CHAPTER TWO

Mike Slattery was bored. This was the worst part of his new job. After captaining a destroyer, and heading the fleet, he decided he was getting too old to be at sea and wanted something a little more stable. So, when they had asked him to help organize and train the new generation of military he had agreed. They were going about it a little differently after the pandemic as all the branches were fledgling and just getting their feet wet.

The Navy had the most personnel still, so they had been made the figure head of the armed forces by President Reiss. The Navy was also first to get their academy up and running, with West Point following close behind. Officers were in the making, but the enlisted were still a mess.

Mike had accepted a position to help train the enlisted men and women. His expertise landed him with the Navy personnel obviously, but there were joint training sessions for some of the areas. Mike was overseeing those joint operations. He had enlisted the help of Tex Nolan to recruit qualified instructors and Tex had done a fine job of getting people in the doors.

Now Mike sat through a meeting with the President and the new head of the Army, General Kincaid. He wished it was over and he could go meet with the people Tex had recruited and get the training sessions organized and under way.

"Mr. Nolan has recruited five people, plus himself, to help with marksmanship, hand to hand combat, and survival skills. Admiral Slattery you'll be overseeing that project and working with Mr. Nolan to get the training completed within the next six months," President Reiss was saying.

"Yes, Sir," Mike said, nodding. "I've already started working with Mr. Nolan and we are scheduled to meet later today to get the other five on the same page. From what Tex has told me we should have adequate coverage for all the areas needed."

"Sounds like it. I'm assuming you trust this Mr. Nolan to know what he is doing?" General Kincaid asked.

"Completely," Mike said quickly. "Mr. Nolan served with the Nathan James during the pandemic."

"I didn't know he was Navy," Kincaid said. Mike shook his head.

"He's not. We picked him up in Gitmo early on in our endeavor to make a cure. He filled a role on the ship that gives me confidence in his ability to do the job I've given him," Mike replied.

"Very well," Reiss continued. "I think we've covered all the ground we needed to cover today. I'll dismiss you two to get to work on your assignments."

"Thank you, Sir," Mike said as he stood and left the table. He made his way out of the meeting room and through the old courthouse. He checked the time and noticed he still had twenty minutes before his meeting with Tex. He headed out the door and stopped at a local diner that had opened not too long ago but had quickly become a favorite of Mike's.

After getting his food he quickly ate and then made his way down the block to the old hotel they had converted into a base of operations. He checked his office door for messages then made his way to the conference room and settled in. In no time the door opened, and Tex Nolan walked in with a smile.

"Tex," Mike said standing and reaching a hand out. The two men shook then both sat down, across from one another.

"So, I've got five people who have preliminarily agreed to help out, pending reading over the contract and working out the finer details," Tex said as two more people came into the room. Tex waved at the two men then pointed to seats. Both men sat down and waited.

"That makes six counting you. I think that should be enough to get things started. I'm assuming they all have military background?"

"Yes, except one. But he was a lifetime police officer before the pandemic. He worked SWAT and bomb squad."

"Those experiences will work here too," Mike replied as two more people came in and took seats. They were waiting on one more. Tex checked his watch and frowned. "Someone back out?"

"I don't know," Tex said with a sigh. "I wasn't sure on the fifth one I recruited last night."

Tex had just finished speaking when a woman walked in and looked around. She looked a little nervous to be there and Tex patted the seat next to him. Mike watched as she moved swiftly across the room and slid into the seat Tex had indicated.

"Alright," Tex said looking around the table. "I'd like to introduce you all to Admiral Mike Slattery. He's the head of this operation and we will be reporting directly to him. Let's go around the table and you guys can introduce yourselves. Why don't you start, Pete," Tex said.

"I'm Pete Gallant. I'm a retired Marine. I was recruited to teach Marksmanship and survival skills," a gray-haired man said with a flip of his hand. Mike nodded at the man.

"I'm Ted Baldwin. I was in the Army before and during the pandemic. I'm here to teach hand to hand combat and survival skills," a very fit middle-aged man said.

"I'm Colt Brannigan. I was a SWAT officer before the shit hit the fan. I've been working for St. Louis police since they reestablished but I'm switching over to teach combat and marksmanship," said a dark-haired man with light blue eyes.

"Hey, I'm Gavin West. I'm retired Army. I worked with Tex for a while before the pandemic. Here to teach combat skills, hand to hand, and survival," a man with long hair said.

"You all know me I'm Tex Nolan. Been in the service, was a mercenary, worked for the Navy for a bit, now I'm here," Tex replied then looked at the woman.

"Guess that leaves me, name's Second Place, I was in the Army for a while, then worked with Tex after that. Kind of laid low during the pandemic and Tex convinced me to come teach some kids to shoot and beat the shit out of each other," the woman said. Mike fought the urge to laugh and maintain the stone face. Tex was shaking his head looking at his hands. At least she was honest. The name confused him though and he was asking before he could stop himself.

"Second Place?" Mike asked. Tex looked at him with a slight shake of his head.

"Yep. That's what people call me," she said, before she leaned back in the chair. Mike studied her for a moment and figured he wouldn't get more of the story, at least not right now. He made a mental note to ask Tex about it later.

"All right. I have your contracts here. Feel free to read them over. Your duties and pay scale are all laid out in the fine print so read carefully. I'll give you half an hour to look over them. If you agree and don't have any questions you can sign and leave them here. If you have questions, I'll be back in half an hour. If you don't agree to the terms, no hard feelings just walk on out and leave the contract unsigned. Everyone understand?"

Mike watched as all the heads bobbed up and down. He rose to leave and headed back to his office. He noticed Tex get up as well and follow him. Mike sat down at his desk and watched Tex come in and shut the door behind him, before taking the seat in front of Mike's desk.

