Operation Take Down

By Stacey Truell

Shawnna, a veteran Navy Seal determined young lady who stops at nothing to complete her mission of capturing a notorious terrorist for a 10-million-dollar reward. Teaming up with Shawnna are two of her best friends, Doretha Hollaway along with Evelyn Staford join in this mission. First, they must learn the Muslim religion before going abroad. Infiltrating Iraq becomes a daunting task while trying to blend in without being caught. Having prior tactical skills Shawnna has taught her friends how to defend themselves. Things do not appear as Evelyn had thought as she has a change of heart during the mission. Doretha continues to focus on getting back home alive. High in the mountains Shawnna, Doretha and Evelyn must try to survive in order to find out Maurad’s next move. Terrorist Maraud Yogasolfa sets his plan in motion with his destructive evil ways, wanting to attack and destroy America, not knowing he is up for a battle because someone must live, and someone must die.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Aug 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9781398411616

Stacey Truell

Stacey is a visionary, with a grander past for telling stories while anticipating her fans to yearn for more. She is also a screenplay, playwright fiction author. An Upstate New York native, Stacey enjoys keeping Facebook and Instagram visitors entertained by sharing funny, informative, enlightening current events as well as sharing TikTok videos. When she is not writing or interacting with social media. Stacey enjoys listening to music, dining out and traveling. Her other talents are, public speaking, entertaining and home decorating. Author of What’s Your Game? Facebook/ Instagram Public personality Aquarius, kind, spirited and loves to cook

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About the Author

Stacey is a visionary, with a grander past for telling stories while anticipating her fans to yearn for more. She is also a screenplay, playwright fiction author.

An Upstate New York native, Stacey enjoys keeping Facebook and Instagram visitors entertained by sharing funny, informative, enlightening current events as well as sharing TikTok videos. When she is not writing or interacting with social media. Stacey enjoys listening to music, dining out and traveling. Her other talents are, public speaking, entertaining and home decorating.

Author of What’s Your Game?

Facebook/ Instagram Public personality

Aquarius, kind, spirited and loves to cook

Copyright Information ©

Stacey Truell 2022

The right of Stacey Truell to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with Sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398411609 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398411616 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2022

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

Thanks, Austin Macauley Publishers for your commitment and patience.

Childhood

Being a child of a father and a mother who both served our county in the United States Navy gave me an advantage that many kids in my neighborhood did not have. Most of my friends had to live without a father figure. My dad was a retired Naval SEAL Chief Petty Officer who served 30 years in the military. He always wore shiny shoes and kept his clothes dry cleaned and pressed to a crease. Mom was a Warrant Officer CW04. She was always making sure she stayed healthy, by exercising in our Olympic room in the basement. My parents only had one child and that was me. I had two girlfriends, who grew up with me in Syracuse, New York; they were Doretha Hollaway and Evelyn Staford. Both had their own personalities. Doretha was the kind of a friend who stood by your side no matter how she may have felt about you. Evelyn had sort of a bold mentality; she had many underlying issues in her life.

Then there was my friend Ricky Smith, who was like a brother to me, protecting me from all the bad people in and out of school. Ricky was the kind of person who enjoyed living his life with a sort of thuggish and business-minded lifestyle. When I was 15 years old, I met a boy named Germaine Dupree. Germaine was 16 years old and a high school dropout who came from a broken home; his father was in jail for killing a person over a pack of cigarettes; and his mother was a prostitute, who left him and his sister in foster care when they were infants. Germaine ran away from foster care when he was 14 and moved in with his friend Rashen and his father. Rashen was older than Germaine who had already graduated high school and played semi-pro basketball for a short period until drugs took over his life.

