The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

[Poohbah]

Question - the four German-surnamed individuals were slow-rolling leg infantry or SOCOM deployment?

The text could be interpreted either way.

Leg infantry.

[Johnnie Lyle]

Question - the four German-surnamed individuals were slow-rolling leg infantry or SOCOM deployment?

The text could be interpreted either way.

Leg infantry.

Thanks.

On revision, it might help to clarify that, especially given that Kathy says it was obvious to put leg infantry in, but it wasn’t to the planners.

Unless the Illinois Nazis have their hooks in the planning cell.

[jemhouston]

If they're using Josh for their fall guy, it wouldn't work. The story they'll spin on him falls apart with anyone who spent five minutes talking him. Doctoring the paperwork won't work unless they kill person who wrote it.

[Belushi TD]

If they're using Josh for their fall guy, it wouldn't work. The story they'll spin on him falls apart with anyone who spent five minutes talking him. Doctoring the paperwork won't work unless they kill person who wrote it.

HA! That'll take some doing.

Belushi TD

[Poohbah]

02 April 1988
DaRita's Bistro
Philadelphia, PA

Barzanian looked at Jensen/Sidorova.

"OK, Kate, dish it up."

"Someone's running another network. Not me, not my people."

"Ossies, perhaps?"

"No. If they were the neighbors or fraternals, I just would've been warned off. I was directed to find them on a not-to-interfere basis. But Mark should be a lot more interested--someone who's already doing something naughty makes a damned good recruitment, and recruiting is supposed to be a priority right now."

Barzanian nodded. "One more time: you got your extraction plan ready?"

Jensen said, "Yes. Are you people going to quit pissing your pants any time anything odd happens?"

"No, we aren't. And I stress that we'd much prefer you to pull the eject handle early than late."

"Yes, mother."

April 11th, 1988
Philadelphia, PA

The Chrysler minivan was making its way from the airport to their lodging.

"All right, Lieutenant Zangas, we're putting you and your--"

Zangas smiled at the pause.

"My wife."

"--Ah, your wife...up at the Doubletree. There's a plan for the coming weeks here in Philly; you've been invited to address multiple civic groups, and the Army strongly urges you to accept all invitations; we have guidance for your remarks. One major one is this Wednesday evening; the First Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry, is holding a dining-in in your honor, and they are electing you an honorary member of the unit."

Zangas felt her jaw drop open.

Roberta blinked. "Honey? What's so big about that?"

Helen smiled. "Roberta, darling, First Troop traces their lineage back to the Revolutionary War--they're the oldest mounted unit in the Army. They maintain unique traditions--including electing their members."

Roberta smiled. "A California girl having her coming out in Main Line Philadelphia."

The PAO major cleared his throat. "Ah, yes. Furthermore . . . "

* * *

Mantell looked at the two PAOs--one Marine, one Air Force--and said, "You gentlemen want to stop off at Mighty Mick's Gym and resolve your differences, or can you behave like grownups?"

The two PAOs stared at Mantell with embarrassed expressions."

"Sorry, Gunner--"

"Why do you keep calling him that?"

Mantell said, "It's an affectionate term for Marine Warrant Officers. Technically, it's only supposed to be used for Infantry Weapons Officers--you can recognize them by the bursting bomb insignia on their left collar."

"I see."

The two men went over their notes; after a few minutes, the Air Force PAO said, "All right. Tomorrow morning, you're appearing on Good Morning America in Combo One. Major Reuss?"

The Marine PAO said, "Please confine your remarks to the unclassified specifics of the fight--actions on the objective after the battle was over are not for discussion."

Mantell nodded. "Understood, sir."

"After your GMA appearance, you are scheduled to give a breakfast speech at the Union League Club--"

* * *

Mantell walked into the Doubletree and made his way to the desk.

Five minutes later, he was checked in. He turned to walk to the elevator--

--and Oh my God

. . . Roberta and Helen were there.

Helen said, "Josh!"

She gave him a hug and a peck on the cheek, then turned to Roberta. "Hey, why don't you two catch up while I check us in?"

And then Josh noticed the ring on Roberta's left hand.

Woman like her wouldn't wait forever, Josh.

"Congratulations, Roberta. She's a wonderful woman."

"Thanks."

Roberta's voice was flat. Just like mine.

"What brings you to Philadelphia?"

"Helen's a hero, saved the day at Wichita . . . she's getting awarded the Medal of Honor. You?"

"I'm officially a hero, too. Same gong and everything."

Roberta sighed. "Josh . . . I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, too."

