Permission to Engage

Permission to Engage

by AH Garroway

Deep inside a Colorado Mountain sits a super secret military installation known only to the military and the local residents. The situation room is buzzing as dozens of uniforms race from console to desk and back again. Telephones are ringing off the hook.

General Butcher stands in the middle of the chaos and calmly views the five live feed monitors. Ten minutes ago, a commander on the ground reported an increase in enemy presence. Suddenly there was more than just a presence, the troops were surrounded. No longer calm, the commander began yelling for help.

"Christ, where did they all come from?" the ground commander yelled.

"John, settle down. There is no use your getting all worked up. I'll get you out," Butcher replied.

"Cut the crap, Jack. We are in deep shit."

General Butcher calmly walked to another bank of screens, one of  them showing a football game. Butcher stared at the soon to be ex-colonel. The football game disappeared from the screen.

"John, I've dispatched a shitload of jets to your location. They will be there in five."

An aide passes Butcher a note.

"Are you sure? Did she say it was important?"

"Yes Sir!"

Butcher glances at the screens showing the chaos on the ground and picks up the red phone.

"Daddy, I think Bob is going to give me an engagement ring. He has that look in his eyes."

"Honey, can't this wait? I am rather busy right now."

"Daddy, I tried mom but she is at the spa with her friends. I didn't know anyone else to call."

"What can I do?"

"Daddy, can you check him out and make sure he doesn't have any skeletons in the closet."

"I'll need something concrete. Can you lift his driver's license?"

"I have his social security number."

"I won't ask how you got the number. I'll check and call you back in a couple of hours."

"No, Daddy. That will never do. I'm calling from a stall in the ladies room. I need to know now if he is the one. If you really loved me, you would drop whatever you're doing and do this little thing for your daughter."

"All right sweetheart. I'll call you in three minutes."

"You promise, daddy?"

"Have I ever lied to you?"

"Sergeant, I need you to run this social security number and see if there are any red flags."

"Yes, Sir."

"Okay, boys and girls. I need an update on the situation on the ground and in the air. And I need it now," Butcher yelled. When he yelled, everyone acted.

The sergeant hands Butcher a printed page. Butcher scans the page.

"Sergeant, get my daughter on the line!"

"General, air support is over the target. They are asking for "Permission to Engage. The ground commander says the enemy has broken through the barbed wire fence and is quickly approaching. He wants to know what to do?"

"Sweetheart, his file is clean except for a couple of unpaid parking tickets. There is a warrant for his arrest for twenty-seven books which are overdue at the library. Other than that, he is a just fine. He does know that if he hurts you in anyway, I will rip out his throat."

"Thank you daddy. Does this mean I can accept his engagement ring?"

"General, air support wants to know if they have "Permission to Engage?"

"Hold on sweetheart."

"Tell air support, they have Permission to Engage."

"Sweetheart, you have Permission to engage."

"Thank you daddy. And congratulations."

"Congratulations?"

"You're going to be a grandfather in seven months."