"Honest opinion on them?" Mike asked.

"Well, I served with Gavin and then worked with him and Second Place when I was a mercenary. Gavin's solid and has a knack for teaching. He'll make a great instructor. I don't know Brannigan but he's superior on the St. Louis police force was unhappy he was leaving and gave him a glowing recommendation. Apparently, he's pretty good at his job. Ted is a current soldier that served all the way through the pandemic. From talking to him he's good at explaining things. Pete's a marine. I came across him a while back and we became friends. He'll teach them to survive for sure."

"And Second Place?" Mike asked his eyebrow raised. Tex smiled.

"Ah, Second Place."

"I'm sure there's a story behind her name."

"Yes. Maybe someday she'll tell you. But if you want someone well trained in hand-to-hand combat, she's the one to teach them. She's ruthless when all bets are off."

"She's not going to hurt anyone is she?"

"Not if you tell her not too. Also, if you want to learn to shoot, just watch her. I've never seen someone as deadly as her."

"Can she teach? Or is she just good?"

"I guess we'll find out. She does struggle on the human contact side of things."

"What's that mean?"

"She just doesn't gel well with a lot of people. She's brutally honest sometimes, and the other times she just doesn't speak at all. She can take a bit to get used to."

"Great," Mike said with a sigh. "You think they'll all take the contract?"

"Most likely. I already signed mine. Once we got the paperwork squared away when do we start?"

"The first group of recruits are supposed to come in from Norfolk in two days. It's a mixed bag of Army and Marines I think."

"Did they ever get an Air Force branch up and going?" Tex asked.

"Yes. We have a handful of fixed wing pilots that had training on fighter jets. They've all been sent off to Colorado to train some more pilots."

"Sounds like we're getting our act together."

"Yes, finally," Mike said checking his watch. He had another ten minutes before he was due back in the conference room. "Why don't you go check on everyone in the room. I'll be along in ten minutes."

"Yes, Sir," Tex said giving him a mock salute before standing up and leaving the office. Mike blew out a breath and stared at the picture of his family on his desk.

Things had gotten a little easier in that department as the days, months, and years had moved on. It still hurt to look at those pictures and see the family that he had lost during the Red Flu. He licked his lips and tore his gaze away from them, frozen in time, smiling. With two more minutes to go he pushed up from his desk chair and left his office.

When he got back to the conference room, the four men had all signed the contracts and left. Tex sat at the table with Second Place as they were discussing something. She stopped when she noticed Mike enter the room. He took the seat he had previously been sitting in and flipped through the four signed contracts making sure they were properly signed. Tex cleared his throat and Mike looked up to see the two of them staring at him.

"Is there an issue?" Mike asked slowly. The woman made a face and Tex smiled.

"Second Place has a question about her contract," Tex said and looked at her. She pursed her lips and then considered Mike for a moment.

"Well?" Mike prompted when she didn't ask anything. Tex nudged her shoulder.

"There's no clause in her protecting me if I hurt someone during training," she said matter of factly. Mike stared at her a moment. She stared right back at him, her eyes a shade of gold. When Mike didn't answer her, she raised her eyebrows.

"Are you planning on hurting someone during training?" Mike asked. She laughed.

"No one plans on it, Admiral," she said detached. "But. It will happen and I want to be covered."

"Why do you think it will happen?"

"Well, if you want me to do my job correctly then," she said with a shoulder shrug. "Look, shit happens. I just want to be protected in case shit happens to me. Also, if I'm injured who's responsible?"

"Well, in that case if you're injured on the job the military pays for your medical costs. If you happen to injure someone in training it's also covered by the military, unless it's a malicious act."

"Well, I don't intend to injure anyone on purpose so I suppose that's out for now," she answered nonchalantly. Mike stared at her trying to figure her out. Tex was right, she had an awkwardness about her. She seemed to be contemplating something in her head then she held her hand out to Tex. "Pen, Maestro."

"That's a stretch," Tex chuckled as he handed her a pen. She gave him a sideways glance with a smile.

"True enough," she quipped and then signed her name on the last sheet on the contract. "The rest of satisfactory. I look forward to training the next gen of solider."

"Glad you have you aboard," Mike said with a nod. She nodded slowly then looked at Tex.

"I'm out of here for now, but you got dinner plans?"

"Not at the moment, you asking?"

"I'm not paying for you, but if you want company, I'm free," she said. Tex laughed and then nodded.

"Yeah, I'll find ya later," Tex said. With that Second Place got up and left the conference room. Mike watched her go out. When he looked back down, he saw Tex watching him.

"What?" Mike asked.

"Watch yer six," Tex said with a smile.

"What?" Mike asked again even more confused.

"She's an enigma, Man, and better left that way," Tex said as he got up. "I'm out of here. I got a vidchat meeting with a lady in Norfolk about the boys and girls coming to us soon."

"Good luck," Mike said and watched Tex leave the conference room. He gathered up the contracts and walked down the hallway to Kincaid's office, knocking the door.

"Enter," Kincaid said, and Mike stepped into the other man's office.

"Got five signed contracts and I believe you got Tex Nolan's yesterday," Mike said handing the contracts over to the general.

"Good. How do you feel about their abilities?"

"I think we got a good mix to help teach. Should be interesting."

"Okay. I want you to oversee the training sessions at least initially. I want to make sure everything is going right."

"Yes, Sir, I agree. I'll be involved in the training as well. I have a specific skill set, especially when the Navy kids arrive."

"Good," Kincaid said, and Mike felt he was being dismissed. He left the office and returned to his own.

To Be Continued…