The Decision

He was young and this was his first solo. Talented and confident, yes, but lying face down in the jungle for fourteen hours, utterly alone and risking one's life, brings out fear in even the most stout-hearted. They new he was in the area. He was pretty sure they picked-up his trail at the airport. His cover was blown somehow, but he managed to get out.

Now he lay in wait. He had to complete his mission or three years of planning and surveillance would be wasted. Unlike the planned scenario however, they knew he was coming and they were ready. The sheer number of guards strewn about the palace was shocking. He figured he could get five and safely relocate. He could stay put and possibly get up to twenty, but by then the likelihood of a clean exit was next to nil.

No radio contact. No rescue. No acknowledgement of his presence there at all. That was the agreement and he accepted it. Now, however, it made him feel utterly alone.

Now his mind started to race in directions he hadn't planned. His mother. His younger sister. Kids. A wife someday. What was he doing here? How did life take him on this path when he could be happy in anywhere, USA living a normal life. He thought he was stronger than this. His resolve. His steel nerves. Now that it all came down to it, the questions overwhelmed him. Take a life? Another person's life no matter how evil they may be? And what about his own life? Certainly at great risk the moment any action was taken.

He now faced a horrible decision. He trained for years, people were depending on him, people had stuck their neck out for him. All so he could have this moment.

Now, perhaps too late, he realized he may not like the role that had been given to him. He knew that if he pulled the trigger, even if he succeeded and survived, he would be forever changed.

The night grew darker and his time grew near. A decision had to be made that would not only affect the rest of is life and career, but it would likely change who he was as a person.

He stared at the scattered clouds, the moon and the occasional stars. It must have been ten minutes that passed before he made up his mind. Finally, clarity was his again. He lowered himself as flat as he could while still maintaining vision of the facility. He was still in the clear. He pulled his rifle close, took it in his hands and focused the scope on the bedroom window. Taking a deep breath, he began to disassemble his rifle.