If you asked me twenty years ago if I would be spending the week of my mother's 75th birthday in the Lingshan Islands located in the Philippine Sea, I would have not been surprised. After all, they call me Nomad for a reason. I've been all over the world the last twenty years, moving up the Army power train in order to find myself being a member of Delta Force. I still remember watching some corny movie with Chuck Norris called Delta Force when I was a kid - maybe that's why I ended up here. Man, how things have changed since the 1980's cinema!
At any rate, the North Korean Army decided to capture a group of American scientists about a week ago on the islands - just after they made some kind of amazing discovery. Since we've not heard a word from anyone since the distress call, they are sending the Delta Team I am a member of in to investigate. Of course, this is a covert mission ... so no possibility for others to join the cause - at least, not yet.
One of my team members, code named Psycho (for a reason), feels like we should go in blasting a path before us until we find the scientists. Me, I am much more the low key kind of person who would prefer to let technology and stealth skills help us reach our objective of locating the American scientists.
So, we suited up and departed toward the main island under the cover of darkness. Our entry point will be from the sky, several thousand feet above sea level, to quietly descend onto the island.
Man, it is dark out here tonight. When it gets this dark, I like to toggle my Nightvision on and off - just to make sure everything is working. I know that's the Old School way of handling your equipment, but when I started doing these kind of night jumps years ago, we didn't have the sensor technology to let one know when the equipment isn't working.
Just as I flipped on the Nightvision, I saw what appeared to be an object flying toward me at a high rate of speed.
Before I knew what happened, the thing hit me and caused my parachute to malfunction. Yeah, this is great, I am zooming toward the earth at what feels like the speed of sound and my main chute isn't working. I know ... relax ... wait for your backup parachute.
Okay ... panic now, because that thing isn't working either!!!
My suit has malfunctioned in the hit too. What the heck was that thing, any way?
Okay ... focus on the problems at hand, we can figure out what hit me later.
Good news ... well, sort of. There is a huge ocean below me. I've never been much of a high-diver, but I guess this cold, thick pond of water is going to be my only hope to survive.
If I survive, I will continue. If not, well, I guess I will not continue. Wish me luck.
Nomad ... signing out.
