Code Red (WAYHAUGHT)

Chapter 1

Ladies and gentlemen, new recruits, welcome to the House of Secrets. Or, as we like to call it here: Station X.

The new recruits sat listening nervously to a uniformed gentleman at the front of the room, as he explained what their new job would entail. Waverly Earp was in the third row, busy taking notes, desperately attempting to keep up with all the new information. She was intelligent, had several European languages to her name, yet what she was hearing was more than she could take in.

The uniformed gentleman at the front finished his presentation. He motioned to someone at the side of the room, who exited immediately. A few moments later they returned, followed by a tall woman with the most distinctive red hair Waverly had ever seen. Wearing a beautifully tailored blue officer's uniform, she proceeded to join the uniformed gentleman at the front. "May I introduce Flight Officer Haught, Head of Hut 4, our Translation Unit. She will be in charge of some of you during your time here. When I call your name, you will stand and follow Flight Officer Haught."

The uniformed gentleman proceeded to call out a list of names. There was a shuffling in the hall, as people began to stand, gathering up items they had brought with them. Waverly struggled to hear the names being called out, slightly disappointed her name hadn't been called, as the last person stood. "I have four additional names to call. You will be Special Assistants to Flight Officer Haught: Felicity Ambridge, Ann Carter, Waverly Earp, Christine Nedley. Can you make your way to Hut 4. Good luck everyone."

The group siphoned out of the hall, into the grounds, walking in single file behind the tall officer to their new workplace. "This is all rather exciting," the girl behind Waverly exclaimed, as they moved along the gravel path. "I'm Christine Nedley, Chrissy for short. You must be Waverly Earp. Such a pretty name."

Waverly turned briefly to look at the girl behind her. She had a rosy complexion, slightly fuller in frame. She looked friendly. Waverly hoped they would be friends.

"Keep up," Flight Officer Haught shouted, as the group struggled to match her brisk pace.

"I wonder what we'll be doing?" Chrissy asked, failing to walk fast, hampered by the large leather suitcase she was carrying.

"I hear it's all hush, hush," Waverly replied, her back to Chrissy. "We're not supposed to talk about it."

"We're talking about it," Chrissy remarked, making Waverly giggle. She definitely liked this girl.

Hut 4 was located close to the large house in whose grounds the Secret Intelligence Service had chosen to base its operations. Known officially as Bletchley Park, it had been purchased by SIS because of its geographical centrality, being in the middle of England. Immediately adjacent to Bletchley Railway Station, it was midpoint on the Varsity Line between Oxford and Cambridge universities, where many of the current workers at Station X had been educated.

Waverly and Chrissy entered the hut, not sure what to expect. It was light, spacious, wooden in construction, solid oak desks lined up in rows, dark green leather chairs at each. A larger desk was positioned at the far end, where Flight Officer Haught set down a number of manila-coloured folders she had been carrying. Waverly could just make out a red stamp in the right hand corner of the uppermost file. It read: Top Secret.

Her heart fluttered at those words. She really was doing something 'rather exciting' for once in her life. The desks were clear, apart from an in-tray and a collection of pencils, laid neatly in each tray.

"Find a desk." Haught instructed, as the group filed into the hut. "I will be your point of reference for the duration of your stay here. Any questions, come to me. Any concerns, come to me. Any problems, I'd rather you didn't come to me, but do. The work is hard, the hours long, but you are doing something of immense importance. I cannot stress enough, your work is top secret. You do not talk to anyone outside Station X about what you do here. If anyone asks, you say clerical work. Good luck everyone."

Waverly and Chrissy made their way to a couple of empty desks near the front. Waverly set her case and handbag down, placing her coat on the back of the chair. Having just got herself settled, Haught called out the four surnames of her Special Assistants and asked them to approach her desk. "Welcome to Station X," she said in a slightly softer tone than the one she had been using. "I know this is all new to you, but it's immense fun and I hope it will be rewarding for you. Miss Earp and Miss Nedley, you will be staying with me at my house in the village. Miss Ambridge and Miss Carter, you are also in the village at a house of one of my colleagues."

It was at that point, Flight Officer Haught looked up and saw Waverly. Her eyes widened, taking in this girl who would come to be an essential part of her close team. Quickly moving her gaze onto the other members, she smiled acknowledging their presence. "We start 8am sharp, finish 6pm each day. Lunch is from 12 noon to 1pm. I expect punctuality. Please go back to your seats, we have a long day ahead of us."

At that, Waverly made her way to her desk. She was now a code-breaker.