Getting adjusted to a new staff was difficult. Samuel had known his old people and they had known him. They often had anticipated his requests before he made them. But his new staff had to be given very precise instructions. But as the months passed things began to go quite smoothly.
Samuel didn't get into the field much. His duties often kept him at his desk and in the briefing room. He did, however, get to design several projects for the capitol, which were accepted almost without question. But always there was a growing tension in the air. Something was about to happen and everybody knew it. Samuel had had a long day. He was very tired, when one evening his aide woke him.
"Sir!" she whispered, "You'd better come to operations. The First Speaker has just announced that our troops have seized The Vatican and arrested The Pope for crimes against humanity. You have operations orders coming in."
Samuel got up quickly and dressed, and joined his aide who had withdrawn into the livingroom. They quickly made their way to the operations room. The O.D. quickly handed him his orders, Samuel read through them.
"We are to seize all Cath operations," he finally announced, "and arrest the individuals on this list. Form operations teams we've got a lot to do. Wake everybody up. We'll catch up on sleep later."
While performing their own duties everyone tried to keep track of what was going on in Europe, as the days and weeks passed. At first many were against what the Spiritists had done, but as The Pope was tried and all the evidence presented, world opinion slowly shifted. Many did not want the sentence of death, but most knew as The Pope would make no consession in his belief that everything he'd done was right and proper, the sentence of death was the only one that could be passed. As soon as it was the uprising began. Soon much of Europe was in control of military leaders that dubbed their territory The Holy Godden Empire. The fighting grew more and more severe, as The Imperials consolidated their territory and pushed towards Italy, determined to retake their holy ground. The battle would be decided in the mountain passes.
One afternoon Samuel received new orders. "Demands for personnel excessive," they read, "however cannot withdraw any of your forces. Would you contact the local government, and ask them if they would be willing to provide volunteers?"
Samuel hurried to the president's office and presented the request formally. The president looked at him with a stern expression.
"You may gather a force," he finally agreed, "but only under one circumstance. You will lead them. I imagine our neighbors would like to send help, also. I think it best that it be announced you will be in charge of ALL African volunteers. I think this would bring in far more volunteers than any other possibility."
Within a few weeks Samuel's African volunteers were gathering at a staging area. Warlock Eisenhower arrived to greet him and inspect the equipment they'd brought.
"This armor and aircraft are a blessing," he assured, "our forces are stretched thin. I've given you a position on the line's right flank. I want you to defend it in depth. We are expecting the enemy's main push at any time. When it comes it's going to be with everything he's got. There'll be one massive effort then it will be a war of atrition, as we slowly wear them down."
Samuel and his troops got into position and were not really ready when the first bombardment began. For gruelling day after gruelling day the enemy came at them, and they drove them back again and again. Twice they nearly broke through but their lines held. Finally one morning it was quiet. The scouts went out and reported the enemy was gone. Then some reports soon came in from all along the line. The Empire was beaten! What was left of their army was falling back. They took up pursuit and for weeks pushed the enemy further and further back, then tired and weary they were relieved.
Having done their part the African volunteers prepared to depart. As they were getting ready to leave Eisenhower visited Samuel. "We're really having a hard time with prisoners," he explained. "There's too much animosity between them and the locals. It's causing real problems with keeping them from being abused. When you return to your post would you ask the local government if we could establish camps in their territory, hire their people to guard and administrate them under your overall superision?"
"Of course!" Samuel agreed.
The camps were soon established. At first the prisoners were only occupied in improving their own conditions. But as the years passed some of the less fanatical ones were allowed to help on local projects.
There were a few incidents where the dishonest that get into any system took advantage. But these were quickly weeded out and severely punished.
Samuel's operations drew praise for their humanitarian treatment of their prisoners, even from the Imperial representatives.
No one thought things could get any worse, but then in the United States people started to take advantage of the European situation.

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