A New World Begins

Noah takes control…

“Hey, look out the window, who’s that skiing in across the football field? What are they doing out there?”

“It looks like Sergeant Bauer out in front, you know, the ginger ninja. Got early promotion. He’s really only a sophomore.”

“His dad being the State Deputy Governor probably had something to do with that.”

“I heard that him and Bensinger Squad were staying out in the woods last night. Some sort of Arctic survival course. Sean Sullivan said that the Commandant and Captain Davis went out to teach them. There was something about polar bears too.”

“Bensinger Squad did pretty well at the drill test, and they did it on a Muster Parade too, not just on the square. We shouldn’t underestimate them.”

“Nah, they’re just a bunch of misfits. Got lucky on drill. We’ll soon catch them up.”

* * *

Bensinger Squad halted outside the entrance to the dining room, slipped off their skis and stacked them to one side of the door.

“Okay guys, nicely done,” said Nat. “You especially, Shane, you looked real good coming across the field. Good teaching, Travis. Now, drop your packs off in the vestibule and brush down to make sure you don’t drag snow through the ante-room. Let’s keep breakfast short, say, no more than thirty minutes at most, then back over to the dorm. Keep things quiet, the rest of the college don’t know yet what’s planned for today. No need to head back to the dorm as a squad, just eat your fill then drift back in ones and twos. Will, you get the slides Craig sent over to us up on the screen when you get back and we’ll edit them into a lecture. Everybody okay?”

“We’re good, Nat.”

Nat let the guys file into the dining room first, holding back a while to talk with Kyle.

“Thanks for not taking over last night, Kyle. Are you going to sort the timings for today?”

“Yes, I’ll liaise with Jackson and the Commandant. I’m pretty sure they’ll agree to you being excused from the first lesson today in order to get your training material together. There’s going to be an announcement about the weather and the revised syllabus at eight anyway, so that’s probably when you’ll get the go-ahead for your lecture. If you’re ready to go at nine in the main hall everything will be fine. Now let’s go and get some food before Travis eats everything. I’m amazed he’s not as fat as a pig given the amount he eats.”

“You should see how much time he spends in the gym burning the calories off, Kyle. He’s set his sights on the Pennsylvania Schools’ junior wrestling championships this year…”

* * *

Just before nine, three classes began to file into the college’s main hall, two freshman classes and one junior year, all of whom had had their scheduled lessons cancelled due to staff absences. The snow storm was beginning to bite. Up on the stage Nat was drawing Bensinger Squad together.

“Everybody ready? I know we’ve had no time to practice but that shouldn’t be a problem. You all know your stuff, all you have to do is talk through your slides when Will puts them up on screen. Just a couple of minutes per slide then, when you’re done, hand over to the next speaker. Once everybody has spoken, we’ll take questions. No need to worry, you’ve actually done what the slides cover so the questions shouldn’t catch you out. Once questions are over, we’ll split the class down and I’ll lead them out to the ravine in two groups to look at the survival shelter. Travis will ski on ahead and be in position when they arrive so he can guide them round the snow hole. Kyle will stay here with Noah, Will and Shane and cycle the next group through at ten o’clock, then they’ll all join us out at the snow hole with the second group. All good to go?”

“We’re good.”

Nat paused.

“You good, Noah? I can do the introduction if you prefer.”

“No Nat, I’ll do it.”

Noah took a deep breath and strode purposefully towards the lectern. Below, out in the auditorium, was a mixed bunch of freshman and junior cadets, some forty in total, all chatting animatedly, many of them still standing around in small groups. To the side of the stage Nat and the rest of the guys from Bensinger Squad sat in a row of chairs. Will, off to the other side of the stage, flicked a switch on the AV control console and nodded to Noah. A red LED blinked gently on the microphone at the lectern.

Noah tapped the microphone and the sound, amplified, reverberated around the hall. There was a momentary pause in the chatter and everyone turned to face the stage.

“Good morning, gentlemen,” said Noah, his voice growing stronger with every syllable. “Sit down please. I’m Corporal Noah Mason, your chief instructor for this special lesson. We’re going to do this lesson Royal Marine style. Up, Down, In, Out.”

Noah paused as everyone looked up at him.

“That means, you shut up, sit down, listen in, or get out of my lesson. Got that?”

There was a brief moment of hesitation and then, to Nat’s relief, people started to sit down and turn their attention to the stage.

