Chapter 18

"The importance of a shared vision cannot be over stated. Front loaded engagement of all key stakeholders to ensure early buy in will safeguard the optimum flight path of the project and make sure it is not imperilled by foreseeable and preventable risks. If these reputational and process driven risks can be identified and effectively mitigated at the inception and strategy formulation stage then successful delivery of key aims and objectives can be achieved at implementation. Now before we unpack the practicalities of stakeholder engagement strategy formulation and the structures of risk registers are there any immediate questions or queries?"

Mansfield Mike paused and looked around the room. The audience stared back at him open mouthed. Brains made to speak but then blew out a breath, shook his head and shrugged.

Smurf then tentatively raised his hand. Mansfield Mike pointed at the private "yes?"

Smurf let out a series of grunting sounds which the lecturer nodded along to but then looked slightly confused. "What do you mean 'would the steaks they were holding be raw or cooked?' I am not talking about those sort of steaks!"

James, who was standing at the back of the room, smiled. Mansfield Mike was certainly taking his new responsibilities very seriously and always seemed to have his head in one training manual or another these days.

James was glad that he was working hard to repay his faith in him. It had been one less thing to worry about as he had set about building his new company up to combat fitness over the last three weeks.

The new Major glanced along the rows of seats in front of him. The former two section were all there and proving their worth in his new company. They made up nearly all the NCOs and senior privates under his command and he had spread them among his new sections ensuring that there were experienced, level heads throughout his unit. Even Smurf was treated with respect by the new men, his exploits in Afghanistan during their last tour ensuring his loyalty and bravery in the face of the enemy was now unquestionable.

The training facilities in the special operations base were also excellent. They were shared with other elite formations and that is where one of James' current issues lay.

There was a clear tension between the more established units and his own, born predominantly of ignorance among the others as to the intricacies of zombie warfare. The use of Karaoke machines and swimming pools in particular had caused much hilarity and the nickname 'the Airheads' was now often heard around the base in a derogatory context.

Worst still a craze had swept the camp of likening the SZS to the Royal Artillery Concert Party in 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum'. This tended to manifest itself in the singing of the main theme tune to the programme 'Meet the Gang' whenever members of the SZS were nearby followed by calls of 'bunch of poofs', a particular catchphrase of the show.

Just in the last week things had come to a head when the main mess was the scene of a confrontation between three section and a group of soldiers from another unit. Luckily James had been passing and was able to put a stop to the argument before it had deteriorated into a brawl.

Now as James studied his NCOs he was acutely aware that he and they would not always be about to defuse the situation.

James eyes then travelled the length of the room and, alighting on the figure of lieutenant Ash, his face took on a deep frown.

Ash had been a very late replacement for the original appointee as his second in command, Martin Samuels. James had served with Samuels before and he knew him to be an excellent officer. He was therefore confused as to the late change, particularly since his conversations with Samuels up to then had indicated a man excited by his new appointment.

James' inquiries up the chain of command had provided little enlightenment other than to confirm that the change had come 'from the top'. This indicated to James that some nepotism may very well have been at play, which was bad enough, but Ash was also turning out to be a less than perfect appointment.

James had to admit that the man hadn't actually done anything wrong as such, in fact Ash was scrupulous in following procedures and practices. It was more the man's demeanour generally, even with James. There always appeared to be a sneer of contempt hovering near the surface of his features matched with an almost complete inability to personally relate to anyone other than at the most superficial level. This seeming absence of empathy made the man impossible to warm to and, more worryingly, to respect as an officer or an individual.

James shook his head and closed his eyes. These issues would all be much easier to grapple with if he wasn't also missing Molly terribly. He had not seen her for three weeks, since the meeting with her parents, and although they texted every day and spoke on the phone three of four times a week it was not the same as seeing her.

He smiled to himself as he recalled their last few hours together. They had been preparing to leave Molly's house just as Dave had arrived back from his business meeting. James had assured everyone that he understood completely why Dave had had to leave so urgently, the prospect of paid work being strong justification. However this had not stopped a whispered argument ensuing between Belinda and Dave in the kitchen whilst James had stood in the hallway saying his farewells to Molly's numerous siblings. James could not work out the exact cause of the disagreement but thought he had heard Belinda mutter "business meeting my arse" and suggest to Dave that she could work out what he had been up to by the smell of 'sauce' on his breath.

Molly also seemed less than pleased with her father and, although he thought she was being a little unfair, James did not say anything, wanting nothing to spoil their last evening together before they parted to take up their separate postings.

