Bjjonesmylife. Book 2

The days were counting down fast now; on Friday Gordon and I went to another official function at noon and then another gala at the German embassy.

The food was great; the band played a much larger variety of music. I danced with Gordon, several other ambassadors and with Anton. Anton surprised me – he was a much better dancer that I thought he would be. We both enjoyed ourselves with several energetic dances that left us breathless.

As before, the host passed out a thumb drive with pictures of the evening. I was sure the girls would love them.

As I was saying good evening to everyone in the process of leaving, Anton handed me a business card with hand written numbers on the back, “This is my private cell and house number. When you make that trip to Russia, please call me and I will see that you get a grand tour of Moscow, my home. I am headed there tomorrow.”

I wrote my cell number on back of my business card, “Call me when you are in the area. We will have that dinner we were talking about.”

I finished out the evening dancing with Gordon; tight slow dances that left me breathless for a different reason.

The east wall was now done and that allowed for a reduced security stance. The guys and girls had made daily trips to Lake Victoria and were swapping shifts so they could all get a chance to play in the water and sand.

There were daily volley-ball games that allowed us to stay fit and I played in all of them.

We slowly put things back to the way they were for Ambassador Bernardi. All the repairs from the terrorist attack were finished. The paint on the flag wall had been given a second coat, including some reflective touch-up to make it more visible at night.

The bunk rooms in the basement had now improved; each man or lady had a small private room with a single bed, a dresser and a door with individual lighting. Facilities for my security force of forty would be complete before I left.

We had one man in the group who had worked as an electrician before the service. Another sub panel was added in the basement to give the rooms plenty of outlets.

A contractor was hired to install the same kind of room AC units we had used in all the offices at the gym. I was amazed that seven thousand miles away and Williams AC units could be bought.

We were down to 6 days. All the food we had brought was nearly gone and the cooks had been hitting the local markets for weeks.

On Monday Ambassadors Morrison and Fauntroy came to see me. They had a donation of children’s clothing arrive that they wanted carried to Nimule camp. It was too much to put in the chopper so the flat bed truck and trailer was sent.

All the crates that we were not going to use to get back home along with the stack of pallets were loaded and sent. As before, the truck left early and the Ambassadors and I flew. I said my goodbyes to the doctor and the staff and promised to help as much as I could.

On Tuesday I spent all day on VCATS and part of the evening as well; in the morning I was talking with the ambassadors where I was sending new teams in October. All of them were in Africa and the Middle East so the time zone thing worked in my favor.

I had the list and the numbers the state department wanted at each Embassy. I was checking that there were adequate accommodations for all the additional people. Vicky or I would have to visit every embassy the week of the transition to verify and ensure a smooth transition.

Tuesday evening there were VCATS with Frank, Eric, and Victor. I worked Frank and Victor both trying to make changes. I wanted to change out each embassy’s security personnel as we had the right numbers trained.

If the department could make changes in the effective date for Kampala more changes could be made – I argued – and the transition would be smoother.

After I finished the conference call with the three of them, Victor paged back, “Woodman does not want Linda, Ellen or Alice back. In fact, he had dropped the request for any guards for his wife. You would not know anything about that, would you?”

“No, not a thing, LOL, you know damn well I do; and we did not need a body bag to end the problem,” I replied.

“Oh by the way, your official title, salary and authority had been extended until all congressional investigations are done. This was done to allow the State department to furnish legal representation, and for you to continue to have access to classified materials until the end of the process and allow you to officially use the confidentially and secrecy rules,” Victor added.

I finished out the day with a VCATS to the office; I had a lot of things to catch up on when I returned and after I spent 4 days in Washington.

The 25 to replace us were currently home preparing for the permanent stay at Kampala. They had been given sign offs by the trainers and Jamie. The fifteen who were here had been signed off by Jamie.

Andy and his leaders had been working with them on the other things they had missed by being sent here so early in their training. The state department had given them the course in diplomacy and all the other things they needed in sessions in the communications room.

The truck and trailer and the two cars that Andy had bought were staying. I had several lengthy conversations with Ambassador Bernardi about continuing aid to Nimule camp and using the truck and trailer for that.

The cars would allow my people mobility without depending on the local taxi service that could be a security risk or by using the limos.

Wednesday and Thursday were a blur, they went by so fast. Friday we began packing. The drones were packed and loaded on the truck with other things. I had one more Ambassador’s gala to go and that was tonight.

The State Department was sending a 787 to deliver my teams along with Ambassador Bernardi, his wife, personal secretary and personal cook.

JBG was supplying cooks to supply food for the shifts. The state Department was paying for all the food. I hoped that too many cooks did not spoil the stew.

Andy chose 3 men out of the fifteen who had been with us to be team leaders and had been working with them in that capacity for a week. This afternoon Andy and I would interview the three and decide which one was going to be security force site commander. We chose Caleb Brown to be the site commander and after his input Kasey Bacon as second in command.

In the 25 that were coming, ten were women and the trainers and my girls chose the one they thought was best for team leader for the women. Angel Hayes was to be third in command and supervisor of the ladies. The women were going to handle the communications center and the front office that dealt with the public and other duties when they were needed. Two of the men were pilots for the chopper.

The plane was landing at 8 AM local time Saturday morning, leaving Morton Field 6 PM Friday; I figured 4 hours to make the transition putting us home at 7 PM eastern daylight Saturday evening with all the time zone changes.

I showered and shaved everything that needed shaving and was dressed and waiting on the hairdresser. She did a different hair style each night she had worked on me.

I was wearing the last expensive dress I had bought. It was the shortest of all the dresses a good 4 inches above the knee and sassy. I had a pair of panties that matched the dress color. The hair dresser gave me a hairdo that matched the sassiness of the dress.

I went to collect Gordon from the back; it was time to go.

“I think I need to send extra bodyguards with you tonight, you are one rocking babe. What did you do, save the best for last?” Andy asked.

“Always save the best for last,” I replied with a laugh.

Tonight’s gala was the French embassy; it was the on the other side of the city and would take at least 30 minutes to get there.

On the drive Gordon and I talked about the different parties we had been to and how much fun they had been. I talked about how much I had learned dancing with him and just how much I was going to miss them every Friday night.

We were met at the rear of the embassy and escorted into the main ball room. Gordon and I immediately noticed that all the waitresses – there were no waiters – were dressed as little French maids.

They were complete with stockings, garters and corsets that had low cut bras that were cut so low the nipples were exposed. The thongs were so transparent they hid nothing and left plenty of cheeks hanging out. They were all wearing 6 inch heels.

I was relieved to see that all of the official guests were in proper attire as I was; fine dresses and tuxes or suits.

All these affairs were done on the same format; finger foods on little plates with walk-about socializing. Gordon and I made our way around the room to all the people that I had met in the last six weeks to say farewell. The only one missing was Anton.

The meal was exquisite salad, main course and desert fit for a king. However, I doubt that the men’s mind was on the quality or quantity of the food as it was put on the table.

The waitresses with those 6 inch heels plus the fact that they were tall girls – 5-9 and 5-10 – were so tall that the only way they could talk to you or refill your drinks was to bend over at the waist or squat. Most chose simply to bend over giving anyone a view from behind and those from the front another view.

Boobs were simply falling out of the corsets. When they straightened up they simply shook a little to let them settle back in the corset.

This must have been the regular routine with the parties here; none of the wives seemed upset, in fact they seemed to enjoy it as much as the husbands. There were winks and whispers in their husband’s ears and jiggles.

Poor Gordon – he was shifting in his seat and moving things, trying to ease the pressure. I wondered just how well he was hung as much problem as he was having with all the visual stimulation.

Soon the tables were cleared and I hoped we were going into the hall for dancing and not an orgy.

Dancing was hot and heavy, body contact, slow hold me tight and then energetic 20’s and 30’s; Charleston, fox trot, tango, rumba and the Viennese waltz. Gordon had to help me with some of the steps. It was a good thing I wore panties the same color as the dress because I was sure I was showing plenty of butt with some of those dances. I had a blast and Gordon was still worked up; any time there was body contact I could easily tell he was hard.

At eleven the party was winding down with one last round of drinks served. I called for our ride, telling the duty desk I would be ready at 11:30. I made the rounds again and said farewell to my new friends and acquaintances and promised to return soon.

Once we were in the SUV headed back to the Embassy, I slid close to Gordon. “Well, that was certainly different and interesting; I had fun and I am going to miss the parties. At first I was dreading them and to the end I was looking forward to them.”

I moved close to his ear and whispered, “You do understand that real men don’t kiss and tell.”

I moved and rested my hand in his lap to feel his still half hard cock. I stroked it through his pants until it was fully hard; then I unbuttoned and unzipped them and then slid his pants down to continue. He was rock hard and oozing pre-cum that I rubbed around the head with my thumb making it slick and bringing movements from his hips.

Gordon reached for me; I lightly slapped his hand to let him know it was not happening.

I leaned over and licked the head and then slid my mouth around it holding it with one hand. With my other hand I slid my panties down and let my fingers work their magic on my clit.

I started with short sucking strokes and increased until I was sucking the whole length. At first I struggled getting it down my throat until I remembered how to relax and let it slide down.

Gordon’s movements increased then became intensive. When I felt the first pulse at my lips I went all the way down and adjusted my strokes and tightened my lips to milk every drop. The throbs of his cock and my fingers sent me into my orgasm. I kept sucking until he started to deflate then closed my lips tight and slowly pulled off his cock, drying it as best as I could.

I handed him a handful of napkins from the side pocket and opened a bottle of water, swished my mouth several times and swallowed, then took a big drink and wiped my mouth with a wet napkin.

