The following morning, Aria introduced herself to the Shins, manager, and security team as Artemis, wearing a white temp suit. She moved them inside the bunker. They were told not to post any pictures or anything going inside the building. After that, the manager's family, which includes her husband and mother, were temporarily tasked to assign each new arrival with a gold badge that has their name and picture.

The 2 security personnel were sent to another location to pick up the new security crew and their family with a bus. Since no cars were allowed on the premises, and there were no identifying marks on the, the people had to be shuttled in.

During check-in, all the cell phones were confiscated. Aria, in the white temp suit, said there are machines to detect mobile activities and it would be very easy to find the person hiding a cell phone. Once found, the security personnel will immediately be fired and everyone would be driven back and put on a plane to back where they came from.

Some people begrudgingly handed over their backup mobile phones. The security family member's faces turned white in shock and then red in anger. They almost lost their job!

After checking in all of them and having the family members all situated in the cafeteria temporarily, Aria called a staff meeting in another room.

Right after everyone went inside, Aria sent Eros out to put away 3 of the CFP buildings inside the G Space. The land is now flat and unassuming. The only way people can now find the base is through a GPS locator.

Aria: "Hello, welcome to The Artemis Base. I am Artemis. From this point forward, you will be part of the security inside this base. Each person that enters this base has a personal gold badge. You must wear this at all times to be able to access your room and the various facilities. If you lose it, you will be ejected from this bunker without any questions.

The space inside here is limited. The resources are limited. There are only so many people that can fit here. I have chosen you and your family because you showed a deep sense of loyalty and courage. No one here is stupid, so don't make stupid mistakes. If you don't agree or your heart is filled with discontentment then you are free to leave now with your family."

No one moved.

Aria: "The facilities are all closed currently and nothing is available until tomorrow. Relay to your family the important rules here. In a bit, rooms will be assigned to you and your family. As for the rules of the base, all will be addressed tomorrow once the rest of the ticket holders arrive."

The Chens at this time broke off from the happy groups still touring the city and headed to the bunker. After getting off the cab, they saw a figure decked out in a white suit standing in front of the flat land at the bottom of the steep hill next to a few dirt shoveling and flattening machines. She waved them over and into the building up the hill through a hidden passageway only accessible with the gold badge.

The Chens were very curious about the person who's guiding them through the building. The manager gave each of the Chens a gold badge. Aria once again waved them to follow her to their room.

She placed them next to her room. Her side of the building has bigger and more luxurious rooms for VIP members.

Closing the doors, she pulled off her helmet and welcomed them.

Aria: "Hi, it's me Aries."

David: "You're a girl?!"

Aria: "Yes."

David: "Then why do you dress and act like a guy all this time?"

Aria: "It's safer and easier to be a male doing business in the real world. Anyway, In this base, my identity is Artemis. After this event is over, 'Artemis' will go to sleep until the bunker is needed again. You are the only ones who know my true identity. Please keep it a secret from others."

Melanie: "Of course we'll keep it a secret."

Aria: "Now let's get down to business. Come follow me next door."

Aria then took them to her suite and gave them a tour of the whole building. Showing them the floorplan.

Aria: "I need your help to manage this base. I don't have any management skills and find talking to people unpleasant. So I hope you can help make rules to maintain order.

The Mech Division will arrive tonight filling up 4,800 tickets. In exchange for providing them lodging during this time of need, they will be providing the security this base needs.

...

Aria: "As for food, I haven't sold any of the finished products in 6 months. There will be close to 5,000 people here on the base. We need to ensure we have enough food for them to last 6 months. Anything left over I would like to put on the internet and sell off to citizens in limited supply."

...

Melanie: "Each badge holder is required to take a psych evaluation once a week. We'll need to set up a strict schedule to rotate people in with the robot doctor to maintain the healthy psyche of the citizens."

The 5 talked for over an hour discussing the base's operations and responsibilities. Before they leave to go back to their room, Aria passes them 4 gold cards with 3 black stripes.

Aria: "These badges are for managing personnel. You need to have this on whenever you are doing anything operations related. Remember, you still have close friends here. We don't want them asking too many questions and know how close your involvement is. Also, wear this too so no one can recognize any identifying feature on you."

