When Falls The Night

When Falls the the Night

It was a dark and foggy night. Well, the night had started normal enough. The early fall day had pleasant temperatures but as the day turned into night the temperatures fell rapidly so as the earth cooled mist started rising and fog rolled in. The thick, soupy kind of fog. When it falls it makes the world silent and so white it is dark. Starting in the low areas and gradually filling in everywhere cutting visibility to almost nil. The nine pm drive to the energy plant turned sketchy with all the twists, turns and hills and dells along the twenty-four mile route. Still I managed to make it to work on time.

But barely in time. A nod to the guy stuck in the guard shack at the entrance to the parking lot. He could make out my sticker on the windshield and smiled back as he waved me through. Hurry to find a parking place in the back lot reserved for my kind. A mad rush to the entry building throwing all my hand-held items on the x-ray belt and stepping through the explosive detector. Luckily, I had not filled my gas tank on the way in so didn't set off the alarm saving valuable moments not having to be hand searched. Quickly pick up my badge at the bullet-proof glass enclosed cage. Slip the pass card attached to the badge into the door to unlock it and run up the stairs. I had dressed in my uniform at home so didn't need to do anything but shove my purse and lunch into my locker and get to the line to pick up my gun. In time to be the last one in line. Thank the Sergeant on duty there and check the roster to see my position for the night.

I could have been assigned in the entry building, or guardhouse, overseeing the scanning procedures and badge collecting there; or inside the multi-storied plant making sure the security routes were well covered; or the outdoor routes in charge of the Security Officers in vehicles; or Central Alarm System or Secondary Alarm System. I pulled SAS. The one watching all the closed circuit TV cameras. All twenty-six of them staring out at the electrified fields between the double security fences surrounding the plant grounds. All night long.

This tight little room was only a walk downstairs not out to four stories up in the plant where CAS was located. I had enough rushing around. Now it was going to be a matter of keeping my eyes open, all night long. The two fellow officers I relieved were quite happy to see me. Always good to be appreciated. They were ready to get out of there. My co-worker for the night was already taking the favored position in front of the microphone used to make dispatches to any tripped alarm. Good ploy to keep awake.

Our two unarmed Watch-people assigned the duty of helping us watch the cameras were crowding in, too. But, as suspected, the two leaving Sergeants pointed out they already had to send the Watch-people out to, well, watch the E-Fields up close and personable because as one could clearly see no one could clearly see anything through the cameras. The fog obliterated any visibility. Cameras were whited out. Those two would have to bundle-up in their rain gear and go outside to relieve the other two who were walking around the two-mile perimeter in opposing directions “watching” for any nefarious activity within the protected area. Probably watching with their heads bowed and covered harboring against the unfavorable weather conditions. At least there were two armed S.O.s still making the rounds in vehicles, too. Driving SUVs two-miles-per-hour around and around. We would be safe from all raccoons and possums all night long.

Soon it was down to only the two of us. In a darkened room. Staring at whited-out cameras. All twenty-six of them. All night long. Never enough to talk about.

I was not a coffee drinker - until I took this job. On night shift. All night long I now drank coffee and requested frequent breaks. My partner Sergeant did likewise. Did I mention there's never enough to talk about?

“Nice weather we are having.”

“A little foggy, don't you think?”

“How was your day?”

“I slept it away.”

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

“Away from here.”

He's such a fun guy.

Maybe the Lieutenants will put on their Ninja suits, that is all black attire, and pretend Qaddafi (this was happening in the early nineties, okay?) has broken through the incredibly strong E-Field barriers and all the S.O.'s have to chase terrorists through the plant with their thumb and pointer-finger “guns” drawn to keep infidels from getting to sensitive areas where the reactors are re-acting. That is always good for some alarms going off. But what self-respecting terrorist wants to get out in such foggy weather when no one could see him to give him proper credit? Don't expect that to happen. Will have to be content to drudge through another boring night. All night long.

I often wondered why the cameras only pointed at the E-Fields. Shouldn't a security force be looking out beyond the fence line also to see what may be approaching. The grounds of the plant were lit up so brightly like a city unto itself when night falls but someone on the inside couldn't see anything beyond the fences. Imagine the perfect target this facility made from the sky? But no one ever seemed to think an attack may come from above (like 9/11). Anyone wanting to wreak havoc would definitely choose to break through the double fences or use number one E-Field with the gate where all entering vehicles were searched.

At least I finally graduated from being a Watch Person or a Security Officer to being a Sergeant with so many more privileges and responsibilities. My job was never to figure why security seemed too lax but only to do as the manual instructed. Dispatch officers to answer alarms. Watch the cameras. Cameras that became totally useless in any adverse weather conditions such as fog, rain, snow, or wind. Even bright sunshine if directed straight at a camera would send the walkers out. But always expect the worst when falls the night.