“It takes VTD approximately five days to prime the equipment for a transmission of that magnitude; there’s no way they could flip a switch and shut it all down.  Besides, they’d be too interested in what’s going on.”

“How do we know that once we have Riley, a retaliation won’t start?” another question is presented.

“Honestly, the only thing we need to worry about is the High Council.  They take their jobs a little too seriously.”  Brandi starts walking around the room.  “Riley’s personal guards, the Royal Guard, will have to be sequestered with him; their only allegiance is to the High Council.”  With chalk in her hands, Brandi scribbles diagrams on the chalkboard as well.

“If we can convince the High Council that Riley has neglected his duties, they can remove him under the statue and grant emergency powers to Debbi.  Once that happens, Debbi can invoke the right to replace the entire High Council.   It’s an archaic bylaw, Pro Beneficium Totus, that’s never been tested before.”

“And no one will ask questions in the lower ranks?” Tracy asks cautiously.

“No,” Schofield responds dryly, “the lower ranks only care about their paychecks.  The High Council, as far as they are concerned, is just politics.  Let me stress, the main obstacle is getting the High Council to grant Smith emergency power.”

“How hard is that?” Debbi finally speaks.

“High Council will do anything if you butter enough palms.”

“Could you explain the rank structure please?” Joe Garcia interjects.  Schofield can tell this guy already has plans.  “How are we supposed to know who is in charge of who?”

“Venome has the traditional military ratings you’re already familiar with,” Schofield starts, calling attention to more documents distributed.  “Riley knew better than to try and reinvent a rating system so anyone who had a rank with a former branch, that rank carries over into Venome.

“Enlisted, NCOs and Officers all follow the old Army rating system in the Information and Operation Domains.   Those are called, ‘NCom’, non-combat offices.  That includes every Division, Department and Section under those two Domains.

“The enlisted grades of the three combat divisions follow the rating structure related to their function.  Meaning: Air Command follows old Air Force rating, Naval Command follows Navy rating and Armament Command follows the Marines.”

“Isn’t Commander a Navy rank?” Debbi asks.

“I was getting to that.  Commissioned Officers in Tactical Domain all follow Naval Officer ratings.”

“Why?”

“By and large, most of the original officers, like myself, came from the US Navy and so Riley simply kept that rating in tact for all officers in Tactical Domain, to make a distinction between the combat divisions and the non-combat divisions.”

Debbi continues to review the papers laid out in front of her, as does the rest of the participants.  “Okay,” she starts after a brief silence, “all of you know which divisions you’re taking.  There’s only one chair we haven’t filled and that...” she reviews the documents before speaking,  “...is the Provocation Division.  I’ll need one of you to take that post as well.”

“I’ll do it!” Brandi emphatically butts in, almost flinging herself across the table, into the Lt. Colonel’s lap.

“Brandi, I already have you down for the High Council chair for Air Command,” negates Debbi Smith.

“That’s okay.  Provo is a NCom office, it practically runs itself.  Lieutenant Sheerer will help with anything that I can’t handle.”  Brandi’s heart is now pounding.

As he has done many times before, Mike shoots a look of disapproval to the Commander.  As usual, she pays him no mind and continues to sign him up for whatever treachery she has planned.

“I don’t see Provocation in my list of files, what exactly does that division do?” Debbi inquires, still looking through the stack of forms.

“Um... mostly paperwork, file keeping and that sort of thing.  It’s mainly an internal office focused on the whereabouts of personnel,” Brandi continues to lie boldly and the only person who isn’t swallowing it is Lt. Sheerer.

“Okay, Brandi, it’s yours,” Smith concedes without a second thought.

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