* * *

11 April 1988
Philadelphia, PA

Hummel said, "Mantell is at the Doubletree, suite 1018. Our team decided against technical surveillance because it's in the Secret Service's third perimeter--too much chance of interfering with their own taps."

Mueller nodded. "So, how do we put Mantell into proximity with our friend's friend?"

"Mantell will be appearing at the Union League Club tomorrow morning. Our friend's friend is a member. She has been instructed to get close for an assessment. That should keep her close to him for a week or so."

"Sehr gut."

[Matryoshka]

"Mantell will be appearing at the Union League Club tomorrow morning. Our friend's friend is a member. She has been instructed to get close for an assessment. That should keep her close to him for a week or so."

"Sehr gut."

Someone really didn’t do their homework. Assuming that a man who’s in line for the Medal of Honour is just some brainless stud who’ll blindly follow the first fine filly who flicks her tail at him? Especially when he’s already in a committed relationship (that they’ve also managed to miss)?

I swear, this is like watching the video of that moron who thought he could stunt-fly a B-52 at low-altitude and ended up stalling it out by standing it on one wingtip. You know it cannot possibly end in anything other than fire and screaming and colossal bills for property damage, but you just can’t look away, either....

[Matt Wiser]

These folks have never been known for using their brains.

[jemhouston]

These folks have never been known for using their brains.

I didn't think the Neo-Nazis would be that stupid despite the fact they have room temperature IQs. Then I remembered the Nazis were that stupid.

What's troubling is how many other groups are that stupid.

[Poohbah]

11 April 1988
Doubletree Hotel
Philadelphia, PA

Josh got back from eating dinner to see the message light on his phone.

"Hey, handsome! Meet me in Room 703 at 8 PM. Got an old friend with me who wants to say hello."

It was Kathy's voice.

He glanced at the clock; 7:55 PM.

Gotta hustle.

Adam took the elevator down and walked to 703.

He knocked.

Kathy opened the door, and he stepped into the room.

Adam Lodge was sitting on the sofa in USAF Class B uniform with Master Sergeant stripes.

"Adam! Damn, it's good to see you. I didn't know you were in Philly!"

Lodge smiled. "You weren't supposed to, amigo. Good to see you."

Lodge stood up and gave Mantell a parade-perfect salute. "Congratulations, sir."

Mantell returned it.

Kathy said, "All right, let's get you briefed in, Josh."

* * *

Adam watched his friend walk out of the room, then said, "Ma'am, we might need to brief in Roberta Kreider. At least let her know that Josh is working a mission."

"I'm sure they're both mature enough to accept the situation."

"Ma'am, you were a part-timer, an outsider looking in. I saw the two of them almost daily for two years. Right now, Mantell is . . . shocked. Hell, I'm shocked. You think you know a person . . . "

He was looking at Kathy as his voice trailed off.

"Sonofabitch. You knew."

"Adam, I was doing some assessment work on your friends and associates--"

"And you decided to proposition a damn good friend of mine?"

"No. Never got to that point. I was looking to see if she'd proposition me; that would have been a sign that something was seriously wrong." Kathy sighed. "She didn't."

"Well, thank God for small favors! How about Josh, did he end up propositioning you?"

Kathy was quiet, then said, "Not at Henry. We were . . . intimate . . . out at Vandenberg. I initiated the relationship. And I love him."

"And now you're running him as an agent. Does Uncle Sam know?"

"Yes."

"Goddamnit, could we have at least one responsible adult on the duty roster besides me?"

"What do you want from me, damnit?"

"I want you to prepare a good friend of mine for a nasty shock. I saw her face in the lobby after she met Mantell again. She still loves him, she still wants him physically, however she may overtly deny it. The last thing we need is for her to want to claw his eyes out at a social event, because she just might do that."

"I can't do that."

Lodge went to the closet and got his uniform blouse. He pulled it on, then said, "Then I'm elected."

"I could order you not to."

"Yes, ma'am, you could. But do you think you could actually stop me?"

Kathy sighed, then smiled ruefully. "No, I don't think so." She paused, then said, "Yeah, you're probably right. Look, just do what you think is appropriate, and don't bother putting it in your mission report."

"Yes, ma'am."

* * *

Things were looking interesting for the evening, from Roberta's perspective, when there was a knock at the door.

Helen quickly shrugged into her robe and asked, "Who could that be?"

Roberta quickly adjusted her own bathrobe to something resembling presentable, finger-combed her hair, and checked the peephole.

"Damn, it's old home week, it's Josh's friend Adam Lodge."

Roberta cracked the door.

"Adam, dear, you have supremely awful timing."

"I'll make it short and sweet, then. Josh is on the clock."

