30 min tell connection

“Status reports on all forces.” Stevens demanded.

“Ranger QRFs 1-6 ready,” came a voice John had grown very familiar with over the last few weeks. Colonel Maverick was the type of leader and killer you wanted at the head of your Quick Reaction Forces. Maverick had chosen the ranger platoons that would hold at the base of each section in the bunkers that served as modern day sally ports, personally. They were his most eager fighters, led by his best officers.

“Section 1, artillery is green. Bunkers are green. Auto-defenses are green. Ready for action General.” Colonel Johnson of the first section was by far John’s most textbook perfect commander. He had some field experience that had come from his time in South Korea. The man even cut his hair to the perfect military length. The man had seen combat and was a stickler for the rules. But he knew how to balance that with the needs of his men. His only issue was, he was a bit of a braggart whenever he got drunk at the monthly commanders dinner.

“Section 2, artillery green. Bunkers green. Auto-defenses green.” Came Colonel Jackson’s voice. The man was from Georgia, and he was by far the most experienced of the Section Commanders, having originally fought in the liberation of Iraq. John didn’t really like the man, he was too stubborn and linier in his thinking. But he knew he was a competent commander. Even if he had a loud-mouth, foul tempered, stubborn mule for a personality.

The other section commanders each called in ready. All lights green, all systems ready. Then came the civilian leaders. “Town 1, ready. We’re in our bunkers, John.” John smiled and fought from rolling his eyes.

Civilians.

“Town 2 here, we’re ready to go. All sealed up.”

“This is Mike from town 3. We’re ready.”

“Town 4, sealed up and ready. Not that there are many of us here.” Town four was the manufacturing base. Not many of the buildings had been finished. In fact, most of their people were currently living in towns 5 and 6, because they had focused so heavily on getting manufacturing and infrastructure in place, they had neglected housing almost completely. The man in charge of the town, John thought his name was Therin? Was a large brute on the outside. He was smart and capable, but he had mistaken priorities.

“This is Isaka Smith for Town 5, we’re safely secure. A bit cramped. . . but safe.” John smirked. Ms. Smith was sharp as a tack, and it had not pleased her when John had told her she would house pretty much all of her neighbors people for a few weeks during the housing shortage. She had made it abundantly clear that his decision was wrong-headed, but she was also loyal, and wouldn’t turn people out who didn’t have a place to stay.

“Town 6, we’re ready. Everyone’s inside the wire.”

“Text notifications from all firebases are in Generals. We’re good to go.” Cranton said from the communications station. “Fifteen minutes and counting, General.” John watched the troops on the 3-D command table, and he decided he wanted a better view. “Cranton, care to join me on the deck?”