Not even two days later, Nick received a call from Director Kai.
Although Director Kai held the rank of a full colonel, he was primarily on the technical side of the house. He had the best intentions, but he lacked the direct authority to move personnel on his own. He had immediately bumped the request up to the department heads.
The top brass took it very seriously. It wasn't just about a favor; Nick held the core tech and the sensitive data for the "Hornet" drone swarm system. If that fell into the wrong hands, it would be a catastrophic national security leak. Beyond that, Nick himself was a once-in-a-generation genius; any "accident" involving him would be a massive blow to the country's technical edge.
Furthermore, Nick's request was perfectly reasonable. It was a legitimate need for protection, and it provided high-quality jobs for retired veterans. The brass issued a green light immediately, instructing the relevant offices to satisfy the request as quickly as possible.
"I'm telling you, kid, these men were top performers. Many of them have commendations for valor," Director Kai said over the phone. "A few of them had already landed solid corporate jobs after finishing their service, but the second they heard the call, they resigned on the spot."
"When they get to your office, you'd better treat them right. If I hear you're lowballing them, I won't be the only one coming for you—the superiors and every active-duty soldier will have your head."
"Relax, Director. You know me," Nick said, suppressing a grin and pitching his voice to sound dead serious. "I guarantee they'll be treated like family."
"Good. I've emailed you the roster and contact info. I heard things are getting hairy down there; the first three are already on the Amtrak and should be in Tampa by this evening. Make sure someone is there to pick them up," Director Kai instructed.
"Understood. I'll make sure they're well taken care of," Nick promised.
"Alright. Go get the logistics sorted. And Nick—if you run into real trouble, call me. Don't try to play the lone wolf." After a few more words of fatherly concern, Director Kai hung up.
Nick looked at the list in his inbox and beamed. The high-level support proved how much the government valued him; they wouldn't have sent elite operators otherwise.
"Big Smoke, get in here," Nick messaged Tyler.
A few minutes later, Tyler came jogging in, out of breath. "What's the word bro? Something happen?"
Nick tapped the computer screen. "Security team is locked in."
"No way! Let me see." Tyler's face lit up, and his massive frame leaned over Nick's shoulder. As he scrolled through the profiles, his chubby face broke into a massive grin. "Damn, you really pulled it off. With these guys around, I might actually get some sleep. These past few days have been a nightmare."
"These guys are the best of the best," Nick said. "The Pentagon basically hand-picked them after hearing about our situation. We can't screw this up."
Tyler nodded vigorously. "I'll handle the onboarding personally. I'll make sure they have everything they need."
Nick shook his head. "I gave my word, so I'm handling the details. We have fifteen guys coming in total. Go find a block of decent apartments nearby. I want them in a good neighborhood, and the company is picking up the tab."
"The first three get in this afternoon. Have a driver meet them and put them up in a hotel for now until the apartments are ready."
"On it," Tyler said, turning to leave. He stopped halfway to the door. "Wait, what are we looking at for salary?"
"What's the market rate?" Nick asked.
"I checked. Standard security in Tampa runs between four and eight thousand a month," Tyler reported. He knew Nick wanted to take care of these guys, so he left the final number open.
Nick didn't hesitate. "Start them at eight thousand. Give the deputy leads an extra thousand, and the captain gets two thousand on top of the base. We'll scale it up as the company grows."
"Man, that's a hell of a package," Tyler whistled. "Free housing, full benefits, 401(k), and a six-figure equivalent yearly alary? That's more than most white-collar managers in this city make."
Nick waved him off. "Excellence costs money. These men are going to be standing between us and some very dangerous people. Our lives are in their hands; the least we can do is make sure they don't have to worry about rent."
"Fair point. I'll get it moving." Tyler hurried out.
Nick expected to meet the new recruits the next morning, but that evening, he found the three of them waiting in his office. Even in civilian clothes, their posture was unmistakable. They sat perfectly upright, eyes alert, with three olive-drab tactical backpacks lined up neatly against the wall.
"Hi, I'm Nick. You guys must be beat after that trip," Nick said, stepping forward to shake hands.
The man on the left, a sturdy, dark-complexioned guy in his late twenties, snapped to attention and took Nick's hand. "Reporting, former Staff Sergeant Wallace Gregory, 75th Ranger Regiment."
"Reporting, former Sergeant Ryan Orston, 101st Airborne."
"Reporting, former Sergeant Brent Gallaway, 82nd Airborne."
As he shook their hands, Nick took a quick mental inventory. Wallace seemed the most composed—the natural leader. The other two clearly deferred to him. Ryan was his polar opposite: tall, built like a tank, and classically handsome. He looked like he'd just stepped off a recruitment poster. Brent, however, was the "gray man." Average height, slender, and totally nondescript. He was the kind of person you'd forget five minutes after meeting him—likely making him the most dangerous of the three.
"Here's the plan," Nick told them. "We've got a hotel ready for tonight. We're finalizing some corporate apartments, and you'll be able to move in shortly."
"Once the rest of the team arrives, we'll have some specialized security consultants come in to brief you on our specific defensive protocols and corporate security measures."
"Take a few days to get your bearings. If you need anything at all, just let us know."
"Sir, our briefing said the situation here was critical," Wallace said firmly. "We're ready to report for duty immediately."
Nick smiled and waved it off. "It can wait one night. Get some rest. Tomorrow, I'll have someone show you around the facility. Once you've got the lay of the land, we'll get to work."