Since before 1:00 p.m. Central Time February 8, 2023 most of the Meeson 17 member clan later joined by Ev, wife Julie & oldest sone Dale had been ensconced within Jay & Millie Meeson’s palatial house for radiological & biological contamination examinations & tests by Army Medical Corpsmen Lieutenant Doctor Marjorie Whitman, they going much slower than anticipated because of numerous false positive biological test readings, very aware of the flurry of “military activity” occurring north of the house meantime much of it could be seen through kitchen, dining room, game room & den well as from Jay & Millie’s bedroom, bathroom. Seconds before the last two clam members Jonathan & Mildred Meeson, Ev’s youngest son & daughter, were to commence being Geiger counter “wanded” first for radiation contamination by Doctor Whitman’s “radspecs” (radiation specialists) Sergeants Lothar Mandel & Loraine Ziegler, Ev’ oldest daughter Margaret (“Maggie” at all times except formally) Calhoun with her son Roy wintering with him & Julie whilst husband Richard was elsewhere on commercial business standing next to the open south game room & den door into the west facing house hallway saw though a line of windows Colonel Acheampong. Wearing a hazmat jumpsuit & aircraft flight helmet hustling towards the Reception Room front door, startled she’d not seen her since before graduating from the US Air Force Academy decades ago, hurrying to the right side Reception Room double door she’d opened just as Acheampong landed on the top door step;
“Naomi! uh, I mean COLONEL Acheampong! Do you remember me?!”
Smiling at her she’d replied with a purposeful combination of delight & seriousness in her voice;
“Of course I do Maggie! I haven’t much time, can you fetch Marv please, I must see him - now!”
Forthwith saying she would Margaret quickly stepped to the right & push-button activated the house & Dormitory intercom system on the wall next to the door;
“Marv! Colonel Acheampong’s at the ‘front door’ (of the Reception Room), she wants to see you now!”
Hearing the message outside of Dormitory Room 8 where a Meeson family member was undergoing biological contamination examinations & tests Marv hustled to the Reception Room via the kitchen, whizzing past from the left Johnathan, Mildred, radspecs Sergeants Lothar Mandel & Loraine Ziegler they still unaware of Acheampong’s presence half out of breath halting at the quarter-opened door next to Margaret Colonel Acheampong spoke first;
“Major Meeson - Marv! Am pleased seeing you again, way too long it’s been!”
Thrilled to see her but remembering Senator Stan Daniel’s admonishment not to let on that he knew she was coming Marv had sadness in his eyes Acheampong forthwith sparing him the greater shame of deceiving her outright;
“Marv, please, don’t pretend you didn’t know I was coming. Stan knew that I was coming here but what he doesn’t know is that you still have ‘Pentagon contacts’ so best we set aside outing who’d leaked about my being here & get on with ‘the mission at hand’ before tonight’s blizzard arrives if you follow me!"
Smiling broadly Marv quietly said “thank you” back forthwith asking if she’d wanted to come in & stay;
“No, I need to meet with Major Morant first. Major Morant has four Pentagon Intelligence Officers with her to ‘examine’ Jay & Millie’s smartphone video recordings of the (2-2-2T) locomotive. I must assume despite Stan’s admonishments not to take anymore of it you or other members of your families did so, these must ‘examined’ also. I’m ‘asking’ that the (Meeson) family remain here (in this house) and that all their smartphones or other video recording equipment & media ‘be at the ready’ for them to ‘examine’ but meantime can you drive me to her ‘Super Herc’ - now?”
Replying that he needed to stay with the family till all had been examined & tested for radiological & biological contamination Marv said Ev would drive her to Morant’s C-130J;
“There’s a two-seat ‘hooded-up’ (for winter operations American SportsWorks) Landmaster (LM500) out back next to the Dormitory ready to go, if that’s OK.”
Replying affirmatively she’s asked him to fetch Ev & meet him at the Landmaster;
“I still remember how to get there (next to the Dormitory), thanks for helping out Marv!”
