we embark on a mission that requires dedication and resolve. We will be infiltrating enemy lines, assuming covert identities, and operating in the shadows. I have served in this esteemed militia for over a decade. I have witnessed firsthand the extraordinary acts of bravery and selflessness displayed by soldiers like you. This mission will test these characteristics and everything else you’re made of, but I have the utmost confidence in each and every one of you.”

Solomon wanted to roll his eyes. Yes, yes, we all have to pretend like we chose to be here, ok, got it. He glanced at the other soldiers around him, his attention drifting as Captain Reynolds continued. But when the topic shifted to the practicalities of their training, Solomon leaned forward slightly. None of them might actually get selected to go into the blue zone? Selection would depend on how well they trained and the needs of the mission?

He listened as they were also warned not to tell anyone about their training, or even that they were training. “Under no circumstances are you to discuss anything you learn with each other.”

Now that, Solomon found interesting. They had learned in boot camp about the retroviral hypnotics that the blue zone used to interrogate suspects. He remembered Wilson saying, “The drugs will work, you will tell everything you know, and we know this because we use the same drugs.” Probably they were going to split up into different groups for training. Rithvik might be taught some aspect of infiltration while he was taught another, and that the reason they didn’t want them talking was because if both of them did get selected to go into the blue zone, they didn’t want him getting caught and then talking about what Rithvik was up to.

It was as if they were going to execute a heist, but with a twist: each soldier would be unaware of the tasks assigned to others. Only the squad leader would have the complete picture. And that leader was –

Wilson.

Solomon saw him now, coming up to the podium. His whole body tensed up at the sight of him. It was worse when he started talking. He had thought he’d never have to hear Wilson’s voice again, never have to obey any more of his commands, and instead, he was right back to being directly underneath him. If Wilson was the one who was going to physically lead the team into the blue zone, he did not want to go.

But he knew that wasn’t up to him. So if they chose him, he would go, and he would do it without complaining or arguing, as it said in Philippians 2:14. Praying that he wouldn’t get selected was probably okay, though. Even Jesus prayed to avoid the crucifixion.

Thankfully, Wilson didn’t talk for long. His focus was mainly on emphasizing the absolute necessity of not discussing their training with each other, that they couldn’t know anything beyond what they needed to know. Then they were released to go eat, free until it was time to return to their dorms for the night. Rithvik invited Solomon to go to the base club, but even with every cent of his salary going to Adah, he could barely keep her afloat, so he told Rithvik he couldn’t afford it and headed back to the dorm alone. Twenty minutes later Rithvik opened the door. “They didn’t have anything but this,” he said, pulling out from under his jacket a bottle of Pennsylvania rye whiskey.

Solomon tried not to flush. They weren’t supposed to take alcohol outside of the designated areas within the base club, and he knew Rithvik had both bought it for him and broken the rules for his sake. Rithvik told him it wasn’t a big deal. “You’re the only reason I made it through boot camp,” he said. “I would have definitely died without you, so shut up and drink.”

He accepted the bottle and took a swig. Rithvik asked him how Adah was doing, and he told him she was managing. Rithvik shared that his younger brother was turning eighteen next year and that his parents were worried. Solomon kind of wanted to ask Rithvik why his parents chose a red zone, but after Captain Reynolds’s speech, he wasn’t sure he should. He didn’t actually want to get caught and then spill all these details about Rithvik’s family’s life to some blue zone antifa when he could just not know them in the first place. Maybe Rithvik felt the same way because he didn’t ask him anything more either.

Instead, they talked a little bit about the rumors surrounding a debate some higher-ups in the Cultural Nationalists were supposedly having around whether to add women to their lottery draft. Apparently, some of them thought that having women around to fill non-combat roles would position them better against the neighboring blue zones. Rithvik asked Solomon what he thought. He told Rithvik that while he didn’t normally think about what other people he had no authority over should do, he personally didn’t want to see Adah drafted. He also told him that he didn’t think it mattered, that the Cultural Nationalists could debate all they wanted, but it was the council that would decide whether to accept women into the militia even in non-combat roles, and that there were no signs they were going to.

“You’re probably right,” Rithvik replied. “The reality of male and female biology is a red zone hill to die on, the militia council isn’t going to abandon it any time soon. Anyway, I’m going to get ready for bed.” He gestured at the bottle in his hand, which they had been passing back and forth. “Do me a favor and hide that at the bottom of the trash can. I'll take it out later.”

Solomon knew he should sleep too. He was getting tired. But he wanted to review his schedule first, so he pulled out the tablet they’d given him. He touched the screen and started swiping through. He stopped when he got to the letter.

Solomon Williams:

This briefing serves to inform you about your upcoming participation in the Advanced Training - Parachute Jump Qualification Program. The purpose of this training is to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to safely conduct parachute jumps as part of your duties.

Training Objectives:

Develop a thorough understanding of parachute systems, equipment, and procedures.

Master parachute landing falls (PLFs) and body positioning techniques to ensure safe landings.

Gain proficiency in parachute rigging and maintenance.

Enhance situational awareness and decision-making abilities during parachute operations.

Foster teamwork and effective communication among fellow trainees.

Training Outline:

Day 1:

Introduction and overview of the training program.

Classroom instruction on parachute systems and components.

Safety protocols and emergency procedures briefing.

Day 2-3:

Practical sessions on PLFs and body positioning techniques.

Physical conditioning exercises to improve strength and flexibility.

Introduction to parachute packing and rigging principles.

Day 4-5:

Ground training exercises simulating parachute jumps.

Mock parachute jump preparations, including equipment checks and inspections.

Review of landing procedures and emergency drills.

Day 6-7:

Actual parachute jumps from gradually increasing altitudes.

Focus on proper exit techniques, freefall control, and canopy control.

Post-jump debriefings and performance evaluations.

Please note that the schedule is subject to change based on weather conditions and training requirements. Your commitment, discipline, and adherence to safety protocols are of utmost importance throughout the training.

Ensure that you arrive well-rested, physically fit, and prepared with the required equipment as specified in the pre-training checklist provided separately.

We look forward to your active participation and dedication during this advanced training program. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your assigned training officer.

Best regards,

Samuel Wilson

Lieutenant

Hm. Parachute training. With Wilson. Lieutenant Wilson. He’d gone through some sort of officer candidate school and gotten commissioned, it looked like.

Maybe Solomon needed another drink…