A loud knock on a door rouses me. I mumble, "Come in." Then I snap awake. I am on my bed on top of the covers. I am still wearing last night's clothes. I turn to look at my bedroom door.

"Good morning Tammy. General Kathy invites you to breakfast in fifteen minutes. She requests you to be in full uniform." Clair smiles from ear to ear. Standing behind her is Jess, looking sharp in a yellow flowered blouse and blue jeans.

I sit up. "Thank you, ladies. Please inform the general I will attend her shortly. Jess, it is good to see you again." Jess beams as Clair closes my door. I hear them chattering as they move away.

A question bubbles forward. Are you still in a dream? Ten minutes later, in a shirt with two large blue stripes on my sleeve cuffs and damp hair, I walk through my living room.

Clair and Jess sit in balcony chairs. Clair holds a mug of coffee in my direction, "You've a busy morning. Breakfast followed by an executive meeting. You'll get a few minutes in our office, and then you're off to a security raid briefing. Jess will be leaving us after breakfast. She has to be at the Orphan Directory building. She's our orphans' liaison officer there."

"Thank you, Clair. Congratulations Jess. Any issues over there make sure you contact us." I sip my coffee.

Jess looks about a foot taller than I remember. "The only thing we'll need is help. A bunch of people we talked with last night said they're sending doctors, counsellors, and all kinds of other people. Clair gave me a bunch of phone numbers. She told me about yesterday. Thank you, Tammy."

"Do not thank me, thank her." They follow me to Kathy's suite, which is teeming with people. Orenda shows up, followed by a collection of food carts. Kathy pulls me over to sit beside her. I am finishing off some eggs when Jess waves goodbye.

Our executive meeting has extra guests. It deals with the criminal organization as a whole. They tracked its roots. It starts with time off from work in exchange for executives terminating most Orphan Directory counsellor positions, and prostituting female orphans. From prostitution, it expands to other areas like booze and drugs. Like a street gang, it evolves getting more organized.

This morning we know the key players. We know where they are, as well as locations for stables and stashes. We will eliminate them in a few hours, starting at the top and working our way down chains to those people who fake their hours. Rescuers will report for practice scenarios. Their job is to treat, assist, and marshal any victims. By four, we will be in court for a final briefing with the legal system matching names and charges.

It appears this organization spread all over their city using orphan housing buildings, offices and rooms. They moved like a spider web. Different parts of their organization moved in different locations. Prostitution, drugs and alcohol are all in different locations even in a same section of their city. They target several residential sections. In those areas, prostitution is not available. They were concerned residents might get upset. Thugs using threats and bullying occur everywhere they appear.

Our meeting breaks up. I head for our office. I freeze in my doorway in surprise. Chairs line both walls with people waiting. A center of our hallway has people going in both directions. Four people stand in line waiting to talk to Madge. She points to a gate, and a woman starts in that direction to enter. Madge looks up and spots me. A huge smile lights her face as she indicates an opposite gate with a nod of her head. As I start across I say, "Good morning, Madge."

"Good morning, Colonel Tammy. There are two important messages on your desk, sir." Madge beams as sound levels drop. I can feel eyes staring at us.

As I go through her gate I reply, "Thank you Madge."

Clair is a step behind me. "Good morning, Madge. It was a pleasure to meet your granddaughters."

Office space behind her desk extends out into what was a glass wall, an office reads, 'Personnel'. People move back and forth. Queues wait in lines to talk to receptionists. Beside our executive office is another, same size as ours, stretching back to that personnel office.

Claire and I head for our desks. On top of mine, a message reads, 'Press conference at five'. A second message reads, 'Watch a media clip marked News at 8 on your desktop. You are the boss lady. Find something for them to do'. Our office staff enters and heads for their desks.

Kathy is halfway to her desk when she comments, "Tammy, I think you stepped into another storm. We better watch that news clip." She fires up our large monitor.

'Good morning all. Our lead story this morning answers some questions from yesterday evening's broadcast. Yesterday a character assassination of our favourite guest Tammy ended in a hallway outside new offices of a group called Rescuer Angels. A large security presence was there again in last evening. However, they were not there to keep peace. They are guests at an appreciation block party. Captain Jean of security explained that this party, organized by the Rescuer Angels executive was to say thank you to their staff and some organizations that go mostly unnoticed.

'No uniforms are present, but our new rescuer social club is present, as evidenced by the numbers of red practice shirts. Entire families enjoy meals supplied by Orenda's Fine Foods. General Orenda is a Rescuer Angels Executive Officer. Now bearing a rank of Colonel, Executive Director Tammy is present and here seen chatting with Rescuers Bill and Melisa of that Rescuers Social Club. Always at Tammy's side is her executive assistant, gold medal winning Rescuer Clair. No one seems forgotten. Captain Clair is an orphan and that young woman beside her is former roommate orphan Jess.