“Thank you. Now, because of the weather, your usual teachers for this period can’t get in today so we’re going to give you a special lecture about winter survival as part of the Military Skills training. Pay careful attention to my instructor team. Save your questions to the end of each presentation, then raise your hand for permission to speak. After the final presentation we’ll guide you out to the woods and you’ll get a chance to try out what we teach you. First to speak is Corporal Lundgren who will teach you about finding a good place to build a shelter. Corporal Lundgren…”

As Noah stepped back and vacated the lectern, Shane stepped forward and Will flashed up a slide showing a snow drift. Noah smiled at Shane as their paths crossed, then sat down beside Nat.

“I told you I could do it, Nat.”

At the back of the hall, unseen to those inside, a door opened and closed and Captain Jackson Davis stepped out into the corridor beyond.

* * *

At tea that afternoon Bensinger squad were much in demand. Those whose usual classes had been cancelled that day and had attended the winter survival skills lecture and then the practical demonstration in the afternoon were crowding round to ask more questions, and those whose lessons hadn’t been interrupted pressed in, eager to overhear what they had missed.

Nat was looking on proudly from the side-lines as Shane, Travis, Will and even Noah fielded the questions and let it be known that, yes, those that hadn’t been able to attend the lessons might be able to attend a voluntary MilSkills session on Saturday morning followed by a guided visit to the snow hole.  As he sipped his coffee, Nat became aware of a duty Corporal edging through the crowd to him.

“Sergeant Bauer? Captain Davis sends his compliments and asks if you will join him immediately in the Sports Pavilion.”

Nat put his cup down on a small table and nodded. “Tell Jackson I’m on my way. I’ll be there in a couple of minutes.”

As the Corporal left and headed back outside, Nat pushed through to Travis. “Travis, can you wind things up here? Be discreet, but gradually get our guys to thin out and head back to the dorm. I’ll see you there in about half an hour.”

Nat grabbed his combat jacket from the cloak room, slipped on his gloves and disappeared out into the night. Though it was almost a good hour after sunset the snow was reflecting the light from all the windows and the lamps around the car lot and so he was able to head over to the Sports Pavilion with no difficulties other than almost falling flat on his ass a couple of times where someone had clearly been sliding along the paths and turning them to ice. Obviously not everyone had obeyed Jackson’s instructions.

* * *

It was almost six thirty when Nat returned to the dorm. The guys, all gathered around the admin desk looking at a weather forecast on Will’s iPad, fell silent as he opened the door and walked over to them. They were still in their cold weather combat gear rather than changed into the smart casuals that would normally be the case just before dinner.

“Not hungry tonight? You know the rules about dress for dinner.”

Travis looked first at Nat, then across to the corner, Nat’s old bed, where Kyle was lying down reading a book, then back at Nat.

“I said to stay in combats, Nat,” said Travis. “In case you needed us to clear a helipad or something. We can be changed into smarts in a few minutes, there’s still half an hour before we need to be at dinner.”

Kyle, himself in his blue working dress, looked over. “I’m just a guest, Nat, Travis is in charge of the squad in your absence.”

Nat smiled. “You made the right call, Travis. I’ve got a few things to tell you all, so listen in carefully. Firstly, it seems this is just a lull in the storm. It’s going to get much worse tomorrow and for the next few days and so the Commandant is moving us to Stage Three of the plan. Some of the Officer Cadets have volunteered to give up their rooms to any members of staff – mainly the kitchen, maintenance and grounds staff – who either can’t get home tonight or who have volunteered to stay on site to look after us. Remember that when you see them about in the kitchens or wherever, and thank them, they didn’t have to stay. That, of course, means the affected Officer Cadets need somewhere else to live for a while. They’ll cascade down into any available spare beds in the Sergeants’, then the Corporals’ dorms, and then finally they’ll be moving in to this dorm if it becomes necessary. We’re moving out anyway. Any questions so far?”

They clearly had lots of questions, but wanted to hear the rest of Nat’s announcement first.

“No questions, Nat.” said Travis and the others all nodded in agreement.

“The next point is that the Pennsylvania National Guard haven’t formally been activated to render aid, that will require a proclamation from the Governor. However, preparations are being advanced and lead elements of the Guard are standing up in readiness. That affects us. In a few hours’ time we can expect a platoon of Guardsmen to arrive here and take up station in the Sports Pavilion. Sergeant Anders and his team have already got an Operations Room up and running over there and the place almost ready to accommodate them. Should be about thirty to forty people in total. They’ll all be accommodated in the two large dorms upstairs and have free range of all the Pavilion facilities while they are here. Good so far?”

