We are now going to turn our attention over to Fort Tuskegee. Two days before the train carrying Dwayne and Deacon would be hijacked. Behind the scenes, sinister plans are being set into motion.
Fort Tuskegee, despite its name, wasn't just a military base. It was actually an entire town built around the fort. Being a battalion composed entirely of Freedmen, the Buffalo Soldiers originally had issues with the townsfolk during their initial assignment to Fort Tuskegee, but with time, the townsfolk grew to see the Buffalo Soldiers as competent and reliable protectors. Even becoming the pride of the town. A fact that the commanding officer of the base, Major Denzel Booker, had accepted with pride.
This would all change one fateful day. Booker was in his office, going through paperwork for the upcoming influx of recruits, when he received some startling news.
"The recruits are here, sir!" a private who had just barged into Booker's office announced.
"What? That doesn't make any sense. We aren't expecting them for another two days."
"That's what I thought, sir!" the private said, still keeping a stiff salute. "They are at the gate and wishing to be let in. There is even a Major Moss that wishes to speak to you."
"Major?" Booker questioned, now starting to feel uneasy. He wasn't aware of any high ranking Rangers showing up. Grant would have surely informed him. "I'll be right down to meet them. I'm going to need you to inform Captainess Enfield and have her meet us at the gate. Do you know where she is?"
"The firing range, last I checked. Sir!" the private answered.
"Mhmm. And my Goldenwood rifle is missing from its plaque."
"I believe she has it, sir." The private replied, feeling guilty for ratting his captainess out.
"That's alright private, just drop it off in my office after she gives it to you. Dismissed."
With that, they saluted each other and Booker went off to the front gate while the private went to fetch the Captainess.
As the private made his way to the firing range, he could hear the crackling of the Goldenwood rifle being fired.
Krakoom!
"Another bullseye!" a soldier holding a clipboard yelled as he tallied a score.
"That's her third bullseye in a row." one of the onlooking buffalo soldiers exclaimed.
"oh please, it's the Captainess. This ain't nothing new." another soldier replied.
As usual, whenever the Captainess decided to brush up on her skills, an audience of soldiers would gather to watch. Seeing her hit bullseye after bullseye was always an inspiring sight for the other Buffalo Soldiers, but she was also the only woman on base, and a beautiful one at that. The Captainess was tall with a large afro that added several inches to her height, slender with a delicate face and a full body that was apparent even in uniform. An "ebony goddess" as the soldiers would describe her as. But they knew better than to say any of this to her face. The best they could do is gawk at her from afar.
Krakoom!
"Bullseye again!" The announcements were getting less and less enthusiastic with each shot.
"Man, I love the way this thing sounds." Captain Enfield said as she took a handless drag from the cigarette propped up in her mouth before exhaling through her nose. She then pulled back the bolt on the rifle, letting the shell casing fly out and clatter to the ground next to her. She loaded another bullet into the chamber and held her breath as she aimed.
The rifle let out another thunderous roar as she continued to hit bullseye after bullseye until there were no more targets left.
"Congratulations Captainess." The soldier with the clipboard said in a very bored tone as he handed her the results. "You've once again tied your previous record of ten bullseyes in a row. Making you our coveted tenth place spot holder. You have single handedly claimed all ten spots on our scoreboard."
The soldiers gave a sarcastic round of applause as they watched the scoreboard become plastered with the Captainess' full name, 'Ivelisse Enfield'
"Aww. Don't be jealous, boys." Captain Enfield said with a coy wink. "Maybe if y'all practiced more you'd be able to kick me off the scoreboard."
"Oh, please." One of the onlooking soldiers called out as he stuffed a handful of popcorn into his mouth. "She's using the Major's Goldenwood Rifle. Anyone could become a god at shooting with one of those." He snickered to himself as he gorged on his popcorn.
The other soldiers stiffened nervously. They knew their Captain, and she wasn't about to let that statement slide.
Before she could utter a rebuttal, the private that Booker had sent broke his silence after only recently arriving.
"Captainess Enfield! Major Booker requests your presence at the main gate. Ma'am!"
The Captainess let out a big sigh as she heard the orders. "Bryce, what did I tell you? If we're not in the middle of a battle, call me Lee."
"Uh. Right. Sorry Captain. I mean Lee." Private Bryce said as he saluted awkwardly, blushing at Lee's beauty.
"That's better." Lee said as she playfully punched his shoulder. "Now, do me a favor and lemme see your rifle."
"Huh? This old thing? It's nothing compared to the Goldenwood Rifle." Private Bryce said as he handed it over.
"It's more than enough." Lee said as she quickly aimed and fired.
The soldier who was eating his popcorn was still high off his own joke and had tossed a kernel in the air to catch with his mouth. Right before reaching his nose, Lee's bullet obliterated the kernel out of the sky.
The shot whizzing past the soldier made him scramble for cover. Dropping his popcorn bucket all over his head.
"What the hell, Lee!" He yelled in frustration, slamming his bucket into the ground. "You almost killed me!"
"If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead. And you know it." Lee snapped. Her response prompting the other soldiers to snicker at the one being scolded.
"Major Booker wants you to meet him right away." Bryce repeated. "I can put his Goldenwood rifle away for you."
