Unknown and unheard of

A man of about 24 was driving along the M1 in Queensland. He had a black suit on and shiny black shoes. To top it all off, he had a pair of expensive black sunglasses on. His car was a Mercedes Benz and was black with heavily tinted windows.
This man was Thomas Harrison. He had important business to deal with. He reached for his coffee and sipped it as he waited for the traffic lights to turn green.
A few minutes later, the lights turned green and he sped off towards a run-down building not far from Canungra Jungle and Land Warfare Training Centre.
Once he got there, he took his briefcase from the front passenger seat beside him, drained the last of his coffee and cut the engine and got out of his car.
Tom shut the car door quietly and locked the car. You could never be sure of who was around in this area. There were all sorts of strange folk around.
He then got out his mobile and dialled a number. He placed it on hands-free and placed hi Bluetooth device onto his ear.
For a few minutes, Tom could only hear the dial tone as the number rang on. A few minutes later, he heard a voice on the other end. “Good morning, Robert Thompson speaking. How may I help you?”
Tom sighed with relief. He’d hoped that Robert had answered first. He didn’t want awkward questions asked. “Hello Robert, its Thomas Harrison speaking.”
There was a pause on the other end. After a few minutes, Tom heard Robert speaking. “Oh, of course! Mr Harrison! Did you receive my letter? I stuck it in your briefcase yesterday evening.”
Tom nodded. “Yes, I did sir.” He answered.
“Have you read it?”
Tom hesitated for a few moments before answering. “No, but I’ll do it now.” He answered.
“Call me back when you have.”
“Yes sir.”
“Goodbye.” The line then cut out.
Tom hung up and placed the mobile back into his pocket. He then walked back to his car and sat down in the driver’s seat.
He sat the briefcase on the passenger’s seat and fumbled with the combination locks, trying to remember the combination. One, three, seven, four. He then smiled as he hear a satisfying click as the briefcase popped open.
Tom lifted the lid and took out the envelope that Robert had presumably put inside there yesterday. He ripped it open and looked at the letter:
India(I), hotel(H), alpha(A), victor(V), echo(E)/( )alpha(A)/ mike(M), india(I), sierra(S), sierra(S), india(I), Oscar(O), November(N)/ foxtrot(F) Oscar(O), romeo(R)/ yankee(Y), Oscar(O), uniform(U)/./ mike(M), echo(E), echo(E), tango(T)/ mike(M), echo(E)/ alpha(A), tango(T)/ Charlie(C), alpha(A), November(N), uniform(U), November(N), golf(G), romeo(R), alpha(A)/ Juliet(J), uniform(U), November(N), golf(G), lima(L), echo(E)/ Whisky(W), alpha(A), romeo(R), foxtrot(F), alpha(A), romeo(R), echo(E)/ Tango(T), romeo(R), alpha(A), india(I), November(N), india(I), November(N), golf(G)/ Charlie(C), echo(E), November(N), tango(T), romeo(R), echo(E)/./ Delta(D), Oscar(O), November(N), tango(T)/ bravo(B), echo(E)/ lima(L), alpha(A), tango(T), echo(E)/!/
Yankee(Y), Oscar(O), uniform(U), romeo(R), sierra(S)/ sierra(S), Charlie(C), india(I), November(N), sierra(S), echo(E), romeo(R), echo(E), lime(L), yankee(Y)/, /
R. Thompson
Delta(D), india(I), romeo(R), echo(E), Charlie(C), tango(T), Oscar(O), romeo(R)/ Oscar(O), foxtrot(F)/ tango(T), hotel(H), echo(E)/Oscar(O), Sierra(S), Oscar(O)/. /
Tom stuck the letter back into the envelope. He then returned it to his briefcase and slammed it shut in anger. He wasn’t angry at Robert, no. He was angry with himself. Why didn’t he realise that the letter was in his briefcase last night when he drove home? The answer was in his head before he even thought of it. He’d forgotten to ask about it. Tom sighed as he took his mobile out of his pocket and re-dialled his boss’ number.
A few seconds later, he heard Robert’s voice on the other end. “Hello, Robert Thompson speaking. How may I help you?”
Tom sighed in exasperation. “I read your letter. I’m kicking myself over it. I should have remembered to check with you. I have no idea on where to go.” He answered wearily.
He heard Robert sigh on the other end. “Get a pen and some paper. I’ll tell you where to go.”