The guys nodded.

“Jackson has given up his room to one of the teaching staff who’s staying on site, and he’s moved into the Sports Pavilion to act as liaison between the Commandant and the Guard. He’ll be using one of the two four-man dorms that are normally used for visiting staff members as his room - shared with the National Guard officers who’ll be here. The other four-man dorm will become the liaison office or ‘Situation Room’ as Jackson has named it. We’ll be moving into the two small offices either side of the main doorway into the Pavilion. Jackson has designated us as his liaison team.”

“Reconnaissance, Liaison and Special Response Squad,” said Noah. “That’s what you said we’d become.”

“Yes, Noah, that. And yes, Will, I know there are five of us, six if we count Kyle, and there’s barely room for two people in each of those doorway rooms, but that’s not an issue. We’ll just be using one to sleep in, and we’ll be in our sleeping bags, and we’ll be on a rota system. At any one time, at least two people will be on duty to control access to the building and help the Guards with whatever they need. They’ll be in the second doorway office. Two more will probably be on duty upstairs with Jackson in his Situation Room, so at any one time the two designated to sleep will be in sleeping bags on camp cots in the first office, but to be honest I wouldn’t bank on getting much sleep at all for the next few days.”

Nat paused and saw the excitement on the faces before him.

“Travis, can you supervise everyone getting ready? Pack your sleeping bags, wash kits and some spare uniform and be ready to take them over to the two front offices in the Pavilion right after dinner. Try to take anything you’ll need but don’t over-do it: you’ll still be able to pop back over here and grab additional stuff later if you need it. Also, keep all your warm weather clothing and survival gear in your backpacks and take them with you. We’ll always take them with us if we get a chance to get out in the Humvee with Sergeant Anders.”

“Skis too?”

“Yes, Travis, skis too if you can find somewhere to store them.”

As the guys set to packing, Nat wandered over and sat down beside Kyle on what had been his old bed.

“So, to what do we owe this pleasure?” he smiled. “I guess you just couldn’t keep away.”

Kyle laughed. “Pretty much. I thought I’d let you brief the guys on how the plan affects you and them before I said anything. I’m not going to be joining you in Bensinger Squad, so you are still in charge. While Jackson is looking important in his new role, I’ve been delegated to replace him here in College, basically carrying on the role of being the senior cadet responsible for normal day to day running. I’ve given up my room to one of the kitchen staff and thought I’d move back in down here, look after this room for you. If you need any support, just give me a shout, but otherwise I’ll leave you to your own devices and let you all be Jackson’s gophers for a few days. If you do it well, it’ll look good on you and the squad.”

“And if something goes wrong,” smiled Nat, “Jackson can sacrifice us to keep his own reputation intact. I know how that side of things works too.”

* * *

Before dinner, the Commandant had called for a moment’s quiet and announced that the College was moving to Stage 3 of their Winter Preparedness Plan. He outlined that though lessons would carry on as near normal as staffing levels would allow for the next day or two, from the weekend onwards they were to be ready to assist with helping out in the local community if required. The Officer Cadets had already drawn up plans for that which would be cascaded down over the next few days. The Sports Pavilion would also be off limits until further notice as it was to become the operations centre and accommodation for a detachment of National Guard who would be arriving later that night as part of the Governor’s Contingency Plan.

“Shane, why are you and your squad in your combat gear tonight?” asked one of the other freshman students on his table. “Are you going to spend another night outside in your survival hole? And what was that we heard about a snow bear?”

“Travis, what’s with the combats? You should be in smarts. What’s going on?”

“Will, Noah, why the uniform? What are you up to? Can we join in or is it just an artillery detachment thing?”

The guys said nothing directly, ate their meal quickly and then slipped away into the ante-room as soon as they could. Nat was waiting for them: he too had left the table the moment the Commandant had nodded to him.

“Okay guys, we’re on duty now, round the clock. First task is yours Shane. There’s an insulated box with four meals in it waiting in the kitchen. It’s for Jackson, Sergeant Anders and the two Guardsmen in his advance party. They’re busy over in the Sports Pavilion.  They might lose track of time over the next few days and probably think they are too important to slip away and eat. They need to eat, so between us, we should ensure they get fed. They shouldn’t need to remind or ask us.”

