After the Alliance was announced to the New Ottawan Coalition, the Ghost, Daniel, and Barbara gave President Keith, his pilots and technicians a tour of New Ottawa. The first stop was the New Ottawan Army Boot Camp. Over the Veterans Memorial Bridge and taking two quick right turns, was Allen Park. The once vibrant playground and park had been turned into a military boot camp. Here, President Keith was shown the ruthless and grueling training the New Ottawan Military trainees would go through. Daily, the trainees would have physical training consisting of push-ups, pull-ups and sit ups. Afterward, they would have a mile run that would lead them to chow or breakfast.
Once the tour of the boot camp was over, they made their way to the shooting range. There, all Ottawan's, regardless whether they were civilians or military, would have to attend a two-part class. The first class was in the classroom, where the Busch Hunter would teach them simple and complex weapon safety accompanied with the basics of weapon maintenance. The second part was actually on the range for weapon shooting qualification. Ottawans would have to qualify with all types of rifles, pistols, shotguns and light machine guns so that no matter the situation they found themselves in, they would know how to operate the weapon with safety and precision.
After leaving the shooting range, the tour went to the former Ottawa Township High School. It had been repurposed as a military base within Ottawa's city limits. Fort Lincoln-Douglas, otherwise known as Fort L-D, was a multi-branch military base. As they entered the substructure of the base, there were tunnels that had been extended. One tunnel had been strengthened up with several layers of concrete, it had also been widened and deepened as a water-flooded loop for small watercraft to enter and exit straight to both the Illinois and Fox rivers. Another tunnel led straight to the Mechanized Division of the New Ottawan Army. There, O-61 Defender II tanks were maintained, tested and kept on standby notice. The third and final tunnel was by far the longest. It had taken about two weeks of a combined effort with locals and the Army Corp of Engineers to reinforce this lengthy tunnel the span of the way to Skydive Chicago Airfield.
At the airfield, several projects were underway. There was talk of reopening the Old Ottawa Airport closer to the downtown area, but nothing was underway yet. However, old bulldozers and graders were hard at work turning a vacant field into runways three, four and a fifth one crossing those two. Several new hangars had completed construction only within the last few days of President Keith's stay. Inside, mechanics of the Old Guard were hard at work getting about every era of jet, warbird, and crop-duster ready for a fight.
As the tour walked the airfield, the Ghost explained to President Keith that the Old Guard, the former Liberty Lurkers, had been split into two teams, Old Guard Recovery and the Old Guard Defense. While Barbara was in charge of Defense, Roland, who'd saved both Barbara and the Ghost in D.C, had been made the Head of Recovery. His years of mechanical experience and knowledge on everything and anything with an engine were priceless to the New Ottawans. Although he was up there in years, Roland could get even the most stubborn of warbirds to fire up and fly right. He'd dispatched a couple of teams to retrieve any aircraft they could find, no matter the makes, models, or flaws. Just within the last few hours, a team had returned from the Illinois Valley Regional Airport with a TBM Avenger the airport hosted. It was in sterling condition, all the way down to the last grease boot. They'd also brought back a T-6 Texan painted in orange and silver.
After thanking Roland for his time, the tour ended with President Keith and his team getting in their aircraft. Once they were off the ground, the Ghost didn't go back into town quite yet.
"Roland?"
"What can I do for you Ghost?" said the older gentleman, wiping down his gray mustache and brow.
"How is Project R-82?"
Roland slowly nodded before leading the Ghost to a far larger hangar on the far end of the airport.
"Currently, we have a squadron of B-24 Liberators ready to fly, but R-82? Well, she's a stubborn one." Said Roland, knocking on the hangar's solid steel door.
After a brief moment, a window slot slid open, then slammed shut as the door opened and shut. This hangar was a closely guarded secret that only a handful mechanics and riveters, along with Roland, Barbara and the Ghost knew of. Project R-82 wasn't just any aircraft, rather it was their golden goose. Tail number R-82, better known as the Silverplate B-29 "Enola Gay". While the Confederation of the Texan Republic had F-117 Nighthawks, F-15s and F-18's, the New Ottawan Coalition was the only faction that had a nuclear-capable, long range bomber. It was the ace up the Midwest's sleeve.
"She's taken far longer to get fixed than I would've liked but as of this morning, all systems are functional, all four engines running at optimal condition and temperature."
The Ghost took the bison leather glove off of his right hand and gently placed it on the belly of the legendary bomber. He closed his eyes for a moment before putting his glove back on and turning to Roland.
"Tell the team you have on this their next round of drinks at Berta's is on me. Then, once they've had a day to rest, send them west."
"West? What for?"
"There is a B-29 resting at the bottom of Lake Mead. Emphasis extreme care with that bomber. If it can't be rebuilt, strip it clean for parts."
"Will do, sir."
As the Ghost and Roland left the hangar, the Ghost hopped in a jeep and headed over to Libby-Owens Ford. Once he arrived, he went straight into Dr. Sue's office.
"Ah, Ghost! How can I help you?"
"I have a project for you and your team. This is a big one. It is one-hundred and ten percent classified. You will report all needs and details of this project to me. Am I clear?"
"Of course sir, now what is it you had in mine?"
"Project NHII." Said the Ghost as he slowly closed the door to her office, leaving a world of secrets to remain hidden from prying ears and eyes.