Page 7 of Ranger's Rise
“I heard you’re good on IT Control. I’d be honored to have your help, Anton.”
“Roger, Boss.” His words are slow, but he’s talking to me.
Falcon laughs. “I’ll talk to Web about scheduling you on with Ranger. He’s an Officer from another Club.”
Anton’s hands are typing, but I don’t know why.
“Pres said yes.” Akai turns to us smiling. “You’ll tell?” His pinkish eyes are showing uncertainty.
Falcon nods. “I’ll talk to Web before I leave and let him know Pres said yes.”
Akai swings back around to his keyboard. “Thanks, Boss.”
They’re both typing. I swing my head. They talk, but it’s minimal. Since I understood everything, I’m good with it.
Falcon keeps going. “We watch all the Clubs. That’s what IT is doing here. They keep watch and alert us to problems. The city is just getting back to Ops. We have some trainees for them that will be finished next week. One should be here for our shift. All Ops trainees don’t work in here. We have a simulator classroom that runs Ops for trainees from other Clubs. Here is just the four Clubs in our council.”
I nod. “Michigan is part of a Council. We were Aerial and Brothers. What are the other Clubs here?” This one is obviously Ops.
“We train all the Enforcers and Security. We used to travel to do that, now they come here. We have IT, but Jordan has the Badass database and an abundance of techs. He’ll be running on his own under a Chapter affiliate name within a month, I think. Badass has a new process that he’s following. He’ll be one of the first Clubs inducted to Badass with the new rules. We didn’t have to follow those so we were accepted within two months of filing for the affiliation. Maverick just started the paperwork. He’s southern Colorado but will be an affiliate like us too. He has land, buildings and is high so his communication towers are a plus. He builds satellites there. Major is central Colorado and has a plethora of Brothers, choppers that move them and the capital to be effective in the high-dollar community they’re in the middle of.”
I smile. “Plethora, Rex’s word of the day yesterday.”
He nods. “It works. We don’t all sound like idiots.”
Hade laughs. “Major doesn’t have guns on the choppers, they’re strictly transport. We do tandem Ops when it’s needed and run the other Club’s Ops when it gets dicey for them. The city and Maverick are happy with the way it works. Major is too, but his second won’t be his second for long. He’s feeling entitled in that high-dollar community and doesn’t like us running Enforcers through it.” I’m surprised he’d say it. I see him the same way.
Falcon gives him a look. “Did something happen?”
Hade gives the look right back. “Yeah, Clem said he doesn’t like the Enforcers running through the civilian packed city streets. They were following a home invasion duo that beat the shit out of an elderly woman. I’ll let Cort know in ten minutes when I’m done here.”
Falcon nods. “Sorry, Brother, I thought it was a gossip thing.”
Hade isn’t accepting. “Because that would be normal for me.” The Brothers at the Club think so, but the air changes in here and it’s not the place for shit to be talked about.
I step in between them. “It sounds like Clem is on his way out. Is Major open to Cort and his suggestions?”
They both say he is and relax. “Will a new station be set up for Aerial?” I ask still standing in between them and keeping them from glaring at each other.
“Yeah, Boss,” Anton says making us all turn. He points to the monitor on the side of him and we watch a station being built with the boards I was hoping for.
“Thanks, Anton. Does it have direct tower access?” We need to be able to get choppers up and cleared for flight without hitting keypads on a phone.
“To C, forty miles.” He points again and I read under where the station is being built. Cool as fuck. He’s got all the stats up for me.
“Good job, Brother. That answers my next questions. Thanks.” His fist goes out and I bump it. When I turn back, both Hade and Falcon are watching and smiling.
~*~*~
Our shift in Ops ran over with a problem in the city. The As did a good job and stayed until the Op was cleared. A Brother in a wheelchair and two different As came in with trainees for Lead Control and IT. The As were small, but dark-haired. Both Anton and Akai bumped my fist before they left. The other two As never looked up at me. Falcon thought Anton and Akai’s interaction was good and is going to mention it to Web. I didn’t say, but I can’t wait to see Web. The kids are impressive and make me want to work with them more than I did before I got to meet them.
Freedom is waiting at the bottom of the stairs. She’s in a dress and I whistle going down. “I need to change.”
She laughs. “You’ll do. I’m dressed for class under this.”
Falcon laughs. “You shouldn’t have told him. I’ll let you know what Web says tomorrow, Brother. See you on the sunny side.”
I throw him chin and look at this beautiful woman. “I like. I can change quick.” I give her a kiss. I definitely like seeing her in something other than sweats, a Gi and combat fatigues. She wore shorts at the Club party and jeans the night we met.