“I’ll put some pop-up reminders on our computer, Nat,” said Will.

“Will’s already set up his laptop in the front office at the Pavilion, with an internet link too,” said Travis. “We thought it might come in useful. He managed to do it and move some stuff in before dinner.”

“Okay, nice move, Will. Shane, you crack on now with that box for Jackson. Noah, Will, you can go into the kitchen and lend the staff a hand. The National Guard are due to arrive at midnight and they have been driving for several hours already. There’s a meal of casserole being prepared for them, but the staff will appreciate a hand packing it into insulated containers along with bread rolls and flasks of coffee, a few cookies and so on. Once you’ve helped pack it, take it over to the Pavilion and put it in the downstairs lounge until they arrive. Then set up some of those collapsible tables that are in the store room there. Shane can give you hand with that too. Travis, you stick with me for now. Any questions? No? Okay, get to it, I’ll see you shortly over in the Pavilion.”

As Shane, Noah and Will headed off to the kitchens, Nat and Travis headed over to the Sports Pavilion. A quick look inside the two offices at the front door revealed that a couple of camp cots had been dropped off in one of them, and Will’s laptop and all their backpacks were in the second.

“Okay, looks like we’re sorted. Did Will bring all that over on his own? He couldn’t have had time.”

Travis grinned. “No, he press-ganged a couple of guys from Robertson Squad to carry the backpacks. Well, he is still technically an acting Corporal, no-one actually said that we reverted to Privates once the lectures finished today.”

Nat smiled. “Good initiative. And I guess he’s right: until someone actually does say otherwise, I guess you are still all acting Corporals. Don’t overly abuse it and you might get away with it for a few days yet. Now, let’s take a quick look around at preparations down here, then go up to the War Bunker or Situation Room or whatever it’s called and report to Jackson and see what he’s got lined up for us.”

By the time Nat and Travis had surveyed the downstairs rooms in the Pavilion which would be used as off-duty and recreation facilities for the Guardsmen, and then satisfied themselves that the upstairs accommodation was also up to scratch, they discovered that Shane had arrived at the Situation Room with the evening meal. Jackson, Sergeant Anders and his two Guardsmen were sat around the map table tucking in to grilled Atlantic salmon fillets with rice and a ginger and lime sauce.

Jackson nodded. “Corporal Lundgren says there’s also a meal being prepared for the detachment when it arrives about midnight. That’s good thinking Sergeant Bauer. I’m sure they’ll appreciate it.”

“They’ll be bringing a couple of cooks with them,” said Sergeant Anders, “They were expecting to have to fend for themselves but the new plan is for them to assist your own kitchen staff and everyone will eat together over in the main dining room. The college gets a helping hand with preparing the extra meals and…”

“And we get real food instead of MREs…” said one of the two Guardsmen. “Do you guys really get food like this all the time?”

“No,” smirked Nat, “When the staff are up to full strength we actually get decent food. Sorry you’ve had to rough it tonight…”

Jackson waited for everyone to finish laughing and then said to Sergeant Anders, “You carry on, there are some desserts in the other container. I just want a quick word with my liaison team. We’ll just be downstairs in the front office, shout if you need anything.”

Nat led the way downstairs, followed by Travis and Jackson. Nat paused in the entrance area at the front door and then indicated the side office where Will had set up a laptop.

“This is where we’ll have someone on duty, 24 hours a day. From here we can control access to the Pavilion and if the Guardsmen either here in the recreational areas or upstairs need anything, they will always find someone to liaise with them and help in sorting things out. We’re going to get a radio set up in here with walkie-talkies for us all so that we can keep in touch if we need to send people over the college or anywhere else. Two more of us will be available to help you out, to liaise with the Guards or whatever is required.”

Jackson nodded.

“We’ll use the second office to rest and sleep. If the three people on duty need extra assistance or have to leave the building for any reason, they can wake the two who are resting or asleep and get them to take over in the liaison room. Whatever happens, the five of us will be here for the duration and ready to help you out,” finished Nat.

Jackson thought for a moment then smiled. “You seem to have got things in hand. When the Guardsmen arrive, Sergeant Anders plans to have their vehicles park out in the car lot over by the dining room until they are needed. The current plan is to have six big trucks based here, four of them with snowploughs, plus a handful of Humvees as general liaison and gopher vehicles. We’ve agreed that the College Humvee will park right outside the front of the Pavilion here for use by authorised college drivers. I’ll add you to that list, Nat, and the keys and driver authorisation book can be kept in your office here and signed for when needed. They’re up in the Situation Room at the moment, but it’s better for them to be down here where one of your guys can keep control of them.”

