by Andrew Mack
Argo squinted. “Stronger?”
The Admiral switched gears. “We think Taz was responsible for the attack on Space Port Earth. Our latest intel connects Taz to this Valmay Opposition Group. We think he is a member.”
The Chairman finally spoke. “Thank you, Admiral and Ambassador. I think Lord Argo has been made aware of the situation While we discuss the matter privately, continue to keep the embargo as tight as possible.”
The Admiral and Ambassador walked out. The Chairman, still aggravated, said, “Your attendance to these meetings should not feel like a prison sentence. We are discussing important matters.”
Argo sat back down, “That is what Tempest is for.”
Tempest closed her tablet. “Don’t drag me into this big brother. It’s not my fault you care more about where you put your penis than where we put our military.”
Argo half smiled, “Nothing personal sis. I can arrange for you to blow off some steam, you clearly need it. The girls work both sides.”
The Chairman was not amused. “Enough. I don’t have time for your petty little jabs. Despite the Admirals’ concern, the conflict is inconsequential as long as the Vait supply is not interrupted.”
Tempest spoke up. She saw the same angle. “Then why get involved at all? As long as we are patient, they will have to sell it directly to us or through a third party.”
The Chairman began walking back to behind his desk as he continued. “Because we may not have time. Once our engineers took over mining in the region, we exponentially began yielding the Vait. Publicly, the increase is about five times more. Privately, the yield is much greater.”
Argo looked alarmed. “How much greater? An unsafe amount?”
The Chairman sat down. “Correct. The removal of their Mining Guild allowed us unregulated access to all their abundant sites, and we took advantage. The rate is unsustainable. The Ambassador thinks he has decades of production, but a meeting last week with our engineers told us differently. “
Tempest now even sat up next to her brother. “How long?”
Hassara sat down, folded his hands together, and put his elbows on his desk. “They believe a few more years, at best.”
Argo was now curious. “Until all the Vait is mined?”
Hassara answered, “Before internal implosion from the planet core, a result of this advanced mining. They say it is inevitable. It will be close, but they also believe we should have all the Vait out by that time.”
Tempest asked, “If we slowed the mining down, would it save the planet?”
The Chairman said, “Possibly, but this current extraction is what we need to achieve our production goals. The engineers cannot get an accurate reading because of all the gases and electricity in the atmosphere. They estimate the richest area of Vait currently on the planet is in the Bosa region, controlled by the Valmay Group. Thus, sending someone to negotiate on our behalf has become a top priority.”
Tempest asked a question. “Negotiate what?”
The Chairman continued, “Convincing them to sell the Vait to us, publicly or privately. Publicly and it looks like we are negotiating peace. Privately, and they probably save face with their people. As long as we get the Vait, the AuFa can stay out of their conflict altogether.”
Tempest was not convinced. “And if the Valmay Group does not negotiate?”
The Chairman responded coldly, “Then we convince the Council it’s in our best interest to remove them, which would require some media savvy and public outcry. But understanding all their options would only force a logical, peaceful solution that benefits all sides.”
Argo then patted Tempest on the shoulder. “Great, when does Tempest leave?”
Tempest first looked at her brother, then at her father. Argo was smiling. Tempest was not. The Chairman broke the tension. “As Defense Minister of the AuFa, Tempest is too vital at the moment here with me. I need her for this upcoming Council session regarding the potential Earth situation and their own Delegate Ambassador Guard. I will need you to go to Avola and negotiate on our behalf.”
Argo now frowned, and Tempest smiled. Argo was floored. “Me? Negotiate? Why? Why not send Sanisgar?”
The Chairman took a deep breath. “ When he returns here, I need his help debating the financial implications of investing resources in private Ambassador Security instead of the BRG. But currently, he is on assignment with the Earth situation.”
Argo was now upset. He stood up. “I told you the situation is under control. My contact has assured me all is going to plan.”
The Chairman let out a crooked smile, “Is it? The attack on Space Port Earth?”
Tempest continued to smile. Argo kept staring at his father. After a few seconds, he regrouped. The angle of the conversation was going nowhere. Argo continued, “Why not send Tempest’s deputy to Avola? Or the Admiral?”
The Chairman unfolded his hands. “I want the message to be impactful. Coming from my son, my top deputy, is the same as coming from me. And coming from the Director of the Secret Service, it can also be done discreetly as well if that is their preference. There is a possibility they say no, which is also why I am sending you to negotiate, understand?”
Argo was still standing. “Do I have a choice?”
The Chairman now stood up as well. “No, you do not. Now, my meetings are running late. I have people waiting outside. There is a SS ship waiting for you on the landing field to take you to Avola. If there is nothing else….”
Argo had been blindsided. “I am leaving now?”
The Chairman walked from around the desk and began to escort his children out. “Yes, I have arranged for your steward to pack your belongings so you can leave immediately.”
Argo and Tempest walked out of the room into the corridor, where a few Ambassadors were waiting. Lieutenant Walva, Argo’s portly steward, was waiting as well. Walva said, “My Lord, I have arranged for all of your gear to be transported to the SS ship, including a few weapons that I thought you might have……”
Argo looked at him and cut him off. “Quiet….”