Maggie stepping aside whilst Marv open the door he forthwith escorting Colonel Acheampong inside the Reception Room Army radspecs Sergeants Mandel & Ziegler startled at seeing a Space Force Colonel showing up unannounced abruptly stopped wanding Johnathan & Mildred Meeson she forthwith telling them to “carry on” & proceeding to the kitchen for exiting the house to the Dormitory Marv meantime fetching Ev. Quickly donning his winter clothing Ev sped from the game room & den though the kitchen outside to the Landmaster, Acheampong already seated & strapped in Ev speechless not having seen her in decades got in, sat down, strapped in, fired up the Landmaster, sped off north to Major Morant’s C-130J parked on Landing Zone 1.
Meantime to Colonel Acheampong’s dramatic appearance at Jay & Millie’s house, Major McCarthy driving the Meeson F-250 had pulled up next to the “China Tent” he & five APs forthwith bailing out. Witnessing McCarthy relieving his MPs, Master Sergeant Doris LaMonica directing two of her APs take station her & other two walk towards the Reception Room front door, McCarthy driving off with his MP, Maggie Calhoun still in the Reception Room again signaled Marv who’d returned to Dormitory Room 8 intercom for him to hurry back to the Reception Room;
“We’ve got more company Marv, three Air Police are walking to the Reception Room front door, think it best you’d ‘greet’ them!”
Yet again hustling out of Dormitory Room 8 where another Meeson family member was undergoing biological contamination examinations & tests by Lieutenant Whitman’s “biospecs” (biological contamination specialists) to the Reception Room he’d arrived just as Master Sergeant LaMonica was ringing the doorbell. Opening the right double door with Army courtesy for benefit of Sergeants Mandel & Ziegler Marv stood at attention in front of LaMonica standing on the door step behind her either side on the ground level walkway Sergeants Jackson Palmer & LaToya Taylor armed with M4 carbines, Palmer taking & right-side ground stationing LaMonica’s before she’d pushed the doorbell, they also standing at attention. Forthwith saluting Marv in Air Force courtesy out of respect for his senior rank LaMonica spoke first;
“Major Marvin Meeson, I’m Master Sergeant Doris LaMonica of the HARVEY security detail. My orders from HARVEY Commander Major Morant is for us and two APs now guarding ‘the tent’ to ‘take station’ in your Reception Room until further notice. We are instructed by Major Morant to extend every courtesy to you and others in this house. You may move about as you please without restriction but we ask that all of you stay clear of ‘the tent’. May we come inside, sir?”
Saluting back Marv said they absolutely could;
“We’d been ‘stationing’ Major McCarthy’s MPs in here (Reception Room) even though they were supposed to be stationed inside his (CH-47F) Chinook. McCarthy’s detail has been out there ‘freezing solid’ for hours, we’d (the Meeson’s) sent them coffee & snacks earlier today, they dropping in to ‘warm up’ in here instead of the Chinooks time to time giving them more coffee & hot food, your detail is welcome to it also!”
Smiling back in gratitude LaMonica said they’d be happy to partake of the Meeson’s generosity;
“Major Meeson, I understand Major Morant knew you while in Afghanistan, sad you were ‘the best’ looking after your (Army) engineers well as her Air Force comrades, it’s a pleasure being here and knowing you sir!”
Forthwith waking in the Reception Room & taking up station at the far east end LaMonica, Mandel & Ziegler each checked their hazmat jumpsuits for clinging snow before sitting down on a long sofa behind a just as long coffee table ladened with food & drinks, including hot coffee;
“Mind if we have the coffee sir?”
Sergeant Taylor politely asked Marv;
“Absolutely Sergeant, Army Lieutenant Doctor Whitman’s ‘medics’ been partaking of the coffee & food along with McCarthy’s MPs as well, those two ‘wanding’ (for radiation) my brother’s kids can’t wait to ‘descend’ on it, they’ve been working near non-stop since arriving here!”
Marv said smilingly whilst walking past them on way back to Dormitory Room 8 they unsmilingly winking back whilst wanding Jonathan & Mildred.
…To Be Continued…
