Operation Rock of Ages: Triumphant Illumination

ORA: TI Chapter 3 - 5

Chapter 3

"Mr. Sterling, we have the report back from William, I think you need to see this," Mariam said as she rounded a corner to look for him and nearly ran him over. "This is incredible. I think I need to get Sasha as well, she will want to hear all this."

Mariam handed him a report that had been downloaded just a few moments before. Mr. Sterling took it eagerly, wanting to know how much damage control he was going to have to do. The intense feeling of relief washed over him as he read the words: 'No Bugs, Tracers or any other electronic was found'. "Oh! Thank God! I thought I had screwed this project up so badly," he said, "In my haste to get things moving."

"Is that why you have been...um...grumpy?" Mariam asked trying to be tactful.

Mr. Sterling laughed. "Yes, I guess I have been kind of a bear the last day or so. You said that so much nicer than my wife did just a few minutes ago, I appreciate that."

"No problem, just glad that you are talking again and not growling," she smiled. "Let's go show this to Sasha, she is going to love the preliminary government and problem solving going on over there."

"You go on and show her, I think I have to go apologize to my wife...again, and let her know the good news. Thanks, Mariam." He headed back up the hallway from the direction he had been coming from. He felt the urge to whistle or sing. He hadn't done either in quite a while... He decided to just hum a happy tune as he went in search of his wife.

Mariam found Sasha in her office. She handed her the papers, about fifteen in all, and Sasha sat behind her desk and read the report. Sasha, laughed at certain parts and said 'uh-oh' at another. Mariam laughed when Sasha said, "You go, grumpy man!" and laughed at what she was reading. Sasha came out from behind the report and looked at Mariam, "It was too soon to be adding people but this was an awesome learning situation. Has Jonathan, Jayson and Claire seen this?"

"No, just me, you and Mr. Sterling," Mariam said.

"Ok," Sasha got up and made some copies. "Get copies to Jonathan, Jayson and Claire. We are going to need a meeting as well. Did you how meticulous he was in his report? Crazy man, it was so distracting, I wanted to do a handwriting profile on him. He used different colored inks to show story, opinion, and requests. His block writing style is so crazy perfect, he is way too controlled. It is amazing he didn't snap at those people or break someone in half. I need more time with this report, why don't we do the meeting after lunch; that should give everyone time to process the report.

Mariam smiled at Sasha's take charge attitude. "On it, boss," she grinned. "I will set the meeting up as soon as I deliver the notes."

Sasha smiled back a little sheepishly, "Since I overstepped a little, I will set up the meeting while you deliver."

"Deal," Mariam said. "I knew you would love to see this more than anyone else. Well, besides Mr. Sterling that is."

Sasha rolled her eyes, "I hope it cheered that man up a bit, he has been like a cornered animal lashing out at people."

"Yeah, it helped, he actually smiled twice." They shared another smile and Mariam left to find the others. Claire was with the puppies as usual. She had made a nice little room for them and kept it clean, it smelled like dog but it wasn't over powering. She was talking to the mama dog. Mariam played with the puppies for a minute or two while Claire scanned the report.

"We are going to set up a meeting, you should get a notification soon, right after lunch," Mariam said.

"Good, that will give me some time to chew on this," Claire said. "I think he is right and we need more soldiers for guards. That could have been so much worse than it was."