"Oh. Right." Lee said as she went to hand the rifle over, but before the rifle could switch hands, she felt what can only be described as an overwhelming sense of possession over it. Like handing this rifle over was akin to handing over a limb. She had felt this way about the rifle ever since she first held it in her hands. Major General Grant awarded it to Major Booker, as a gift to the Buffalo Soldiers for valor in fending off an outlaw raid on the city.
The truth was that it was Lee's shooting that was the deciding factor of their victory, and everyone knew that. Including Major Booker. But still, the gift was for Booker and not Lee. To give it away would've been bad decorum.
"Nah, that's okay." Lee finally answered. Succumbing to the attachment she felt towards the rifle. "I'll put it back and then meet him out front."
After lingering in Booker's office for a few minutes, taking her time putting the rifle back in its rightful place, Lee finally made her way over to the gate where Booker and their guests were impatiently waiting.
"Captainess Enfield, how wonderful for you to finally join us." Booker greeted through gritted teeth.
"Sorry." Lee replied casually. "Captainess duties." Lee then turned her attention to their guests. "Who are they?"
"These are the recruits we've been expecting." Booker replied. A twinge of disbelief in his voice.
"Huh?" Lee asked as she took a closer look. In front of her was a platoon of very rough, weathered looking men.
They stood with neither reverence nor discipline, even spitting on the ground occasionally and mumbling amongst themselves as their commanding officers moved forward.
"I thought we wouldn't be expecting y'all for another two days." Lee said.
"The plans have changed." The commanding officer said as he walked up to Lee with his hand outstretched. "Major H. Moss." He introduced himself.
He was a monster of a man. Towering over Lee, who was already taller than the average woman her age. Large muscles bulged under his uniform that was several sizes too small to accentuate his build.
"Major?" Lee questioned as she glanced over his medals. Sure enough, he had four silver stars adorning his chest, exactly like Major Booker. She gave a nervous glance over to Booker.
"I believe this document should clear up any confusion." Moss said proudly as he handed over an already opened letter marked with the seal of the Commander In Chief. "Assuming you could read of course."
Lee snatched the letter from Moss and began to read it aloud. She could feel a pit forming in her stomach with each word.
To whom it may concern,
In an effort to fulfill my obligation of integrating the military, I have assigned Major Moss to oversee the transition. He will serve as Chief Commanding Officer of Fort Tuskegee . Effective Immediately.
Signed,
Commander In Chief...
"Anders Johnson." Lee finished. Unable to hide the disgust in her voice as her hands crumpled the letter in her grip.
Moss snatched back the letter and placed it safely back in its envelope. "No hard feelings, but you didn't expect the Union to actually let a roughhead in charge of the Rangers.
"Excuse me?" Lee snapped. Taken aback by his brazenness.
"Lee, can I talk to you?" Booker interjected, stepping between Lee and Moss.
"You better listen to him, roughhead, before I decide to discipline you myself." Moss said as he mimed a spanking motion with his hands, eliciting a snicker from his men.
"Aww hell nah-" Lee yelled, about to give Moss a piece of her mind when Booker pushed her back and away from Moss.
"Lee, calm down. I understand you're upset. But we have to play this right."
"Play this right? How are we supposed to work together as a unit if he can just blatantly disrespect me like that?" Lee asked, at full volume so Moss can hear her.
"Quiet." Booker shushed. "You read that letter."
"That letter didn't say he could talk to me like that!"
"I know, but think about it. Johnson is clearly trying to provoke us into making a wrong move so they could call the integration a failure and blame us for it." Booker explained.
"oh ya think?" Lee replied sarcastically
"Then don't fall for the sabotage." Booker put his hands on Lee's shoulders. "The best thing we can do is keep being amazing soldiers. Show these recruits how disciplined and professional we are, and to make this integration go smoothly. That's the best way to get back at Johnson."
"I don't know, Booker. I have a bad feeling about this." Lee sighed.
"We just have to endure this. Please, Lee. I need you to be a good example to the Buffalo Soldiers on how to handle these people with poise and class. Can you do that for me?"
Lee could only roll her eyes.
"We are the future of Freedmen in the Union. We have to pave the way for every generation after us. It was never going to be easy."
"Okay Booker, fine. You don't have to hammer it in." Lee finally yielded.
"Thank you." Booker said as he let go of Lee's shoulders and relaxed his own. "Major Moss, Let me show you to the head office." he said with fake courtesy.
"Good, you can move your shit out and I can get settled in." Moss replied coldly.
"Oh, I was under the impression that we would share the space."
"Share an office with a roughhead? No thank you." Moss said as he marched into the fort.
Lee could only shake her head in disappointment as Booker held his tongue and continued to be hospitable.
"Ms. Enfield, it's a pleasure to meet you." a voice behind Lee said. Interrupting her thoughts. Another Union Ranger stood before her. Three silver stars adorned his uniform, meaning he was the same rank as Lee.
"That's Captainess Enfield to you." Lee replied as she ignored his hand and began to light up another cigarette. "And you are?"
"I believe we are to co-captain together." He replied as he pulled back his hand back. "The name is Captain Marlo Bandanawicz."