Chapter 22 - Welcome little brother (2)

27 December, JL International Headquarters, City K

While observing Phillip, Matthew so much wanted to reveal his promotion to him. He remembered Phillip's pride when he was promoted to Colonel. Everything he heard let him know that Phillip could not help telling everyone who would listen of how proud he was of his little brother. Matthew knew when his promotion was announced in around six months Phillip would be so proud. Matthew internally questioned himself as to what he could tell Phillip, but knew that he could not tell him that he was the head of the local special forces group was third-in-charge of the base he could not say anything.

"Well it is good that you are here for a while. Still in administration I am guessing?"

"Yes," responded Matthew. That was the first totally honest response that he could provide Phillip. This was an administrative post more than an active deployment post. Plus, his rank really prevented him from taking on missions unless there was no other option. That was the cons of advancement, however being in charge would mean that he could insist on some involvement subject to the restrictions those in the capital placed on him.

"Well little brother, are you going to stay at your place here or on base?"

"A mixture. There will be times where I must stay on base in the apartment, I have there but if I can I will stay at my place. I had been thinking about selling it before this posting happened, as I think in the last six years, I have stayed there for less than four months overall. However, I am glad I had not, as it will be a place to break from work."

Matthew paused briefly, anticipating the next question "And before you ask, I do not need a bodyguard or driver assigned by you. I have been given an adjutant due to the command I have here. He not only acts as my assistant, but bodyguard and driver. Before you ask, the post I have deems me a senior officer on base resulting in this being what the military do for me. The only downside is that I will have to attend a number of training trips away."

"So, when do you have to formally report?"

"Technically Monday. I have a few days to finish settling into my base apartment, and I need to ensure that my place is ready for me. Given the staff at the latter, that should not be an issue, and, my base apartment will only be a crash pad for when I cannot be bothered going home or I cannot leave base."

Matthew knew Phillip did not need to know that he was between a rock and a hard place at the moment, as the base commander two hours before his arrival had left for an urgent meeting in the capital and then an hour after his meeting with General Man, he collapsed was taken to the base hospital. The combination of those two factors was that until one of them could resume command he was the de-facto base commander.

Given that General Man was conscious and given his new rank was only forty-eight hours old he was glad. He was realistic in that, despite the ability to make decisions to run the base that he would need counsel from General Man to be confident in his decisions, as unlike what he expected on arriving for his new post, his decisions would have wider ramifications.

The other problematic thing, which General Man had mentioned in passing in their brief meeting was that currently there was only ten colonels assigned to the base. Additional postings were to happen, but that was not for a few weeks. None of them however were on base. Two were on leave, one had a car accident on Christmas Day, another's wife went into premature labour so he was on paternity leave, four were on manoeuvres, one had fallen and broken her arm, and the final one was on emergency leave due to the death of his parents.

Thank goodness the colonel with the broken arm, offered to come in an assist until someone else returned. Normal rules prevented injured personal being on duty, however that was a rule that could be overridden by two Generals, and yet he had not confirmed with the commanding general if they would in all the circ.u.mstances do that. General Man issued the order calling the two on leave back, but neither of them would be back before 29 December.

"Well you know tonight I was going to the new Club TJ's. You know Andrew Yao is now running Jax Corp that owns TJs. Apparently, he wants to use me, Paul Gu, Steven Hou, John Nang and a few of your friends …"

"And Chester I presume?"

"Goes without saying. Lexi has returned permanently after several years overseas. She studied fashion and founded the brand LY that every woman wants clothing from. When she returned, I convinced her to set up her flagship store in the K-Town Mall, and the foot traffic is amazing for business."