I folded several napkins, put them against my dripping pussy and pulled my panties back up. I did not need to explain sticky panties if someone found them before they got washed. I turned the AC full up.

After waiting until Gordon was back to normal I lowered the security glass, “Did anything go on at the embassy I need to know about?”

“Andy said everything was ready for us to leave tomorrow,” the driver said.

“I got a text from Jenny that the plane departed on time. It’s going to be good to get home, even though I do have to go to Washington for four days and I have to be an ambassador for several weeks longer than I signed on for,” I replied.

Back at the embassy Gordon held the SUV door for me as I stepped out. I put my arm around his waist, “Thank you, I had a wonderful time.”

“Yes, I did too,” he replied.

Then I walked into the embassy ahead of him and went to the communication room to VCATS with the girls and send them tonight’s pictures.

Edit by Alfmeister

Proof read by Bob W.

I had asked the cooks for a cookout tonight because the weather was supposed to be nice. I called to check on the food and to make sure that Linda had set all the cameras on the place to record. All those that had been damaged were replaced with newer and better.

The cooks said everything would be ready in 15 minutes or less. Time enough for a beer.

I called Andy to tell him I was bringing guests to the cookout, to put the beer in a cooler and take it outside to the tables. I was not sure if the guests would eat.

“Who are the guests?” Andy asked.

“Anton Pavlenko and his guards make sure everyone stays close lipped about operations and keep all conversations to a social nature,” I said.

“You like playing with fire, is all I can say,” Andy replied.

Anton’s car followed us in the front gate. I could smell and see smoke from the grill when I stepped out of the SUV.

“I get home in time to have a cold beer before supper. I am glad you could join me; we have Budweiser and Coors Lite. Which do you prefer Anton?” I asked.

“I have had Coors before, I will take that one.”

Anton had four bodyguards with him, including the driver. After I handed Anton his beer I handed a Coors to each of them, not allowing Anton to refuse for them.

“Anton, how long have you worked for the Russian government?”

“Twenty eight years.”

“Have all of them been in foreign service?” I asked.

“No, four years in the military academy and then foreign service,” he replied.

“How long have you been working for the government?” he asked. Sort of a tit for tat game, I thought.

“Ten years and six weeks when I finish this stint. Ten in the Marines and the six weeks are here, with a few years in between building a business,” I replied.

“Ah yes, aviation, auto rental and the security that brings you here,” he said.

“You forgot the gym, has my girlish figure gone away that quick?” I asked.

“You still have that and work hard to keep it, I bet. You only have a couple more weeks here according to the press release; where do you go from here?” he asked.

“Back to Maryland; lots of people to train,” I replied.

“Where is the next hot spot that Anton is going?”

“Back to Mother Russia then to Iran and on to Syria,” Anton replied.

“How many were in the house?”

“Twelve that I talked to, but there were more in the back,” he replied.

“Do you do the old buckaroo thing and carve notches on the grip?” he asked.

“Tough to do with synthetic grips and all those notches leave ugly looking marks in your palm after shooting,” I replied.

The bottle of beer was half gone when the cook yelled food was ready.

“Anton my friend, care to join us for supper? Supper is low key cookout foods tonight; a taste of home, hamburgers, hot dogs, mac and cheese, homemade baked beans, potato salad, cucumbers and onions,” I asked.

He hesitated then, “Sure, why not?”

“I see you have repaired the wall.”

“Yes, I want the place back to the way it was when I leave. I don’t want anyone else to have to clean up any mess I made.”

“The other wall will be finished soon, then just a few more things to tidy up,” I replied.

“Are you going to do the security for the Havana embassy when it is reopened?” he asked.

“It is not on any list that I have so far,” I replied.

“That will be good duty for your people if you get it,” Anton said.

“LOL, that right there is one reason we won’t get it,” I replied.

“Have you ever been to Russia?” Anton asked.

“No, there are a lot of countries that I have not been to yet. A year from now that number will be greatly reduced because of contract obligations,” I replied. “Then I will travel looking for more prospects. If I get to Russia will you give me a private tour of the Kremlin?”

“Be a privilege to do that, just let me know a few days in advance,” he replied.

We talked about a lot of general things and lightly getting involved international political arena. Finally, after two more beers and two plates of food, Anton decided it was time to go.

“Hopefully I will see you at the German Embassy Ambassador’s evening Gala on Friday; I would like to try a couple of those dances you do,” Anton said.

“We can do that; it will be fun,” I replied as I walked to the car to see him off.

Back at the table Andy asked, “Did you learn anything?”

“I don’t want to play any card games with him, that’s for sure!” I replied.

“I need the camera footage from all three drones brought to my office; I have to go do several VCATS immediately and I’m sure I will have some questions to answer,” I said to Andy.

I fired up my computers and checked into my JBG emails. I read all the emails marked important and responded as necessary.

There were several large video files there. The longest video was from the Canada trip. Andy walked in and sat down with the drone computers just as I opened it. It was shot with the good commercial video camera.

The girls had filmed the walk-around and walk-through of the two new to us C130s at Toronto. The pilots were like kids at Christmas, looking at the new toys. They were all shining with the new paint and the big JBG decals on the side. There was film of them taking off and the girls giving me the thumbs up.

“More planes,” Andy asked.

“Lorrie has signed three airfreight contracts since we have been gone. She has a daily flight now to Charlotte and Harrisburg starting next month. The contracts and the planes have been in the works for a couple months. We are flying so many hours with the two C130s we have that they need to be out of service for a couple weeks each for major inspections,” I replied.

The other video file was of the choppers being unloaded off trucks. From the video it looked like a lot of them had been delivered in the last day or two.

I downloaded the video from each drone computer and looked at it before I sent it to Frank. I sent the high station video first, waited a few minutes and then sent the video from each device.

Then I called Frank, “Did you see anything interesting happening tonight?”

“Well I see why 515 was a hot spot. What the hell did you use to make it burn that hot? OK, I know a girl has to keep some secrets.”

“Was that Anton coming out of that place before the blast?” Frank asked.

“Yes it was; he being there confirmed my Intelligence.”

“Who was in the building?”

“The planners of the attack and other leaders of the clan; they were trying to make amends with Anton for loosing his people by planning another attack against us. They will make no more plans,” I replied.

“Did you get the feeds from the cookout and our conversations?” I asked.

“Yes, that was interesting! I don’t know who was doing more fishing, him or you. But it was revealing about some of his insights. What was that all about?”

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend or something like that. The chat before the devices fell determined that they were not his friends. Oh, by way, you can expect the skunk works will be hacked again.”

“He picked up that there was no jet or rocket engine noise and the drones were so high that it was almost impossible to see them. I told him that it was something new from the skunk works – super stealthy and quiet to boot – and he fell for it. Let them chase ghosts looking for something that is not there,” I replied.

“That’s some else’s department; I will call them and give them a heads up,” Frank replied.

“I need to run Frank; keep me informed,” I said then I cut the feed.

The next emails were from Robert and Burt, “The link has gone dead; nothing since 6 PM your time?”

I separated the video from the station drone into segments and sent Robert and Burt the segment of the two devices falling and the aftermath, “Do you think this might have something to do with it? 515 and its occupants do not exist anymore.”

I had a brainstorm that might solve my Alice, Ellen and Linda problem. I went back and pulled up the video on the embassy servers of the action from the front office.

Then I sent Ambassador Woodman the video from both of the front office cams. One cam was facing the doors where the two terrorist died and the other was facing the counter and the girls. The video was wide angle and captured the whole front office; it was about a minute long. It started with the two breaking in and ended with them dying at the hands of the three girls.

I figured that if he thought the girls harbored any resentment for his actions, it would be clear they could and would handle it when they went back. It just might cool his desire wanting them back at all.

Edit by Alfmeister

Proof read by Bob W.

We had plenty of conversation on the flight back to Kampala about today’s trip. We tried to make plans for them to continue receiving whatever assistance I could put together after I went home.

I thought some things would work with the expanded JBG security team at the Kampala. There would be flights and freight flights, but that was something that we could work out later.

Back at the embassy, I had a late supper and a long VCATS with the girls. I then worked on all the emails, and there were plenty.

Frank sent me the preliminary report from the investigation, “for my eyes only”; it was already 300 pages long. Reading all those pages was for later, for sure.

An email from Victor informed me that the Senate and House investigative hearings into the attack were to start the day after I was scheduled to return home. “Oh boy, let the fun begin,” I thought.

The House Sergeant at Arms sent me 2 electronic subpoenas to appear for testimony in the Kampala Embassy Attack; one for the intelligence committee and the other from the State Department Oversight committee.

The Senate Sergeant at Arms did the same thing; I had four days straight of hearings on the Hill; another ‘Oh joy’ moment. I wondered if delivering subpoenas that way was legal, even though I had to sign an electronic receipt for the email to open it.

I went on to open the first email from Robert; there were several. I opened them by date to get the encryption codes.

The terrorist leaders were scrambling to find a way to get on the good side of Anton. They were even trying to find enough new recruits for a second revenge attack.

They were counting on our reduced numbers as a tactical advantage; the media had showed our people leaving but not the replacements coming in.

They were trying to make amends with their financiers and quick.

The next message had more of the same, with updates, and the third message was filled with desperation when their calls for recruits and followers were not being answered.

I called Cory to hear that my order had been completed and delivered to Morton Field. Then I called Robbie to find out about the ball bearings. Only a partial order had come in.

I knew there was plenty of C4 and batteries in the armory.

I called Frank next, “Do you have any aircraft coming this way?”

“Not scheduled right now, why?” he replied.

“Looks like they are planning another attack and I might need my replacement devices sooner than I thought,” was my reply.

“Pack up, get out.”

“I don’t run. It is not my nature, Frank; you know that.”