Rashen’s father reminded me of a back woods’ country kind of person; he always wore overalls dungarees and kept black greasy looking hands. Every day, Germaine would be waiting for me when I get out of my last class. Germaine loved smoking marijuana and hanging out with his friends. He had experience with an older woman. It was a Friday morning, and Germaine talked me into skipping school, so we went to Rashen’s father’s house while he was working outside on a car. Germaine and I indulged in a sexual escapade. Rashen was keeping his father occupied, by asking questions about the car he was working on. I was in the twelfth grade on the honor roll and almost finished with high school. It seemed like my whole world was about to fall to a bottomless pit. One morning, I was in class and felt nauseous. I had to run into the restroom and vomit. Doretha came in behind me and said, Girl, what is wrong with you? I hope you are not pregnant. Our graduation is coming up in three months. Besides, you do not want a kid by Germaine. He is a loser. Let us go to Planned Parenthood after school, just to be sure.

When Doretha and I arrived at Planned Parenthood, there was a room full of young teenage girls. The nurse finally called me in the examination room. After checking all my vital signs, she had me urinate in a cup. Fifteen minutes later, she came in with the doctor. The doctor stated, You are pregnant. We will need to do a pap exam if you do not mind, so I can find out how far along you are.

By the time everything was done, my heart was beating so heavy. The doctor came back into the room and said, You are four weeks pregnant. What do you plan on doing? Anything you decide will be kept confidential.

Upon exiting the examination room, Doretha ran up to me and said, You are pregnant, right? Damn, Shawnna, what are you going to do? Your parents are going to be angry. If I, were you, I would not tell Germaine, until I knew what I was going to do?

I replied, Doretha, how can I not tell Germaine; he would be the father. I am just upset because the recruiter from RTC will be at our school this coming Friday, and you know I have been thinking about joining the military.

Go ahead and tell Germaine. I bet he will not give you any support.

As Doretha and I were waiting on the corner for the bus, Germaine came walking up with a cigarette in his mouth. What is up, baby? Hi, Doretha, Germaine said. Shawnna, can we talk in private? Germaine asked as he walked over to me. The smoke from his cigarette began to make me cough and vomit.

Wow, I am sorry. You never got sick from smelling my cigarettes. You sure you are not pregnant? Germaine smiled as though it would be good news to his ears and threw his cigarette to the ground.

I replied, No, ha ha! I am not pregnant, Germaine. Here comes my bus. I will see you later tonight. Germaine gave me a tight hug and hopped back into his friend’s car. The hip-hop music was so loud you could feel the vibration hitting the ground.

When I arrived home, my mom and dad were sitting in the living room. Dad was reading his newspaper, and mom was looking at the television. I said, Hi, mom, hi, dad.

They looked at me for a brief second, almost together they replied, Good evening.

I went upstairs, laid my backpack down on my bed, went back downstairs, and made a plate of steak, rice and gravy. Soon after eating, I began to feel sick. I ran upstairs to the bathroom and vomited up all my food. At that moment, my mom came running up behind me. She knocked on the bathroom door and said, Shawnna, are you okay?

Yes, I think I caught a stomach virus from school, I replied, still holding on to the toilet bowl. My mom looked suspicious but went back downstairs and continued looking at the television.

Is she alright? Dad asked as he lit up a cigar pipe.

I guess, she thinks she caught a stomach virus.

My mobile phone rang, and it was Germaine. Hi, Shawnna. How are you doing? I was thinking about you. Does your stomach feel better? Germaine asked as he was on the other line puffing on a marijuana joint.

For a moment, I just paused and said, I am pregnant, Germaine, and you need to get back in school so we can take care of this baby together. How will that look like—my child’s father uneducated, with no job?

Germaine walked out of his living room onto the front porch and sat down on the stairs and said, Shawnna baby, I’ll try to get a job at my boy Rashen’s pop’s car shop because school just isn’t my thing. You know how those dudes were when I was in school. Always beefing!

I replied, There is Job Core. What is wrong with that?

Shawnna, just let me worry about what I need to do. Besides, do your parents know?

No, I must tell them when you come back over.

Yo, baby, your pops might start tripping. Therefore, that means you will have to deal with it.

I am more worried about my mother than my father because my mother always gave me the lecture on birth control.

After speaking with Germaine, I called up Doretha, and she wanted me to come to her mom’s house. Upon arrival, Doretha and Evelyn were sitting on the porch. Evelyn had a bottle of wine cooler in her hand. She stood up and said, What is up homegirl? Did Mrs Spencer give us any homework assignments?

