A Flight Attendant - page five

5

The enemy within, that was a laugh. Facts are determined by the collator and written by the victorious worded for the benefactors so the supposed beneficiaries can like and agree with everything denoted. Modern History, better known as 'News', differs depending who tells the story and who might be paying attention.

'I know little of Victory over our enemies. I know much about being taken by Stealth from behind by those purporting to be on our side who claim to have our best interests to the fore.' An unattributed, but well known quote relevant to many who signed up with the intent only to enrich the Nation and bring about wealth and Peace to a deserving people.

When originally confronted by those intent on hurting our people and damaging vital infrastructure the assessment was the work to be done was too arduous to attempt at too high a cost. The whole of the population can be subjected to an ongoing Health process and the sickness and mortality encountered through attack by an enemy could be accounted for by a Media campaign of explanation about 'Natural Selection'. The main prevailing facts in the modern age are that of the growth of the population by a certain percentage coupled with a decrease in Food production with the actual arrangement for the distribution and type of Nutrients accounting for a small percentage of Death through malnutrition. Who would put themselves forward to reconcile the dichotomies by involving themselves in Politics? These people would be accepting the writing and advices of the Nation's services whom Cassy now worked for and represented; she was now a Cog in the real and Secret government that were the only ones as far as she could see determined to make the best of the difficulties and trying circumstance the population now found themselves. People were living longer due to this inventive and imaginative policy for the World certainly but this meant people would be subjected to years of torture by Sadists who found a new place in Society through the guise of Medical employment.

The enemy within? What about the enemy without? Faced with a teenager or youngster prepared to fight against a Helicopter using a Bow and Arrow fashioned from Pig Gut and Chopped Tree the demand emerged for advanced weaponry which the supply filled and with this uptake in one aspect of supply the Battle order demanded the increase in Troop energy supply, i.e. Food. On the occasions when the Helicopter did not return to dispense death, which was more often than not, the Native and Indigenous residents found a Healthier way of living and a handy, hidden often buried weapon storage facility. The opponents of the Foreign policy propagated by the post WWII administrations were completely wrong in the view of those involved at the time and with more and then more reason.

Cassy was alone in her Hotel room, the day ended with the Car transport early evening and tomorrow the Government Offices would take 25 to 30 of the aides to a sitting Vice President where the final Itinerary would be announced.

Cassy showered, she was up a Bra Size or two, it felt nicer and the conversations and Social interactions had become easier with the Males making more of an effort to reassure, she no longer felt out of place. In terms of intellect it was all straight forward and easy, the Computers made for fantastic and error free communication, people knew where they stood and liked where others were. Hair Drying, a Text came through. 'Meet me in the Restaurant?' Silly really, that was where she was going in a couple of Hours anyway. 'Yes, of course.' She texted back, not knowing who it was and certainly could not guess at what they might want.

The near empty room had people laying tables and wiping surfaces, but a friendly Man walked toward her and greeted her. 'I'm Nirrgh, a Director at the President's Office.'

'Nice to meet you, we're a little out of place here.' Cassy was warm and Smiley, you never know their could be another Job after this one.

'Yes, the Cafe next door is not that good and it's a little short staffed at the moment with all these people starting the Dinner service. I wonder if I could talk to you for an Hour?'

'Of course, I haven't touched the Trays in my Room, I have Green Tea and some Herbal stuff that I haven't tried.' Someone back to her place, this would be a rarity.

'That would be Okay, thank you.' He finally took his hand out of his pocket.

In the lift she kept close to him, almost touching. Mirror images definitely made a difference with the flood lighting, 'could improve', she thought. He looked less imposing now and when the Door opened onto the Floor he followed like a little Sheep.

The last of the Dinner serving was in surprisingly good condition. Now alone pure Venal hunger could be satiated with few around to witness this Female gorging herself; comparatively this added up to two small plates. He had been a fantastic Gentleman leaving her Room much happier. What was there to say about any of it, getting off on your own is seriously less preferable and now once again out of fashion.

The conference Hall in the Government designated building took the VP's caravan and just about anyone else the organisers could rope in to hear the policy re-announcements and current tactical thinking as to how the changes to the internal budget was to be managed, it was all good news after all and well received although whooping and applause were not part of the proceeding. They had used some phrasing and ideas Cassy had written and she had taken notes throughout with the Clipboard and Laptop at a Desk near the stage. Next thing it would be on to a Steel Cutters, then a precision Manufacturer, not much difference between the two but they had different names and different people; the World looked the same to those who supplied the financing for it all to happen.

Dinner would have to wait, a Video call from 'a Handler' was urgent. 'We need someone to get to a local incident Room. There's some authorisations you can wave through with us at the other end of the Phone. It will take up most of the day tomorrow.' - This was the outline of the Video Face to Face conversation.

The Driver was the same person, not much to say and the Nerves were a bit jangly as the only Prop now was her Personal Phone. The Control Room had all the TV Monitors any self respecting Divisional Commander could ever need with Uniformed and Plain Clothed officials busy at screens. A man in Green met her just before the Door and followed her in, they stood there just to the side of the entrance looking on. A Man waved from a display and made his way over.

Standing just in front of them, he leant on one Leg taking a sideways sort of stance and pointed to the Back Wall, 'We have a small Office over here.' What else could they do, but follow.

Taking a brisk pace considering the precarious state of the Display and Computer arrangements, the Doorway was slightly open. 'You can stand here to watch or use the Office as you like, when or if we need the consultation I'll send whoever it is over to you and you can talk in Private.'

