Birth Pangs of the Coming Age | Chapter 9

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Previously . . . The president and Secretary of Defense ordered all employees to take the XyloVirus vaccine. But, after Shrek’s debilitating stroke Katie informed her supervisor that she will not take the experimental vaccine. He told her to report to her Squadron commander at 0900.

Chapter 9

Flushed Out

Forward Operating Base (FOB) Freedom, August 31st

Stepping out of the shower, Katie looked at her uniform blouse hanging on the back of the door. Her pilot wings, Warrant Officer insignia, and nametag made her feel proud.

Am I really going to give these up? “God, help me do the right thing.”

Katie arrived at the Squadron Headquarters building five minutes early. She noticed a female sergeant with an MP arm-band (military police) reading a magazine in the Commander’s outer office. That’s odd.

At 0900, Katie knocked gently on the Major Strickner’s office door frame.

The Major said, “Enter.”

Katie marched up to his desk, stood at attention, saluted, then said, “Sir, Warrant Officer Whitefeather reporting as ordered.”

The Major returned her salute.

Katie remained standing, looking straight ahead.

“Ms. Whitefeather, Captain Berry speaks highly of your professionalism as an officer, and I pinned a DFC on you myself, so we all know about your skill as an army aviator.”

Okay, that’s the buttering-up part. Now, here it comes.

“But now he tells me you’re not sure if you want to be vaccinated to protect yourself and our unit from the deadly scourge of XyloVirus. What would make you want to make such a statement?”

“Sir, the XyloVirus is statistically not a serious threat for people in our age group, so the risk of side effects from the experimental vaccine is greater than the risk of the sickness itself.”

Major Strickner said, “The World Health Organization, the NIH, the president, and the Secretary of Defense all say the vaccine is tested, safe, and necessary. I know there are some internet trolls out there planting misinformation about the vaccine, but all the world's top scientists agree that we need to widely implement this vaccine to stop the pandemic’s spread. Who are you gonna trust—the world's top scientists, or the internet trolls?”

“Sir, the fact is, the vaccine was only developed last year. Already, people who receive the vaccine are suffering negative side effects in the short term, and there’s no way to know what its long—”

He cut her off. “I will not debate the vaccine with you. The fact is, we’ve been given a lawful order to do something by the President and the Secretary of Defense. Will you comply with their order, or not?”

“Sir, I'm truly sorry. I love my career as an Army aviator, but I cannot allow them to inject me with their experimental vaccine. I don’t want to end up like Lieutenant Miller.”

“Yes, Lieutenant Miller. There’s no evidence that his receiving the vaccine had anything to do with his unfortunate medical event.”

Now angry, Katie held her peace.

“So, is your mind made up? There’s nothing I can say to keep you as a valued member of this unit?”

“My mind is made up, sir.”

After a pause, he said, “I can't force you to take the vaccine, so here's what's going to happen. To keep you from contaminating the unit with your insubordination, I’m going to ship you out of my squadron ASAP. As long as you remain on FOB Freedom, I’m giving you a direct order not to speak to anyone, except in an official capacity for your out-processing. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir.”

Out processing? Where am I going?

He pushed the intercom button, then said, “Send the sergeant in.”

When the female MP entered, the commander said, “Escort Ms. Whitefeather directly to the XyloVirus quarantine area. She is not to have contact with, or speak to, anyone as long as she’s on this base.”

The sergeant said, “Yes sir.”

The MP grasped Katie’s upper left arm, holding it as they walked directly to the hospital’s XyloVirus quarantine area.

Am I a criminal now? What does she think, that I'm going to run away? Where would I go? I guess that's just how she’s been trained to do her job.

The hospital’s restricted area for XyloVirus patients was a pristine room with six empty hospital beds. Off to the side of the XyloVirus ward, they entered a room resembling an efficiency apartment, with two pairs of bunk beds, a coffeemaker, fridge, a phone, and a bathroom.

