Chapter Seven: Guardia Espanoles
"El honor es mi divisa."
Guardia Civil motto
"Honour is my badge."
Ceuta, Spanish autonomous city in the north coast of Africa
Capitan Ernesto Sainz and Capitan Valeria San Martina watched the news unfold on the public television set that was placed recently in the officers room in the headquarters of the combined Guardia Civil and Ejercito de Tierra (the Civil Guard and the Army of the Land). The two officers sat together at a small table while the rest of the officers, both minor and major, sat at other tables with their partners or by themselves. Expressions were mixed as they set on their faces, the news either affecting them negatively or positively.
For Ernesto, he was not happy with the news that something was happening in one of the African countries to the west of the continent. For Valeria, she was excited to know about this. While his hands clenched and he allowed a frown to show, the woman tried her best to disguise her smile and to keep her hands busy to prevent them from coming together in increasing delight.
It was only the very words of the visiting Teniente Coronel Brisia Meza that snapped both them and the officers out of their attention that was given to the news. She spoke with a fire that set them to stand and salute her along with the accompanying head of the forces in the city, Heneral Raul Tasis.
"Soldados! Firmes! Hay mucho que hacer. Escuche bien porque no vamos a repetir. (Soldiers! Attention! There is a lot to do! Listen well because we will not repeat it.)" She then nodded to them and then turned to the Heneral and nodded to him before she said "Heneral, you may speak."
And the Heneral nodded back before he faced the officers and told them "Facil ahora. (Easy now)" And immediately, the officers put their hands down and assumed positions at ease. Soon enough, he started to speak to them.
"I understand that you all are starting to learn about the situation that is developing in the the Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone. While it may seem that this involves only these two countries, I do not need to remind you that this year is a dangerous year. For now, I have received a letter of instruction and recommendation from the chief of the army of our country. Our Jefe de Ejercito. Right now, he recommends that we stand ready in case of any threat to our cities here in the Northern Coast of AFrica.
On the other hand, his instructions were to send a team to assist the United Nations forces stationed in Sierra Leone. Hopefully we will be able to come in time before this may lead to a great storm. That is all. I expect you all to report to your units before the end of the day."
