Shadows of War :: Articles Short Stories Papers

Shadows of War Something had gone wrong. Terribly wrong. â€Å"How could this have happened?!† the leader demanded. â€Å"You told me it was safe! You said I wouldn’t become involved!† â€Å"You’re not involved--there’s nothing that connects you to the operation,† Mitchell said. â€Å"As far as everyone else is concerned, I’m in charge.† The leader was not pleased. The operation had been planned for months, every detail accounted for, every contingency considered--save one. A simple thing like a speeding ticket had screwed everything up. The team had been stopped by the Syracuse police. Something had possessed them to search that car and they had found everything--the guns, the armor, the grenades. Because of the vice president’s visit, federal officials had quickly been notified. The President’s Guard had been famous for its interrogation techniques ever since their creation by President McClellan. It didn’t take long for a member of the team to crack and reveal the entire plot. It didn’t take long for the security to tighten. Now, getting close to the vice president would be impossible. And if it was ever connected to the leader, his career would be over. While many in his country agreed with him, the government would care little for that. There was a larger good at stake, though. He had a duty to his people, even if his government disagreed. Mitchell was the only connection between him and the operation. It wouldn’t be long until Mitchell became a wanted man and he might--just might--get linked to him. â€Å"We have to remain calm,† Mitchell said. â€Å"We don’t know that my name will come up. They have to get to Luken first and he’s already at a safehouse.† The man was a fool. The President’s Guard was a group of the most determined and talented men in the nation. It wouldn’t take them long to figure everything out. The only way to stop the chain was to break it. â€Å"Fine, fine,† the leader said. â€Å"Get out of here. Get yourself to the safehouse. Stay there and wait for my instructions.† The leader walked to the window and watched as Mitchell got in his car and drove away. He watched as Mitchell’s car became nothing more than a small dot of light.