Aria gave them the temp suit and helmet she purchased from Country M's military store. All were red in color and very eye catching, just like the white she's wearing.

The red and white colors will be ingrained in people's minds for years.

—-

David: "Okay, like, is anyone else as surprised as me about the fact that Aries was a girl all this time?!"

David's voice starts off normal but rises up at his obvious surprise.

Joseph: "A girl needs to protect herself. Just remember to mind your mouth. Let's take a look at the roster. There are too many people and..."

John: "Couples will share a bed and young kids can share either with other kids or older people. Let's move these people here and..."

...

While his family moved on without really addressing Aries' real identity, in David's head, the sentence, "Aries is a girl", kept repeating itself over and over. And a pretty girl at that.

After optimizing the current room situation, John and David went and donned their red suits and had Aria call the staff.

Aria: "These are the people who will be managing the base. All the rules and regulations and operations will come from them. They will be dressed in red."

David: "Hello everyone. You will not know our names but will address all of us as, "Sirs". We have your assigned rooms here. Please come forward."

Everyone got a copy of their newly assigned room and left. At that time, Aria received a list of names from Apollo with some details. Glancing through real quick, S3 flagged and identified 367 people on the list. Aria sent back the rejected names.

Another list with 620 people's names were sent to replace the rejected family. Aria approved it and sent the complete list to The Chens to arrange appropriate housing. After some thought, Aria sent a message to Apollo.

[Artemis] Bring a few (Mobile Dampening Field) and ICC (intel crawler cams).

[Apollo] Already thought of all of that and more. Don't worry.

—-

By 8pm, a speaker inside each room informed them that lights out will be at 10pm and doors will be locked but can be opened after a series of questions was answered from the computerized voice on the door display:

1) What is your name?

2) What time is it? Are you aware that it is past curfew?

3) Why do you want to leave your room?

If the request was approved, then the display will turn green with the "approved" word on it. If the request was denied, then the computer will continue to ask verifying questions.

1) An alarm will sound with your door number and name on repeat once you open this door. A mark will also be added to your family's records. Do you want to continue to leave?

----

At 1am, only 5 figures were left moving freely around inside the bunker. All of them were upstairs on the top floor, above grounds, looking outside into the dark quiet night. The night was getting colder. Luckily they were all wearing temp suits and helmets so their body maintained a comfortable temperature while even outside. There was 1 week left before things became unbearable.

Although the Chen family came to Country C with Aries, a part of them doesn't really believe something bad will happen. But right when they landed, they noticed quite a bit of news circulating about the world's temperature. And when Aries mentioned the military, they were no longer surprised at the deep level of intelligence and connections Aries possess.

Then that meant it's very likely that things will happen the way Aries predicted.

Suddenly the sky became loud and windy, an angry tornado descending onto the tranquil land, disrupting the hopes of normalcy.

A carrier ship swiftly touched the ground before the back hanger opened and a tall handsome man walked out. Aria nodded to the 4 people beside her in red, signaling them to follow her down to meet the man.

Alex's eyes were on the woman decked out in white in front of him. Even though he can't see the female's face or figure, he knew this was Artemis. Her body exudes coldness in an already freezing atmosphere. And although there is a feeling of alienation coming from her, he also sensed ruthlessness. Like a warrior, who has lived through life and death battles.

Aria's eyes flickered in surprise at the sight of the large handsome man and the medallions on his chest and shoulders. She never imagined Instructor Apollo to be him. A teacher shouldn't be in such a high level of the military right?

Behind Alex were 7 other people, 6 adults and 1 child. The child was wrapped up tightly like a little burrito, with only it's thick lashes showing through the sound helmet.

Alex: "Hello, Artemis. My name is Alexander Zhou and I am the Major General of the Mech Division. This is my father, General Thomas Zhou, my mother, Rose Jiang, my brother, Christopher, his wife, Corrine, and their baby Emma. These two are my sisters, Alice and Catherine."

Aria: "Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Artemis Base. You can call me Artemis. These are the managers of the base. Their identity is protected, but do prefer to be called, "Sirs". We are the ones running this base.

