Chapter 5

"Captain Ikari, reporting as ordered, sir!"

"At ease, Captain." Colonel Fuyamoto told her as he sat at his desk., returning a salute she had given him.

"Yes, sir." She said as she looked straight ahead and put her hands behind her back.

"Captain, I regret that you were not given promotion to Major. It saddens me that the board did not think you were worthy of such a rank."

"Thank you, sir." Hope said plainly.

"Captain, this has been reversed."

"Sir?" Hope asked.

"You've been promoted." He said with a smile as he took from his desk a small box and handed it to her. "Go ahead, Major. You've earned these."

Hope stared at the small box and reached out for it, as she took it and held it in her hands she breathed in and smiled. As she opened the box, she stared at the two small gold leafs that shined as the light reflected on them. "Thank you, Colonel, sir." She said as she tried to hold back her joy and closed the box. "I am without words, sir. Why has the board reversed their decision, sir?"

"Captain, this is a provisional promotion." He told her.

"Provisional in what way, sir?" Hope asked. "Whatever is required of me, I will do it. I have a duty and responsibility. I live up to that duty and do what is needed to be done."

"I know that all too well of you." The Colonel said with a smile. "Captain, I will tell you this much. What you are about to be told cannot be repeated. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir." Hope said.

"An American agent named Sawyer Dell is in charge of a top secret United Nations project. . Should you accept this mission, you will be working with him on this top secret government project. You are not to reveal the nature of this project to anyone. This project is of the utmost importance and the American government feels that they need to oversee this endeavor on the part of the Japanese military. The UN has also felt that the nature of this project will be used to protect the world from eminent danger. Captain, there is great danger here and if you refuse this, you can walk away right now."

"If I do, sir, I lose my promotion to major, don't I?" Hope asked.

"Yes." The Colonel said. "You would not receive your promotion to major. You would have to wait until the next time the promotion boards reconvene and if you fail to obtain that promotion, you will be discharged from the military under Honorable Conditions."

"I understand, sir. I accept this mission." Hope said firmly.

"Captain Ikari, realize that this mission could potentially endanger your life."

"My life is worth risking for my country, sir." Hope told her superior officer. "I will do what my country asks of me."

"There is another condition, Captain Ikari." The Colonel said.

"What is that?" Hope asked.

"You will be transferred to NERV."

"NERV?" Hope asked. "NERV was dismantled thirty years ago. Sir, NERV no longer exists."

"Wrong." The Colonel said. "NERV apparently was reinstated about five years ago. NERV in accordance with the United Nations and NATO have been conducting surveillance operations once the CIA reported on the existence of an organization known as SEELE."

Hope's face dropped as she breathed in. She knew that word all too well. "SEELE?" Hope asked. "How could that be? SEELE was destroyed. They no longer exist."

"SEELE apparently has been covert in their operations. SEELE has been using underworld communications and technologies along with enlisting the aid of several terrorist organizations to do what they are planning."

"What is it that SEELE is planning, sir?" Hope asked.

"This is what has been classified from me." The Colonel said "Captain Ikari, when you report to your new base of operation tomorrow you will be briefed further on the responsibilities of your assignment.."

"I'm having second thoughts about this mission, sir." Hope told him.

"You can say no." The Colonel said. "I will think no less of you if you say no. No one will even know that this conversation ever happened. This is no dishonor in saying no to an operation of this magnitude or this danger, Captain."

"I understand, sir." Hope said as she took a deep breath. "I accept the mission regardless of the danger."

The Colonel smiled. "You are a good officer, Captain. I will miss having you on our squadron. You will do well at NERV, this I know."

"Thank you, Colonel." Hope said.

"You are dismissed, Captain. Report to duty tomorrow morning at eight am on the address inside of that box. Inform no one where you are going and what your mission entails. I have to warn you, if you divulge any information to anyone not associated with this project, you can be terminated on site."

"I will do my duty, sir." Hope said as she saluted her superior officer.

The Colonel stood and returned her salute. "I know you will, Captain."

She bought her hand down and then exited out of the Colonel's office, holding in her hand the rank that she had wanted for so very long and now, she was about to undertake a mission of enormous danger and responsibility.

Hope's life was good.