Frontier Assignment

The mirror showed a reflection that wasn't my own.

Only two days passed since the last reflection and Raven barely had time to recover. The attacks happened more frequently, and the agency was stretched thin. Who or what disturbed the continuum?

A shiver tingled her spine. Her hands shook. Her lungs ached with each inhale, the cold piercing her chest. Whisps of cold air circled her head as she exhaled. Frontier needed to find a way to stop Sinder.

Two days ago, Frontier thwarted their attempt to change the outcome of the revolutionary war, last week, Pearl Harbor, two weeks ago, the moon landing, and before that, the end of the cold war and the fall of the Berlin wall.

Her stomach churned and her mind raced at the thought. Two days. The frequency of the attacks increased. Raven shivered again as she stared into the mirror for her assignment. Oh. My. God. Sinder couldn’t possibly—they wouldn’t— But they did. The reflection never lied. Frontier needed to stop them—permanently.

Raven grabbed her equipment and took the secure transport to Frontier. She arrived and saw several agents flooding the LZ (landing zone). The magnitude of this event made her shake. Changing any one piece of this event posed one of the greatest threats in her tenure. What could possibly be gained by changing this event other than further death and destruction.

After pouring a coffee she took a seat next to her partner, Kyle.

“This is the third time this month,” Kyle said.

“I know. But this one is different. Just look how many agents are in this room.”

“I couldn’t believe they called us so soon. I thought we would have some time to relax. Sinder is out of control.”

“Agreed, Kyle. Their attacks are coming more frequently, and I fear this is only the beginning. But this event. It’s the worst of all the events they have chosen to date.” Raven shook her head. “I have a bad feeling about this one.”

“Take your seats and let’s get started,” Colonel Edwards said.

The hushed whispers stopped, and everyone turned their attention to the screen at the front of the room. Colonel Edwards briefing went on for the next three hours.

“Take a break, get something to eat, and be back in an hour,” Colonel Edwards said.

Everyone stood and made their way to the door, but Raven just sat there rubbing her temples.

“Hey, you coming?” Kyle asked.

“Yes, I need to eat something, and definitely need a coffee.” Anything to get rid of this pounding headache.

*****

The briefing continued after lunch and went on for the next two hours along with Raven’s headache.

“Today’s briefing will be uploaded to your comms. Questions?”

No one spoke up.

“Check your comms for your assignments. If you have any questions or need clarification, ask your team leader. And remember, Frontier must keep the continuum from collapsing, and the past from changing the future.”

*****

Colonel Edwards made it clear that only senior agents would be on the front lines for this assignment. All trainees would be assigned to a team as backend support.

Raven didn’t know how she felt about that. They needed to be on the front lines to learn, but they could be a distraction and harm the mission. She heard the rumors, this assignment posed the most devastating threat in agency history. If Sinder prevailed, the world would be plunged into darkness, terror, and devastation never before experienced.

Gamma Team met in briefing room seven. Major Lane did quick introductions and detailed everyone’s assignment. As they learned from Colonel Edwards, they would be backend support.

“You know, we’ll never get our own assignments if we’re always backend support. And he—”

“Do you have something you wish to share with the team, Captain Williams?” Major Lane asked.

Kyle squirmed and cleared his throat. “Well, Sir, I—I think it might be safer for you and Major Mitchem if Gamma Team combined with two or three other teams. The intel on Sinder suggests they attack in large groups and look for weakness. Any weakness. Two agents don’t pose much of a threat, but a group shows strength and is always more difficult to overtake.”

“Nothing we don’t already know.”

“Permission to continue, Sir.”

Major Lane nodded.

“Thank you, Major. Once Sinder learns your weaknesses, they use them against you and attack. I’ve been researching Sinder for the years. Greed, power, and vengeance are their main driving forces. They use hypnotism to groom their members. Their leader has no fear. He rewards allegiance and he punishes failure. His only weakness is his hubris. Find the object or the outcome that gives them power and money and that’s where you’ll find them most vulnerable.”

“And you Captain? Your thoughts.”

“Major, Kyle, er Captain Williams, has a point. According to Colonel Edwards briefing, Sinder will have large teams on the ground to force this change,” Raven replied.

“So, it’s your position, Captain Peterson, that we need a larger ground presence?”

Raven looked down and wrung her hands. “Yes, Major Lane, it is. Captain Williams is our best authority on Sinder. His conclusions are founded in the facts.”

“Wait here for further instructions,” Major Lane said. Then he and Major Mitchem left the room.

Raven stood and paced the room. Her stomach twisted and her head pounded. Where did they go? Did they believe what she and Kyle told them? Would they be reassigned? Would they be terminated? So many questions and no answers.

Major Lane and Major Mitchem returned along with Colonel Edwards. “Captain Williams, are you sure about this intel? Not one other agent has any of this information.”

“Yes, Colonel Edwards. I am.”

“Very well. Stand down and await new orders.”

Raven’s comm went off. The new orders came in. She hesitated for a brief moment before she looked. She shook her head and looked again. New assignment.

FRONT LINE OFFENSIVE

SINDER MUST NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.