You’re funny, how long it has been since you were last in school, a month or two? I doubt it if you will ever catch up.

Evelyn took another sip out of her drink and said, I don’t have anyone to watch my baby. His know good-ass father just got locked up for drug trafficking, and you know my mom works two jobs, since my dad got shot and killed. Now, how can I go to school?

Doretha responded, That’s no excuse. My mom had my oldest sister when she was 17 years old and still managed to finish school and complete two years of college, without our father, since he left her and moved to another state with another woman. In fact, she never got child support, and my father never communicated with my sister or me until I turned 12 years old. By then, I did not know what to say. There was no love connection.

Being more concerned about my problem, I turned to Doretha and said, Germaine called me today, and I told him the news.

Evelyn kicked her feet up, cradled her knees, and said, What news? Doretha, you did not tell Evelyn what is going on? No girl, if you want Evelyn to know, then you tell her.

That is not my business to tell anyone. I am your friend not your enemy!

Alright, I am pregnant, and Germaine is the father.

Evelyn unfolded her knees and changed her arms into a folding position. So, what are you going to do. Have an abortion?

I do not think so, I replied. I am just going to have to make some major changes in my life.

Shawnna, I thought you wanted to join the military, replied Evelyn as she stood up on the porch banister.

Yeah, I will still pursue the armed service, once I have my baby and finish a couple of years of college.

How are you going to college when you will have a baby? asked Doretha.

A Community College will be the only way I can continue my education. Wow, remarkable; hear, we are almost through with school and me out of all people come up pregnant, I know better.

Both my friends walked over to me and gave me a hug. Doretha embraced me saying, It is going to be okay once you tell your parents.

Suddenly, I started feeling cramping in the lower part of my abdomen. Can I have a glass of water, Doretha?

Sure, have a seat in the chair, replied Doretha. I will be right back.

When Doretha came back outside with my water, I guzzled it down so fast.

Damn, your ass was thirsty, said Evelyn.

Doretha’s mother got out of her car with a bag of groceries in her hand. She walked up on the porch and said, Hello girls. Doretha, I need you to clean this house tonight. Your Aunt Annie and Uncle Joe will be in town Friday.

Doretha replied, Yes, ma’am.

It was a wonderful day, so we decided to walk to the park. As we got closer, I noticed Germaine standing against the car hugging a girl who goes to school with us by the name of ‘Tonya Baker’. She was a cheerleader for our boys’ basketball team.

Evelyn looked and said, Hell to the Naw. He cannot play you like that. Let us go beat that bitch’s ass, and Shawnna, you need to kick that loser to the curb.

Doretha replied, Shawnna, do not make a scene. I would just walk up to him and let him know I see him and cut him off on the spot. Remember, Shawnna, you are pregnant and do not want to do anything to cause injury to your baby.

Germaine did not notice our presence until we walked up behind him. Then he turned around in shock and said, What the hell is going on here? Tonya stood up against the car with her arms folded as though she was not worried.

So, this is how you are going to play me, Germaine, right? Here I am pregnant with your baby, and you are out here cheating.

No, baby, it is not what you think. Tonya and I are only friends.

Friends my ass, I saw you and her hugging. Just go on and play your little games with someone else who is foolish enough to play second fiddle.

Second fiddle, replied Tonya. The only second fiddle being played is your dumb ass.

Evelyn started taking off her earrings. The only dumb ass around here is you, Tonya. All Germaine is doing is using you for a booty call. If you want to get it on there is plenty of land and opportunity, said Evelyn.

Tonya started to walk across the grass away from us. Evelyn was still yelling across the field, Yeah, keep on walking. You do not want any of this. Go on ahead with your whore, Germaine.

I said with tears overflowing down my face, My heart was so broken. I asked myself how he could do this to me.

Doretha pat me on the back and said, Every dog has his day!

