[center][h1][color=00aeef]Alexander Kherol[/color][/h1][/center][hr] Laichstarg - System 32 - Headquarter of the Ascendancy's 1st Fleet Back in those days, this middle-aged veteran of the Rau've war had learned, when bearing the insignia of the [url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/1c03274b-db91-4b97-9267-bc0c86ff1bf6.png] symmetric letter J[/url] on the side of your helmet, you'd by default earned the highest of respect that was only bested by the high-ranked government positions. People, especially Ascendancy sympathizers, call them by the names of sweet endorsement, like the 'sons of the fatherland', 'lions of the Ascendancy', so on and so forth. But one of the more commonly used name was the 'Royal Guard'. And the Department of Propaganda did not miss this opportunity. You'd know this is one of their places immediately from the first step onto the monstrosity and masterpiece of architecture. It began with the entrance: the long walk from the door, across rows of tall pillars and a thick textured purplish marbled floor. The multiple holographic projection of a soldier carrying a simple classical rifle with bayonets, wearing a solemn dark grey uniform, typical of the Guards. It may seem harmless though, but the title of 'Royal Guard' was not used in names only. The old veteran didn't have issues with them though, as he strutted passed the rows, along with the walls marking the mementos of the Guard's past triumphs on the battlefield - a reminder that they were not the amateurs they were once perceived to be. It was an impressive display, considering this was the grand admiral's favorite office. He had grown quite complacent to this place, as years of military passiveness after the Rau've war had dislodged his place in the frontline, on the bridge of his command ship, as there were simply no fronts for him to stand on. The stride of the war hardened veteran did not narrow with all this stuff. He knew too well this man who was worth the age of his younger brother, yet was in a position higher than anything he could have achieved in three lifetimes combined. Soon, he was right in front of two guards, wearing the same thing and wielding the same weapon like the holograms, but this time they were real people. [b]"Halt, papers please, Captain."[/b] The man in question chuckled a bit in amusement. Sometimes the guards could be a little too indulged in their jobs. Once the guns were placed down, he was his friend. He knew him personally. But protocols and his sense of responsibility did not allow him to slack off. [color=green][b]"Here."[/b][/color] The man with the white moustache handed him the ID card. [b]"Hmm. Information for the admiral? Seems urgent, yes?"[/b] He asked. [color=green][b]"I wouldn't be making any conclusions. But from my perspective, it is."[/b][/color] [b]"Then I wouldn't be wasting any of your time."[/b] The guard replied, handing back the paper before standing aside, opening the door. [b]"The admiral is in his office. Have a nice day Captain."[/b] [color=green][b]"You too."[/b][/color] He gave the guard a brief smile before trotting off. Another hallway awaited, but it was much shorter than he had to experience. After he arrived at the only layer between him and the grand admiral, he did not hesitate to give him a notification through the door. And not long afterward, he was notified that he was free to enter. The door slowly creaked open. At the far end of the room, seated in a tall-backed chair, watching the veteran as he approached him, was Alexander Kherol. If the grand display at the interior of the entrance wasn’t enough to put guests in their places, then the look at the man himself probably did. His eyes were hidden behind the thick glasses, yet it still gave off the image of a thousand needles jousting into a man’s throat. The slim build, gray-white hair, thin lips were still, expressionless, watching his every movements with interest. The symmetric insignia was engraved right on his collar, that blended in with the dark grey of the uniform, yet few could miss it entirely Seemingly able to read the man’s mind, the admiral quietly sipped the cup of tea before greeting him with a voice that could match the chillness of his face. [color=6ecff6][b]”Captain Fredrov.”[/b][/color] He said. [color=6ecff6][b]”It is irregular of you to request a direct meeting with me at this hour.”[/b][/color] [color=green][b]”No means of disrespect or disturbance grand admiral. It is an urgent plan for us all.”[/b][/color] He replied. [color=6ecff6][b]”No need to apologize”[/b][/color] Alexander said. [color=6ecff6][b]”I can already read it on your faces. Now, let us not waste anymore time.”[/b][/color] [color=green][b]”It’s about Realist, sir.”[/b][/color] [color=6ecff6][b]”Yes?”[/b][/color] His brows piqued. [color=green][b]”Just a moment ago, we’ve lost all contact with the recovery team.”[/b][/color] [color=6ecff6][i]’Hmm?’[/i][/color] His brows then suddenly dropped. His expressions unreadable. [color=6ecff6][b]”Lost?”[/b][/color] He rhetorically asked. [color=6ecff6][b]”When?”[/b][/color] [color=green][b]”The last recorded message was 23 minutes and 14 seconds ago. And the last recorded signal was 8 minutes and 56 seconds ago.”[/b][/color] The man reported. [color=6ecff6][b]”Any clue of what happened?”[/b][/color] [color=green][b]”No sir. There were no reports back, even in the slightest.”[/b][/color] He said. A radio silence that lasted 9 minutes? Wasn’t at all something Alexander was stranger toward. But right because of that, it made it a little tricky to pinpoint exactly what was going on. It was possible of an ambush, that the whole expedition team was dead before they could reply. But this was hardly the case. Despite the recovery forces not being the Guards, they were still good soldiers. Chances of them being obliterated before any distress signal could be sent out was very minimal. But it was exactly because of that that made him think. It could be due to jamming. In fact, it was most likely the case. But what caused the jamming then? By intentionality or by someone else. Could it be that the farmers had recruited these men into their causes? Speaking of those men...Snow… [color=6ecff6][b]”What about the other team then?”[/b][/color] Alexander asked [color=green][b]“Not a clue either, sir. They must have been affected too.”[/b][/color] They weren’t too close to each other. It would take at least a thirty-minute march to the other one. He could safely rule out the first hypothesis then. But it could inadvertently strengthen his second hypothesis. That the entire expedition team had been absorbed. [color=6ecff6][b]“Hmm.”[/b][/color] A hum escaped the grand admiral, as his face remained as cold as ice. An outsider could never guess where his eyes were turning toward, nor where his mind was wandering. [color=6ecff6][b]“Captain.”[/b][/color] Before the man knew it, his superior called him, again with the tone that could freeze. [color=6ecff6][b]“What do you think of the situation?”[/b][/color] [color=green][b]“Uhh.”[/b][/color] The man hesitated with the sudden question, but his stance remained upright. [color=green][b]“I can’t really jump to a conclusion yet.”[/b][/color] [color=6ecff6][b]“But?” [/b][/color] Damn, he really could read his mind. And he wanted an answer. [color=green][b]“I doubt that the soldiers would be defecting so easily. If it was someone, it would’ve been the politicians, not us military men.”[/b][/color] Hmm… If it would have been that easy. He had a certain point though. But to fully agree with that would be a fallacy. [color=6ecff6][b]”I assume that you arrived from Kotaro, didn’t you?”[/b][/color] He continued. [color=green][b]”Yes sir.”[/b][/color] [color=6ecff6][b]”Then tell him to report to me. Now.”[/b][/color] [@The Jest][@Letter Bee]