Tom did as he asked. “Yes sir, I’m ready.” He answered as his pen hovered over the piece of paper.
There was a pause on the other end. A few minutes later, Tome heard someone hitting keys on a keyboard. He knew that Robert was using Google maps to find out where to go. He knew that Robert had a horrible memory when it came to remembering directions.
Tom held the line for a few more minutes. After a while, he heard Robert’s voice again. “Where are you at the moment?” He asked, tapping away on the keyboard.
Tom looked out the windscreen in front of him. There was a sign on the run-down building that read:




He tore his eyes away from the sign and dragged himself back to the mobile conversation he was having with his boss. “I think that I’m at the old car wreckers on the M1.” He answered slowly and clearly.
There was a pause as Tom heard more tapping on the keyboard. “Alright, well, just keep going until you come to the M1 exit. Turn into the exit and……..”
Tom scribbled it down furiously. “Wait, I can’t write that fast! What was the first bit?” He asked, pausing to listen to Robert’ reply.
There was a sigh on the other end. “Keep going until you reach the M1 exit lane. Have you got that down?”
Tom scribbled it down. “Yes, I’ve got it sir.” He answered as he dotted the last “I”.
“Take the exit and keep going.” He continued.
Tom wrote it down. “Yep, listen, how can I find it?” He asked.
There was a sigh on the other end. “There should be high fences with huge signs saying, “Civilian access prohibited military personnel only.”” Robert answered.
Tom shivered as he wrote it down. He had a horrible fear of soldiers. “Alright, I think I’ve got it.” He answered, fighting to keep his voice calm.
There was another sigh on the other end. “Alright, I’ll see you in about fifteen minutes.” Tom then heard a clunk as the line went out.
Tom placed the mobile back into his pocket. He then started up his car and drove onto the M1.
After a few minutes of driving, he came to the M1 exit. He took the turn and put his foot on the brake. He slowed down to about 50 k/h and kept his eye out for the signs and fences that marked the military training centre.
After a minute of driving, he saw the signs:



He drove up to the gates and stopped. A grim-faced guard walked swiftly towards him and rapped smartly on the driver’s window. Tom wound the window down nervously and the guard stuck his head inside the car. “Are you military personnel sir?” He asked sharply.
Tom pulled out his OSO ID. “I’m a member of the Order of Special Ordnance. I deal with anti-missile aircraft and ARIES, the bomb tracking program. I’m supposed to be meeting a Robert Thompson here.” He answered shakily as the guard took his ID.
The guard nodded as he handed the ID back. If he noticed Tom’s fear, he’d obviously turned a blind eye to it. “Alright, I guess I’d better let you in then.” He said reluctantly.
The guard walked away towards two sulky-looking soldiers in greens. Tom faintly heard guard yell out to them. “Joel, William, open the gates for the OSO member!” He snapped at them.
The first guy called Joel pulled a face and fiddled with the switches for the gate.
Once the gate was open, Joel and the guard stood back as Tom drove through. As he passed the guard, the two soldiers saluted him. There was no salute from the guard. He returned the gesture with a shaky hand.
Once he was inside the military base, he stopped the car and got out. Once he was out of the car, he locked it and started looking for Robert warily.
He didn’t have to look far. He’d only been looking for a few seconds when he spotted a buff-looking man of about 25 years old. He wore the same outfit as Tom. The only thing that was different was the badge on his chest that read Director of the OSO.
Tom stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly. He then saw Robert’s head turn in the direction of the noise. Upon seeing Tom’s face, he made a beeline straight for him.
Few seconds later, Tom was walking with Robert. “What’s up Rob?” He asked, stopping abruptly to look at his boss.
Robert placed his arm around Tom’s shoulder and lowered his voice. “You’ve read the contents of that letter I sent you, haven’t you?” He asked, looking at Tom very seriously.
Tom regarded his boss thoughtfully. He’d never really had much to do with Robert, but he could tell there was something wrong. “Yes sir, I have. It said something about a mission.” He answered quietly.
Robert looked at him seriously. He then lowered his voice and spoke in no more than a whisper. “It’s best if we don’t speak of this in public. How about we go inside?” He said, gesturing towards the barrack doors.
Tom looked uneasily at the large brick building in front of him. He felt uncomfortable enough as it was, being on the military base’s grounds, but going inside. He felt jumpy at the mere thought of it. “How about we talk about it in my car Rob?” He suggested, hoping that his boss would consider it, even if it was only a few seconds of consideration.