“They are only in the planning stages and having recruiting problems. I might have an ace in the hole to play tomorrow night. I will keep you posted.”

“What kind of ace?”

“I can’t tell you yet, it hasn’t all come together,” I replied.

It was 11 PM when I showered and slipped into bed with Linda. She was sound asleep, breathing heavy and in the middle of the bed again. I snuggled up close and moved her enough that her breathing changed to something more at ease. Oh, how I wished she was one on my mates; I needed someone to hold and talk to who I could trust.

With that thought I closed my eyes and went to sleep.

With the morning light I headed to the kitchen for coffee and breakfast. Andy was seated with the Kampala morning paper reading about our exploits of yesterday and looking at the pictures. There were two pages of pictures with brief explanations and a half page article.

“If anyone goes out today, pick me up several papers; I want one for a souvenir,” I said.

“Speaking of going out; no one goes out alone for the next few days. There might be more trouble brewing,” I said.

After breakfast I gave him all the intel that Robert had sent last night, while I looked at my email for anything new.

I pulled up the department’s expensive version of Google Earth and looked at 515 Nubulagla Road. As customary in this part of the world, the house was a single story with a roof that had very little slope and looked to be terracotta of some sort.

The house was off the street a ways and there was no driveway to the house; the cars were parked on the street if one owned one.

Two blocks away there was an abandoned business of some kind. Andy decided the best thing to do was call a taxi to do a field trip to get a good look at 515, the abandoned building and anything else interesting on that street.

Andy wrote down several streets that he would have the taxi take as not to draw any suspicion. Not only that; but the streets he chose to sight-see was a complete box around 515.

Last night after I went to bed there were lengthy emails sent from the girls and my clerks. All of it was updates. Vicky and Cindy along with Jason and Roseanne had started the interviewing process to fill all the new security positions.

They had come up with the idea to get as many on board and trained as soon as possible. By doing so they were going to be able to get the recertification training back on schedule by using them.

I had two thoughts on that. One was could the training be expanded to bring the embassy people back on the schedule? The new hires could be sent to the remaining embassies that needed to go through the training. That would give the new hires some on the job training.

The second thing would be to leverage the State department to allow JBG to take over the embassies in the worst locations as we got people trained.

Marcy had the updates on the expansion of both the Horsey House and the Crash Pad. The Crash Pad expansion was closed in and weather proofed. It was the larger of the two. With it closed in the plumbers and electricians and then the drywall crews could make some time regardless of the weather.

On the Horsey House, the shafts for the elevators were in and the first floor framed; two floors to go on each wing. Richard Bozman – who had been the inspector on the college dorms and had retired when they were completed – agreed to be the inspector for our insurance company on the construction.

By the time I had finished emails and several VCATS with a couple of the other embassies that JBG was taking over; Andy was back and had pictures. He also came back with two cars. Cars were for sale everywhere around here. With gas doubling in price in the last few months and inflation running at 300 percent, every penny was going for the necessities of life; the local public transportation system was very popular now.

“Having something that looks normal will let us move around without drawing attention. We need to be able to watch both ends of the street,” Andy said.

Andy and I had a good look at the pictures, talked about the scenarios and made a plan; we had four hours to put it together.

Andy put Howie to work on modifying one of the two remaining devices; both that we had left were the concussion types. We were taking three drones; two with devices attached and one to place high on station for the camera.

It took two hours to get the materials together to make the mod Andy and I had talked about. With an hour left one Suburban with the three drones left to get into position behind the abandoned building. The two cars also left to stake out the ends of the street.

I sent Frank an email, “Have the satellites monitor 515 Nubulagla Road ASAP for at least an hour starting at 5:30 here.”

By five minutes of six over a dozen men had entered the house; some with weapons.

At six on the nose Anton came in from the west and parked on the street on the opposite side of house 515. He and two men walked to the house and then inside. James parked the Suburban 15 spots back and we waited.

Twenty minutes later Anton and his men came out. James then pulled the Suburban directly in front of Anton’s car. I got out of the Suburban holding my 900 MHz radio, walked to the passenger side of Anton’s car and waited for him to get to me; the radio would work for a mile or so without the repeating towers.

While I waited I exchanged greetings with the driver and the one guard left at the car in Russian.

Anton hesitated and then walked around to me.

“Anton, you had a meeting with friends and I was not invited; I am deeply hurt,” I said in my best Russian.

“They are not friends of mine; some in my country may think they could be friendly but they are wrong,” he replied in Russian.

“No skin of yours then?”

“No,” he replied.

I keyed the radio mike, “Viking 1, this is Wildcat; status?” I said into the radio.

“Viking 1 standing by three miles out.”

“Viking 1, launch number 1.”

“One away,” Viking 1 replied.

“Wildcat, target acquired,” Viking 1 replied

“Viking 1; verify target,” I replied.

“Target is verified,” Viking 1replied.

“Authorization is Go, I repeat Go, Launch 2,” I replied.

“2 away,” Viking 1 replied.

Just then the house exploded into a fireball. All of us ducked beside the vehicles.

“Target acquired,” Viking 1 replied.

“Authorization is Go, repeat Go,” I said.

Another explosion rocked the house; this one with all kinds of colors. Number two included magnesium and other goodies to make things burn very hot.

Anton’s face was full of shock at first, and then back to normal.

“Viking 1 mission complete, return to base is authorized, Wildcat out,” I replied.

“Roger Wildcat, pleasure working with you today, Viking out.”

“But, but there were no planes, no jet engines or missile noise,” Anton replied.

“New things from the skunk works; stealth and quiet,” I replied. Let them chase a ghost; I thought and almost laughed out loud. That will keep them busy for a while.

I could hear sirens coming, “Anton, I think we need to leave right now; I have a couple different brands of cold American beer if you want to follow me to the embassy. We can have one of those famous beer summits if you like.”

At first he looked startled, “OK, lead the way,” he replied.

While we were traveling with Anton in tow, the Suburban with the drones was already backing into the car garage.

I called Frank, “I don’t have much time again, monitor all the embassy cameras and record them.”

“515 Nubulagla Road doesn’t exist any more; infrared satellite says the site is hot as hell. What the hell did you do?”

“Later, Frank.”

Edit by Alfmeister

Proof read by Bob W.

The Doctor decided he wanted the container next to other two. The driver struggled but finally got it in place. With the doors opened it was a nice unit, clean and ready to use. The driver immediately left to go back to Gulu.

The first thing to unload was the trailer behind the truck. Everything had been unstrapped while the container was being positioned. There were 10 of the miniature tables for the kids to kneel at. They were put in a pile for the time being. At a total of 80 feet, a lot of kids could be fed at one time by using both sides.

Then there were two wash tubs to wash things in and two large propane self-standing burners with at least 5 gallon cooking pots. There were 4 large racks that had to be assembled. Then there were 10 new 5 gallon buckets, a box that contained two different sized ladles and at least a dozen of the old crank style can-openers.

Andy moved the trailer out of the way and unhooked it; there were at least 6 pallets of something still on it.

With the truck backed as close to the container as possible, we began the tedious task of unloading all those cans. With six cans to the case, 50 pounds a case, a person could get tired out quickly.

We rotated people out of the line for rest and to continue to have someone doing guard duty.

As soon as a pallet was emptied and set aside it was dragged off to become part of another lean-to or fire wood; soon there was a line of haggard women waiting for the pallets.

I mentally kicked myself in the ass for not realizing that everything had a use in a place like this. The old saying was “Ones man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” I was even more upset because we had a stack of 50 or so at the embassy that were going to end up in the trash. We could have easily loaded them on the trailer.

With the truck unloaded, the container was nearly half full; we did not stack them to the ceiling for fear of someone getting hurt trying to get a case down from over their head. Then all the cases of crackers were stacked inside.

Andy asked if they should have picked up some rat and mice poison.

“No, I am sure that if any of those are here, they get eaten and I would be afraid a child would get into the poison,” I replied.

With the truck moved the men assembled the racks and put them against one side. Then they began to open the crates of disposable bowls and spoons I had asked for and stacked them on the racks.

I was surprised when I saw them; they were top of the line disposable plastic with the kind of quality that could be washed and reused multiple times before it would have to be trashed. The girls had pulled another slight of hand improvement on what I had asked for.

With the truck out of the way, Andy and the guys began setting up an eating area for the kids. Andy and the guys had bought several those backyard fast-assemble party canopies; enough to cover the 40 feet of tables in two rows and a couple extra were set up. The two extra 8 foot plastic tables were set up with plastic chairs.

One of the men hooked the trailer back up and it was backed up the container again; they started opening the other crates. The crates were filled with gallon jugs of distilled water to add to the soup that went into the container. I could just imagine the uses for the empty jugs in this place.

All these things appearing explained why they had made so many trips around the city yesterday.

The big pots were washed and filled with soup and a gallon of water and then mixed with one of the ladles.

The last two crates were 50 pound propane tanks to fuel the burners; six tanks to the crate. I needed to talk to Andy about that one; just how were the people here going to get the tanks refilled?

The word was sent out that in half an hour there would be a meal served at the medical tent for all children. It wasn’t hard to get the word out; we had an audience the entire time we had been here.

No matter how poor and weak kids were, they were curious by nature and with trucks, men and all things going on, we had to be careful we did not step on them, they were so close.

I wondered where all the adults were today. The last time we were here there were plenty wandering around, looking; today there were not near as many. I hoped that they had not been lured into trying to get back to their villages.

Dr. Palermo had finished his doctor duties for a while and joined us.

“The word is out that they are catching a few fish in the nearby lake the last two days, but no one has returned with any fish. The lake is fished out and needs time to recover but the people are desperate; worst thing is the lake is polluted. The lake is fed from the Sudan and the river is used a dump.”