'Thanks.' Said Cassy. He grinned a little and moved off in a different direction while Cassy and her useful and energetic temporary companion stood near the large Glass front to the Office. Phone in hand she checked the signals and for any messages, the check calling would not be required the Number was there to phone to the Agencies operation centre and few options for speech then were available. Normally conversation by way of introductions might be called for, but the man in the light Grey and Green Camouflage was heavy and tall as well as wearing a Gun; social niceties were off. She remembered a great line given by a Comedian she had seen once at an exclusive and private venue, 'I suppose a Shag is out of the question then.' A nice pleasant curl at the side of her lips gave the impression of a smile to anyone who was looking or recording, for that matter. Sensors were everywhere on the ceiling with nothing hung off rails, accidents involving improperly secured and possibly overly heavy stuff dangling about places meant that none of this was allowed any more. 'Let's look take advantage of the room.' Cassy said and moved into the Office and then repositioned a Chair, seated might be better if this was to be an all day fixture. The man in Cam. took his hat off and placed it on the Coat stand and spun a Swivel Chair to look at the action and just out of self-amusement before sitting on the Desk.

'Your operations Centre like this?' He was out of her view, sat on the desk not overly interested in what was going on.

'Never been, perhaps they might not let me in anyway.' She turned to look at him. 'No Radio?'

'Our Radios packed in ages ago and we've not been issued with new ones. I've only had a limited briefing, all this is different to what I'm used to.' He paid more attention to what was happening through on the main floor.

'Hopefully I won't have to give or take a call, just a message ending the exercise or something.' Cassy thought about sitting for the Swivel action, but well rested a bit of lively action could be preferable.

'All this domestic stuff over just a few Hand Grenades, I was looking forward to extending the Imperialist influence of the American Empire.' He was clearly intent on a cruel tease.

'I'm hardly listening, I could start to take you seriously 'ya know. Besides that was last week.' She didn't look round and wasn't about to retire to a seated position.

'And this week?'

'Not letting on if I know, don't; or other. How are the Barracks?'

'Changing the subject, I like it; unlike the Barracks.' A slow and steady voice hoped to have a reassuring effect, calming any nerves.

An Hour and a Half had passed and nothing much was happening that they could see and the biggest screens were overhead Map views that tracked the occasional vehicle. The number of vehicles had gradually increased and now one entered lower right with a Red, empty Triangle over the top of it and a white line that pointed to a label that had two capital letters and then 2 numbers. A few vehicles followed and then a truck with a Green, hollow Circle with a label that had again 2 capital letters and 3 numbers closely followed by a Bus that had a stack of Partially drawn Shields and no labels battling for position on the screen. Cassy had the Telephone in hand and it now rang.

'Hello.' Cassy had it on as quiet as possible but now this sound she made with her voice could cause an Earthquake it seemed so loud.

'Hi, it's Operation Centre. Just stay on the line.' A Man at the far end was doing battle with his Headset either trying to make an adjustment or attempting to free himself of it. He now walked in the direction of the Temporary Office, the man in the Cam. opened the door a little more as the Vehicles made their way from one screen to another.

Poking his head through he looked at Cassy and then stepped further in and shook his head at her from side to side. 'He's shaking his head at me.' Cassy said into the phone.

'Ask him what that's supposed to mean.' Said the person at the Operations Centre.

'Could you tell me what that's supposed to mean?' She asked as non-stupidly as she could.

The fairly squat, but fit Man moved slightly closer. 'You may not use those munitions in this area.' He said in a quiet, insistent almost angry way.

'I got that.' Said the person on the phone who Cassy was sure she could hear and no-one else.

'Thank you for your Brevity, anything else?' Cassy asked.

The Man did look angry to her now. 'Just tell me you understand what I said and that you'll be compliant.'

'Yes, thank you. No difficulties here.' Cassy hadn't heard anything over the phone and judged the silence was Okay.

'They're going for the third pre-arranged site, our Men will move there.' He turned and walked back to his desk.

Closing the Door to leave a slight gap the Soldier sat back down on the desk. 'Okay, give it up to an Hour and make your way out as quietly as you can.' Said the Phone person before hanging up.

The man in the cam. had been good company for the day, suggesting Egyptology was the fashionable choice for extra study and querying her choice of Career as she 'seemed more like a Human Resources person.' A nice quiet aspect to the conversation seemed to hold his attention in a positive way while she was definitely fascinated by what was happening on the Floor. The subject of Religion had been broached, 'Maybe their's a single supreme being rather than a multiple.' she had offered to which he retorted that Atheism could be more popular these days. 'Well I come like a Cunt so pointing toward a God makes for a nice escape in my mind and something I might like to implant in the Brains of others rather than give away the horrid truth.' She had told him finally able to use her long prepared line or excuse for her view of Humanity.

Very nearly forty minutes had passed in the back Office before she judged they could slip away nice and quietly, the Vehicles had moved form screen to screen and back again as different views were taken and then relayed, it all would be a very long, painstaking Job of work that demanded a great deal of attention to detail and patience. Her driver sat there listening to a Music channel on the Radio and her escort had put the cap back on his head and got back to the very out of place Military vehicle. This had been the best day yet of work for Cassy although the scene had been ugly she felt it had been handled in a diplomatic sort of a way.

A message came through on the Text, 'Call Operations 6pm.' Her stint at freedom was over, a tighter leash would be worn for a while. What a Job of work, spending your time looking overhead at Cars with Blue Squares and Yellow Hexagons pointing at them, a God like aspect given to mere Humans holding instant Death, destruction over all they purveyed. Whenever their might be a repeat Cassy would definitely be available.