The two of them had travelled up west again for dinner. There Molly had apologised again for abandoning James but he would not hear of it, insisting that he had had enormous fun that afternoon. He had also mentioned that it had been somewhat informative and teased Molly relentlessly about what secrets he had managed to coax from her brothers and sisters.

Of particular note was her seeming obsession with the all-in, no holds barred, celebrity mud wrestling tour which travelled the length of the country holding tournaments at various historic locations. Molly had looked mortified and spluttered some excuse about it being recommended viewing as part of her medics training, the study of male anatomy in combat situations being invaluable. James had given her a stern look, but was only able to maintain it for a second before bursting into peels of laughter and assuring Molly that anything which provided her with ideas for their next weekend away was alright with him.

On a serious note, James had confided to Molly that he didn't think he had made a great impression on her Dad mainly because they had very little in common. He had wondered whether Dave would accept an invitation from James for the both of them to attend a West Ham home game and Molly said she was sure he would, promising to ask her Dad the following day.

After the meal they had had a tearful parting at Paddington Station where James caught the train home to Bath. Molly then travelled back to East Ham before rejoining her regiment the following day but not before texting James to confirm that Dave had been delighted to accept his invitation.

Back in the present, James reflections were interrupted by his company clerk who told him that he had a telephone call from a Lieutenant Colonel Morley on the secure line. James smiled and excused himself before walking back to his office to take the call.

"Colonel Morley, welcome back, how was the honeymoon?" asked James

"It was great, thanks. Jonathan loved New York and has already picked out the perfect location for his first US store" replied Morley

"Wow, going international is he? That's fantastic!" Exclaimed James

"Yep, he's very excited about it...So how's it going there?" Went on Morley

James outlined their activity over the previous few weeks. He kept his various concerns to himself, they were matters for him to deal with as the company commander and, although Morley would sympathise, it was not something he could directly influence.

"You seem to be making good progress" commented the American "Now Major, I recommend that you focus your future training activity on urban environments. We have received new intel that there may be a domestic attack currently at the planning stage targeting one of your big cities."

James was visibly shocked "really sir? That is a significant change of tactics. Any word on which group it is"

"No not yet" said Morley "but our new source seems to check out so we are taking it seriously. He has also indicated that there are other things going on but he is not quite sure what yet."

"He sir?" Queried James

"Yes, we are pretty sure he is a male who seems to have access to certain information sources. He calls himself 'Espio'" said Morley

"S.P.O sir?" queried James

"No, E.S.P.I.O." Clarified Morley. "We think its a corruption of the Spanish word 'espia' which means spy. Chances are we will never know who he really is."

James thanked Morley for the information and rang off. He then went in search of Ash to brief him on the change of training focus.

James found the lieutenant berating a private in one section over a mistake in the stowing of some element of equipment. The Major grimaced at the very public dressing down but did not interfere as he did not wish to undermine his second in command. However James made a mental note to raise the issue privately with Ash at an appropriate time.

The unfortunate soldier was soon dismissed and James was able to call over "Lieutenant Ash, new orders, briefing in one hour"

Ash turned to James and for a split second the mask was not in place. James saw the fleeting outline of a grimace of pure hatred before the mans features resolved themselves back into the blank formal expression he always wore. "Yes Major".

"That man is going to be trouble" thought James, not for the first time, before turning and walking back towards his office...

The long plush hotel corridor led away into the distance. A figure silently walked across the deep, expensive carpet, checking off the room numbers on the doors until it reached the one it sought. The figure then knelt down and pushed a folded piece of paper half under the door and gave two sharp knocks before walking swiftly away.

A few seconds later the door opened a crack and was then pulled wider to reveal the minister. He wore a loose fitting dressing gown which was open at the front, revealing the leading edge of a sizeable paunch. On his head he sported a top hat pitched at a jaunty angle.

The minister stepped out of the doorway and checked up and down the corridor before shrugging and turning back towards the room. As he made to re-enter he trod on the folded paper. Reaching down he picked up and unfolded the note. After scanning the location and date written therein he took a deep breath and murmured "so it begins".

A woman's voice was heard from the room: "Bertie, oh Bertie are you coming?" To which the minister responded:

"The fat controller is coming my dear, ready to stoke your boiler. After all you are a really useful engine..."

And with a chuckle, the minister walked into the hotel room, pulling the door shut behind him.