“Crystal clear, Colonel,” I reply, knowing he isn’t bluffing.
Lieutenant Winters turns sharply, still at attention towards the exit at the front of the tent and then he starts to walk with conviction out of the rear of the tent and back into the buzz of the front area with its numerous staff and humming computers.
“Please follow me, Captain,” he says on his way out.
Dan and I fall into formation behind Lieutenant Winters as he leaves, our spot at the table immediately filled by one officer or another keen to be in the Colonel's direct line of sight. They all move onto the next order of business, almost as if we were never there, although I am sure that at least some of their deliberations involve me and Dan, and our imminent mission.
Exiting the tent, we all squint momentarily from the bright sunshine, the sun now climbing higher in the sky, its warmth now building into what looks like is going to be a hot day ahead.
Parked just in front of the tent is yet another Land Rover Defender. This one isn’t a standard-issue army Defender, however, it is a relatively new one and probably one of the last to come off the production line before Land Rover discontinued manufacturing them. The Defender is painted gloss black with dark tinted windows, and my guess would be this is the vehicle in which the Colonel is ferried around by Lieutenant Winters who heads straight for the driver’s door.
“Please, get in,” the Lieutenant says and so Dan and I do. I get into the front passenger seat and Dan gets in behind the Lieutenant.
When we are all in the Defender, Lieutenant Winters pauses before starting the engine.
“Colonel Reed has arranged a small hangar just over there,” the Lieutenant says pointing to a group of buildings near to the mass of helicopters. “You will be able to use it as your base for planning and executing the mission, it has all the equipment you should need but if anything is missing, let me know and I will get it for you.”
The Lieutenant then reaches for the ignition but pauses just before he is about to start the engine, as I ask him a question.
“What time is the mission to retake the city due to commence?”
“The first waves moves out at 1000 hours,” he tells me.
I glance at my watch, which tells me it is 0815, so it is not long, not long at all until they move out. I don’t envy any of the poor souls tasked with being the first to re-enter the city. I wish I could think of an argument against that course of action and offer a better plan, but I can’t; as horrific as it sounds, that is the only plan that has any chance of stopping this virus here and now. To hold off, to try to contain the virus and wait for some kind of cure of which there is no sign, would be to risk the infected breaking out of the quarantined area of the city and the virus spreading. That would risk the whole country succumbing to the virus and that cannot be allowed to happen, at any cost!
So, how can I intervene to stop my son marching into the city side by side with his comrades? They will all be somebody’s sons and daughters, but I know it is the only course of action to possibly save the country. I guess I will have to struggle with that thought, but I just can’t stand by and let Josh go in that first wave when I can stop it. Wouldn’t every parent do the same, if they had the chance? And Josh was probably only assigned to the first wave because of me, so Josh will continue to play his part in this nightmare ordeal, just by my side, where I will do everything to protect him.
“Lieutenant, make arrangements for my son, Joshua Richards, to join my team immediately,” I order.
“Yes, Sir, of course,” the Lieutenant replies with no qualms.
“Also arrange for Second Lieutenant Alice Ward to join us.”
“Boss, I—” Dan starts to say something, but I quickly shoot him a look that shuts him up. He is probably worried that she won’t be up to the task, and with Josh on the team too, the risk of having two younger, inexperienced personnel on the mission could be risky, but I am confident we can find them both a task that won’t raise the odds of the mission being a success.
Lieutenant Winters is slightly confused by the second name I request but nevertheless complies.
“Okay, let’s have a look at what we got in this hangar,” I say.
Now Lieutenant Winters does start the engine and we move off across the grass until with a slight bump, we get back onto the smooth asphalt and we pick up speed towards the buildings the Lieutenant pointed out.
“So how long have you been under Reed’s command?” Dan asks the Lieutenant as he drives.
“Three and a half years now and about two years working for him directly,” he responds.
“And how has that worked out for you?” Dan presses.
“I think it’s safe to say it has been interesting at times,” Lieutenant Winters says without giving much away.
“I respect your loyalty, but come on Winters, give us some juicy bits?” Dan presses further with a big smile on his face.
“There really isn’t much more I can say,” the Lieutenant says, not rising to Dan’s baiting.
Dan is just about to have another stab at the Lieutenant when I intervene.
“Alright, that’s enough Dan. Brief them on the mission plan to take back the city, Lieutenant,” I say, half expecting him to be tight-lipped about that too, but instead he is quite the