“They use the centuries old technique of standing in water and casting a net and pulling it back; so in a few days we will be dealing with unusual rashes, infections and such,” the doc said.

We ambassadors filled the doctor in on everything I had brought. The doctor suggested that all the kids get only the small ladle of soup and just 4 crackers; “Too much of a good thing could upset their intestines; they had been existing on a corn meal mush for a very long time. Corn meal mush gets eaten with the fingers,” he replied.

I explained to the doctor that I was only going to be in Kampala for three and a half more weeks, and that I would stay in contact with Ambassadors Morrison and Fauntroy and would try to continue getting them food and meds, but I could not promise him how much, for how long or how often.

My men interrupted the conversation by bring several buckets of water and sitting them in a row, along with a cardboard box on which they put several bars of soap on. Andy pushed several flowerpot hangers into the ground and hung embassy towels on them.

It was all I could do not to laugh; all one had to do was to look around at all the kids to know that they had no idea what a bar of soap and water was for, let alone how to use them.

“Soup’s hot and ready to be served,” one of the guys said.

“Start putting the bowls out with one small ladle of soup and four crackers with a spoon as the Doc ordered and I will try to get the hand washing started,” I said. As one pot was emptied it would be refilled until the estimated 2000 thousand children had been fed.

I pulled my sleeves to my elbow and stuck my hands in the cold water; then reached for the bar of soap and lathered my hands up making sure to emphasize good cleaning of the fingers at the first bucket. Then I rinsed them in the second bucket and again in the third before drying them.

Like all kids, they only needed to be shown once before there were several sets of hands in the buckets at a time and the drying going on. As the hands were dried I walked the first kids to the end of the little tables, got down on my knees at the end of the table so I could be seen by all and waited until the table was full of kids to see what was next.

I picked up the spoon and demonstrated the right way to hold it then dipped it in my soup and slowly put it in my mouth; “Umm good,” I said. One of my men walked the table helping those that need a little guidance with spoon positioning and aiming.

As the other tables filled Ambassador Fauntroy and Morrison did the same thing. Even the doctor and staff had a table to help and we continued until all the kids had gotten something to eat.

Mothers with small or weak kids who needed assistance got a large ladle and 8 crackers to share.

The men started making ready to leave for Kampala while Ambassador Fauntroy, Morrison and I gave an impromptu news conference for the half dozen reporters who had gathered asking questions; they had been filming at various times all day.

Ambassador Fauntroy insisted that I speak first.

“First I have to give thanks to a lot of people who made today’s meal for the kids come together. Kamgells foods for the soups and Sysco restaurant supply for the dishes and spoons along with Potomac Pharmaceuticals for the donation of medicines for the Doctors without Borders. We will get Dr. Palermo to say a few words in a minute.”

“Lorrie at JBG Aviation Division for air services to get the food here for today: Marcy, Jenny, Vicky, Ching Lee for putting all the pieces together and finally, all the people at JBG who donated their time and money to help with this worthy cause,” I said.

Then I added, “The flight that brought the items over was converted to an Air Medevac to carry the wounded from the embassy attack back to the states for further treatment.”

“I also need to thank the men and ladies of JBG Security Kampala for putting all the things together yesterday and this morning to make this happen. Yesterday they built the little tables, secured all cookers and pots and then organized everything.”

“Finally I want to thank Ambassador Morrison and Ambassador Fauntroy for coordinating everything with Dr. Palermo and the Doctors Without Borders here at Nimule and inviting me and my people to participate in this noble cause and their tireless determination to see things through,” I finished my speech.

After Ambassadors Morrison and Fauntroy spoke I sent the truck and Suburban’s on their way back to Kampala; they had a long ride ahead. Two hours later the ambassadors and I left for Kampala in the chopper.

Edit by Alfmeister

Proof read by Bob W.

Andy joined in on the planning session; the first question he had was a stumper right off the bat. “What are they going to store the food in? Boomer said the only thing he saw was a little building with bags of corn in it?”

Ambassadors Morrison and Fauntroy had no real answer.

“Lets plan the trip, and then I will go see what I can find,” Andy replied.

It was 250 road miles to Nimule. With the trailer Andy estimated that the truck would get 8 to 10 miles to the gallon and had twin 60 gallon fuel tanks, so fuel would be no problem.

I estimated that it would take at least 6 hours to get there by truck at the best, four more to unload, 6 more to get back and that was if everything went well.

Andy chose the people to make the trip and put things in motion to make it work. The truck left to fuel up. Boomer and the guys were back with lumber on top of the Suburban to make the tables. As soon as it was unloaded, the Suburban left again.

The truck with trailer and both Suburban’s and 4 heavily armed men each for escort would leave at four AM. At 8 the chopper with the drugs and we three ambassadors would leave and all of us should arrive at the same time.

“OK, I will arrange everything. I have something I need to go check on,” Andy replied as he was walking away.

Ambassadors, you need to be here by 7:30,” I said. They left shortly after that; it was a good thing because Robert sent me another big data file to decipher.

I spent two hours working with the encryption. People in the Kampala terrorist group were not happy. They had put all their people into the assault and knew they had a sure victory for their financiers; that turned into a defeat of catastrophic proportions. Their few injured that had survived may never fully recover.

Anton was very unhappy and was demanding to know why his people were put into the position to die. They were supposed to be observers – not to be participants – and to collect any classified documents they could find after the fact.

Anton’s superiors were putting so much pressure on him for answers that he had demanded a meeting with all the leaders. The leaders on the other hand were so sure of success they let all their key people join the attack – even their key communication people – for the glory of victory over the great Satan.

Now their communications were sloppy; some were being sent in plain language with no encryption, including the time and place of a meeting; Wednesday evening at 6 PM on Nubulagla Road, house 515. Those that were encrypted were done so at a basic level, according to Robert.

I needed an urgent meeting with Andy and Howie as soon as he returned, but for now the tomorrow trip was the priority.

I worked on emails until supper and then more after supper. Andy had only been back a few minutes. He and I, with the team leaders – the men and ladies he had picked for tomorrow’s trip – ate together.

The afternoon meal was a joint meal; breakfast for those getting up for the evening shift and supper for the day crew. My salad tasted really good with fresh bacon bits, something I would remember when I got back home. The cook cooked the bacon super crispy and then broke it into little pieces.

I asked the cook if we needed to get up a food order from home, or were they able to find everything we needed here.

“There is no bacon or sausage available here but we have enough for a couple of weeks; beef is no problem,” one of them replied.

“Maybe we should make a list of things we need from home. I might be able to get them on a military supply flight,” I replied.

We did a general review about the trip; Lexy and Bambi were going to be pilots again. I ask Julie if she remembered how to follow the flight with the tracking programs.

“I think so,” she replied.

“Then you need to get up to be able to do that at 4 AM to track the first group on the journey,” I replied.

I listened while the men talked about all the things they had accomplished today. The east wall would be done tomorrow morning and then the contractor was going to gather the materials to do the west wall.

The men had found a steel supplier all the way across the city. Wednesday morning the truck was going to go pick enough to do the west wall.

In my office I showed Andy the deciphered file Robert had sent me.

“Convenient of them to all be in one place. Is this a coincidence? Are they that afraid of this Anton Pavlenko or just plain stupid or is it a trap?” Andy asked.

“Anton leads or follows trouble, depending on the situation. He is a fixer, Anton carries a big stick, I think, and people in high places in Russia have his ear,” I replied.

“Let’s think about it Wednesday after we get through tomorrow’s special trip,” I said.

I went to bed early after I did a VCATS to the girls. I wanted to get up in time to see the truck off but did not want to set the clock to avoid waking up the other ladies in the room.

I came up with a backup plan; I set my phone alarm to vibrate and taped it to my chest.

I shouldn’t have worried; my natural alarm worked just fine. I was up in time to dress and have coffee in the cafeteria with them. The cook working the late shift had breakfast and packed sandwiches for them to take.

After seeing those off I went to the communications room to meet Julie; I checked all the boxes and keyed in all the numbers of everyone going to Nimule, even the ones going later.

I went back to bed to catch a couple more hours sleep before the Ambassadors arrived.

I had finished breakfast and was helping carry the meds to the chopper when Ambassadors Morrison and Fauntroy arrived in the front office.

With them in tow, I stopped in the communications room to check the progress. The convoy was stopped in Gulu. Gulu was the second largest town in Uganda with 50 thousand people, according to some outdated statistics I looked at several days ago.

“Julie, if they don’t start moving in a few minutes I want to know immediately. Andy had said he was making a scheduled stop in four hours.”

Walking through the embassy towards the rear door I handed the Ambassadors a vest; this time there was no objection to putting them on. When they had finished I asked, “Do you want hardware?”

“What do you mean by hardware?”

I opened the left side of my jacket to expose my Glock.

“Are you proficient with that thing?” Morrison asked.

“Very,” I replied.

“Then I don’t need one,” he replied.

A few moments later we were belted in and in the air headed north-west. Julie called to say the first group was moving again. The flight was normal and an hour and a half later we flew over the first group about 30 minutes from Nimule.

Fauntroy called Doctor Palermo to make sure that everything was OK and still safe at the camp. The Doctor did not use any of the code words to indicate that there was anything unusual or dangerous going on at the camp.

Ambassador Fauntroy told the doctor we would see him soon. Just to be sure, I had the chopper circle the camp to take a look.

Bambi landed the chopper at the same place as before; and as before, the puttering and backfiring jeep made its way to us.

“I did not expect to see you so soon. Did you come so I could check out your injuries from the attempted attack on you?” he asked. “We do get some current news here. There have been a lot or reporters here since your last visit; there are several here today.”