Now that the sergeant was facing her, Katie read Sergeant Hess’s nametag for the first time. She was four inches shorter than Katie and stocky, with a deep voice and a no-nonsense demeanor.

“Ma’am, you’ll be confined in this room until further notice. Please give me your cellphone.”

Katie gave her the cellphone.

“I’ll make sure your phone gets packed with your baggage.”

“Packed with my baggage? What’s happening?”

Pointing at two meals-ready-to-eat (MRE) on the table, Sergeant Hess said, “There’s your dinner and tomorrow’s breakfast. If you’re still here at lunchtime, I’ll bring you more.”

So, it sounds like I’ll be out of here by lunchtime.

“If there’s something you need, that phone is a direct line to my office. They will pass me your request and I’ll bring it to you. Any questions?”

“No. Thank you, Sergeant.” She’s just doing her job.

Sergeant Hess nodded, then left, locking the door behind her.

Katie’s mind reeled. Am I in jail?

She looked around the room. No pen and paper, no computer, no radio or TV. There’s not even a Gideon Bible. It's like I’m in solitary confinement.

FOB Freedom Hospital, XyloVirus Quarantine Section, August 31st

Katie had a lot of time to think.

Yesterday I was a respected officer and aviator—part of the team. Today, I’m a prisoner in solitary confinement. What law did I break? Why am I such a threat?

Deep inside her heart, she heard the Holy Spirit whisper, “It’s because you told the emperor he was naked.”

That’s it! The vaccine is experimental, and it can cause severe side effects. But leaders in the world system aggressively censor this information. The masses all go along with their message that the vaccine is safe and effective. After all, that's what the so-called experts of the world all say. Anyone who opposes their narrative gets canceled. So, the masses support the delusion, following each other like sheep, even though they inwardly suspect (or know) it’s not true.

At 11:35 am, Captain Berry came to Katie’s room with Sergeant Hess, who unlocked Katie’s door.

“This afternoon, Sergeant Hess will escort you to the flight line. Then she will accompany you on the daily mail flight to Jamalabad for further administrative action.”

Further administrative action? I wonder what that means?

“What about my personal property? My laptop, photos, and phone?”

Sergeant Hess said, “Here’s an inventory of the personal property in your quarters. Please review it and advise me if you see any discrepancies. I will be responsible for shipping all these items to you after I receive a destination address as part of your administrative processing in Jamalabad.”

Captain Berry said, “Sorry to see you leave under these circumstances. Good luck, Poca.” Katie looked at him, speechless. If you were a good leader, you’d be in here too.

They left, locking the door behind them.

While waiting for the afternoon flight to Jamalabad, the evil reality of the world system dawned on her. Until now I’ve been a naïve, willing cog in the world system. But their unreasonable and disproportionate reaction to my legitimate personal-health decision proves to me I made the right choice.

Jamalabad, Kygyristan, August 31st

In Jamalabad, Sergeant Hess checked Katie into another solitary confinement room, with a bathroom and a small, stocked refrigerator. Again, there was no phone, radio, TV, or computer. But there was a Gideon Bible on the nightstand.

Before locking Katie in the room, Sergeant Hess gave Katie two more MREs. “Ma’am, this will hold you for dinner and breakfast. Your processing will start in the morning.”

“Thank you, Sergeant.”

Jamalabad, Kygyristan, September 1st

Sergeant Hess and a male captain arrived at her door at 0915.

Medical Service Corps insignia. He’s either a physician or a shrink.

“Warrant Officer Whitefeather, I understand you've decided not to receive the XyloVirus vaccine. Is that correct?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Could you tell me why you made this extreme decision that will ruin your career?”

Extreme decision? Ruin my career? He must be a shrink.

“My mind is made up, and I don't care to discuss it.”

“All right. But if you have questions about the vaccine, I'd be glad to help you understand more about it so you can make an informed decision.”

Katie said, “I have a question for you. Since I vanished from my unit with no notice, what reason will my fellow squadron members be given when they ask about my sudden disappearance?”

