October 23rd, 1983
2200 Hours
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

"Go! Go! Get in formation, Marines!" barked out a Gunnery Sergeant as a crowd of hurriedly readied men rushed out onto the formation grounds from their barracks. They were all dressed in full combat gear, although they did not have their weapons. The marines quickly got into an orderly formation, and then stood at attention, still as statues, until the order was given for them to at ease.

Their formation showed discipline, skill, and coordination. These men were well trained, part of the elite Marine Recons, a dedicated group of soldiers who received advanced training, served long careers, and were ready to fight. The 150 men of Bravo company, 22nd Marine Recon Battalion, stood in several tight lines, facing the Gunnery sergeant and three officers, the highest was a Colonel, the battalion commander.

One soldier in this formation was Corporal Zachary Ellison, a 20 year old who had joined the Recons simply because he had wanted adventure in his life. But until now, the Corps had not provided him with much. Every time they went on alert, his heart dropped, hoping they were being sent somewhere, but each time it was a false hope, but this time, this time things felt different.

A native of Virginia Beach, Virginia, he had hoped the Marines would station him at some distant base in a foreign country, or that he would be sent to the jungles of some distant combat zone, but instead he had spent most of his 1 and 1/2 years in the Corps stationed here, at Camp Lejeune, hardly a stones throw from his home town.

But tonight, the well built, 6 ft Marine knew that they were being deployed, though he didn't know where. Zachary kept his face and head shaven down, well within Marine standards. He has light brown eyes and a determined face. He wore the same standard forest camouflage fatigues as everyone else, with his helmet hastily put on his head.

"At ease men!" the Colonel shouted. Everyone in the line shifted to a more comfortable stance, almost in unison. Everyone waited in a silent, tense anticipation, waiting to hear what the Colonel would say. With a strong, stern voice, the Colonel announced, "Five days ago, the leader of Grenada was assassinated in a coup by communists, who have now taken over the country. The Cubans and the Soviets are already sending support, we cannot allow another nation in the Americans to fall to the communists. A plan has been made to restore order, and you Marines have been selected for the job!"

There was a quick cheer from the crowd, Zachary joining in. Finally, he would get to see the adventure he had signed up for.

The Colonel continued, "We load up in 2 hours. All NCOs report to the HQ for briefing, everyone else, get your gear and be ready to move out! Oorah!" The formation quickly dispersed, everyone focused on getting ready for the coming operation.
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Ft. Lewis, Washington

"... and then hold the prison until new orders are given. We are working with a lot of different units on this, and we have overwhelming firepower. I don't want any screw ups on this one, clear?" A general said, standing in front of a briefing room without about 20 Officers and NCO's.

Sergeant James "Ace" Moore was one of the men sitting in the room. Wearing forest camouflage fatigues and no helmet, he ran the operation out in his mind. Land at Point Salines, secure it, search the surrounding area, await further orders. It seemed like a cut and clear operation. But the 21 year old Sergeant was nervous, it was to be his first combat action. The young ranger had joined for two reasons; to serve his country, as his father had in World War 2, but also because he wasn't sure what else to do with his life.

He didn't like school very much, though had had graduated with good grades, so college did not interest him, but neither did working construction for the rest of his life like his father had done. Sure there were other options out there, but joining the army felt right the right thing to do, and when he heard about the rangers, and that you had to be tougher, stronger, and more persistent than all the other soldiers, he wanted in.

James scratched his flat nose, before shouting out with all the other NCO's "Yes sir!" The 5'11 ranger stood up, and shuffled out of the room with the rest of the NCO's. He would have to debrief his squad next. As he left, he idly brushed his short dark brown hair with his pale hand. His dark blue eyes instinctively scanned around him was he habitually walked back to his barracks, running the details of the plan over and over.