Senia took a seat at a small table as Hardy and Clarfax took seats flanking her. She looked around the room as the other agents and constables began to filter inside. Four Lupine including Range Runner; at least the other three seemed much more open. Range Runner merely leaned against a shelving unit that faced the front and spoke to no one.
Shauna and Spike, the pair they had just met, took seats not far away and seemed to greet anyone who approached them. This included six other Vulpine and five Felanus. The last few stragglers began to sit down or take up a standing position in the room, which included two Pantherans and four Critainians. The Critainians’ sheer size was intimidating, but most seemed open to some small talk. Senia did notice one who seemed rather agitated, and wondered if that wasn’t Coratta, mentioned by Colonel Chatham the previous day.
The Colonel, along with Captain Marr, stood at the front of the room. The odd looking pair going over a few notes on a data pad together. Both of them seemed to make absolutely certain they greeted each individual agent and constable as they entered the room, or as they sat down. Even Senia, Clarfax and Hardy got a nod of acknowledgement. The other agents in the room talked in low voices among themselves. Senia listened idly to the distant conversations. Two Vulpine were discussing the previous day’s rough ball match. A Felanus and a Lupine were comparing notes on a tail each was chasing. One Critainian mentioned returning back to her homeworld. The conversations varied and seemed to flow. But Senia noticed neither Coratta nor Range Runner were taking part in any small chatter.
Finally, as the chronometer next to the door turned to 0600 hours, Chatham spoke up. “All right everyone,” he called out. “Listen up. Not a long briefing today. A review of current assignments, an introduction and handing out assignments.” He looked over his data pad as Captain Marr watched the agents and constables. “Crantha, Greenfield, Tripper, Mor’Tak and Shorthair are still out chasing tail. They each reported earlier this morning, and each is close to tagging their targets, so hopefully they’ll be returning to base soon enough.” He looked up, pointing to Shauna and Spike. “How are you two coming along with tracking down Trickster.”
“The research part is done, Colonel,” Spike said as she looked to a data pad. “Hyna Jackai, stole a shuttle from Lupine Protectorate and was seen makin’ his way toward the Wayfarer’s Belt. Word is from a few that there’s a cabal o’ pirates hidin’ out in the Belt.”
“Alright, I want you to contact the RVA. Rendezvous with a fleet ship if you can, but don’t go chasing him in there without heavy reinforcements. I’m not about to send either one of you on a suicide mission.” The Wayfarer’s asteroid belt was a known hideaway for Jackai, Pantheran and Vulpine pirates. Each group had their own territories, which the Jackai seemed to control the largest portion. “Coratta,” he continued as he looked to a large Critainian opposite the room from Range Runner. “You still have four weeks on your sick leave.”
“Colonel, I’m fine,” Coratta protested.
“No excuses, Coratta,” Chatham replied as he shot Coratta a look. “This is your first shift in gender and I’ve researched the effects. For now, you can do administrative work here at base, but the first opportunity you have to seen the doctors at the Institute on Critainia, you do it. Clear?” Coratta only mumbled and nodded in reply. Senia was unfamiliar with this Critainian process, but she had heard they go through it at least five times in their lives. She also had heard how it can be draining both mentally and physically for a Critainian. “New business,” Chatham said as he quickly changed the direction of the briefing. “Left-tenant Felix, Corporal Maynard and Corporal Billings,” he called out and looked up from his data pad. The three rose to their feet, fighting the urge to snap to attention. Each felt it wouldn’t be received very well, this group seemed rather lax even though they served an important service. “These three are new recruits, just transferred in front Chattingham. And before anyone asks and annoys the three with questions, they are trained fighter pilots.” A small murmur went through the group as they began to understand something, each one making a different comment, but amounting to the same thing. You three got the short end of the stick.
“Alright everyone,” Captain Marr called out. “We don’t need to chatter about them all morning.” She nodded to the three pilots and they took their seats.
“Moving on,” Chatham said as he looked over the data pad. “Aside from Coratta, Spike and Quickfoot who already have assignments, I have a few details for each of you. Range Runner.” The Lupine looked up, attentive only to Chatham. “I want you to look into some activity that’s been hitting the Wolves of the North on Lupinia. Check in with the Grand Chief of the central tribe. I received a wave from him yesterday.” Range Runner only nodded in reply, confirmation enough for the Colonel that the job would get done. “Tripper, Highhill, Morning-glow, Chaser. You four are on reclamation duty.” There was a collective groan of protest that came from two Vulpine and two Felanus in the room.
“Only fair, mates,” Spike called out. “Me an’ Shauna had ta do that last month, everyone gets their turn at reclamation. Give ya a chance ta salvage parts for everyone’s ships. Which reminds me,” she added with a grin. “The neutronium drive in me own ship could use a few new coils.”
“Alright everyone, settle down,” Chatham called out as the group had just started to talk amongst themselves for a few seconds. “Jik’Tok, you and Bor’Tok have paperwork that needs correlating.” Two Critainians nodded in reply. “Finally,” Chatham said as he looked directly to Senia. “Felix, Billings, Maynard. I want you three to go to Critainia, speak with the local authority there. Seems they’ve had some trouble at the Great Library. Someone’s been trying to get into the Great Library, though no one knows why.”
“Probably trying to return an overdue book,” one of the Critainians said with a laugh. The others replied with their own chuckles and laughs, but quieted down as Chatham held up a hand for quiet.
“It’s nothing serious,” he said directly to Felix. “But I’m not in the habit of sending new recruits out on dangerous missions first time out. You’ll leave at 1100 hours, Captain Marr will have a full dossier for you to examine while in transit.” He looked about the room to the other agents and seemed to wait just long enough before speaking once more. “That’s it everyone. Dismissed.”
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