He said, “They’ll be told you were diagnosed with XyloVirus, immediately quarantined, and transported to a XyloVirus treatment center for everyone's safety.”

“So, they’ll be told a lie to cover up the government’s violation of my rights?”

In her peripheral vision, Katie detected a micro-expression on Sergeant Hess’s mouth, a smile that quickly vanished.

Looking embarrassed, the shrink looked at Sergeant Hess. “I’m done here.”

Sergeant Hess locked the door on their way out.

***

An hour later, Sergeant Hess opened the door again. This time she was accompanied by a major with Judge Advocate General insignia.

Okay, it’s a lawyer this time.

The major sat across the small table from Katie. He opened a folder, read her file, then looked her in the eye.

“Warrant Officer Whitefeather, this is the last phase of your processing. You’ve been given every opportunity to avail yourself of professional and medical advice to help you reconsider your fatal career decision to disobey the orders of the President and the Secretary of Defense regarding the XyloVirus vaccine.”

Okay, the last guy was the good cop. Now, here’s the bad cop.

He continued, “If you continue in your insubordination to the national command authorities, you're in jeopardy of being court martialed, which could result in a dishonorable discharge and prison time for your refusal to obey their lawful order.”

Dishonorable discharge? Prison? Who do these people think they are? No! I’m not gonna take it anymore!

“You say it’s their lawful order. Is it a lawful order? I assume you’re a lawyer. Are you telling me the government has the right to force me to be injected with an experimental vaccine that gives people strokes and other maladies? What about ‘my body, my choice?’ What about my rights?”

She stared him down. He had no response. Assembling his papers, he looked at Sergeant Hess and said, “We’re done here.”

Turning to Katie, he said, “Tonight’s your last chance to reconsider. We’ll be back tomorrow for your final decision.”

Before leaving, Sergeant Hess said, “I’ll bring you three more meals, enough to last through lunchtime tomorrow.” Then she locked the door on their way out. It was 11:23 am.

Locked in a room with only a Bible to read, Katie’s afternoon and evening felt endless. Without her usual phone, laptop, and human interactions, she was experiencing withdrawal. She tried reading the Bible, but after thirty minutes her mind wandered. Dishonorable discharge? She tried napping, but couldn’t sleep during the day. Prison?

She made herself wait until 5 pm before eating the cheese tortellini MRE. It’s not bad.

About 10 pm she finally fell asleep, but kept waking up throughout the night. Finally, with eyes wide open and mentally alert at 5:20 am, she got up, made her bed, and prepared a Spaghetti & Meatballs MRE and a cup of instant coffee. She wasn’t enjoying it, but she made breakfast last as long as possible. Then, she took a shower and was dressed by 0730. Then she waited.

Jamalabad Kygyristan, September 2nd

At 0937, Sergeant Hess returned with the major and a medic carrying a small kit.

The major said, “Ms. Whitefeather, have you reconsidered your decision? Will you receive the vaccination? You can get it right now and stop the damage you've already done to your future. If so, you’ll be reassigned to another unit where you can get a fresh start.”

“No major, I will not.”

“Okay then.” He pulls a paper out of his briefcase. “In that case, sign this statement, signifying your decision not to obey the presidential order to be vaccinated against XyloVirus.”

She read it, then signed.

“It's too bad. I’ve read your file, and you had a bright future career, but you just flushed yourself out of the Army.”

He handed Sergeant Hess a folder. “Sergeant Hess will take it from here.” He left without another word, along with the medic.

Sergeant Hess sat across from Katie, explaining the various documents as she laid them in front of Katie.

“These papers include your General Discharge and your itinerary and tickets back to your home of record in Ketchikan, Alaska.”

So, a general discharge and I’m going home. Their dishonorable discharge and prison time were a bluff, trying to scare me.