Robert’ eyes followed Tom’s finger to his Mercedes Benz® and then back to his face. Tom knew what he could see and was ashamed of him instantly. He hadn’t dared to mention his fear of soldiers to his boss in all his two years of working with OSO. “Is there something you wish to tell me Tom?” He asked, surveying him over the top of his sunglasses, obviously concerned about his well-being.
Tom took a deep breath and spoke. He knew he couldn’t hide it forever. “I have a confession to make Rob. Um, I have a fear of soldiers.” He admitted. He blushed as he said the last sentence.
Robert frowned at him, trying to make sense of it all. “Wait a minute………….What’d you just say?” Robert answered, looking at Tom as if he was seeing him plainly for the first time.
Tom sighed and repeated what he’d just said. “I said this. I have a confession to make Rob. Um, I have a fear of soldiers.” He repeated, turning bright pink as he said it again for the second time.
Robert looked back at him, shaking his head back and forth in disbelief. “You have a fear of what?” He asked in shock.
Tom sighed as he turned red in embarrassment. “Don’t ask me to say it again Rob. You heard me. I have a fear of s-o-l-d-i-e-r-s. Soldiers, Rob.” He repeated for the third time, turning bright red as he said the word, “soldiers”.
Tom saw a smile playing around the corners of Robert’s mouth. He felt so embarrassed at the moment that he could’ve quiet literally punched his boss out and not have felt one bit of sympathy for him.
All of a sudden, Tom heard his boss giggle loudly. Tom looked around him and saw that about twelve soldiers had turned from their work to watch the scene in front of them. He tore his eyes away from them, mortified to be seen by soldiers at a time like this. He was also terrified knowing that they’d probably heard everything he’d said. The mere sight of the soldiers terrified him beyond anything he’d ever imagined.
He focused on Robert who was now on the ground, in hysterics. He was laughing uncontrollably. Tom forced himself to look behind him, his face burning half in fear and half in embarrassment at being seen with his boss acting the way he was acting right now.
As he turned around, he felt one of the soldiers tap him on the back. Tom shrieked instinctively and ran as fast as his long, skinny legs could carry him. He ran back to his car, unlocked it and opened the back door. Once he was inside, he used the central locking to lock all the doors and hid down on the floor as he pulled out his pistol and took the safety catch off it. He could just see out the window. He doubted that the soldiers could see him through the heavy tint of the windows. He was thankful of that fact.
Three terrifying minutes went by before he heard anything else. He heard a tap-tap-tap noise on the window and he raised his pistol up to the window and lifted his head just enough to see who it was. A few seconds later, he heard a click as the back door opened and a man poked his head in the door.
Tom automatically raised the pistol up to the unknown man’s head. He aimed the pistol at the man’s forehead. Tom noted the armed forces uniform. Camouflage, the new soldier’s exercise outfit. He backed away in terror as he realised that the unknown man was a soldier.
Tom struggled desperately with the door lock as the soldier inched closer and closer to him. He finally got the door unlocked and opened the door he was leaning on. He fell out onto the dirt of the flat training grounds and scrambled to his feet, hastily brushing himself off as the soldier followed close behind him. Tom couldn’t figure out why this creep was following him in the first place. He obviously knew that Tom was scared stiff of him. Wouldn’t a man with half a brain leave him alone if they knew he was downright terrified of them? Tom could see that this one lacked some screws in the mental department. He locked the car door hastily and ran as fast as he could away from the soldier.
A few minutes later, Tom was sitting against the brick wall of one of the barracks’ supply sheds. The musty smell of the boxes of supplies made him slightly ill. Still, it was better than facing his worst fear that he could hear prowling around just outside the storage shed.
Several painfully long minutes went by. Tom then heard the shed door open with a noise that suggested that the hinges were being neglected. He then heard a click as the lights went on. He saw the soldier that was following him walk towards him.
Tom gripped his pistol tightly and aimed it at the soldier’s chest. “D-don’t m-move!” He called out in a voice that clearly expressed terror.
The soldier’s head turned in the direction of Tom’s voice. He walked several steps forward and stopped about 30 centimetres in front of him. Tom gasped as he stood up, flattened himself against the wall and touched the soldier’s cheek gently with his pistol in terror. “I can’t assure your complete safety if you come any closer. Go away please. I don’t want to hurt you. Please?” He begged as he shook uncontrollably.
