Brilliant flare like object into black craft with red light

From the 7-11 near back gate, Redondo/Vandegrift.  Saw what looked to be a signal flare, walked past a light pole and it turned into a black object with many red lights.  It traveled north to north west toward Camp Pendleton.  
Walking toward the north on the street,  a helicopter went to the same airspace as the black object, the sound of the helicopter was very prominent, as compared to the silent black object.  
The lights on the black object would blink 1 at a time in succession from the direction it was going, in 3 flashes.
Background: former US Army soldier FDC specialist.  Currently student at college.