"On the clock?"

Adam mouthed O-G-A, and Roberta nodded once to show she understood.

"You may see some things that will make you unhappy. Please avoid reacting. We don't want to highlight the guy."

"All right, thanks."

After she closed the door, Roberta exhaled sharply, then went back to the bed, dropped onto it, and said, "Shit."

"What's wrong?"

"Josh is apparently on a spook assignment here in Philly, as well as having been awarded the Medal."

Helen sighed. "Mood killer?"

"Yeah. He's apparently going to be squiring a lady for King and Country. Leave it to Adam Miguel Lodge y Herrera to understand me well enough to figure out how I'd behave if I wasn't warned."

They lay there on the bed for a long while.

"Roberta, darling . . . it's not just that you still love him."

Roberta rolled onto her side and looked at her wife. "Oh?"

"It's that you still want him."

A surge of anger went through Roberta.

"You think I'd leave you?"

"Not at all. But you're stewing in your own hormones over him."

After a long moment, Roberta said, "Yeah." She sighed. "I'm pretty sure he's found someone."

"Yeah, I got that vibe. I also got a sense of . . . regret. That he thought it was too late to say some things to you."

"I'm feeling that same regret."

"If you're both breathing . . . it's not too late."

"Yeah. But those damn hormones . . . I'd still feel awful, even if I didn't go to bed with him. For looking at him with lust in my heart."

"Darling, if you want to jump his bones, I'm not going to view that as grounds for divorce. Did you see how he looked? He went from 'ooh-la-la' to downright scrumptious!"

"Why am I getting the impression you want to bang him, too?"

"Roberta, my love . . . I'm married, yes, but I'm not blind. Any right-thinking, red-blooded heterosexual or bisexual woman would want to drop her panties for him--assuming she was actually wearing any, of course. And that includes me. But now isn't the time."

"Well, what with War Bond drives and speeches at defense contractors--"

"Honey, the time for you or me--or both of us--to get it on with Josh is the day after we get our DD-214s and we get those damn Nexplanon implants out of our arms. If I'm going to stray from our marital bed, it's with the intent of presenting you a baby to love and raise with me, and Josh is the only man I'd be willing to do that with. And then I'd expect him to knock you up."

Roberta stared at her wife with a sense of . . .

Shock? No. Wonder? That's it, wonder.

"Uh . . . Helen . . . "

Words bounced around her brain like a pinball off of the scoring bumpers.

"Roberta . . . I want children. I've done more than my share of killing. I've turned BMPs and tanks into Ivan Cookers, I've smelled burning human flesh, American and WARPAC, and it all smells the same. I've lied through my teeth to men who were screaming for their mothers, telling them everything was going to be OK, held their hands while they died. I've written letters to grieving parents and spouses, telling them how brave their loved ones were.

"Damn it, I want to have a baby nurse at my breast. I want to show my kids how to make a snapdragon snap, to take their kindergarten drawings and put them on the refrigerator, watch them play Little League, explain the birds and the bees, tell my daughters how to recognize a good partner, tell my sons how to show a woman that he loves her, see them graduate high school, see them become good men and women in a land that is free and at peace. And then I want grandchildren to bake cookies for.

"Because I want this pain and suffering, this present darkness we're going through to mean something."

Helen's words lanced Roberta's heart.

Because she wanted the same thing.

She laid her head on Helen's shoulder and wept.

* * *

Josh lay in his bed, contemplating the ceiling and the mission.

Kathy was worried--not about their relationship, but about the mission itself. Her body language had radiated tension.

She doesn't know the entire score, and she's sending someone she cares about to find the missing pieces. Well, we are a reconnaissance outfit, the eyes of the hammer. And the only place you can get free cheese is in a mousetrap.

He rolled onto his side and went to sleep.

[jemhouston]

Once used for bait, you're not good for much else.

[Poohbah]

12 April 1988
Union League Club
Philadelphia, PA

The Good Morning America segment had gone about as well as could have. Anchor Sandy Hill had discussed what he could and couldn't talk about--both from OPSEC and "keep the guest from having a PTSD episode on air" perspectives, and she'd done a good job of drawing him out with follow-on questions.

Now, he was looking over a few 3x5 cards.

Major Reuss said, "Uh, Gunner, I noticed the notes you submitted didn't mention the battle."

Mantell looked at Reuss and smiled. "Sir, trust me on this one. A 48-hour firefight is not a suitable topic for discussion over breakfast."

Reuss frowned. "I see."

"Sir, don't worry. I won't make an ass of myself. Major Terrapin signed off on it."

