Captain Lachlan Curry sat in the company orderly room, awaiting the meeting with his Commanding Officer. He had expected to have been called directly into his office upon arrival, but his door was closed and it was apparent that a heated phone conversation was taking place inside.

He gave a questioning glance towards the orderly room clerk, who shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

“Don’t worry, sir.” PFC Higgins was accustomed to his commander’s bad temper. Lieutenant Colonel Harvey Walton was a strict by-the-book Marine and he believed in discipline first and foremost. PFC Higgins thought the man was long overdue for retirement, but he kept his thoughts to himself. “Just have a seat and the Colonel will be right with you.”

Along the wall behind PFC Higgins’ desk was a row of neatly hung framed pictures displaying photographs of the battalion’s current chain of command. The picture of LtCol Walton was hanging just slightly askew and Lachlan pointed it out to the clerk.

PFC Higgins just smiled. “I’ll take care of it later, sir. No use in straightening it out until he leaves for the day.”

Lachlan wondered as to Higgins’ meaning but soon received his answer when the CO’s door swung open with a thud, causing the picture frame to tilt even further. “Ah, young Captain Curry. So glad that you could make it.”

Lachlan stood and nodded, fully anticipating a dressing down for one reason or another, but LtCol Walton was actually sporting a wry grin.

“Come on in, Captain Curry. You and I need to have a little discussion.”

Lachlan followed after him, not certain as to whether he should continue standing or wait to be given instructions to take a seat.

“Close the door and sit down, Lachlan. And quit looking like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.”

He began to relax as he realized that he was being addressed by his given name. Maybe this was just a sort of social call after all.

Walton was aware of the younger man’s discomfort and he decided to let him in on the reason behind his summons. “I understand you’re all but finished with your separation from the base. I’m afraid however, that I have to inform you of a rather interesting change in your orders.”

Lachlan’s heart began to beat faster. “Sir?”

LtCol Walton reached for a file on the corner of his desk and handed it over. “Change of orders, son. Seems you have some friends in high places and you’re staying in CONUS.”

Opening the file and scanning quickly over the document within, his new destination stood out as if highlighted in neon; MCAS Miramar, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. “California, sir?”

“You’ve been reassigned to the Marine Fighter Training Squadron 101. Looks like you’re gonna be a sharpshooter, son.”

As Lachlan read over his orders, Harvey Walton couldn’t help but feel a small sense of relief. He had served his country for close to twenty years and as he neared closer to retirement, he found his heart was full of regret over the young men he had prepared and sent into battle, many never to return. He kept his own counsel when it came to the matter of Operation Enduring Freedom, knowing that to voice his changing opinion would be pure career suicide.

Lachlan wasn’t sure what he was feeling as he studied the document, but the date that he was due to report was the same day that he had been originally scheduled to report in Iraq. “Is it normal for orders to come down this way, sir?”

“Not necessarily, but I’ve seen some orders come down with less than 24 hours notice. It’s not common, but it does happen. You almost sound disappointed.”

Was he? He had to digest all that was about to happen. Just moments ago he was on the phone to Natalie telling her that he was shipping out to one destination where he knew there was a possibility that he might not be returning. But to be informed that he was going to be stationed in San Diego, of all places? Was Fate yanking his string yet again?

“Hardly disappointed sir. Let’s just that stunned is more like it.”

“Get used to it. The Corps does have its sense of humor, despite reports to the contrary.”

Later that evening as Lachlan lay in bed examining his orders for the hundredth time he wondered just what forces were at play. Was this all just an interesting coincidence, the whim of HQ and the needs of the service? As long as he still got to fly he was sure that he’d adapt and succeed, regardless of where he was stationed. Maybe it was nothing more than blind, dumb luck.

And just maybe his destiny was waiting for him in sunny southern California.