John O’Brien - Strigoi

Published by John OBrien at Smashwords

Copyright 2017 John OBrien

All rights reserved. No part of this book maybe reproduced in any form, except for the inclusion of briefquotations in review, without permission in writing from theauthor. You may contact the author at

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personalenjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away toother people. If you would like to share this book with anotherperson, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Ifyoure reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was notpurchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.comand purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard workof this author.

Cover art by: Dean Samed

Conzpiracy Digital Arts

http://www.conzpiracy.co.uk

This book is dedicated to Cyrus DavidTaylor.

Be strong, courageous, and persevere. Walk apath upon which fear and despair may not tread. Believe and lethope be your guiding light.

A New World: Chaos

A New World: Return

A New World: Sanctuary

A New World: Taken

A New World: Awakening

A New World: Dissension

A New World: Takedown

A New World: Conspiracy

A New World: Reckoning

A New World: Storm

A New World: Untold Stories

A New World: Untold Stories II

Ares Virus: Arctic Storm

Ares Virus: White Horse

Ares Virus: Phoenix Rising

Well, Jack and Red Team are back. Whilewriting the third book of A Shrouded World, he began clamoring inmy head for other stories to be told. As much as I enjoyed SergeantBrown and the others in the ARES Virus trilogy, along with Sam andErin in The Third Wave: Eidolon, Jack resides deep within me. Hesa part of me, my brother, my uncle, my twin. Hes Jack and Im ableto connect with him. I know and understand him. I cannot even beginto explain how much I enjoy writing Jack. He is ingrained in mypsyche. We understand each other. I know his thoughts. There is nocharacter to develop, hes just there.

Now, with that being said, its not an easytask to start the team off in a different world. They are meetingfor the first time and dont as yet share the warmth of close bondsthat they had in A New World. Their relationships cannot becontrived, but slowly developed and nurtured over time. So, as youwont see what they had developed as you turn these pages. Alongthe same lines, Lynn and Jack are also meeting for the first time.These relationships will develop as they progress through and walkalong the razors edge of the world. As such, Robert, Nicole, andBrianna arent thrust into the sudden turmoil, hardships, anddangers of civilization ending.

My goal is to not make this tale a repeat ofA New World. That is a different story. So, I ask that you placethe mindset of Red Team in A New World aside and turn these pageswith a fresh and open mind. Between these pages, Red Team will cometogether and face new challenges. Theyll begin the formation ofclose bonds that shared dangers can bring about.

The story is set in the day when technologywas just coming to the forefront. I wanted to make this a tale moreabout the individuals rather than technological marvels. Therearent quiet miniaturized drones prowling the skies to survey theland ahead or combat-linked systems. This is boots on the groundwith a trusty carbine and using wits to combat foes. I mean, theremay or may not be gunships involved. Thats just a requirement. Imistyped gunships while writing this and it turned into funships,which pretty much sums that up.

All in all, Im excited about having a newseries with Jack and Red Team. It just feels right telling theirstories. If you finish the book and enjoyed it, please drop overand leave a review. So, enough babbling here, lets get on withit.

John

Gathering my fins under me, I slowly rise until clearing thesurface with my M-4 shouldered and aimed at the narrow stretch ofprivate beach. Overhead, clouds cover the tops of the peaks andblot out the stars. Behind, the USS Dallas lies beneath therolling swells. Beside me, five others silently rise and search thesmall cove of sand. Theres only the roar of waves crashing intothe surrounding rocky shores and the hiss of the surf as it rollsupon the beach.

Perched upon a steep ridge climbing from arocky cliff, the top of a dormant lighthouse peeks above brush andtrees where its white and red tower once sent a warning to sailorsplying the open waters. Beyond the beach, the terrain abruptlyclimbs, ascending through thick brush and trees toward a series ofhigh, rocky ridgelines. Our target is a walled compound situated ona plateau at the end of one of the ridges above the lighthouse.

Since the destruction of the major Columbiancartels, the Mexican drug cartels have gained prominence, carvingout territories throughout the North American country. The warsthey fight among themselves rival anything ever witnessed beforeacross the globe, with thousands having fallen victim to theirruthlessness.

Through corruption, theyve had a free handin most places even though the DEA has tried bolstering themilitary and police forces to combat the drug trade. However, thecartels have fought back against their leaders being jailed andextradited, even downing military helicopters and kidnappingofficials in retaliation.

One cartel has taken their resistance a stepfurther and taken Americans from a resort. One of those being heldhostage happens to be the daughter of one of our esteemed senators,thus my involvement and this stealthy approach to a shoreline inthe middle of nowhere.

Intel hasnt been able to place the hostageswith any degree of certainty, but they have narrowed it down to oneof two places: the heavily guarded compound on the ridge above oranother location deeper into the mountains. Our job is to rescuethem if theyre here; another team is working the second target.DEA choppers are on standby to respond to either location once thehostages have been secured.

I nod to the other five and we move intoshallower water while angling toward the beachhead below the rockybluff. Except for when looking through the NVG scopes, the lines ofwhite surf are the only things visible in the otherwise dark andfeatureless terrain. No light shows from the lighthouse high aboveto the side, but anyone with a modicum of intelligence would placelookouts there. Further up the steep terrain, a faint glow can beseen from the walled compound against the low-lying clouds.

Leaning against the rocks, we strip off ourfins and tanks, and watertight seals are pulled from our weapons tobe buried. The rest of our swim gear is hidden in the crevices ofrocks along the shore. Even though we plan to be long, long gone bythe time the sun rises, it would be bad luck if some guard decidedto bring a lover to this private beach for an evening of fun andthey found our flippers and goggles. A three-year old would knowthat we had landed, and our chance of a quiet rescue would go outthe window.

We creep along the base of the bluff insingle file in order to remain out of sight of the lighthouse.Footage didnt show any sign of guards patrolling the beach, andthe trackless sand confirms that. Off the beach, a ravine, chokedwith brush and trees, lies between two steep ridges with a narrowtrail along its length. Instead of heading up the obvious route tothe compound and ringing the doorbell, well scale the rocky bluff,skirting around the lighthouse, and come upon the location from theother side. With steep bluffs descending to rocky shores pummeledby incoming waves, its an approach that few would thinkpossible.