“I am recovering fine, thank you; we came to bring you more supplies.”

Boomer started handing the cases of meds as I helped stack them in the back bed of the jeep. It took four trips to get all the meds into their medical storage container. Dr. Palermo and his staff opened the boxes to see what we had brought. When he had finished, everything on his wish list and more was there in thousands of doses; to say he was elated would be an understatement.

Apparently the Potomac pharmaceutical company had researched what diseases were in the area and sent drugs to help.

I could hear our trucks coming in the distance. Boomer moved to a place where he could see down the road to make sure everything was still OK.

The trucks pulled to a stop in front of the medical tents. Our truck and trailer was followed by a tractor with a Landoll roll-off trailer that had a very big ocean shipping container loaded on it.

I started to look for Andy only to hear his voice behind me, “Find out from the Doc where he wants the container. The driver is antsy and wants to get out of here.”

“What else is on the trailer? When it left the embassy, tables were the only thing on it and now it is stacked to over flowing.”

“We stopped in Gulu and picked up some things. You will see as we unload it.”

Edit by Alfmeister

Proof read by Bob W.

The Washington investigators had round – tabled some time at the hotel before they called to be picked up. It took two more hours to answer all their questions Monday morning and then there was a meeting with officials of the Uganda government.

The officials still had no explanation how such a terrorist attack was planned and executed without alerting their anti terror forces. They were doing everything they could to side track any questions or make any statements related to the terrorist that would put them in a bad light.

The investigators wanted one more round table with me before they left at noon. It was 11AM when Marcy called on our satellite phone, “Turn on VCATS the C130 is landing in a few minutes we are live streaming Hanna’s broadcast and it is live on channel 24. We will record our own production and send in a file.”

I sent a message to Andy that the C130 was landing at Morton in a few minutes and it was going to be live if anyone wanted to watch in the meeting room.

We listened as a group to Hanna’s lead in and watched the C130 do a smooth by the book landing. The C130 turned at the p-loop then stopped in front of the terminal building eventually lowering the rear door. Several ambulances backed up to the C130.

Ambulance stretchers were moved into the C130 so the patients could be transferred to them. The C130 air medical evacuation setup stretchers are far different than those used in Ambulances. Ambulance stretchers are multi- purpose, height adjustable and they lock in the floor of the ambulance in case of an accident or roll over. The stretcher has multiple straps to keep the patients firmly secured to the stretcher.

If the family was there Marcy, Jenny, Ching Lee, Vicky and Lorrie walked them to the stretcher to see their loved one before being loaded in the ambulance. All these reunions were on being recorded by Hanna and broadcast.

When all the patients were transferred a convoy formed and was escorted by four state and sheriffs department cars across the bay to AAGH. Hanna’s station had their chopper follow the convoy. It must have been a real slow news day on the shore.

In may not have meant much to the people that met the ambulances but to the JBG employees watching it was proof that no expense was too great for our employees injured in the line of duty to restore their health and body and mind.

There would be no waiting in lines for weeks or months like our veterans were being subject to by an administration that considered them to be an inconvenience, a nuisance and in some cases potential criminals.

I wanted them on the shore because the best doctors and hospitals in the world were only minutes away if any complication should arise. I wanted them close to their family; emotional support from the family unit, friends and fellow employees was as important as drugs and therapy to heal.

I cut the screen after the chopper followed the convoy onto 301 south.

“You’re soon going to have to leave on your flight are there any more questions I need to answer for you?”

When no one brought up any, I asked, “What would you have done differently?”

“You handled the problem the only way it could be handled. We lucked out that your team found the Intel or we would have been facing one hell of a mess today,” Victor said. “There will still be a senate and house hearing; our report will take the wind out of their sails.”

“You can come back home if you want you have done more than we asked of you; Ambassador Bernardi can come back anytime,” Victor said.

“I signed on for six weeks and for appearances it would be best if I stayed. Besides I wouldn’t leave Bernardi this mess to fix; the walls will be repaired and the security system repaired. By the time me and my team leave their replacements will be trained and ready to roll in here it will be a clean swap”

“Besides I have some unfinished business to take care of and I still have some expensive clothes I have not worn. I think there are 3 more social events scheduled that will make the girls happy when they get the pictures.”

“I winked at Frank and Eric the walked over to face the wimpy triplets who were still sitting together. With my hands on the table and me staring intently at them.

“Am I going to have any more trouble out of you?”

“No ma-am, not a bit,” as they were shaking their heads one of them replied. When I glanced at Frank, Eric and Victor they were trying their best not to laugh and the triplets were still shaking their heads no; the senators and others were confused but I was sure Frank would fill in the blanks some time.

As they gathered their things to go Frank and Eric walked me off to the side, “Your four unwanted visitors are basking in the hot tropical sun as we speak. The Russians are talking; the Iranians not so much yet. I owe you.” Frank said to me.

“Oh by the way the Cleveland problem is not a problem any more, he tried to disappear fast but didn’t make it; he argued with a tractor trailer on interstate 85 and lost. His accomplices are spilling their guts,” Eric said.

“The Mexican connection had a terrible gas explosion in their villa; we are saying it was cartel gang related,” Frank added.

The group wanted to go to Entebbe by car to sight see along the way; both Suburbans and both limos were used. I had not been outside today; the fresh air helped clear my head. The east fence rock-wall was going up nicely; two more days, maybe three until it was finished, I guessed.

Andy met me there and we talked about the east wall, we both wanted a much better wall.

“Get with the contractor and get a price to make it a rock wall to match the east one. With the post hole digger and cement mixer you bought we can set the steel pilings as they go, if you can find the steel. When you do that, don’t forget to have them locate the sewer and water before you dig,” I said

The flag wall had been repainted again and much of the debris from the explosions was stacked up.

“What are you going to do about all those junk cars?” Andy asked then added, “We have searched all of them. The guys got some souvenirs out of them, otherwise they are clean. All the weapons are disabled and are in the garage in a crate.”

“Just remind them they and the plane have to go through customs when they head back home. Don’t take any contraband that will get them in trouble, and guns are a big no, no,” I said.

“The cars don’t belong to us and I am not going to store them. I will call my Ugandan counterpart and tell him to send someone to get them tomorrow. Have you seen a junkyard in your travels?”

“Not really?”

“What’s on the truck under the canvas?” I asked as we made the corner to the back.

“Neither Jenny nor Vicky told you?” Andy replied.

“No”

“5184 one gallon cans of Kamgells soup, on top are throw-away bowls and plastic spoons and 20 cases of soup crackers. Twelve pallets; 432 cans of soup to the pallet.”

“They told me they brought meds, they didn’t say anything about soup,” I replied.

“The meds are in the garage out of sun,” he said.

“They’re getting too sneaky; time to get out my paddle when I get home,” I said.

I got the reaction I was looking for, first his mouth just dropped, “You would not do that, I know better than that.”

“Wet noodle maybe,” I replied with a laugh.

“I’m going to call Morrison and Fauntroy to see if they can come here and we can work out a plan on how to get this to Nimule.”

I called my Ugandan counterpart and discussed the junk cars and security issue. He tried his best to pump me about the defensive response. I cut him off telling him that I was unable to make any statements until Washington released the final report and that could be months.

He promised to have someone start picking up the cars within the hour.

Ambassadors Morrison and Fauntroy came in two separate vehicles about ten minutes apart. After asking about my people, my health and the damage done to the grounds, I walked them out to the truck without telling them why.

I untied and lifted the canvas so they could see and then told them what was on the truck. Then I walked them into the garage where the meds were. As near as my memory would work, there was some of everything the doctors wanted.

They were excited and delighted that my contacts had come through. A trip to Nimule was soon in the making.

While we were talking, Boomer and Sidney came over; they had been on the flight as guards when we carried the generators to Nimule.

“We did not see anything there that could cook anything more than a tea cup on a wood fire. Did you notice that everyone outside of the docs and the sick in the tent were eating while sitting on the ground?” Boomer said.

“Yes, now that you mention it,” I replied.

“Let us go to the lumber yard and pick up some lumber; a couple boards and 2x4s to make x legs to make a dozen low tables. At least the kids can be on their knees with the plates on it and keep the dirt and bugs out of the food.”

“We can pick up some big pots, utensils, a burner and bottled water. That soup is best with a little water added to it to thin it; we can put all that stuff on the trailer,” Sidney added.

After Saturday we will take an armed escort,” I said to the Ambassadors after Boomer and Sidney left. Both of them nodded. “Let’s go to my office to plan the trip.”

Edit by Alfmeister

Proof read by Bob W.

I was up early. After breakfast, Andy and I went to the hospital to see my wounded and talk with the doctors. The injuries were worse than I had been told.

The doctors did not want to, but accepted that they would be shipped back to the US today. The men did not want to go home either, but understood the options were better there for rehab and could spend time with their families and assist in training as they felt like it.

Linda called to tell me that the investigators were at Entebbe waiting for us to pick them up. Andy sent the Blackhawk.

On the way back to the embassy, Andy and I stopped at the lumber yard. The owner supplied a name and number and even called to set up an appointment; the stone contractor would be there when we got there.

Andy and I were meeting with the contractor when I could hear the Blackhawk in the distance. The contractor had not had work in two months and desperately needed work. He could start as soon as he got his equipment. A handshake was all he needed and he got it.

The chopper was circling to land, giving the investigators an aerial view. I was standing in the front door watching a glass contractor repair the broken front door. The two terrorists had tried to get into the front of the embassy through those doors, only to run into Linda, Ellen and Alice. The interesting thing was there were no stray bullet holes; they had made every shot count while under stress.

