15 Operation Kingmaker 2 (2/2)
”Three days sir? Boot camp has just started hasn't it?” Thomas was certain that his answer was wrong, but he answered it anyways if only to get the necessary rebuttal.
”Try two months, private, well actually it's not even private anymore is it?” Major General Hughes sigh again, with a thoughtful expression on his face he pulled out a small box from within his uniform and set it in front of Thomas. Thomas opened it, another two sets of chevrons, this would propel him into sergeant, but what has he done to get sergeant before leaving boot camp?
”I thought you might be confused, but let me bring you up to speed. There WAS a Thomas Conlin here in this reality, but when you died and the german experiment which took place in your reality failed, it brought you and one more soul to this here reality, and poor recruit Conlin, the original Conlin, was booted from his body. No doubt his soul was destroyed and replaced by both of yours. As for the other soul, it was a man by the name of Thomas Kincade, he was a spy for the Americans during what he detailed as the Cold War in this journal.” The Major General tapped on the leather journal to emphasize his point.
”We won't get into that, it's pointless for you to even know of it. Hell, even with our analysts and our scientists, we've only been able to reverse engineer and understand not even a hundredth of everything he's detailed. There's more than just the things you've seen outside, or even seen in here. These are all prototypes made with his information. He meticulously detailed how to craft some of these, but some of the materials we lack or just don't understand yet. I'd tell you more, but some of this information is classified, need to know only.”
”Sir, to get this straight, I want to clarify. I'm from another reality altogether, I don't exist here, and I exist basically in a dead man's body with another dead soul?” Thomas was tragically disheartened, he thought it was a second chance at life, but he got much more than he bargained for. In fact, he could be absolutely certain that if there was a second life, he would never get to go to it in this life. This life wasn't his and never was meant to be, he basically brute forced his way in, even if unintentionally.
”Yes, that's correct. As for your parents in this reality. Well they think you're dead. Your entry had such reality-altering aftereffects. Our scientists are working around the clock to figure out what's going to happen to you, will you fade out when you hit the point in time where you died, or is there something more for you? We just don't know. Now, here's what brings me to the original purpose of why you're here. To decide what to do with you.” The Major General paused, ”it doesn't look pretty, half the people want to turn you into a lab rat to find out how you tick, others want you for your knowledge, as for me? I'm in the camp with your best interests at heart, and that is using you to your full potential in this war. What is it that you want to do with this life Thomas?”
”Well sir I...” Thomas thought about his original intentions, to save lives and prevent the deaths of many of the allies. Was that even feasible anymore? With all of this technology was he even needed? No, he was sure that every soldier was needed. Like Hughes had said, most of this is prototype technology. It would require at least a few more years of field testing. He clenched his hands, one life huh? Better make it count.
”Sir, I originally wanted to save the lives of as many allies as possible, but now...now with what you've told me, I want to take the fight to the germans sir!” Thomas stood up and saluted proudly. No matter what Thomas is, time-traveler, interloper, murderer...he was always one thing first and foremost. An American.
”Good answer, sit down, we have a lot to talk about and not a lot of time to do it. We have many operations outlined, we'll give you the pick of the litter.” Hughes offered and gestured at him.
”Sir, tell me about Operation Kingmaker!”