Strike Force Zulu - Chapter 8: 15:00 March 31st

“I’m sorry honey, I have absolutely no idea how much longer I will be down here. There is no one else available to watch over the NOC from a management perspective. I have a network engineer, a systems administrator, the janitorial staff, and the security guard at the entrance. Our contract with the Department of Defense dictates there must be someone from the senior managerial staff present twenty-four hours a day.” Richard said to his wife over the phone. He continued, “There is a cot available, so I am going to rack out here until I am relieved.”

“Sweetheart… I’m sorry, I know you have to be tired. I just thought that after all those years in the military, that you might, you know, be around more often?” Catherine sighed heavily while trying not to make Richard feel too guilty. “You be careful there, and make sure you give me a call as soon as you leave there so I know about when to expect you. Unless, you want me to come down and bring you some food or something.”

Richard quickly replied, “No. No… that would be too long of a drive for you sweetie. You just take care of the things at home that need to be taken care of and I will try and get out of here as soon as possible. Ok?”

Suppressing another sigh, Catherine said, “Ok dear, if that is what you want. Get some sleep and I will talk to you soon. I love you.”

Smiling softly Richard murmured back, “I love you too sweetie; and yes, I will try to be around a lot more than I used to be. I will talk to you soon.”

Hanging up the phone, Richard looked around his office. His “I love me” wall behind his desk was present complete with medals, challenge coins, plaques, and all sorts of certifications, diplomas, all the claptrap someone who has served a full career in the military would collect. The bookshelves against one wall were filled with all sorts of books, clearly showing his eclectic reading preferences. There were a few sci-fi novels, a lot of military history, a few aeronautical engineering texts, as well as a lot of Information Technology related books.

He stood up and made sure his door was secure before walking over to the bookshelves. Reaching out to what appeared to be a standard book on PASQAL, he titled the top of the book forward slightly, causing a hidden mechanism to activate. The bookshelf slid backward and then to the side revealing a hidden safe in the alcove the bookshelf had been covering. Placing his hand on the sensor, the biometrics determined that he was, indeed, allowed access and the safe opened up. Inside of the safe was a full set of tactical gear. Of course this included weapons as well. In addition to the Glock 17 that he had strapped to his waist currently, there was a Glock 26 as a back-up, a Heckler and Koch MP-5K, a Mossberg 500 Tactical 12-Gauge Shotgun, and a Colt M-4 with all the bells and whistles.

Looking over the small armory almost longingly, Richard removed the Glock 17 from its holster and placed it inside of the safe before closing it. While he knew he could maintain the weapon on his person while he slept, Mike had made it very clear, that if Richard was going to sleep in the ready room, he had to secure his weapon first. Of course this was just a way to appease the insurance weenies, but Richard did as he was told. Pressing a button atop the biometric sensor, he stepped back out of the way to allow the bookshelf close back up. Sighing slightly, he sighed, it wasn’t as if he was truly unarmed, he still had his Gerber multi-tool and a six inch folding tactical knife on his ankle.

Grabbing his “woobie”, the US Army issued poncho liner from where it hung behind his office door, Richard then opened the door to his office and stepped out into the hall. He then quickly walked down to the NOC, “Hey, Pat. I’m going to go rack out for a few. Wake me up if anything happens, ok?”

“Sure thing Rich. Consuela should be in before too long, she just texted and said she is on her way.” Pat, the network engineer said. “My shift is almost over, I’ll let her know what is going on and hand over the reins to her.”

“Sounds good Pat. Thanks.” Richard continued down the hallway to the quote, unquote “ready-room.” If this was the military, this is where the troops on the quick reaction force would hang out waiting for a mission. But here, it was just an overblown break room that could double as sleeping quarters should the need ever arise. Which it did, a lot. There was almost always someone using the cot every two or three days a week. With the economy the way it was, keeping qualified personnel was difficult. Everyone was always looking for better opportunities just to make ends meet.

Stepping into the room, Richard did a once over before flipping the lights, closing the door most of the way, and lying down while pulling the woobie up over him. Within seconds he was asleep.