I was in the kitchen at the coffee pot when I heard, “Hello stranger, have you got an extra mug?” in Russian.

“You don’t sound like a stranger and I have plenty of mugs for old friends,” I replied in Russian. When I turned around not only Frank but Eric, Victor, the triplets and several more people – including Senators Whitby and Harrison – were standing there. The ones I did not know, I had shaken their hands the day I took the oath.

“This place looks like a war happened outside,” Senator Whitby said. “And you look like you have been in one.”

“There was for a while,” I replied. “I may look bad but they are worse and I won. The only problem is I took no prisoners so there was no one left to sign the surrender document, so the war goes on.”

After the coffee a complete tour of the embassy grounds was undertaken.

“Take all the pictures you want first; clean up and repairs are starting in a few minutes,” I said.

And take pictures they did; every single car, both trucks, both walls, from on top of the embassy, the deflection wall we had built that now had most of the flag paint missing. There were several pieces of steel from the truck that were deeply imbedded in the wood. It would take the skid steer to get them out.

Howie had crated the drones up this morning; there were only 2 of the general purpose devices left assembled and they were in one of the eight foot crates – out of sight out mind, so to speak.

I walked away from the group to call Cory Richfield, “Make me 10 more of each device. They worked quite well.”

Then I called Robbie, “Order another 1000 pounds of ball bearings.”

We talked about the Blackhawks I had bought. He had already received shipping manifests for them. They were to start arriving in a week. Chester Crane Company was going to leave a crane on site to unload them.

I finished the calls and then went to stand with the investigators to watch the skid steer wrestle the truck out of he east wall and off the mangled steel pilings. The contractor was going to straighten them as best he could.

The contractor said it was a family business. When he showed up he must have brought every son, cousin, nephew, son-in-law and then some. They started putting the wall back up from both ends and the middle.

There were four different groups mixing mortar in pans with a mortar hoe and chipping mortar off the rebar they were going to reuse.

I noticed when I was walking around that there were ball bearings everywhere. I wondered if any business had one of those parking lot magnets we could rent or buy to collect them.

I would find out after this group left; so far, no one had said anything about them so there was no need to bring attention to them.

The investigators were ready for the closed door circus to begin. I resigned myself to the task as I filled my coffee mug again. It was going to be a long morning and afternoon.

I watched the satellite tapes that Frank had brought and were played. I explained things and answered questions. There was some video from the embassy cameras for a while. The truck bombs destroyed the cameras on the east and west walls at the very beginning of the attack so there was no external video on the servers.

The only video was of Alice, Ellen and Linda in the front office. The investigators were dismayed but I was happy that there was no close up video for the world to view the things that happened outside. I felt pretty sure the satellite footage would never be released.

Three hours into the process, Linda handed me a note that the flight from Morton Field would be landing at Entebbe and that they would need both Suburban’s, the limo, the Blackhawk and the flatbed truck to get everyone here. I wondered why it had taken so long; there must have been problems getting everything together – and why did they need a truck?

“Give it to Andy,” I replied as I handed the note back

While I was in the meeting, Andy had all the personal gear of the ten injured men packed up. When the Suburbans returned, they and the two limos would go the hospital to pick up the men and carry them to Entebbe. Investigation or no investigation, I was going to the hospital to see them off.

The meeting continued as I plugged the thumb drive into the screen connected computer. The thumb contained all the pictures that Andy’s men had taken of the dead and their ID’s. If they had any on them. I handed Frank the clicker and left the meeting. I had seen all of them yesterday and I did not need to see them again.

An hour later I could hear the chopper landing. I was in my office – the gate cameras were the only ones working – and saw the Suburban’s come through the gate.

I started to the back to see when Andy would be ready to transport the wounded to Entebbe; I wanted to see them off. I opened to door to be staring at both Jenny and Vicky.

“I’m not saying that I am not glad to see you, but what the hell are you doing here? This is not a safe place.” Then I hugged and kissed both of them.

“Your face looks sore, VCATS did not show how bad you were hurt,” Jenny replied.

“I thought you may need a lawyer during the investigation,” Jenny replied. She read my eyes and then, “I thought it was as good an excuse as I was going to get to come see you.”

I hugged and kissed her again, “Who is looking after the boys?”

“Both Mom – Moms; I accumulated pumped milk ahead for 4 days,” Jenny replied.

“What is your excuse?” I asked Vicky.

“Jenny needed a bodyguard, it’s the best one I can think of, besides Lorrie, Ching Lee and Marcy insisted,” she replied. I hugged and kissed her again.

“Let’s go VCATS to let them know you are here, and then we have to get moving. By the way, what did you need the truck for? ”

“Potomac pharmaceuticals donated the drugs on the list you had. The men unloaded them to get them out of the sun and into the garage,” Jenny said.

“How did you get all that in a G5 with the 17 of you?” I asked.

“We didn’t, we came in the C130. We also brought the company doctor and two medics. General De Marcus found 10 stretchers to convert the C130 into an air Medevac for the trip home,” Vicky replied.

After coffee with our Washington friends, we made the trip to the hospital. Doc Burns and the two medics took all their medical records, patient care recommendations and enough meds for them to make the flight back to Morton Field. It took five ambulances to carry my men to Entebbe. Most US ambulances were set up for one patient; these were set up to carry two.

I said a tearful good by to Jenny and Vicky, “Just four more weeks, maybe sooner now the attack is over. Let me know when you land and what the arrangements are for our men.”

My guests from Washington stayed the night in a hotel in downtown Kampala. Frank had dinner reservations with his old friends I had met at the dance and others, I was sure.

I stayed with my men to have supper. I had 15 new faces and names to learn; Jenny had left me copies of their files to help with all that.

Edit by Alfmeister

Proof read by Bob W.

We began the tedious task of checking all those terrorists lying on the ground. Each one had to be checked for life, making sure there was no suicide vest on them. I split my men into two groups to do that on each side of the embassy.

I went inside to check on Linda, Alice and Ellen; no one had seen them. I found them still in the front office with two dead men in the broken entrance door.

“We got this, you are needed outside; go help Andy,” Ellen said.

My phone had been ringing almost constantly but I ignored it for the time being. I had so many more important things to do.

Andy met me on my way out, “You need to come handle this, it’s above my pay grade.”

Four men were on their knees with their hands tied behind their backs and they were definitely out of place here.

“They were trapped in one of the center cars, glued to the floor,” Andy replied. Then he added as he handed me their IDs, “Two are Russian officers and two are Iranian Quads Unit officers.”

“Confident son of bitches, aren’t they. Search the car they were in then throw 4 bodies in it, torch it and do it fast. Someone else knows they were involved in this; that will buy us some time,” I replied.

“We have diplomatic immunity, call the Russian Embassy,” one of Russians said. “You have to honor that request as Ambassador.”

“Like you honored the sovereignty of my embassy grounds,” I said in my best Russian. Then I added, “Give me any excuse for me to shoot you; any excuse will do.”

Howie and the four drone operators came over, “What do you want us to do?”

“Two of you take these four to the basement, tie their feet and loop a noose around their neck to their feet and if they give you trouble, do not hesitate to shoot them,” I instructed. “I will be down in a minute.”

To the other two, “Scope out the grounds and pick up all the big pieces of the devices we dropped; put the pieces in the garage and do it fast.”

“The police and emergency people are screaming to get in here,” Andy said.

“Tell them we will be finished in ten minutes, then they will be allowed in teams of four to pick up the dead and injured and that is all until my investigation is done,” I said. “Take facial pictures of all the dead.”

“Andy, if you have a minute, send someone to the front office. There are dead there that need to be removed. I am sure the girls would like to see them gone,” I said.

“What? Those girls did that?” he replied. “I will send someone right away.”

I hurried to the basement. Time was running out; both of my phones were still ringing nonstop.

I held the ID in front of each one, then sent the pictures to Frank, and then called him.

As soon as he picked up, “Do you want them alive? You have exactly 1 minutes – not a second longer to decide – or they will be dead,” I said.

“What in the hell is going on there? ZNN is running horrible footage from a distance. How did you get these guys?”

“Forty five seconds; Frank, I will fill in the blanks later. I don’t have much time.” I replied.

“Yes, yes I want them. I will get a jet on the way. Call somebody – anybody – everyone here is screaming wanting to know what is going on there,” Frank said.

“I don’t even know if VCATS survived the explosions,” I said.

”There were two truck bombs, not just one like we thought, one hit each side of the embassy” I said.

“Oh God , No, Frank replied before the line went dead.

“Looks like you assholes get to live a few days longer, but you still better not give me any excuse to shoot you,” I said in my best Russian.

I went back upstairs, “Andy, are you doing a body count?”

“Yes, there is a reporter wanting an official statement,” he replied. “By the way we are on generator – the lines were blown down – and the front has been secured. I told the Ellen, Alice and Linda good job and to see if they could get the communications center up and running.”

“Ten of my men are on the way to the hospital in the chopper. A couple of them are rough but they will make it. Clean up before you call home, Jenny will chain you to the desk if you call home looking like that,” Andy replied. “I have two people taking pictures; I figured you may need them for the investigation and hearings.”

“10-4 – tell the reporters half an hour and I will make a statement,” I replied.

I headed to clean up as best as I could; the bullet-proof vest would join the souvenirs in my office at home. I washed my face as gently as I could; I didn’t want it bleeding again. My arms had nicks, scrapes and cuts. I was lucky, very lucky again; there was no way to hide that I had minor injuries. I did put on one of the extra vests.

In the communications room, “We have everything running; it all seems to be working. Everyone is paging you and I mean everyone,” Alice said.

I sent a note to Jenny, “5 minutes to VCATS,” and looked at the pages of lists for who was waiting for a response. Alice had been right; everybody was paging me, including the Secretary and the White House situation room.