The soldier looked back at him, eyeing the handle of the pistol warily. The soldier drew his head back a little in mild fear. Tom knew the soldier could feel the pistol shaking fearfully against his cheek. He knew that the soldier could plainly see his fear. The soldier then lowered his voice, and still eyeing the pistol warily, he spoke to Tom. “I’m not going to hurt you, alright? I want to help you. I’m Andrew Ford. Yes, I am a soldier, but I swear I won’t hurt you.” He said soothingly, smiling a little at him.
Tom eyed him fearfully. “How do I know you’re telling the truth?” He demanded, refusing to lower the pistol.
Andrew looked at him seriously. “Trust me, please. I swear on my own life. I would not, could not hurt you in any way what so ever. Trust me please.” He answered, holding out his hand.
Tom lowered the pistol, keeping an eye on the soldier. He was still terrified of him, but forced himself to stay. If he was going to get over this, he was going to have to face his fear head on.
He put the safety catch on the pistol and stowed it away in his gun holster. He then took a tiny apprehensive step towards Andrew, fighting the terror as he did so. He forced himself to stay there as Andrew looked back at him. He then decided to introduce himself. “Hello Andrew, my name’s Thomas Harrison. Just call me Tom though. Everyone does.” He said uncertainly.
Andrew put out his hand to shake Tom’s hand. Upon looking at him however, Andrew just swung his hand down like a pendulum. “Nice to meet you, Tom.” He said, giving him a pleasant smile.
Tom took a few more steps towards him, forcing himself to put one foot in front of the other. He stopped at about chatting distance. “It’s good to meet you too Andrew.” He replied timidly.
Andrew looked at him thoughtfully. “Have you always had soldier phobia?” He asked as he sat down.
Tom forced himself to sit with this strange man. He wanted very much to get as far away from this intimidating individual as he could. Somewhere, in the more indomitable part of him, something was nagging at him to get over his terror of soldiers. He decided to pay attention to that part of him. Tom knew that if he was to continue with his employment with OSO, then he had to get over his phobia of soldiers. “Yes, I’ve had a thing about soldiers for as long as I can remember.” He answered, fighting to keep his voice as casual as he could manage.
Tom saw Andrew nod in an understanding way. “Do you want to get over it at all?” He asked, looking at him sympathetically.
Tom nodded, so he went on. “Alright, let’s talk about your feelings first. What are you feeling at the moment?” He asked as Tom looked at him fearfully.
Tom took a shaky breath, forcing himself to remain calm. “Um, I can’t find a big enough word to describe it……………..It’s fear, but it’s much more than that. What’s a more fitting word for it?” He replied, looking at Andrew fearfully.
Andrew frowned in thought for a few seconds. He then nodded and looked back up at Tom. “I know! Is terror a more fitting word?” He asked gently, getting out a pen and a notebook.
Tom looked at the pen and book with a frightened, quizzical look on his face. Andrew must have seen Tom’s look he gave him because he smiled and pointed at the pen and notepad. “What I’m gonna do with this is write down your feelings and things you want to do to get over your, er……………..soldier phobia. Is that alright with you Tom?” He explained, looking back at him, waiting for him to answer.
Tom shrugged as he looked back at Andrew cagily. “If it’s gonna help, I’m alright with it.”
Andrew sighed with relief. “Glad we sorted that out. So you said that you’re feeling terror at the moment, eh?”
Tom nodded nervously. “Uh-huh, I certainly am.” He answered shakily.
Andrew scribbled it down. “Do you think you can do something for me?” He asked as he placed the pen and notepad down beside him.
Tom eyed him warily. “It depends on what that, “something” is Andrew.” He replied suspiciously.
Andrew looked back at him sheepishly. “I was wondering how you’d go about touching my hand. You don’t have to shake my hand or anything; all you have to do is touch it. You see, sometimes direct contact with the phobia makes you less scared and more determined to overcome it. The first time you come into contact with the thing you fear, or in your case, touch the thing you fear, is the worst. After that, it becomes easier and easier each time you come into contact with the phobia. Eventually, you learn to not fear the thing and before you know it, you’re over it. Sounds simple, eh?” He explained, looking back at Tom with genuine concern.
