Chapter 213 - School Visit (3)

26 February, Military Base, City K

Having been given an order, the fourteen soldiers left the room, letting Matthew briefly ponder what he would say to the group, before they took them into the base. He knew that these tours were a public relations exercise, to sell the military to parents and children. While it was a cynical exercise, it was necessary exercise for good will to the public that through their taxes funded the military.

Carefully gathering his thoughts, he watched as children and parents, through the guidance of the soldiers started to walk into this room. It was obvious that the parents accompanying the children were not impressed that a school excursion was to the military base. Matthew wondered why they had even bothered to come if they felt like that.

The next moment, Matthew heard Dominic say, "Daddy Matthew," and saw a blur running towards him, so he quickly crouched down to allow Dominic to throw himself into his arms for a hug.

As he ended the hug, Matthew quietly said "Dominic, while I am always happy to see you, you should not run away from your mummy like that." He looked up and could see the concern in Lexi's eyes and continued "Now head back to your mummy and behave."

"Yes, Daddy Matthew," came a sweet voice before he ran back to Lexi.

Matthew stood up and looked around the room. He quietly received an indication that the group was in, so he headed to the small stage area where there was a microphone set up. After turning it on Matthew looked out and paused.

"Children, Teachers, parents, guardians, friends, welcome. My name is Matthew Rong, and I am a solider stationed here. For those of you who have not figured it out, I am Dominic Yao's stepfather. This tour is important to me, not just because of that but like each of you children I attended your school. When I completed High School, I was my class valedictorian, but I went straight from School to the Military. But you are not here to hear about me and my background or speak for hours about the military. You are here to be shown around the base, see for yourselves what soldiers do, and I promise to have a little fun with getting to see some military equipment."

"Speaking of that, before I had this tour off to your tour guides the soldiers that showed you in here and join you all like any other parent, there are a couple of things that must be done. You must be given guest passes for the day, which you can take as a souvenir of your visit, but we must ask each of you to hand over your phones and cameras. This is an active military base and it is illegal for civilians to carry these items on base. The tour guides have access to cameras that will take photographs along the way, including those of you all throughout the tour, and they will be provided to the school."

With that Matthew signalled to the soldiers to come forward and start the process of issuing guest passes. Matthew, however walked straight to where Lexi and Dominic were standing and said, "Come with me please."

As they moved away, Matthew handed Lexi two cards, before saying "Lexi and Dominic, these are your standing passes. They get you not only into the accommodation area on base but allow you access to the active areas of the base when accompanied by me or another soldier. You, unlike everyone else do not have to surrender your phone or camera but cannot use them unless I give permission."

Lexi looked at Matthew with a stunned look, before he continued "It is no different to what any other family member has. Lexi your pass will open the boom gates to enter the accommodation area, and both act as keys to my on base accommodation. Now, let us stand over here waiting for everyone else to go through the necessary procedures. With fourteen soldiers that should go quickly."

Matthew guided Lexi and Dominic away from everyone else to sit down, while he went to help everyone go through the procedures for the issuing of their guest passes.

While the procedure took fifteen minutes for the whole group, Matthew was constantly watching Dominic and Lexi to ensure that they were happy. As he headed back towards them, he heard one woman quietly say, "Why did Lexi Yao and her child do not have to go through that process and surrender their phones and cameras."

Another woman replied, "Well we know that she is a spoilt b*tch."

For Matthew that was enough, and he quickly headed towards the two women speaking, before saying to them women "Madams, she is my wife. As the spouse of a serving military officer, she has unrestricted access to the accommodation areas of the base, and on being accompanied by myself or another solider can come into the active area. That is no different to any other spouse of an officer, so it nothing to complain about. As to her not surrendering her devices, they can keep them on their person, but if either of them use them in the active areas without permission the consequences will fall on me, not her."

Seeing the jaws drop, Matthew paused to see if they would respond before saying "Now please excuse me," before walking over to where Lexi and Dominic were waiting.

As he arrived Lexi asked, "What was that about?"

"It is nothing to be worried about, it was just a couple of people who did not understand some realities, like someone else I know." Matthew saw the look that Lexi shot him. She still wanted to have it out with him over their marriage, but she was aware that this was not the time or place.

"Seriously Lexi, how did you get here?"

"I drove, as I suspect that we will finish the tour late, plus Dominic said as we were here he wanted to visit your house here on base. I guess we can do that easily later."

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