As soon as Alice keyed the control I had a full screen of a filled office. Sighs of relief were abundant and it was clear there had been some crying.

“I’m OK, just scrapes and bumps, as you can imagine I am very busy. I have 10 injured of the JBG group; a couple of them are serious, no dead.”

My girls and I talked for a few more minutes; I promised to call back as soon as I was freed up but I had to go. Ellen was handing me notes one after another and a mug of coffee.

The next call was a conference call with Victor, Amy and the Secretary. One of the notes was a body count of the insurgents from Andy.

“One hundred fifty dead and twenty wounded; most of the wounded will not survive. The east wall has a 30 foot section that has to be replaced and the west wall a fifty foot section. There are 20 destroyed vehicles that have to be removed from inside the compound. I have 10 wounded of various degrees,” I relayed.

“Yes, Mister Secretary, we are documenting everything for the official investigations and eventual hearings,” I replied.

“Ambassador Jones, the FBI, CIA and Homeland investigators will be leaving Washington within the hour,” the Secretary said before he cut his feed.

A few more words with Amy and Victor and I cut the feed; I had things to do. I started by writing a statement to read to the news group that had gathered and was growing.

Andy called on the satellite phone, “There is an official delegation here at the Suburban’s from Uganda and elsewhere, demanding to inspect the embassy and see you.”

I probably should not have but I walked the block to where the Suburban’s were parked; it gave me a few minutes to clear my head.

There were news reporters from all the major news sites now; the anniversary parade entertainment reporters were suddenly war correspondents. They were uncomfortable and unfamiliar in the position.

They rushed to get to me but came to a screeching halt as four of my men suddenly appeared in full military garb, complete with MP4s, to stand beside me.

I read the statement that I had written.

“At 1600 hours local time today there was a well planned and executed two pronged attack against the US Embassy here in Kampala.”

“Multiple truck bombs, thirty other vehicles and about 150 total fighters attempted to seize the embassy, its grounds and occupants. They managed to breach both the east and west walls and gained temporary access to the embassy grounds. At no time did they gain entrance to the embassy itself.”

“Through sheer determination, bravery, training, and a well executed defensive plan, the attack was repulsed by the JBG security team with the terrorists taking heavy causalities.”

“The security team members – including myself – sustained various injuries from terrorist gunfire, the force of the explosions and flying debris; several were carried to the hospital by the embassy helicopter.”

“The investigation will be on going, lengthy and I am sure very detailed. There are questions as to how an attack of this size and scope was planned and carried out without alerting the various African anti-terror forces.”

“I will take no questions at this time,” I said, ending the statement.

I turned my attention to the Uganda officials and several ambassadors, including Morrison, Fauntroy and the Russian Anton Pavlenko. I was expecting Anton after finding the two Russians and Iranians. I just was not expecting him to be so bold as to show up so soon.

After all the small talk, the Uganda officials wanted to see the vehicles and grounds. The group of us walked into the breach of the western wall where all of the vehicles were that penetrated the security wall.

Anton was beside himself when he realized that the still burning car held the remains of his comrades. It was a unique car for the area. I could see the shock in his face and he soon masked that emotion. I knew then that I had achieved my goal of buying time for the agency to properly interrogate the four. If the fire burned long enough and hot enough, even DNA identification would be difficult and take time.

After they left, I spent the next four hours on various VCATS conference calls. The cooks even sent me a plate of food. The first call was to the office.

“The new recruits who we planned on coming here – what do they look like? You have been working with them a week. Are any of them skilled enough to be pulled out and sent here immediately? I need a minimum of ten; fifteen would be better,” I said.

“I will get with the trainers and let you know in a few minutes,” Vicky replied.

While I was waiting, Andy came in with notes and took the chair beside me.

“The utility company is coming tomorrow morning to fix the electric service. I plan on stopping at the lumber yard to see if they know anyone who can do stonework in a rush to get the east wall back up; if not, we will do it ourselves. All the rock is scattered around the yard and there is a pile outside the wall on the south end; it can’t be that complicated,” he said.

“All the bodies are gone and the car has burnt out. The last group from the morgue took what was left and that was not much. That was a good idea to throw those boxes of flares in there with the bodies; they made the car burn super hot and unable to be put out,” Andy said.

“The agency’s jet will be landing at Entebbe in an hour to pick up the four. Take them in the chopper. I would imagine that Uganda has stepped up road blocks and security, if nothing more than for show for a few days,” I said.

“What do you think the agency is going to do with them?” Andy asked.

“They are going to get a trip to a remote corner in Gitmo for interrogation, then to sleep with the fishes. They know too much to return to Russia and Iran. I’m sure there are some there who will extract some blood from the Iranians for the treatment of those Navy sailors,” I replied.

“While we are on that topic, I need you to personally check all cell phones for any pictures of the Russians, it there are any confiscate the phone. I want the pictures deleted and then the phone destroyed. If the Russians hack just one picture; the international explosion will kill us all; or the Russian will see to it we will die one at a time.”

“OK I will check it out; I understand completely,” Andy replied.

I turned the mike back on and we talked with the girls until Vicky came back.

“Ty, Kathryn, and Jamie picked 15 who they feel are the top of the class and should be able to do what you need to do,” Vicky said.

“See if they all have passports and can pack and ship out tonight; hopefully, there is a G5 to bring them. I will send the injured back to recuperate on the return flight.”

I said my good nights to the girls; I was tired and I knew everyone else was. An hour later the chopper left for Entebbe. Our guests were on their way to see Gitmo from inside the gate, at least for a little while.

Extra guards were posted on the roof with night vision scopes to cover the holes in the wall. The rest of us turned in; tomorrow was going to be a busy day.

In the bedroom with Linda, Alice and Ellen, we talked about the events of today and how they felt about killing those two men. I was no shrink but I knew they needed to talk so I listened. I did find out that all three of them fired at the men; they had accepted it was kill or be killed.

Edit by Alfmeister

Proof read by Bob W.

Saturday morning there was a nervous tension in the air. If the Intel was accurate, the terrorists were going to make their play during the parade, but we still did not know which day of the two days there were parades scheduled.

Howie and the drone operators were out checking everything out early. Howie had assembled all 18 of the devices and they were behind the new wall that had been built. The only thing left was to install the battery and turn the key to arm them.

The two gun drones had been checked and rechecked; there were at least a dozen 500 round belts assembled.

All the drone batteries were fully charged as were the controllers and batteries for the laptop and cameras. The drone defense was ready.

On top of the embassy building were the stinger and javelin rockets to stop the truck, sitting in boxes ready to be used on a moments notice. The two 50 cal guns with full belts of armor piercing bullets were in place and covered with canvas. The two M60 machine guns were in place as well and covered.

The chopper was still sitting on the pad with the pilots ready to take off. As soon as the parade was started I was going send the chopper away.

Andy and I went to the front office to discuss assignments with Alice, Linda, and Ellen. We had talked with them and they understood they had a part in the embassy defense if our worst fears came to pass.

“What you need to do at the first sign of trouble is to lock down the front office by turning the electric locks off so the doors stay locked. Do not stand in front of the doors but take positions off to the side so that you can put them in a cross fire. Anyone that tries force their way in, you will have to stop them.”

“The counters you are behind are reinforced with steel plate. It was one of the things that was done after Morocco; stay behind them,” I said

“You cannot let anyone get by you; it will be the difference between life and death for all of us,” I said.

Andy and I went through different defensive firing positions behind the counters explaining the how and why and the advantages each had. Then I gave them a pep talk.

“You know you can hit the target, I know you can get the job done; now we are depending on you to do that. I know it will be hard but you have to stand your ground and do it,” I said.

“We understand; we can and will do it, you can count on us,” Linda replied with both Alice and Ellen nodding.

I went to the communications room to check on the latest alert updates and call the Washington emergency security desk for any items that were not considered valid enough to make the list.

There was nothing new in any of the reports or alerts. I went to find Andy to see if there was anything else he thought we needed to do.

Ambassador Morrison called to see if I wanted to come to the Canadian Embassy to watch the parade, but I politely told him I was under the weather and was not venturing out.

The parade started at noon and that was when I sent the chopper to make a high altitude sweeps over the city. The truth of the matter was I did not want the chopper on the ground to be destroyed by the blast, if it came to be.

The one last check was to walk the grounds and move everything that could become flying debris in the blast at the rear of the grounds. Then there was nothing to do to wait.

It was 2 PM before the first floats of the parade made their way through the city and negotiated the turn two blocks from our embassy. The route plan called for them to turn and continue on for 6 blocks, a left turn through another part of town and then back to the staging area.

About half of the parade column had made the turn when Bambi the copilot radioed that a very large space had opened up in the parade column after an unusual looking heavy truck. That gap was being filled with cars, pickups and pedestrians that did not look to be part of the parade and was about a mile away.

The chopper made a swing away from the parade route to do a 360 around the embassy location. Three miles from the embassy there was a truck headed towards the embassy and city from the east.

The truck was currently parked at an intersection on the road with several dozen pickups loaded with people. That route into the city and past the US embassy from the East at that intersection had been closed early this morning.

Bambi radioed again; the truck in the parade route was stopped while the parade participants ahead of it continued on. I knew then that it was going to wait until the road ahead of it was clear to make as much speed as it could to hit the west security fence and burst through.

I was on the roof with Andy looking through binoculars at the parade route; he and I both know knew that one truck was going to hit from the west first and then a few minutes later one from the east. Then all the fighters would come in to finish things off and pick up people for hostages.

The drones were behind the corner wall and going to stay there until after the explosions. If they were in the air the blast would most likely destroy them. It was still a waiting game; neither truck was moving.

