The Fox, Red

099 - The Official Declaration of War

I spent yesterday talking to Anne while coordinating our move to the meeting spot. To try and get the drop on whoever we end up meeting, we have a mobile setup for our broadcasting equipment. We are going to have them posted up nearby but away from the tent that we have ready to set up. That way, should anything happen, there will be a recording of the meeting. This is supposed to be incredibly hushed to not scare them off but somehow an email went out to alert the media group distribution list that we have letting them know where they can also set up.

Funny how that happened. The more sources we have, the better off we are. I know that these folks don't care about my well-being. I've already poked the bear a few times. Now it's time to pull the bear from its cave.

The sun comes up on another day. We start moving out before the heat starts to get to be too much. The tent is one of those that one would use traveling across the desert. There is plenty of room for plenty of people to fit inside. Our camera crew is set up well outside of the area to not draw suspicion. Their goal is just to provide a separate set of eyes in case something happens. I have a long-range repeater installed on the back side of the tent to relay audio to them.

I only plan on keeping this meeting a secret for so long. I know my life is in danger. Anne is pushing to have herself nearby if something happens. I try to tell her about the dangers she could face with this but she shrugs them off. She's dead set on helping however she can. She'll be the greeting face, I guess. She'll stand outside to give them a false sense of security. If she is the first person they meet then they may think there is no protection.

It takes no more than an hour to get the tent built and the others sent away to their position. The closer the time gets, the more stations begin to show up. They are kept at a long distance where they can only see the tent. They don't know what this event is. They have no idea what's going on. Only that The Fox, Red is going to do something great.

The tent is left mostly empty. There is a small desk with a chair but the focus is on the center. There is a rather large table with only two chairs across from one another.

Anne stands outside in the shade watching over the desert looking for another sign of movement. She spots the cloud of dust before the black vehicle that's kicking it up. She gives me the warning that someone is coming. I remind her to be gracious to our guests. I hear the wheels come to a stop before the stomping of boots on the dry dirt. The curtain moves to the side as Anne and three others step inside.

Anne makes her way behind me while the brassed officer takes a seat across from me. I don't recognize this man or either of the peons he brought with him. I am rather surprised that the one to address me is another red fox. He looks rather weathered from his years of service. I can see a few scars here and there where the fur doesn't grow quite right.

He removes his glasses with a smile as he addresses me, "The man, the myth, the legend. The Fox, Red. I am General Weller. The man who ordered your arrest." Just straight to the point. I appreciate that but his openness reeks of overconfidence. Even his personal guards are underequipped for something like this. No rifles, no weapons at all. I wonder if they're also magic users.

He leans back putting his paws forward, palms up. "I know you have many questions and I only agreed to do this because you have the stones to call me out like this. So, I would say take advantage of this while you can. This is a very rare treat for anyone."

"What do you do? How are you connected to General Parson?"

"General Parson is under me. He is in charge of the program in all of the southeast United States. I am in charge of him and the others across the country."

"Why come after me?"

"I figured that would be obvious. You spilled a national secret. You spilled a huge international secret. Do you know how much damage you have done?"