The Cache - Operation Fire Drake

 Colonel Oliver Vicksby paced nervously back and forth the length of the room, waiting for the rest of the attendees to arrive. He was the CIA section chief assigned to the implementation of this black operation within the continental USA.

It was not an operation that he looked forward to implementing, turning it loose on the unsuspecting populace, but the President had ordered its creation and the subsequent enactment with the pending approval of the Committee on Homeland Security. This meeting would secure that approval, one way or another. Those were his orders.

Oliver was a veteran of many conflicts as attested by the ribbons decorating the left breast of his dress uniform. Most of his career was in covert service, so he only wore his uniform on occasions such as this day. At 6 foot, 280 lbs, he was a formidable looking man, and with the scowl he was wearing, he was almost frightful.

He was halfway around his circuit yet again when the door opened and a group of five grim faced men entered and sat wordlessly at the table.

"Gentlemen..." he intoned, "let’s get down to business and get this situation resolved. On the table in front of you, you will find the particulars of the program the President wishes implemented. He believes that these domestic terrorists pose a significant threat with their beliefs and their rhetoric. Operation Fire Drake was drafted to deal with this threat in a strategic and decisive manner."

Fire Drake was supposed to address the growing Dissident and Militia movements in the Continental USA, effectively silencing all popular protest against the actions of the Federal Government and the President's aggressive Socialist agenda. Operatives were assigned their AO's and the lists of names were disseminated to them.

The Red lists were for termination, those individuals considered too vocal in their opposition, possible leaders of rebellion and purveyors of the Light. The blue list was for those who might be rehabbed in the FEMA camps, those with possible value due to training and education.

And then there was the Black list. Those with military training that might be useful in staging an open rebellion against the Administration and it’s so called "Progressive" Socialist agenda. They were to be covertly detained and terminated. No exceptions.

Top of the list were former Special Forces service men. They, rightly so, were considered the highest threat to the Administration and its goals. Retired Snipers were target number one because of their specialized training and immediate threat.

The President had expressly iterated that this program be implemented with utmost haste as the growing voices of dissent were beginning to coalesce into a more organized threat to his agenda.

If the covert operations were outed, and they most likely would be after the Red list was in full swing, then the armed forces would step in under a Nationalization of the National Guard and Police agencies.

Any State Governor bucking the operation was to be detained under the Domestic Terrorism Act to be passed in Congress in two days’ time. The deck was stacked, and the cards were being dealt.

Senator Warburg was skeptical at first, but after receiving the news of failure to agree to Fire Drakes provisions, his family’s welfare and a continued stint aboveground won out.

And so, the greatest act of treason against the people of the United States crept from the shadows to darken their doors. From Conspiracy Theory to real life, this most heinous act began to devour the unwary.

After all of the Committee had left, Colonel Vicksby sat deep in thought. Finally he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed a number. A moment later he spoke to the voice on the other end, "It's done, they are all on board and it passed with little resistance. It's like you said, Warburg was a bit of a problem. Yes. I agree. He should be retired. I will see you later." He then got up and left the room and disappeared into the darkness in the hall.