Germaine went walking across the grass behind Tonya. I looked and just shook my head in disbelief. It was obvious that Germaine and I were not going to have a future together. However, I still had to face my parents and tell them of the pregnancy. That was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my teenage years. Soon as I arrived home, I went upstairs to my bedroom, and my mom was standing in my bedroom with the follow-up visit letter to the OB-GYN doctor. She had a frown on her face and said, So what is this letter all about? Are you pregnant, Shawnna? Do not lie to me?

Having a sad look on my face, tears began to flow. I looked up at my mom and replied, Yes.

My mom sat down beside me on the bed and said, How could you have allowed this to happen? All the lecturing I gave you about practicing safe sex was all for nothing. Now, what is going to happen with your joining the military? You know your father is going to be extremely disappointed.

My mom paused and gazed out of my bedroom window and said, We will get through this, but you are still going to college. So where is the baby’s father? Is Germaine the father?

Yes, but I do not want anything to do with him anymore.

Maybe you do not, but he is going to support this child.

I did not respond to my mother’s comment about Germaine because I knew if she found out that he was a high school dropout, it would be an insult to injury. Mom hugged me and left out of my room.

Dad was outside fixing his car. Mom walked out with a glass of iced tea. Hear sweetheart, we need to talk about something.

Dad was inattentive still underneath his car working. He replied, Can we wait until later I need to finish fixing this car.

I do not think we should wait.

Dad slid his skid from under the car and followed mom into the house. He sat down in his usual recliner. So, what is so important, that you need me to stop working on the car?

Sweetheart, Shawnna has been sick for the last couple of days, and now, I know why.

Dad lit up his cigar pipe and said, I already know she is pregnant.

Mom was surprised to find out dad already knew about my pregnancy. So, did she say where the daddy is? I want to speak with him myself. Shawnna is still going into the Navy.

Well, sweetheart, she will go to a community college after graduation for two years, then sign up for the military.

Dad yelled for me to come downstairs. Shawnna, your mother told me what is wrong with you. Where’s Germaine? I need to have a talk with him.

I started getting nervous and said, I don’t know. We are not talking at this time.

Dad yelled out, Not talking? Girl, this is not the time for you and him not to talk. There is a human life involved. Now, he is going to help take care of that child and that is all to it. Germaine and I will talk, man to man.

The following day when I arrived at school, I saw Tonya Baker and walked past her locker as though she was not there. Doretha came walking up to my locker, looking at Tonya roll her eyes at me. Hum, she got nerves, messing with your man. Shawnna, do not even pay that skank any attention. Did you study for the math exam?

No, I was too exhausted. Both my parent know I am pregnant now.

My last period bell rang. When I got outside Germaine was standing by a tree. I walked past him as though he was not there. Germaine came walking up to me and said, Can I please talk to you. I am sorry about what happened. Can you just forgive me? I do not know what else to say.

I replied, You can just leave me alone and get prepared to take care of this baby.

Not paying attention to what I said Germaine replied, I heard your pops wanted to see me.

Yeah, he does! You know what? I am a man, and I don’t have to run and hide from no one, not even your pops. Tell, your pops anytime, anywhere.

Germaine, is that a threat? Know, but if he thinks I am going to let him punk me because you are knocked up by me, then he is highly mistaken.

Ricky came walking up to us while we were having our discussion. He gave me a tight hug, turned around, shook Germaine’s hand, and looked at me suspiciously. What is up, man? asked Ricky. Shawnna, is everything alright?

Germaine did not want any problems with Ricky so he began walking away saying we will talk later.

With no response, I started talking to Ricky. How are things going?

Ricky was excited and said you know my birthday party is this weekend. Are you and your posse coming?

No, Ricky, I am sorry. I have not been feeling that well lately.

Well, if you change your mind, here is your invitations. Ricky walked away, got into his car, and drove off.

On my way home, I noticed an army truck driving by. My imagination started running. I envisioned myself in basic training until I got home to find Germaine and my dad sitting in the dining room talking. I walked in, and my dad said, Hello baby, Germaine and I are just talking man to man about the baby’s future, and I think he’s going to step up to the plate and take care of my grandchild. Dad stood up to pat Germaine on the back. All I could do is look, knowing Germaine did not have a job and recently dropped out