I'll get the ugly words out of the way first. This is my base. You are here from my invitation to Major General Zhou. I do not have a relationship with anyone else here. I can revoke my invitation at any time and believe me when I say I do have the capabilities to give your whole Mech Division a good fight if you cross me.

I am neither a politician, a soldier, nor under your command. I don't need you to survive this coming catastrophe. If you think you cannot handle my attitude or my words are too offensive, you are free to turn around and leave with no losses."

Catherine: "You! How can you talk to the General and Major General that way? You're too rude and disrespectful!"

Aria turned her attention briefly to the young lady who stepped up from behind the group. Her hair was styled in a cute pixie cut and her cheeks were flushed with anger. Aria did not respond but Joseph did. He stepped up to the right of Aria, partially covering the angry girl's view.

Joseph: "General, Major General. We invite you off our property post haste since it's getting late."

Thomas, Rose, Alex, Chris, Corrine, Alice: ...

They all turned to Catherine.

Catherine: ... Uhh... why did these people not act the way she thought they would? Her father and brother are both powerful men in the Mech Division and are greatly admired everywhere. Seeing her family's reproachful eyes, her hot temper was doused in embarrassment. She is the youngest of the family and is constantly babied. When did her family ever look at her that way? Their eyes were full of disappointments and sadness. Did she cause them to feel this way? No! It was this group. They offended her first! Her temperature rises again as she opened her mouth-

General Zhou: "Airman Zhou, you are dismissed. Go back into the hanger."

Catherine turned to her father in surprise, her mouth hanging open. But her body was trained well by the military. She saluted with a, "Yes, Sir!" and pivoted away. General Zhou turned to Aria and the four managers to apologize.

General Zhou: "I would like to apologize for my daughter's words. She is still young and may need more educating since we might have spoiled her too much."

Melanie: "Correct me if I'm wrong, but she's serving under your command at the Military Mech Division, yes? Tell me General Zhou, does your Mech Division tolerate nepotism?"

General Zhou: "No, we do not."

Melanie: "I see."

The two groups were at a stand still. Each waiting for the other's next words. The 5 from the Artemis group did not say anything. Aria turned around and walked back to the base, leaving the 4 to deal with the matter. She trusted their judgements. As for Apollo- no, Major General Alexander Zhou, she offered him a chance, it's just too bad that they wasted it.

---

The Zhou family watched Artemis disappear from sight. Alex's feelings were mixed. He had never encountered a situation like this before where he felt utterly inadequate. One side is his family member, and the other side is the salvation of all their Mech Division.

It seems like he has to go back and educate his sister well.

General Zhou is not a stupid man. He has mixed with politicians long enough to understand what the managers want to hear.

General Zhou: "Her rations will be cut in half, she will have extra duties, her pay will be deducted for a month, and a written reprimand will be added to her record."

Melanie: "She is only allowed inside the base for 6 hours per day. Her bed pod will be rented to her at 3 times the price compared to the civilian price. Everything she purchases will be 3 times more expensive in the shops. She is not allowed to approach us, talk to us, nor talk about us for the duration of her stay. If she sees any of us, she is to turn around and leave without a word. Any actions she takes against us will result in everyone being evicted from the base."

General Zhou: "I agree."

Joseph: "Then we welcome you to our base. Please have your staff help with allocating rooms. Needless to say, we depend on your military coordination to pacify any troubles. Come with me."

Joseph turned his head towards Alex and said with meaning.

Joseph: "Since 6 hours starts when she enters the base, I suggest she be the last person to be let in since there will be important announcements tomorrow."

Alex nodded his head in understanding, his lips pulled tight as he walked towards his sister.

— Author's Notes —

Wee! Another chapter and a step closer to the end of part 1! Please vote if you can. Ty!

And this one's for you @ejclever

To the many commenters (づ￣ ³￣)づ @1998GA12 @Akura50 @SumiyoOmar @MirAcle_Ang @Arymching @Raphafael @crabroast

It's nice to have all our secondary characters come together to support Aria.

What are your thoughts on Aria's psych evaluation test? I think in the future, mental health would be more accepted and this easily addressed. I believe everyone wants to be healthy. Be it good or evil, only by being healthy and alive can a person continue to do good deeds or make trouble.