Reuss nodded, then left.

A middle-aged man with four stars on his epaulettes headed over. At the last second, Mantell realized it was General Dugan and snapped to attention.

"Good morning, sir."

"Good morning, Chief." Dugan smiled. "That Marine didn't look especially happy."

"I think he wanted a blow-by-blow retelling of the fight--which is first, something that doesn't make for pleasant discussion over breakfast, and second, something I can't give, anyway, because it was 48 hours and my memories are not reliable."

Dugan nodded. "Good thinking." He smiled. "By the way, are you the guy who suggested the lineage and traditions for the Special Recon squadrons?"

"Yes, sir."

"The Army is going to be extremely pissed off."

"Well, sir, then perhaps--"

"Well done, Chief." Dugan smiled again. "I think it's perfect, given the mission. Once you're done with the War Bond tour, you're getting slotted for the 7th. Break-break, I get the impression you know your Army counterpart."

"Yes, sir, and her wife as well. Her wife--Lieutenant Kreider--was a year ahead of me in high school, and we reunited when I was stationed in El Toro--that's how I met Lieutenant Zangas." Please don't ask anything else.

Thankfully, Dugan left it there. "I see. Well, you need to know this; she's being elected an honorary member of the First Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry. And someone has nominated you for an honorary membership, as well. It's a distinguished unit, going back to the American Revolution. So, you're attending their dining-in tomorrow night."

"I understand, sir."

"Make us proud, Chief."

Dugan leaned in and spoke quietly. "General Lodge briefed me this morning. All I can say is stay alert, trust no one, and keep your sidearm handy."

Dugan stepped back out, with an expectant look on his face.

Mantell nodded, and Dugan did likewise, then stepped away.

* * *

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my privilege to present Chief Warrant Officer Mantell, United States Air Force."

There was applause across the room as Mantell stepped to the podium.

"President Gartner, Union League members, and distinguished guests, thank you for your warm welcome.

"So, two and a half years ago, I was a mild-mannered clerk at Marine Corps Air Station Tustin, California--and then the word came that America was at war. Everyone's experience of Day One was different. Mine was two assault landings in National City and San Ysidro, and crewing a final hop where we sling-loaded howitzers from the 11th Marine Regiment into position to drop rounds onto the Brigada Tijuana's main supply route.

"I happened to be on the west side of the helicopter. In the distance, I could see the Coronado Islands, and I saw Marines putting up the holiday colors--the biggest flag flown aboard a US military base, usually on Sundays, national holidays, and special occasions--on South Coronado Island. To seaward, there were four destroyers, firing what we call 'rocking ladders' across what turned out to be a major ammunition dump that blew up spectacularly--and kept generating secondary explosions for three days.

"In that moment, I felt triumphant, exultant. We'd met the enemy, and they were ours."

The men and women in the audience wore expressions of surprise.

"It wasn't until I landed back at Tustin, after dark, that I learned the true situation across America--that we were an outlier, and that this was going to be a long, hard war.

"Out there, we don't see the big picture. We're focused on the fight in front of us. And that's as it should be. As Master Yoda would say, our minds need to be focused on where we are, and what we're doing. out there, we don't have the luxury of looking to the horizon--of looking to the future, or to the past."

Mantell took a look around the room.

"Here, in Philadelphia, in a club founded during the Civil War, when our experiment in self-government faced an equally grave threat, we do have that luxury. My family arrived in North America in the 1850s and settled in Minnesota Territory. In 1861, Jeremiah Mantell, farmer, father of eight children, and a newly naturalized citizen, enlisted in the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment."

Mantell paused, then said, "He's buried in Gettysburg National Cemetery. He did no great deed of his own; he charged with the rest of the First Minnesota at the Wheatfield, and helped the Union hold the field another day. The discipline and valor of the First Minnesota amazed General Winfield Scott Hancock, the commander of II Corps, who'd ordered the charge to slow the enemy's attack.

"The classic war film, The Bridges at Toko-Ri, ends with the task force commander asking, 'Where do we get such men?'

"And that question remains before us today. Where do we get such men and women?

"We get them from small towns in Indiana and Idaho. We get them from Los Angeles and Philadelphia. We get them from poor rural towns and middle class suburbs, from Beverly Hills and the Gold Coast of Chicago. The best sniper I ever saw dropped out of Bryn Mawr and enlisted in the Marine Corps to honor her grandfather's service 'With the Old Breed' from Guadalcanal to Okinawa.

"They come from all across America. They are America's sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, and sweethearts. They're amazingly ordinary--and they routinely do amazing deeds. And as long as these men and women continue to stand to, America will endure and triumph."