Tempest took one more step before turning around and whispering, “Safe travels, brother….”
Argo stared at her before whispering back, “What a fucking dick-punch….”
Tempest then proceeded to kiss him on the cheek and gently slap his face. “Yes, it is. But it is your dick-punch problem now, not mine. Don’t let me down. “
She spun around, taking four steps before turning back around and saying, “Oh brother,....”
Argo just looked at her, head tilted.
Half tilting her head, Tempest asked, “Your companionship? It would be a shame to let them go to waste without them earning their services.”
Argo gave a scowl and paused before speaking. “In my common room…...enjoy.”
Tempest turned around and walked off. Taking a few more steps, she blindly waved behind and yelled, “Thanks.”
Argo watched her walk off. He took a deep breath and proceeded the other way towards the landing field, the portly steward in tow. After a few steps, Walva deemed it appropriate to speak. “Sir, all your belongings are already on the ship, with a few of the weapons that I know you commonly like. I also……”
Argo stopped and looked down at him, cutting off his speech. “When I said I was going to cut your tongue out, did you think I was joking?”
Walva looked astonished. “My Lord, I must admit, I thought it to be just a figure of speech, and from my perspective, a poor one at…..”
Argo continued, cutting him off again. “I once interrogated a man for information. I hung him to a cross and, one by one, cut each of his toes and fingers off until he bled to death. He never gave me the information, but I rather enjoyed myself for an hour, despite ruining the floors.”
The two stared at each other for a few seconds before the portly man k
neeled his head. After a few seconds, Argo walked off, and Walva continued. “Your right, my Lord, but wouldn’t it be much more advisable to keep me in my current state, one in which I can help you accomplish your basic needs…..”
Argo rolled his eyes. This day had not gone to plan. He whispered to himself, “Colossal fucking dick-punch.”
The door opened into Argo’s common room as Tempest walked in. Two of the girls (including the dominant one) were still naked on the ottoman, smiling slightly. The other girl held a towel around the man’s hand, having removed the bloody on the table. They were walking out, each grabbing the bloody wrapped-up hand. Tempest looked at them as they walked by her and said, “Need a hand?”
The two walked out, leaving Tempest with the other two girls. The dominant one said, “Lady Tempest….”
Tempest proceeded to walk from the door to the ottomans and couch, carefully surveying the vase with the sex toys. Tempest, shaking her head, softly said, “Ta-ta-ta, another messy afternoon with my brother, how unfortunate.”
The dominant girl just smiled and blinked her eyes, while the other one began rubbing on the dominant one. Tempest began taking off her shirt and grabbed one of the toys. “So unnecessary all these violent little games when a proper tongue will do.”
Tempest proceeded to join the two girls while taking the rest of her clothes off.
Belinea 2.4
Avola
Valmay Headquarters, Bosa Province
Octavious Killian sat at the head of a long rectangle table. Kaya, his sister, was next to him along with the other seven officers, including Rendon, Marrat, and Cortes. The seat at the end of the table was left open.
Kaya stood up and walked over to the screen on the wall. She said to the group, “I wanted to show you this.”
When she pointed at a spot on the map, she said, “Here, the mining colony in sector twelve. My cousin Donovan indicated this colony has limited protection. A few AuFa ground troops and a couple of fighters to escort the cargo transport ships. That leaves the facility vulnerable to an attack. If it’s true, that’s a large amount of Vait going unprotected.”
Octavious quickly added, “But it’s very far from Bosa.”
Kaya replied, “True, but if we fly low with no cover, casualties would likely be minimal considering the element of surprise.”
Octavious answered, “Perhaps. But if there were casualties, quick extraction would prove difficult.”
Kaya added, “Yes, but worth the risk. The amount of Vait is substantial.”
Rendon questioned, “You trust the intel?”
Kaya answered, “It came directly from Donovan, so yes.
She paused briefly and then said, “There’s more Octavious.”
Octavious looked up. He quietly asked, “What?”
Kaya turned off the screen and softly replied, “Donovan said the conditions in the mining camp were atrocious compared to Guild standards. They’re living in poverty, spending more hours in the caves than not, while the Majavkee Lords reap the benefits.”
Ocativious paused. “I cannot free the mining camps all at once, Kaya.”
Kaya countered, “They are not soldiers. They are not trained to fight. They are starving, barely able to feed their families. We have to help them.”
Octavious looked up at her and said, “They need to protest. The Majavkee can not mine the Vait without them.”
Kaya replied, “Do you not think they are punished for speaking? The loudest of voices can be silenced with one round to the head.”
Octavious raised his voice slightly. “And we cannot echo the call of liberty by ourselves. Do you want freedom and justice, Kaya? So do I. We all do. But our decisions must be calculated, advancing the broader mission. Even at the expense of our brothers in the greatest need.”
The other officers exchanged glances across the table. It was not often that Kaya and Octavious articulated their opposing views in front of the other officers. Kaya let Octavious’s words hang in the air before sitting down. “If we are not saving the lives of the people, what are we fighting for?”