“Your discharge doesn’t become effective until you arrive home, so until then, you're under the Army’s jurisdiction to obey orders. You can be court-martialed if you speak to anyone about your situation, or why you've been discharged, until you arrive in Ketchikan. After that, you become a civilian again.”

I deserve an honorable discharge, but I knew there’d be consequences, so I’ll have to live with it.

“I’m authorized to spend up to two hundred dollars to buy you one set of civilian clothes and whatever personal items you might need to get you home. Please give me a list of your clothing preference and size, and whatever travel items you’d like me to purchase. I should be back with your items by 1300.”

“After you change into civvies, I'll take possession of your military uniform. Your flight leaves at 1800 hours today, so I’ll pick you up at 1600 and escort you to the terminal.”

She's obviously done this before. I wonder how many times?

Ketchikan International Airport, September 4th

At 4 pm, Katie’s Alaska Airlines flight arrived in Ketchikan. In contrast to bright, hot, brown Kygyristan, her hometown was overcast, cold, wet, and green.

The plane didn’t park at a jetway, so passengers had to walk a short distance across the tarmac to get inside. Dressed in new jeans, a blue cotton sweatshirt, and desert brown boots, she wasn’t ready for the blustery gusts. Now I’m a cheechako. She was shivering by the time she reached the terminal.

She appreciated being indoors. But, when she looked around, nobody was there to greet her.

Where’s Uncle Andy? She had called him from a pay phone before she boarded her last flight in Seattle. He said he’d be waiting in the arrival area when she arrived. She’d imagined him waiting for her, smiling, and giving her a hug. With that image dashed, a wave of sadness washed over her. She sat in an airport chair. Her mind was blank.

Two minutes later, he appeared in a rush and gave her the warm, welcoming hug she’d expected. She noticed him momentarily fixating on her scar.

“I’m really sorry I’m late. When I went to get into my truck, I had a flat tire. I fixed it as fast as I could.”

In Uncle Andy’s presence, she felt like she was finally home.

Since she wasn’t dressed for cool, rainy weather, she stayed in the terminal while he brought the truck around to pick her up curbside.

The truck’s heater blasted warm air and Buster was ecstatic to see her, licking her face, making her laugh out loud for the first time since the last time he’d licked her face.

“Ohhh, Buster Buster Buster,” she said, joyously petting and hugging him, “I missed you too!”

After Katie and Buster finished their licking and hugging fest, Uncle Andy said, “I'm proud of you,” squeezing her hand. “It took a lot of courage. You did the right thing.”

“Yes, I believe so, but it’s gonna be hard. I’ve been thinking about my transition back into life here. It's a small town, and other than flying, I have no marketable skills.”

“And everyone will ask how I got this scar, and why I’m back from the Army already. What will I say?”

“Let’s not worry about that now. Take a few days to rest and get over jet lag. Then you can think about your future.”

When they arrived home, Katie immediately changed into her old wool clothes. Then, rocking next to the wood stove with a hot cup of mint tea, she finally felt warm, inside and out.

He handed her two keys. “You’re going to need some wheels until you get on your feet, so these are the keys to the old Chevy pickup parked outside. It doesn’t look like much, but it runs good.”

“Thanks, uncle. I can sympathize with it.”

He laughed.

Two Days Later

After breakfast, Katie and Andy enjoyed their second cups of coffee near the warm wood stove.

Katie said, “Enough lollygagging. Time for me to get to work.”

“What’s your plan?”

“My dream job is to be a pilot at Ketchikan Medevac Service. Their website says they’ve got an opening, so today I’m going to apply for it.”

“That would be perfect.”

“I’m a little concerned about having a general discharge. If they ask about it, I can explain what happened. Hopefully, it won’t be a problem.”

Andy said, “You followed the truth and it cost you your army career. As a result, Jesus, the Living Truth, will take care of your future. You can trust Him.”

“Amen. Thanks Pastor.”

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Coming Next Week . . . Katie applies for her dream job. Storm clouds loom over the world economy. And, a prophetic end-time dream.

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