Chapter One
The sleek silver arrow-shaped craft came to a screeching halt on the black asphalt. Within seconds the door slid open and Araman Diago, the Commandant of Olean Intelligence of the Raylin Lunar System stepped out under a cloak of anger. His blonde height of six feet and six inches was intimidating enough to the underlings but the black uniform emphasizing his hard muscular frame instilled a sense of fear.
Araman was too furious to face the council he had been summoned to. His mission had been jeopardized by a malfunction in his ship's cloaking device. With skill he managed to evade the enemy's firing but the discharge had then alerted his superior on Olean to the situation. Just as he made it to safety his monitor floated down with the red angry face of his superior.
"You ... will ... report immediately ... understand immediately to my office, Commandant." The red fleshy face uttered out in a stilted harsh manner. The screen floated upwards and out of his sight line.
As he walked across the tarmac, he coldly eyed his Second-in-command leaning against the door with a smirk on his face. Araman was in no mood for the man's sharp wit. He gave an abrupt nod to the reddish brown-haired man equal in height and weight. The only other differences were a year in age and their rank.
"You know what this means?" The voice followed Araman as he entered the metal doors of a long glassed-in walkway.
"I can only guess." Araman said with ice in his voice to the grinning shadow behind him. "I am certain you have duties to attend to Commander." He spoke as though he were bored of the conversation already. He stopped in front of a door and grabbed the file waiting for his attention.
"You'll end up with an M E." Santari moved up beside his scowling Commandant.
"I have already denied issue of a military escort. I use the brothels like the other men." Araman was tired of his accusation. His libido levels seemed more of an importance to everyone than the security of their world and its territories.
Santari scoffed at him. "You?" He snickered at his friend, "At a brothel? You're like one of those outdated Terrian monks that still believe that abstinence leads to enlightenment."
"And where would I find the time to indulge a sex slave?" The harsh words went unheard on Santari. Araman stopped abruptly and stared at him. "I have a Division to run."
"Military escorts are disposable." Santari continued walking.
"You," Araman said to the backside of the commander, "Are the first reason why we are at odds with Oleander." He referred to Olean's sister planet.
Santari reached a set of heavy black steel doors. He opened it as a doorman for Araman. He bent into a slight bow and gestured Araman through with an extravagant wave of his hand.
"And when we make peace with Oleander, I will be the first to be willing to kiss and make up." He chuckled as he followed Araman into a hallway leading inside the stark blank white walls.
"And you have an operations meeting in five minutes." Araman's rude manner was lost on Santari who just shrugged at his superior.
Araman stopped in front of a white door marked with the same insignia that sat on the right sleeve of his shoulder. A silver wing embossed into the black of the cloth. He smoothed his flight jacket and walked in shutting the door on Santari's face.
He turned around and snapped to attention in front of his superior, Commander General Herse who sat at his desk. Even sitting it could be seen that Herse was smaller by a foot, with graying hair and jowls that sat on his face in a permanent frown. His eyes were hidden under thick flaps of skin. Smoke from a cigar billowed like a cloud above his head.
"What in Frigg do you think you were doing?" The General's eyes never left the paper he was reading.
"Contact was made with a potential informant Sir. An underling for the Oleander Mistress of Strategic Warfare. We were to meet in the Thrillian star system in three lunar hours."
"I assume," the General's voice was very dry as he drawled on each word, "you had your ship thoroughly inspected upon departure."
"Yes Sir, as per regulations." Araman answered.
"I assume your report will have an explanation as to why you exposed yourself to the enemy." He flipped a page, cigar still in hand.
"The cloaking device was operational before take off, Sir. I have ordered a complete diagnostic inspection of my ship. I will forward the results with my report Sir." Araman pushed through his tight lips.
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