Nat glanced at Travis. “Travis, can you go and bring the keys and papers down right away?” Nat waited a moment until Travis had left them, then spoke quietly to Jackson.

“Jackson, we both intend to come out of this covered in glory. We can help each other. Once the Governor stands up the Guard formally, he’ll delegate control of the relief operations to my pop. Obviously, it’s important to him that I’m seen to be helping out, just as it’s important that the College is seen to be playing its part, and important to your future that you are seen to be playing a key role too.”

Nat let the words sink in for a moment, then continued. “When things are getting hectic, when decisions need to be made, resource allocated, tasks prioritised, remember I have one thing that no-one else here has, not the Commandant, not even the officers who will be leading the Guard platoon. I can pick up my phone and call my pop, night or day, and it will be answered. A direct line to the very top, bypassing all the usual bureaucracy. If something needs his authority, I can get it. That could be very useful for you.”

Jackson nodded. “But,” he said, “There will be a ‘but’, won’t there? Conditions attached. Bauers always have conditions.”

Nat smiled. “First, I want my guys to keep their acting ranks for the duration of their assignment. It’ll give them the authority they need to get on with their duties without some awkward Corporal questioning or making life difficult for them.”

“That’s fair enough. Get one of them to call by the office and pick up a set of red duty lanyards and a set of Corporal’s stripes each to velcro to their sleeves.”

“Second, I want the freedom to be able to go into town with one or more of my guys and be seen to be doing something. Delivering medicines to an old folks’ home, directing the Guard to somewhere they are needed. You get the picture. Whatever makes good publicity. For me, for the College, and so for you too.”

“I’m sure that can be sorted,” said Jackson. “In fact, why not start now? The Guard platoon are heading down the Interstate but, in this weather, and with them most likely not knowing the local roads, they could easily miss the turn off or get lost anyway on the back roads from the highway here to college. The weather hasn’t totally shut us down yet: you could go out in the Humvee with Sergeant Anders or one of his men, take one of your guys too so they can practice radio drills or whatever, meet up with them, guide them back here.”

Nat smiled. “I was thinking you might suggest that…”

* * *

Just before nine, Nat briefed the squad in their new duty office. All were in their combats, newly adorned with a red duty lanyard and a set of Corporal’s stripes on their sleeves.

“Will, I want you to carry on plumbing in that radio and connecting it to your laptop in the office and doing whatever magic you need to work it. Tune it in to the frequency of the radio in the Humvee, and also make sure you know what frequencies the Guards will be using. I’ll leave Noah and Shane with you to help out, then train them how to use it. Shane, Noah, as well as helping Will, take it in turns to be up in the Situation Room, say for a half hour each, turn and turn about. Don’t get in the way, but keep up to speed with whatever is going on, be there for whenever Jackson or Sergeant Anders needs stuff done. Anything from making coffee to passing messages, to plotting things on their map board for them. Do all the little tasks to enable them to concentrate on the big picture. I’ll take Travis with me to guide the Guards in.”

Will looked up. “They shouldn’t need it, Nat. They’ll have GPS and it won’t get blocked out by the snow. It’s got Fourier Transform based pattern recognition algorithms that can filter the signal from any amount of background noise and lead them here through the worst storm…”

Nat smiled. “You know that, Will, and so do they, but the good folk of Pittsburgh don’t, so it’s going to play pretty well in the news when we’re seen out there leading the platoon in and ensuring they are ready to help out in any relief efforts. I assume you can send data and photos through your laptop to the news desk of all the local TV and papers if I give you the contact details… ”

Will grinned. “Are fish waterproof, Nat?”

“When we’re about half an hour from arriving back at the College with the Guard, we’ll tip you off and then you can get the food ready for them. Tables set, hot coffee ready, plates on standby so as soon as they get in the building they can all grab a hot meal before they turn in for the night. The officers will probably dine up in the Situation Room so Sergeant Anders and Jackson can brief them on what facilities we have here as they eat. So, make sure there are enough chairs, some table space and cutlery up there for them. Everybody happy? Know what you’ve all got to do?”

“We’ve got it, Nat.”