Octavious now paused. He then said, “No amount of violence will change what is happening. Controlling the supply of Vait, through a rebellion with the miners, will allow us the revolution we seek. We must establish a movement that includes the miners before we can move forward.”
Kaya looked at him and nodded. The others at the table did the same. After a moment, Octavious calmly said, “Alright, recheck the scheduled times, and coordinate when the escort ships are away. You will use your team?”
Kaya looked at Cortes, Rendon, and Marrat before acknowledging with a nod. She then said, “Yes…”
Octavious half-smiled and said, “Let me see the final plans, but otherwise it is a go.”
After a moment, Octavious hit the spot on the table and said out loud, “Send her in.”
Former Ambassador Syren came walking into the room, wearing a long white robe. The entire table stood up, including Octavious, waiting for her to take her seat at the table’s foot, opposite Octavious. When she did, the rest of the soldiers sat down as well. Syren said, “Octavious, thank you.”
Octavious nodded and said, “Ambassador.”
Syren quickly got to the point. “The Council has reached out to me. Publicly, they recognize Ambassador Yebba and all the delegates on Avola. Privately, they concede the Majavkee Lords run the planet. They would like to meet with you, Octavious.”
Octavious folded his hands together. He responded, “Why?”
Syren answered. “To negotiate a peaceful solution to the violence currently disrupting the Vait mining.”
Kaya jumped in. “If the Majavkee peacefully leave, we will peacefully not attack them. Simple enough.”
Syren responded, “I see no scenario where they force the Majavkee to leave.”
Kaya quickly answered, “Then there is nothing to discuss.”
There was a long pause in the room. Syren then asked, “Octavious, is this how you feel?”
Octavious waited a few seconds before answering. He said, “I believe everyone at this table feels the same way.”
The officers made eye contact and nodded before looking back at Syren. Syren met their gaze, and after a few seconds, said, “I know what you are trying to accomplish. Nobody respects it more than me. But think about the people you are fighting for. The Miners. The children. What would Quillisar Ballera ask you to do?”
Nobody said anything. There was a hush in the room. Syren got up after about five seconds and said, “Didn’t make a difference, did I?”
Octavious immediately replied, “I’m at Temple every week. She knows how to find me if she has something to say.”
Syren began walking out of the room. As she approached the door, Octavious said, “Syren…”
The former Ambassador stopped and looked back over her shoulder at the table. Octavious said, “If the Belienans and the Council want to talk, I am willing to listen. But no promises.”
Syren nodded and walked out of the door.
Kaya then stood up and said, “Anything else? Meeting adjourned.”
One by one, the other soldiers got up, made the silent diamond shape with their fists, towards Octavious, and slowly left the room. Kaya addressed her brother once everyone had left. “You will talk to them? Why? You said so yourself; they will never negotiate a withdrawal of Avola.”
Octavious turned toward his sister. “I know. And at some point, they will become much more aggressive in their defense. She is right. The Vait is too strategically important to them. “
Kaya was strong. “And we will destroy everything they send our way. No one is afraid.”
Ocativous snorted, and a doubtful quarter smile, slightly shrugging his shoulders.
Kaya was confused and was more confident than her older brother. “You don’t th
ink we can win?”
Octavious looked at her, grabbing her shoulder. “Kaya, there is no win. They will be forced into a surface attack, yes, but we can only hold them for so long. We may have Vait, but we have no ships. And we have no resources to build ships, no factories, no workforce. We are forced to steal the weapons we have. Eventually, we will run out. And we certainly can’t stop them from mining the other regions.”
Kaya did not see it that way. “Octavious, we can beat them. One battle at a time. We are defending our home, and it’s just another planet to them. They don’t have the stomach for this fight.”
Octavious “Stomach, no. Ambition, yes. The Majavkee are on their side, as are most Avolians.”
Kaya paused for a second and asked, “Who would they send?”
Octavious answered, “Probably an Ambassador or a high ranking AuFa officer. Nobody too important.”
Kaya continued, “Well when they do, I will be there with you.”
Octavious gave a small smile and said, “You think this will help the negotiation?”
Kaya answered, “If only to remind them they could be dealing with me instead of you.”
Octavious smiled and said, “That’s a good point. Get me that intel when you can, please.”
Kaya walked out of the room, leaving Octavious to study the map.
Belinea 2.5
Somewhere on the way to Braccus
Cadet Tunasll sat in a pilot’s chair of the C-62T transport. Cadet Trujillo walked in through the back cabin. He uttered one word: “Dinner….”
Tunsall hit a few commands on his screen and unbuckled himself from the pilot’s chair. He got up and walked out the door with Trujillo. The two of them walked to the back and noticed a long table. Eating at it were Ambassador Bird, Alexis Devanoe, and Commanders Willits and Jones. There were two empty seats, but clearly with a plate of food in front of each one. Trujillo and Tunsall were confused. They inconspicuously walked to the table, grabbed their plates, and began walking back to the front of the ship.