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The offices outside buzzed with low level conversation as the man sat as his desk, a book perched in his lap, a neat stack of documents in the corner. He leaned forward, picked up the placard on his desk, and wiped it with the hem of his dress uniform. The door to his office opened, a young major stepping as he leaned back into the shadows. A smoke ring filled the air as the man sat his placard back down. "General S. Bowe."
The major, one George Bowe, saluted his father, holding the thick folder in his arms. "Sir!"
"At ease Major." His eyes gleam in the dark of the shadow, tracking to the folder. "Logistic report?"
"No sir!"
His eyes narrowed in quiet fury. "Major, I wanted those reports by 13:00 hours even! What time is it?"
"13:03 Sir! I was interrupted sir!"
General Bowe sat back in his chair, glowering. Hmmm. George is never late with his reports. What could be so important as to alter his trajectory?
"Interrupted by what." the General proffered his hand, demanding the files.
George stepped forward and placed the file in his father and superior officer's hand. The man puffed from his cigar, sat the folder on his desk and opened it. He read.
He flipped pages. Read more. With every passing second his fist clenched harder on the other side of the table, and then he bit through his cigar.
"What is this, George?"
"Sir, Colonel Stallone pulled me from Logistics reports and stuck me on after action report. They were suddenly flooded."
"Massive casualties. Destruction of rail-lines at multiple points. Obliteration of secure defense emplacements, checkpoints, and compromise of the Argos. Total destruction of the Zurich Para-tech research and development facilities?" He flipped through the pages, and stopped on photographs.
"Several of our recon aircraft managed to snap some photos before the Fleece express vanished, sir!"
"Decimus," He said in a low tone.
"Sir?"
"Dr. Strelbourne, was Dr. Strelbourne at the Zurich facility when it went up?" Bowe leans forward, his voice a low growl.
"Yes si-"
"Dammit all!" General Bowe slammed his fists on the desk, shaking the whole room, and making George jump. "I told them not to fucking put the records and Strelbourne in the same place!"
"Sir?"
"Out, Major!" Bowe roared. Major Bowe scrambled back and out the door.
"GET ME HEADQUARTERS NOW."
"Dr. Strelbourne, was Dr. Strelbourne at the Zurich facility when it went up?" Bowe leans forward, his voice a low growl.
"No sir."
"Good. Good, I'm glad they listened." General Bowe sits back in his chair.
"Sir?"
"Well done, Georgie. Go on, take your two day pass early."
"Yes sir!" Major Bowe salutes, turns in place, and marches out.
"Get me the president."
General Bowe picks up his phone receiver and turns the dial, pressing the receiver to his ear. "This is General Bowe. The Witches' cauldron is stewing." He waits a moment listening to the voice on the other end. "Code Name Olympus."
Carissa presses the flagon to her lips, chugging it down as the rest of Recon watches. Silus slowly removes his cigar and snuffs it out in the ash tray.
Jane shifts in her chair, Rugio and Wong trying not to stare with an unabashed mix of terror, awe, and disbelief.
Ochev, as she always does in these moments, wrenches her jury-rigged device with the faintest hint of a smile on her lips.
"It beggars belief, Decimus. What do they even have you doing now, if you're capable of that."
"Classified." Carissa says, setting the flagon down, and wiping her mouth.
"Of course it is." Jane rolls her eyes. "You got anymore 'stories'?"
Carissa eyes the sniper, leaning back in her chair. "Maybe. But I think I've spoiled you enough for one night." She stretches in place, wringing out all her back muscles, before letting the chair fall back down even. She stands, retrieving her jacket off the back, and hefting it over one shoulder, muscles on full display with the motion. "I shouldn't keep my wife waiting."
Jane's smug look of appreciation completely shatters. "Cuntosaurus rex, you've been fucking married this whole time!?"
Carissa snort-laughs and looks at Silus. "You didn't tell her? Seems kind of mean."
"I couldn't stand to break her heart." Silus ducks a piece of bread that Jane yeets across the table.
"You snarky son of a bitch! You led me on!"
"To be fair to Silus, Jane," Rugio starts, and then abruptly stops at the glare thrown his way.
"All those times you were watching her through that rifle scope, and you're telling me you never saw them kiss or stare into each other’s eyes like it was a rom-com?" Wong laughs.
"I—"
"Willful ignorance, happens to the best of them." Carissa snickers loudly as Jane seethes in place. "It's been a blast Recon, see you around." She turns to make her departure, right as the doors open again.
Sheffield steps back through the doors.
There is a moment of tension as they stare at each other.
"Boo," Carissa pantomimes with a flash of fangs.
Sheffield stands frozen in place, screaming, as Carissa walks past him, shaking her head in disbelief.