'Gerry wanted to be off the record as he explained the Rescuer Angels are a benevolent organization. Their purpose is to identify problems, find solutions to them, and assist in implementation of solutions. Use of uniforms for executives is his idea to help process issues and gather resources quickly. He said jokingly would anybody be silly enough to argue with General Shortcake. Kathy is a Rescuer Angels Executive Director.' Our screen fades to black.

Kathy laughs, "Holy shit Tammy! You got Gerry hooked too. Now everyone wants to help. Tammy, we've no shortage of staff. Where do you want to begin?"

I reply, "Later today we are going to see a lot of broken people and families. I think we will need support staff, family counsellors, foster parents, with a way to match needs and issues. Those orphan victims are going to need many solutions. They will need someone to explain they are safe. Reassure them their world has not ended, and that we will be there to take care of them. Start there and see where it takes us."

Carol stands. "We're off to personnel. We'll give them guidelines. They can find us leaders, staff, and coordinators. Well said, Tammy."

Sharon stands and nods, "We'll build databases to make it easier to match what we have with what's needed. My teams will be on top of it as quickly as possible."

As our door closes, half our office disappeared. Kathy comments, "Fourteen minutes." We look at her. She smiles. "That's how long it took you to put all those people to work. Just fourteen minutes to let them know they matter and can help a worthy cause. I believe you said we were fast, but I think you're the fastest I've ever seen."

Madge's voice comes from speakers, "Tammy, there's someone here who thinks she knows you. She thinks you're a Lieutenant Richards and seems desperate to see you."

I step out of our office and turn toward Madge's desk. A woman who looks familiar asks, "Are you Lieutenant Richards, my teacher?" In Pashto, she continues, "Is it really you? I thought you died in the bomb blast."

I reply in Pashto, "Azadah you are alive! I thought you were dead." In English I say, "Please let my friend Azadah in. She was my student in Afghanistan." I hug her. I realize how quiet it is. Everyone is looking at us. I say, "Come and meet some of my friends." I escort her to our office.

Azadah has been here about a year. She arrived as an orphan from a refugee trail and they placed her in a dorm in another building. In her dorm, all eight orphans spoke different languages. Other dorms around them are the same. They did not realize she spoke some English but understood a lot more. At first only pretty girls disappeared, then a lot of others. Azadah is short and petit, but she is wary of people. The only time they see anyone other than security patrols is when people disappear.

Our office staff is back and quietly listen. Carol asks, "Azadah we have some people who want to help orphans. If you told them your story and answered questions, they could better understand how to help."

Azadah looks at me, "Are these people good like you, Lieutenant Richards?"

"Yes Azadah, but I am a Colonel." I point at my sleeve. "I am one of a special group of people. They brought us here to help orphans. My assistant Captain Clair is an orphan." I hold up Clair's sleeve. "That is Commander Carol. This is my special friend, General Kathy." Kathy understands and shows her sleeve. "Commander Carol, gather your teams. We will be there in a moment."

I lead Azadah to Madge's desk. I push Madge's magic button. "This is Colonel Tammy we need someone who speaks Pashto to our reception desk as soon as possible, thank you."

My guess proves right. She hears my message echo from several directions. A woman in her late twenties comes from a back side of our huge office. She comments, "Colonel Tammy. I speak Pashto. What can I do for you?"

In Pashto I reply, "This is Azadah. This is her native tongue. She is about to be asked questions she may not understand. If she asks for help, please act as her interpreter. What is your name?"

"My name is Ann," she replies in English. Then in Pashto, "I was with the Canadians in Operation Archer in Afghanistan." Azadah's face explodes in a huge smile.

I say, "Come with me please. Ann will help if you do not understand or cannot tell them in English." We follow Katie to Carol's group. "Commander are these your group leaders?"

Carol replies, "Yes, Colonel, they're eager to help."

I turn to them, "This is Azadah. She has a story to tell you about our orphans. You may ask her questions. Ann will help explain if some confusion arises. She speaks in Azadah's native language. I am hoping this will give you a better understanding of issues we may face." I turn to Ann. "Do you mind?"

She replies, "It would be a pleasure Colonel."

"Thank you Ann." In Pashto I say, "Azadah as a colonel I have many things to do today. My first job is finding those missing orphans. I will see you again soon. Later perhaps we can find out how we both got here."

Azadah replies in English, "Go find them and fight others if you have to. Like you did with Fahran." I wave at her and head for my office.

As I step in I ask, "Is it time to meet our troops?"

Kathy smiles, "We'll be about five minutes early."

As we move down our hall for elevators Clair asks, "You said rank means little to you. Why did you use ranks with Azadah?"

"The only foreigners in her country all have ranks. The higher the rank, the more power they wield."