Urgent

 207.

The reorganization takes less than ten minutes. Harlan and Julie will act as co-chiefs of staff, Drysdale and I will team up on the search and rescue mission to find and free The Queen, with Davis and Saunders continuing to track down the perpetrators responsible for the ambush. Internally I will continue my thrice daily physical therapy sessions and outfit a transportation enhancer, aka motorized wheelchair, to prepare to re-engage in field work. We decide to squeeze all this into our existing facility, meaning Mina, now acting as full time housekeeper and aide, will see her living area reduced by half, and as a gesture of solidarity, so will I. Construction of the new multi-use space has already begun with the general contractor guaranteeing a short transition period of less than three days. We decide to stage an intelligence brief in our Colorado facility as the work unfolds, Mina left behind to supervise and liaise.

Comfortably aboard the Gulfstream we are greeted by the familiar faces who have so well served us in the past. I am humbled to receive a crisp salute and hearty, 'welcome back, sir' from the attendant. "I see you've been busy," I say noticing another chevron on his uniform sleeve, "congratulations Senior."

"When I heard of the flight I volunteered, pleased to be of service sir."

Julie, Harlan and I use the flight time to discuss the pertinent administration details of immediate concern. We need to be up and running by yesterday. Perhaps more important is our overall game plan and how I, now for the time in my service career, will require an assistant. The time it will take to develop, practice and implement on-demand situational response is something we will have to perfect on the fly.

We are met in Colorado by Davis, Saunders and Drysdale. The core six is united. We make our way in the Rocky Mountain early November chill to the camp where we have all spent many hard days and sleepless nights, sleepless not so much because of uncomfortable bunks but because there is always a live mission, an open protocol under way as we try to catch a few winks in the transient Officers quarters.

We check in and Drysdale escorts me to my room, asks if there is anything I need and offers a pleasant night of rest. We have scheduled our first meeting for 0730 meaning that night translates literally to 'a few hours'.

What used to be the simple chore of preparing for sleep is now an effort taking almost twenty minutes. Finally I lay my head on the pillow and close my eyes, making an internal total systems check and damage report. Satisfied I begin my breath-counting exercise to induce deep relaxation.

My phone vibrates. Mina has texted that the Neurologist has called twice with a message, the second time flagged as urgent.

Considering the hour and time change I decide to call her back first thing in the morning.

But I am haunted by the unknown and after trying to sleep, switch on the light and text her at the number Mina left.

"Hi, urgent?"