Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Tracy had very much enjoyed being with John at his apartment since Sunday. He was completing his final week at the New York Law School along with Trevor McTavish; their commencement would be that coming Sunday. Thus, during the day, while the guys were at school, she had been spending time with Samantha (Sam) Hermann and Sally Navarro.
Sam was engaged to Trevor and Sally was engaged to Troy Dangelmeyer. Like Trevor, Troy was living in the same apartment building as John was. He had moved there after graduating from Colgate a year ago. He was now working for Robert Ulrey in the FBI Psychic Division and Sally was well aware he was a finder witch, an air witch. Since Trevor and Sam were not aware of supernaturals, any discussions about supernatural stuff were only when they were not present.
Like Tracy, both Sam and Sally had moved in with their soulmates upon graduating from West Point. Thus, the three girls were all able to enjoy living at the same place, temporarily. They each would be reporting in late July for the Basic Officer Leader Course in their respective branch assignments.
Attending these courses and planning their weddings were that morning’s topics of conversation as they enjoyed some coffee and Danish in John and Tracy’s kitchen. Tracy explained how Missy had not been required to go to any courses because of her extensive experience with the Special Forces during the past three years. She added, “In addition to all the combatmissions Missy went on, she also managed to become fluent in four foreign languages.”
Sam said, “Well, the course for my Engineer Branch at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri will be for nineteen weeks. I know that’s a lot less than what you girls will be doing.”
“Yeah, the course for my Cyber Branch at Fort Gordon, Georgia will require thirty-seven weeks,” acknowledged Sally. “And I know Tracy will be at Fort Rucker, Alabama for about eighteen months since her course includes pilot training.”
“Thankfully, we have these next few weeks of freedom,” said Tracy. “Rest, relax, get married, go on our honeymoons …” They all laughed at this.
“I know you and Missy are planning on using West Point’s chapel on June twenty-second,” said Sam. “My family has arranged for Trevor and me to be married on July ninth at our church back home in Myerstown, Pennsylvania. I’m hoping you and Sally will be bridesmaids, assuming you’re back from your honeymoons by then.”
“I think that will work for me,” agreed Tracy. “John and I return from Hawaii on July fifth. I’m gonna be a bridesmaid at Nell’s wedding but that’ll be on the weekendbeforemy wedding.” Nell Nasworthy was one of Tracy’s former West Point roommates and was marrying Ron Quigby who had graduated from the academy two years earlier.
“It works for me too,” said Sally. “Troy and I are getting married in New Jersey near my home on June twelfth. We will be returning from our honeymoon on June twenty-fourth. While we can’t be there for Tracy and Missy, we can be there for you, Sam.”
“Great!” exclaimed Sam. “So many of us are all getting married now that we’ve graduated. It’s hard to believe. I wasn’t sure if any of my classmates would be available so it’s wonderful that you both will be doing this.”
“Ha! It’s wonderful we have wonderful future husbands who are willing to be so supportive to our Army careers,” said Sally. “Now, let’s go shopping so we can select the wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses and other appropriate accessories which we’re all gonna need.” Looking at Tracy, she added, “Sam and I are counting on your fashion expertise for all this.”
Tracy laughed and said, “Not to worry, girls! You can count on me! Let’s go!” She was willing to help in this effort despite her and Missy’s plan to actually be wearing their Army Dress White uniforms rather than wedding gowns. After all … you could never do enough shopping, right?
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Over in Turkey, Missy had been briefing her team on all she had learned during the hours she had been spying in her spirit form. She had been gone all night and most of the day, finally returning at seven p.m. There had been a delicious steak dinner waiting for her which she had happily devoured prior to this briefing. She then had spent thirty minutes detailing what she had witnessed.
They were gathered in the Operations Center around the large conference room table. Finally, Missy said, “The mood wherever I went in Moscow was pretty much the same. They’re all very pleased with the way the Russian forces have fully captured Mariupol after the Ukrainian defenders at the Azovstal steel plant finally surrendered. This dragged on for several weeks but is now considered to be a major strategic victory,giving Russia control of a key port city and expanding its hold on the southern coast of Ukraine.”
Master Sergeant Town said, “Yeah, they now control the key waterway connection between the Donbas region and Crimea, further consolidating their presence in southern Ukraine. They accomplished this while they have continued their offensive in the eastern Donbas region, making advances north and west of Popasna and focusing on Severodonestsk.”
Major Grimes added, “The intensified fighting this month has been part of Russia’s renewed focus on capturing the eastern Donbas region after failing to seize Kiev in the initial phase of their invasion. We can take pride that our team was able to play a key role in that failure, helping to stop the advance of that huge convoy of theirs.
“While Kiev was saved ending the Russian hope for a quick end to this war, the full-scale invasion which Russia began in February has resulted in about twenty percent of Ukraine’s territory now falling under their control. Thanks to the twenty-four billion in aid from the U.S. for weapons and equipment, as well as humanitarian and budget support, the Ukrainians have managed to halt further losses and are expected to mount a counter-offensive in the months ahead. The U.S. will likely be funding this with billions more aid. Our role, of course, will be to carry out selective missions where we can help make a difference.
“We also will continue with our intensive training here for whichever personnel are not deployed on such missions.” The major now looked at Missy and added, “Having Lieutenant McCrea here to help those who are studying the Russian language will be a big help. Captain Novikov from the SODGroup has been doing a great job with that during his weekly video calls but I know with her on site assistance the progress towards learning this difficult language will no doubt increase greatly.”
After dismissing the team, Major Grimes approached Missy and said, “I want to introduce you to the base commander and his staff when I meet with them tomorrow. He has me come over there to his headquarters every month and I told him I would bring you with me to our next meeting.”
“Okay, sir,” agreed Missy. “Does our team have much interaction with the base? I realize we’ve been allowed to occupy this entire building which was formerly occupied by a U.S. Air Force squadron.”
Major Grimes smiled and said, “While the U.S. Air Force commands this base, they don’t have any control over Team Twenty-Two. That’s partly why I’m asked to meet with them each month. The squadron here is responsible for providing mission support to NATO and reports to the Air Base Wing in Incirlik which falls under General Hingham at EUCOM. They’re not very happy the general has placed our Army unit here acting as his Quick Reaction Force with missions so highly classified they don’t get to know much about them. Further, the Air Force must provide their aircraft to fly us whenever and wherever we want, etc., etc.”
Missy nodded and said, “So, they’re playing a support role rather than being in charge. I assume the base commander outranks you, right sir?”
“Yes, he’s a lieutenant colonel. Having me actually attend these meetings rather than merely sending one of my teammembers to act as liaison … well, they insisted on having anofficer…”
Missy chuckled and said, “And until now, you were theonlyofficer. Now that you have me as your XO, you’re hoping they’ll agree that I can sometimes attend in your place, right?”
“Exactly! I’ve been humoring them up until now, keeping things simple. I’m only a major, after all. Kowtowing to the higher-ranking officer over there is a small price to pay to have things run smoothly here. While we don’t need to play a subordinate role, attending a meeting once a month sort of creates the illusion we are beholding to them.”
“Understood, sir!” said Missy with a grin. “What uniform should I wear?”
“I assume your SOD Group buddies have shipped your Class A Green Service Uniform over here for you, right?” answered the major.
