Eventually, I was released from the medical wing. The year rolled on into August. My back healed and the depression I was feeling lifted. Intense physical therapy and training got me back into my physical condition before the mission. My head shrink sessions continued with them trying to get me to explore the root of my rage. I knew what that was already.

I heard through the grapevine that Hills went on her second training mission only last week and was another success. During this time, I was also told that I was no longer in line for training missions. I was presently a bit conflicted by this but ultimately happy that I did not have to take responsibility for anyone else.

I recently acquired a new rowing machine and used it in my home gym with this setup. I was given a discount because I was a zone operative and, to be honest. I milked it for all its worth. What can I say? I am a cheapskate at heart.

The news feed was on as I moved backwards and forwards with the tension set to maximum on the machine. The news feeds for the last month have been dominated by the new mobilisation act that the British government was trying to implement.

The public was not happy with this and was making their feelings on the subject known quite vocally. This increased when it was discovered the number of loopholes that were being put into the bill to prevent people of that, let’s say, more privileged background from being called to service.

The act requires all 18 to 25-year-olds to be tested to see if they can become support team material or zone operatives. They could decide when during the age limit but had to be tested. The government, of course, were spinning it as best they could by saying that the majority of those who could be called would not be but having a national reserve of trained personnel was vital for the country’s good. Most just called bullshit on that.

I agreed with the public on that one. Of course, the operatives interviewed by the press were all on page with the government line. I had even been approached but turned down all requests for interviews. I was even ambushed at one point when I was out shopping and I had a few choice words with that man over his tactics, none of which good be published.

The news feed showed a considerable protest in central London denouncing the act. It was estimated that close to 1 million people were involved in this protest march and many more were planned for the next few weeks.

It was finally dawning on people that the situation was not as favourable as the government alluded to. I wondered if the public is now waking up to the situation or finally emitting what they’ve always known in the back of their minds.

I noticed that Henry had been absent from these interviews, which was quite surprising, but no, not really. Henry was not the type of guy to bullshit people around. Goldsmith, of course, was on all the major talk shows spouting the party line.

I’ve been going for a good 10 minutes and was feeling the burn through my body. To my surprise, I liked the rowing machine when I started training. I built up quite a sweat and was pushing myself now.

“Next news channel.” I call out. The following news channel on the list came up.

The fallout from the Portland breach in America dominated this one. Everyone blamed everyone else, further dividing the fractured nation. Little hard facts had appeared on how the breach had taken place.

US military units in that area had taken heavy casualties. That was not being hidden. The zone now consumed the city of Portland. A new perimeter had been established. This one was now 18 miles further back from the original. So, it covers a far larger area now.

There had been talk, of course, from those who don’t understand what it is like to go into a zone of sending in larger teams to seal the Portland breach. As usual, the talking heads on the newsfeed and politicians were pushing this idea. Of course, they had talked and had been ignored by those who knew what they were doing.

The push, however, from the public to do something was a real thing. The truth was it would probably take most of Europe’s, CANZUKS and the remaining American operatives even to attempt it. And the casualties would be bad at best.

In the end, the politicians demanded, the public worried and the military did what they could. Not the best set of affairs. This led to only heightened tension between the factions in America with several flashes of violent incidents. It was clear that the US military was now being heavily strained. They had abandoned all their military bases worldwide, focusing on the US exclusively.

“Next channel.” There was nothing new, so I did waste my time with it.

The third channel had a bit more interesting story as its lead. It reported zone closures in Japan and South America, mainly in Brazil. The nations of South America had gotten their act together. Sure, there was corruption and problems with different drug gangs, but the zones had rallied the people to deal with these issues. The cartels, ironically, have been seriously weakened by the problems in the US. The US was their most significant market and with that now in chaos and their product surprisingly harder to get into the country, their finances had taken a hit.

Japan had opened official talks about joining CANZUK. This had surprised many. Honestly, no one was sure if it would come to anything, but the fact that it was happening alone spoke volumes. Usually, Japan would rely on the US, but that was no longer an option. It was hinted that many other nations were watching with great interest what was happening.

As I continued my work out watching the channel, the story changed. The next one-up buzz from the UN and the growing issues with the world’s supply chains. The 2020 pandemic had shown the weaknesses of global supply chains. Many countries as seen the importance of producing more locally than relying on international sellers. This did mean the end of international trade, just the existence of more local suppliers in case of emergencies.

I thought this was a sound idea. Producing what you can locally supply your nation and exporting everything else to those who cannot. The massive interdependence of the 20th and the first 20 years of the 21st century has changed. This only accelerated with China going dark and withdrawing from the international community.