We did not have to wait long; as soon as the last float made the turn the waiting truck blew the air horn – I guessed that was the start signal – and here it came gaining speed as it came down the street.

It ran through the barricades at North Street where the parade turned and over several police men manning them; with the binoculars I could people flying through the air that had assembled at that vantage point to view the parade.

“The truck on the East Road has started moving fast,” Bambi yelled into the radio.

The truck from the city side veered off the road and towards the security fence; it was running at least fifty miles an hour now. The momentum alone was going to bring it well into the yard, much further than we wanted.

The instant it burst through the security wall I fired the Stinger into the cab. Seconds later Andy fired the Javelin into the body, seconds later Tommy and Sylvester were firing the machine guns into the plating they had put around the engine trying to make it die.

The first sign of success was when there was the flash of bright light erupting from all the seams and openings in the tank of the truck and all the places they had opened the tank to install explosives and junk for shrapnel.

“Get down!” Andy yelled.

All of us crouched down beside the extended wall. The force of the explosion got to us before the sound; the force of the air blast coming up the inclined wall was ten times more than I ever imagined.

That rush of air and debris at hurricane speed lifted us and dropped me ten feet into the middle of the roof from where I was crouching. I on my back when I opened my eyes; I was looking at a piece of the truck bumper falling out of the air just over me. I rolled towards the edge just as the bumper landed on the roof beside me.

The bumper was followed by all kinds of debris, pieces of block, pipe, iron and anything else they could find, as I jumped to get to the edge of the roof again.

As I got to the edge, the sound of another Stinger and Javelin being fired and another massive explosion had more debris falling all around us. The truck from the east road had tried to come through the east stone wall.

When the debris – that was actually pieces of rock from the east wall – stopped falling, I raced to the east side to see if the truck had made it through.

A thirty foot section of the wall was gone, all except steel pilings that supported the rock. The remains of the truck were mangled amongst the H beams.

Just then Andy yelled, “Everybody down!” the explosion I recognized was from one of the anti-personnel devices dropped by the drone and that was followed by the distinct belt fed gunfire from the gun drone.

As I looked over the west wall, at least 20 cars had come in after the truck exploded; several were bunched together, trapping the occupants inside.

I began picking targets with one of the M16s, of the fighters firing from around and behind the cars.

Along with the cars, dozens of fighters – all with guns – had been shooting at us until the AP device fell and the pass of the gun drone.

Andy yelled again, “Everybody down!” seconds later as another AP device was dropped on the east side as fighters streamed in. The process was repeated again and again before all the shooting stopped.

I had missed the bumper but smaller pieces of debris had not, my face was bleeding. I could feel the dried blood on my face. There was shrapnel imbedded in the bullet proof vest but there was no time for that now.

“Andy, send the two Suburban to block the road. Keep everyone, including emergency response, out until we assess the situation,” I ordered.

ZNN NEWS BREAK developing story, “Kampala Embassy under attack, massive explosions, with multiple secondary explosions and heavy gunfire,” was now running in the media on every channel.

“Did anyone get killed? What are our injuries?” I asked.

“No dead; some serious injuries, nothing life threatening I think,” Andy replied then he added, “A couple of the guys are acting as medics as we speak.”

“Let’s check and make sure the ones on the ground are dead and get the chopper here to take the wounded to Kampala hospital,” I said.

Edit by Alfmeister

Proof read by Bob W.

We had played volleyball for an hour. I had forgotten just how much fun it could be with a group who wanted to keep the volleys going as well as score points. Some of the ladies had brought and were playing in bikinis or sport bras and gym shorts like me.

I guess they had Googled the area and found out we were not that far from Lake Victoria. When things settled down I am sure they intended to check it out.

We had a good game going when I noticed I had guests; Ambassador Fauntroy, his wife and three daughters who were all in their teens.

Rick had brought them through the building with a bucket of bottled water covered with ice. We took a break for the cold water.

Agatha was 15, Casey was 16, and Caroline was 17.

“That looks like fun,” Caroline replied.

“It is. Would you like to try a game? I have extra gym shorts; I’m sure they will fit. I have enough for the three of you if you like,” I said.

With the three of them in shorts and the water break over, the girls taught them the game and rules while I sat off-side with Shaun and Camilla and watched.

Shaun had brought me a copy of the British daily paper that he received. They had a front page article on the Doctors without Borders and our emergency assistance flight. It was a good write-up and spread the praise around. The article was taken from the ZNN video and put to paper.

While his daughters played, I picked his brain and experiences related to the doctors. I found out that Nimule had grown from a thousand to five thousand refugees in a matter of weeks at the height of the fighting in South Sudan. The lull in fighting had encouraged some to go home and the camp was now down to three thousand.

Those three thousand were the weakest, unable to travel from starvation or sickness or they realized that the war was far from over and there was nothing to go back to.

I found out that the South African well company that put in the well at Nimule had been ambushed in Sudan, all the equipment destroyed and employees killed.

The warring parties were operating with the scorched earth mentality; it was the same as General Sherman with his march to Atlanta in the Civil War. Sherman took what he needed to maintain the march and burned everything left. Burning crops and even killing all the farm animals to deny food, shelter and mobility and the ability to survive for civilians and soldiers alike.

That meant that those who left the camp were returning home to nothing but starvation with what little they had and that would be stolen by fighters from both sides along the way.

Those who survived would try to return to the camp; a vicious cycle that was repeated often in the African civil wars. Civilians always ended up with the worst end of the deal. Rumors often fueled the exodus, sometimes started by residents of the camp thinking if people left, there would be more for them.

Other times the rumors were started by the warring parties to get a new group of gullible people traveling with food and water. All this was more information than I needed to know for staying here just six weeks.

The rest of the day was quiet; no more visitors, the men played volleyball while we ladies manned the security stations. Sunday was even more laid back. I spent three hours on VCATS with the girls wishing I was there to hold the boys.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I had more official visitors and I made official visits to the remaining embassies where I needed to present my credentials.

On Wednesday there was a joint news conference at Morton Field; the other two air freight companies made their big announcement. The county commissioners and the county new business agent made sure they had well prepared positive speeches this time.

They were patting each others back and high-fiving about more new jobs coming to the county, even though they had nothing to do with it.

I received an email from Frank, “I have been in conversations with my friends who you partied with, and I think you are mistaken about a previous statement that you made. Between them and the news reports from there, you are indeed a diplomat and a politician.”

True to his word Frank sent me folders – lots of folders – on everyone from every country that had an official representative here. They came over the secure communications link. All accept one.

The file on Anton Pavlenko came from Burt; I wondered how that came to be. It was Burt’s normal triple encryption; each page was triple encrypted with no two the same this time. It took hours to sort it out.

Anton Pavlenko was not a nice man; he always seemed to turn up before something bad happened or just after. Places like Poland, Croatia and Ukraine, Turkey and Syria with the Russian buildup. It made me wonder why he was here.

Over the next three days I studied every folder, every picture and every name and then started over with the first one.

Every day I sent the chopper out to fly over the city in a reconnaissance pattern; alternating in directions in the morning and afternoon. Andy flew on some of those flights. If they found anything interesting a second flight was flown from as high as the chopper would fly to keep from creating suspicion with a passenger looking with binoculars.

I was hoping to spot something that would give away where the truck being was being built or stored

On Thursday the city published the parade routes for the city celebration and holiday; there were two days of parades using the same route. The route was through the main part of the city traveling on South Main Street then one street from the US embassy, made a turn and then on North Main Street and finally back to the staging area.

The staging area for the floats and parade vehicles was in the industrial section in an old factory; that was why we had seen nothing from the air.

The parade was to bring all the diverse cultures in the city together, and there were hundreds. It was hard to believe anyone would try such a thing with so many areas around at war. It was even harder to think that in all this mixing pot of cultures they were going to put aside their differences for a celebration.

Robert and Burt were keeping us updated with all the information they could. Every day there was a data dump in my emails to decipher.

On Friday all the Ambassadors – including me – and all official delegates were to be with the President of Uganda at the Presidential Palace to kick off the three day celebration of their independence. Friday’s events were to be held on the Presidential grounds.

I put on another of the fancy dresses, different jewelry and watch with a light jacket to finish out the outfit. With Gordon at my side I played diplomat again at the presidential mansion.

There were introductions and pictures and then group pictures; speeches and finger food that lasted through the after noon. I avoided the booze, stuck with bottled water, made international friends and prayed that I would not be called upon to give a speech.

In my little purse I had a piece of paper and a pen just in case something important came up and needed to be written down. I wrote a short speech as best as I could remember from the study guide the department had given me; just in case I was called upon.

The speeches were winding down; the procession of speakers had dwindled down to official delegates of countries that I needed to find on the map just to know where they were.

Just when I thought they were at the end and ready start closing ceremonies, “The final dignitary to speak is also the newest Ambassador to our country; welcome Ambassador of the United States Roberta Jones.”

Gordon leaned over and said, “They saved the best for last,” as I stood to make my way to the podium. If eyes could kill he would have been dead. The little smirk he was trying to conceal did not help.

I tried not to give away that I was nervous as all hell, “Mr. President, Prime Minister, fellow Ambassador’s, Delegates, honored guest and citizens of Uganda. It is a great honor as the freshman Ambassador from the US to be asked to speak before such a distinguished body.”

I spoke for ten minutes and filling from my little sheet of paper, adding in more lines from memory. When I finished I wondered how many people I had offended or insulted and just how big a hole I had dug for myself with the Secretary and Victor.

At least the applause was as much for me as the rest of the speakers and the important row of people seemed pleased. They even stood as I walked the row and shook hands.

Edit by Alfmeister

Proof read by Bob W.