Tom thought about it for a bit. The thought of touching a soldier made him want to scream out loud. The more determined voice in his head said slyly, “You can get over this Tom, remember what your father said about determination. “Never be afraid to try. Be afraid not to try.” You can do this Tom, you have it in you. Face you fear and face it like a man!”
Tom pulled himself into the present as he looked back at Andrew who was waiting patiently for his answer. Not even Tom’s determination to fight his fear could mask the horror of what he was about to do. He forced himself to nod his consent. “Yes, I’ll do it Andrew. I think it’ll work too. Just be patient with me though.” He warned him, looking at him fearfully.
Andrew nodded in an understanding way. “I understand. You’re not the first person I’ve come across who’s had soldier phobia, the same as my daddy and his daddy before. I got them over their fears successfully. I’m sure I can do the same for you Tom.” He answered as he put out his hand, “When you’re ready Tom.” He added kindly.
Tom nodded as he forced his hand to go out towards Andrew’s hand. He kept saying to himself. “I can do it; I’m the one in control. I can fight it.”
Andy stretched his fingers out a little further. Tom almost drew his hand back when he felt Andy’s touch, but as he said the words again in his head, he forced his fingers to go just that one small space. He fought to keep his fingers there the whole time. As Andrew’s hand inched closer to his, Tom forced his hand to go further as well.
A few minutes later, Tom was touching Andrew’s hand and was using all his will-power to keep his hand there. He saw Andrew look at him and smile encouragingly. “Well done Tom, well done! You did it!” He praised him, patting his hand gently in encouragement.
Tom flinched when he felt Andrew’s touch, but other than that, he forced his hand to stay there no problems whatsoever. “I forced myself to do it. I can do anything when I put my mind to it. I have unwavering determination, will-power or whatever you like to call it. I have it in me to overcome this fear. I have to if I am to continue with my current career.” He commented, removing his hand and forcing himself to stay once more. Andrew was right. It was easier to talk to him, to face his soldier phobia in the flesh now that he’d taken that first step forward.
Tom saw him nod. “I thought you did. I know that you have it in you to do this. That I can see clearly in the way you forced yourself to face your fear head on. Who do you work for?”
Tom sighed as he pulled out his Id again for the second time today. “OSO Andrew, Order of Special Ordnance.” He answered.
Andrew took the Id and studied it closely. He then handed it back to Tom with a slightly impressed look on his face. “I’m impressed, really, I am. I never thought I’d ever have the honour of meeting an OSO member before! What exactly is it that you do though?” He asked, looking at Tom in awe.
Tom sighed as he got to his feet. He knew he could handle his fear now. “Um, I mainly work with nuclear warheads and antimissile aircraft, but sometimes I work with guns and other artillery. Very rarely do I deal with small things like that. I’m also contracted to work with the governmental warhead tracking device, ARIES. Any questions?” He replied, looking at Andrew.
Andrew sighed. “Only about a million more, I’ll ask the most crucial one first though. What exactly is ARIES?” He asked, looking at Tom in confusion.
Tom scratched his head in thought. “Well, it’s a program used by the military, mainly by naval forces and air force bodies, to track the progress of warheads and other such missiles. The thing that makes it so deadly is this. It can also be used to send the warheads and other such missiles back to its original supplier.” He answered, trying to translate it into a more explanatory description for Andrew.
Andy let out a low whistle. “Holy cow! That’s pretty advanced technology! You must be a whizz at computing and programming then!”He exclaimed.
Tom shrugged, trying to be modest. “I’ve only ever worked with the old military operating systems. I quit that kind of work four years ago. The operating systems are much more up-to-date now, so I don’t know if I could use them if you sat me in front of a military computer today.” He explained, looking at Andrew sadly.
Andrew nodded as they walked out the door. “What OS did you use back in 2007?” He asked, evidently interested in their conversation.
Tom shrugged. “I used a fair few. The most common ones were SPARK and ADA. Pretty difficult when you think about it, eh?” He answered, looking at Andrew as they walked back to his car.
Andrew nodded. “That’s pretty advanced. I don’t think that they have changed much in their operating systems these days.”
Tom shrugged. “How’d unlock my car door when you came in their? I took my only key with me.” He asked.
Andrew blushed at the question. “I wasn’t always a good guy.” He answered. On that puzzling note, he left Tom standing there, staring after him. He couldn’t help thinking that there was more than meets the eye about Andrew.