A great example was the machine I was using right now. It would have typically been made in China, but it was made in the UK. Taiwan had once again become a central production hub in the Pacific region.

I grew tired of the newsfeeds and closed off those channels, switching to the music once to finish my workout. I began picking up the pace and pushing myself.

## ## ## ## ##

I suddenly woke up in the night.

I was disoriented for a moment, wondering what had woken me. Then I realised it was my government-issued phone. The ringtone was the emergency alert ringtone.

Shit!

I quickly reached over and grabbed it. Hitting the answer button on my second attempt.

“Hell….”

“Operative Harrington. This is a level 1 emergency callout being prepared for pick up in 20 minutes. Be prepared for pick up in 20 minutes. Do you copy?” The voice on the other end was only expecting one answer.

“Copy 20 minutes.” The caller hung up. By then, I was already out of bed. I quickly went from my emergency bag and clothes next to the bed. I was dressed in less than five minutes. Then after 10 minutes, I was downstairs with my shoes on and bag ready to go. I had not been quiet and had woken my mother.

“Got to go!” That was all I said as I headed out of the door. She was coming down the stairs and asking what was going on.

I close the door behind me, hearing the latch lock into place. Within a few minutes, I was waiting for my pickup at the corner of my road.

This gave me a few moments to realise what was happening. A level 1 emergency callout was the stuff of nightmares for an operative. It meant that somewhere somehow, shit had hit the fan.

I looked down at the phone and realised it was 02:45 hrs. During operative training, we had always been taught to use military time. The running joke basic was that the 0 stood for Oh my god, it’s early! I found it funny, then. I did not find it funny now.

A government-issue Land Rover sped around the corner, police lights flashing front and back. This was my ride. The vehicle screeched to a halt right next to me and the passenger door flung open.

“Harrington in, we got to move. We got to move now!” I recognised the driver was one of the base’s support guys. I quickly jumped in and closed the door. Before I could even get the seatbelt in, we were moving. I promptly buckled myself in as the driver was driving at speed.

“Any word on what is going on?” I asked.

“No clue. But it’s big. All of Zone Command has gone on alert.” The driver told me.

“Fuck!” The driver nodded in agreement with that statement.

We flew through the town and a breakneck speed and quickly drove out to the base. The base guards did not even try to slow us down. The barriers were all open. I see helicopters sitting on a new helipad on base, already spinning up, ready for me to get on.

Drove right up to the helicopter. Gregson was waiting for me. The blades were quickly spinning up we were leaving straight away. Gregson got me onto the helicopter and buckled in as we lurched from the ground.

I put on the headset and looked at Gregson.

“What the hell is going on!” I asked over the intercom.

“I don’t know. All I know is based command and the nation as a whole just when on high alert.”

I did press for any more information because I knew if he had any, you would tell me and if he didn’t, he was either ignorant or under orders. This was a new model of helicopter I’d not seen before and I realised it was fast. We were moving at a fair clip by the speed of the ground below us moving.

It only took us an hour and a half to reach zone command. The base was lit up on full alert and I could see transport aircraft leaving the base in a steady stream. Gregson was frowning at the scale of what was happening.

We quickly landed and were bundled into another Land Rover. We’re transported across to another part of the airfield. There stood a high-speed passenger plane. Alexander was standing at the foot of the stairs into the plane, studying his e-pad. We clambered out and were waived by him or to the plane.

“Get on. Find a seat. You will be briefed en route.” It was clear he was stressed and in no mood to talk. So, we did what we were told. We realised that several other operatives and their handlers were already on board. I recognised them primarily as top-tier national operatives. Henry and Sarah were here with their team and half a dozen other operatives.

The following seat was free, so I jumped in and put my seatbelt on. Henry looked at me and nodded.

“No clue.” He said.

“No clue.” That was my reply.

It meant that neither of us knew what was going on. And with this many operatives in one plane, whenever it was really bad. A few other operatives and handlers appeared within the next few minutes and sat down.

Alexander phoned the last few in as we quickly taxied to take off. We were soon airborne and heading to where we were going. Alexander stood up and called for our attention.

“A level 1 emergency has been called. A new zone threatens a major city and you are being deployed in mass to reinforce the local authorities in evacuating the city. We are heading to the continent. Your equipment is already en route and we will meet in there.”

It’s not from consulting is pad. I was frowning at the information being displayed. I think we all realise things are getting worse wherever going. Goldsmith decides to ask the question that we are all thinking about.

“Where are we heading?”

Even knowing that we were heading for a major city had surprised many.

“Rome.”