The Solider Husband - Chapter 580

7 June, Military Base, City K

Matthew shook his head, and said “Thank you Warrant Officer,” before quickly heading inside to his office, where Ben, Joseph and David were waiting for him.

As the door shut Matthew turned and said “Gentleman, what do you know?”

“Hey boss, stop firing into us,” quickly responded Joseph.  “Our wives have been on the phone to each of us wanting to know how Lexi went with her check-up.  You want to delay us telling those three, be the one to explain why.”

Matthew slightly smiled and said, “Me brave those dragons, no way.”  Matthew looked around and said, “Call each of them and place them on speaker phone, then I can tell them at the same time I let you know.”

Ten minutes later after the explanation conference call had ended Matthew turned and said, “Are you all happy?”

“Happy,” responded Ben, “No, only glad that things seem to be on the improve.”

Matthew looked around, and quickly pulled out and the signal jabbing device and turned it on.  He then said, “Any leads to confirm that information I gave you?”

“You are kidding us boss?  How many tips like that to intelligence agencies get a day.  Thousands upon thousands.  Most are looked at and considered, and we have some basis to evaluate them.  This one, all we have is the information and your statement that it is from a trusted source,” said David quietly.  “While we each have our strengths in analysis, without the starting point of the source, even evaluating it is difficult…”

“Speak for yourself,” came the mocking tone from Ben.  “We all know…”

“That sometimes sources are protected,” came Joseph causing David to laugh.  “Sometimes Ben, you are too trusting and fail to evaluate the potential risks of the data being wrong.”  Joseph turned to David, looking directly at him before adding “And you David are too conservative and would risk being wrong at times than taking a blind leap with intelligence.:

Together Ben and David said, “And you try to play the middle ground,” laughing together.

Ben then added “That does no one any good.”

Joseph added “True, but that is why we work well together.  Our failings tend to balance each other out.  In the end boss, we came to the view, with the intelligence team that there is viability to the proposed attack.  Yes, there is lack of chatter that would give us a definitive answer, but it is not unusual.”

David calmly added “The two factors that are tying things together is there is something major happening in the city.  A promotional event for the movie experts believes will be the biggest domestic release of the year with some of the hottest actors in the country in it.  Then a major military training exercise that would always see soldiers heading into the local major city to let their hair down.”

Matthew lowed at Ben and Joseph who were nodding their heads.  David continued, “What has gotten over my concerns is that there is a major football [1] game in City A this weekend, between the local team and one from the Capital.  The outcome will determine who wins the championship.  Not only will there be those attending the game present, but there will be many who do not have a ticket.  Attacking the game or one of the parties associated with it would be the most likely outcome.”

“Any disagreements on that conclusion?”

“No, we looked at it, and had everyone consider a washed version of what you showed us.  All the conclusions were the same.”

Matthew paused, and said “That was my conclusion when this came to my attention.  The issue is how do we proceed?”

“Boss, you think that we are stupid that you have to ask that question.  We went straight to Head Honcho and passed on our conclusions.  We are simply awaiting orders.”

Matthew resisted the urge to close his eyes and sigh.  This was difficult to address.  Acting to protect the citizens but bearing in mind everything the had about a bigger attack to come.  It went against the oath he took on joining the military, as much as it would for Head Honcho and Legend, but the question was which would win out.  Stop the now and risk alterations to what they knew or rick people now to protect acting to prevent the bigger attack?

Ben quietly said “Boss, there is something you are not talking about?”

Matthew shook his head slightly and said, “What makes you think that gentlemen?”

“You are too quiet.  Normally you would have ideas so where are they boss?” continued Ban.

Thinking quickly Matthew said “Sorry, I was just distracted.  I was expecting Lexi to be done at the base hospital and am worried that she has not called me…”

Ben, Joseph, and David looked at each other before David quipped “Wife slave…”

Thankful he had distracted them Matthew smiled and said “The lot of you can talk.  You are as bad as I am when it comes to your own wives, so no peanut gallery [2] please.”

Joseph, immediately catching onto Matthew’s meaning, said “Us, Boss, Heckling you, never.”

Matthew could not help laughing at the three men in front of him.  The number of times they had pulled him from danger let alone kept him grounded over the years ensured that regardless of any disparity in their ranks they would know how to keep him grounded.

As he looked to speak to them, he noticed the time, and laughingly added “Thank you idiots.  I need to be kept grounded.”  Closing his eyes briefly he opened them and added “We will await the call from national command in case there are other issues none of us are across.  But whoever oversees the go teams at the moment, ensure that they are ready to deploy at a moment notice.  Dismissed.”

[1] in this case meaning soccer

[2] In the context Matthew is using this idiom, he is meaning people heckling him from the back of the room.  In this case, he is talking about the only three people in the room, David, Joseph, and Ben

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