* * *

Specialist Koenig rubbed his hands together and grinned as he glanced up in the rear-view mirror and watched as Travis, sitting in the seat behind him, flicked the radio’s frequency selector dial as he ended his transmission to the incoming National Guard platoon and called back to the college.

“Puma Seven, out to you. Hello Fox Zero, Hello Fox Zero, this is Fox Two, over.”

The radio crackled briefly, then Noah’s voice came over the airwaves.

“Fox Two from Fox Zero, send, over.”

“Fox Two. Comms established with Puma Seven, their ETA at our location is minutes one zero. Will confirm arrival at that time, over.”

“Roger that, Fox Two. Current report on the road from town to college is that it is still passable to four-wheel drive. Over.”

“Roger that, Fox Zero. Out to you.”

“You’re pretty hot on that radio, kid,” said Koenig, “I’ve got trained men that couldn’t do it better. How old are you?”

“Fifteen,” said Travis as he lifted one earphone and looked forward at Nat. Before he could speak to Nat, Nat looked at Koenig.

“And he’s not a kid, Specialist, he’s a Cadet Corporal.”

Koenig smiled. “No offence meant, Cadet Sergeant. Now, when the platoon gets here, I suggest we don’t waste time, just drop in front of them and high-tail it back to college before the road does block. No point in having to plough our way through if we can avoid it.”

“No problem with that,” said Nat. “Once we see them coming down that hill we’ll pull onto the highway and head on home.”

“They want us to keep to twenty-five miles an hour maximum, Nat,” said Travis. “Fifteen if the snow gets deep. If we find it tough, we’re to pull aside and let the lead truck push ahead, it’s fitted with a plough.”

“We’ve got that,” said Nat, as he exchanged a glance with Koenig and passed him a cup. “Now, anyone for more coffee? Might be our last chance before we move off?”

* * *

It was just after midnight when the National Guard platoon arrived at the college and headed up the access road towards the Sports Pavilion and the car lot designated for the trucks to use. At the entrance to the car lot Sergeant Anders was waiting for them, a red Cyalume stick in each hand, guiding the trucks onto the snow-covered tarmac. Beyond him in the dark, just discernible through the snow flurries, two more sets of red sticks glowed, each in turn signalling “Obey this Marshaller” as they approached and then directing them to a designated place.

“That’s Noah and Will,” said Travis, as they followed the directions, “I told you they’d learned that when they visited the artillery school.”

The trucks were quickly parked up and the contingent of Guardsmen led indoors where they found a hot meal waiting for them. Sergeant Anders led the platoon’s officers upstairs to where the Commandant and Jackson were waiting to welcome and brief them as they too were fed. Nat lurked at the back of the room, relieving Shane who had been there when he arrived. As the Commandant was speaking to the officers, Nat slipped over to Jackson and spoke quietly.

“If you’re okay with it, I’d like to stand most of my guys down for tonight, let them get some sleep ready for tomorrow. I’ll leave one on duty down at the front office and one up here if you need him.”

“No, you’re okay, Nat. Just man the front office, we’re good up here tonight. If we need anything we’ll come down and rouse somebody. Let your guys rest, they’ve done well today.”

Nat went downstairs, wandering through the room that was being used as a dining area and then through the recreation area. A few Guardsmen were still wandering around, a few were sat watching the late night tv, but most had eaten quickly and then gone upstairs to the dormitories to get some sleep. Friday was probably going to be a long and busy day.

Back at the front office, Shane, Noah and Travis were clustered around the radio and laptop, watching as Will guided them through the SDR software. As Nat approached, Will glanced up.

“We’re pretty much good to go, Nat. The radio is on the military frequencies, the laptop and SDR kit is linking to the emergency services. It can pick up all the local and national radio stations too, and this plug-in here can call up and decode tv and run the signal as picture-in-picture.”

Nat smiled. “And those photos of the convoy coming in to college, and the Guards getting fed?”

“Sent ten minutes ago, Nat, right to your pop’s office and copied to that list of media outlets you gave me.”

“Well done, Will. The rest of you too, setting all this up, getting the dining room operational, making sure the Guardsmen got whatever they needed, that took a lot of effort and it won’t have gone unnoticed. Especially after the lectures this morning. Time for you all to get some sleep now. I’ll do the next few hours here on the desk, then come and wake one of you up to replace me at four for two hours. Everyone else up at six. “

“Wake me, Nat, I’ll do the shift after you.”

“Thanks, Shane.”