Japan

He had wanted to go for years. Being in the military though, he didn't always get his pick of posts. Lots of people wanted to go to Japan so it was hard to get on that roster. Finally, FINALLY he had gotten the orders, but this was not going to be a good visit. He was an officer and in school focusing on nuclear physics. His degree was not why he wanted to go to the land of the rising sun. The tsunami had ravaged the country and as he stepped off of the plane he was not prepared for the devestation that faced him. The smell was horrendous- rotting wood, fields, buildings, bodies all mixed together to create a stench strong enough to make the most iron stomachs clench. Mike did not have an iron stomach. He wiped the bile from his face and side stepped the mess out onto the tarmac. They were in a specialized security wing of the base and fierce looking MPs were guarding the entrance. He knew that many of the bases in norther Japan had allowed civilian planes to land, but that meant that security was stepped up. People without credentials were removed, forcefully if needed. While the US wanted to help Japan, they were not willing to give up Homeland Security to do it. He showed his badge and orders to the guard who reluctantly let him pass. A corporal scurried over from the hangar bay and saluted smartly. "Major, welcome to Fukushima." he said. Mike returned the salute and extended his hand. "What do we have going on today corporal?" The young man placed a clipboard in his hand and began rattling off lines of information that few could follow- it was obvious that, despite his lowly rank, he was exactly where he needed to be. Mike began to feel more at ease. It was a lot easier solving nuclear problems with people who actually had an inkling of what it was you were trying to do. When the corporal took a breath, Mike asked what he was most excited to know: "So when do we go to the plants?" The corporal looked confused. "The plants, sir?" he asked. "Yes, those big complexes that contain radioactive material that power entire countries and are trying to blow up at the moment. Plants." "We are not authorized to leave the base, sir." he said almost apologetically. "We are doing all that we can from here." "Well what the f-" Mike took a deep breath. "What can we do from here?" he demanded. "We need to be at the reactors, not watching them through Skype!" "The colonol will explain everything sir." he said quietly. Mike regretted his outburst. He hadn't been an officer all that long, but he knew that it was these guys that really ran things. He needed this brilliant little man on his side. They were trying to save the world after all.