Mantell took another look around the room.

"And it is a privilege to serve with those men and women, and to serve a nation such as this. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America."

Mantell hadn't known what to expect.

The last thing he'd expected was a standing ovation.

* * *

Mantell allowed himself to be led around the room by Major Terrapin, shaking hands with various people including the Mayor of Philadelphia, partners in several law firms, and the President of the First Pennsylvania Bank.

A lithe redhead approached him.

All right, game on.

"Hello, Mister Mantell. I'm Kate Jensen, with the Office of Personnel Management."

Josh gave her his best smile. "Please, it's Josh."

"I was wondering if you're free for lunch. Your story is fascinating."

Terrapin looked at Mantell, who said, "Sir, where am I supposed to go next?"

"You're speaking to an Air Force Junior ROTC class at Swenson High at 1000, that lasts until 1130, then you're free for lunch, and then you're speaking at Philadelphia Military Academy at 1330."

Josh smiled at Kate and asked, "Would noon work?"

"Yes. Our office is at 1820 Walnut, overlooking Rittenhouse Square. I'll be downstairs at noon."

They parted with easy smiles, and then Josh looked at Major Terrapin's worried expression. "Sir, I will behave myself. After all, I am officially an officer and a gentleman."

Terrapin sighed. "You know the paparazzi will be following you."

"And they'll see a red-blooded American male having a quiet lunch with a lovely lady. Besides, I need a date for the First Troop dining in tomorrow night, and with all due respect, sir, you're a little too butch for my taste."

And I have a job that you aren't aware of.

* * *

Outside the Union League Club, Kate Jensen smiled and brushed at her hair twice with her left hand while walking north on South Broad Street past her handler, Mark, who nodded slightly.

* * *

From the third floor of the Land Title Building, Kathy Barzanian saw the gesture and said, "It's on."

Alyssa Miller was looking at her gear and said, "And there's the SRAC ping." SRAC, or Short Range Agent Communications, referred to a variety of devices agents used to communicate information over short distances, avoiding the need to use a physical dead drop or a brush pass.

Her signal analyzer lit up again. "And there's the receipt signal." She sighed. "As soon as our people get back here, we'll be able to plot the fixed station."

Barzanian smiled. Barely started and we've already gotten a ping steal. Not bad.

[jemhouston]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI8dg02lNyA

[Craiglxviii]

FTFY

[Craiglxviii]

OOC totally here and to Poohbah. Please remind me, prior to the Great Board Crisis of 2022 wasn’t there a post war/ present day story where Adam Lodge went off reservation? Did that ever get finished up, or was it lost with the board?

[Poohbah]

OOC totally here and to Poohbah. Please remind me, prior to the Great Board Crisis of 2022 wasn’t there a post war/ present day story where Adam Lodge went off reservation? Did that ever get finished up, or was it lost with the board?

It was on the original board, and lost with that one. If there's a copy of the original database, we should be able to restore it.

[Craiglxviii]

OOC totally here and to Poohbah. Please remind me, prior to the Great Board Crisis of 2022 wasn’t there a post war/ present day story where Adam Lodge went off reservation? Did that ever get finished up, or was it lost with the board?

It was on the original board, and lost with that one. If there's a copy of the original database, we should be able to restore it.

Ok. I need to get that archived version up and running.

Did you ever finish that story?

[Poohbah]

OOC totally here and to Poohbah. Please remind me, prior to the Great Board Crisis of 2022 wasn’t there a post war/ present day story where Adam Lodge went off reservation? Did that ever get finished up, or was it lost with the board?

It was on the original board, and lost with that one. If there's a copy of the original database, we should be able to restore it.

Ok. I need to get that archived version up and running.

Did you ever finish that story?

No, I was still plotting the battle in Chicago.

[Poohbah]

FTFY

Doesn't seem to work for me in Google Chrome.

[Craiglxviii]

It was on the original board, and lost with that one. If there's a copy of the original database, we should be able to restore it.

Ok. I need to get that archived version up and running.

Did you ever finish that story?

No, I was still plotting the battle in Chicago.

Oh ok. Good, in that I don’t remember an ending, and that of all the fiction I’ve ever read it is one of the few stories/ settings/ dramatis personae that genuinely compels me to return. Bad because I want MOAR.

OK chap. Watch this space. I’ll see what I can get our helpful Bangladeshi IT wallah to do.

[Craiglxviii]

FTFY

Doesn't seem to work for me in Google Chrome.

You used [youtube] [/youtube} (all square brackets) with the video ID inside the brackets? The bit after v=?