The 2:17 Alarm

Every night at 2:17 a.m., the base alarm goes off. We were told never

to check why. The first night it sounded, I thought it was a drill.

It wasn’t blaring or urgent—just a low, steady tone that vibrated through

the concrete, like a distant engine idling underground. No flashing lights. No shouted commands.

Just a sound you couldn’t sleep through. I reached for my radio. Before I could key

it, it crackled on its own. “Stand by,” command said calmly.

“Remain in quarters.” That was it. No explanation. By morning, no one mentioned

it. Not in briefing. Not over breakfast. Not even in the quiet looks soldiers