GENERAL TALBOT, ORLANDO, AND MASON
Inside the walls of the forward operating base, Lt. Mason is handing out orders to his subordinates. After a couple of weeks of spending time recovering from his acute hearing loss, Lt. Mason was back on duty. As he handed out the patrol task around the parameter, he received a video message from General Talbot to report to the base's command center.
Mason put the next chain commanding officer in charge before heading inside the decontamination room. As Mason walks through the corridors of the main base, he is joined by Orlando.
"General Jackson, sir," Lt. Mason saluted.
"At ease Mason. Where are you on your way to? I thought you would be handing out daily patrols."
"I was sir until I was ordered to see General Talbot."
"Talbot wanted to see you too, huh. I received a request from him to see me while going over daily reports."
"Do you know what he wants to see us about?"
"You know why!"
"To talk about Joilee?"
"Of course. Anyway, how have you been feeling since your encounter with Joilee?"
"My hearing is way better. I still get ringing in my ears at night or in dead silence. Dr. Quanyin said it will go away in time."
"That is good to hear."
"Sir, do you know why Joilee attacked us? I am her brother, and I was no threat to her."
"Joilee knows that. She said that she was trying to protect you. Something about the native will kill you on sight."
"They would have killed me?"
"Joilee believes so. So don't take it too personally."
After a few turns in the base corridors, Orlando and Mason entered the command center, where General Talbot was looking at footage from a spy drone. One of the guards noticed Orlando and quickly saluted him.
"General on deck!"
All security officers sitting at their stationed consoles stood up to salute Orlando.
"At ease, soldiers," the General stated.
General Talbot smiled when he saw Orlando and Mason walking through the doors.
"I am glad you two can make it?"
Orlando looked at the monitors and noticed that Talbot was spying on the natives.
"What is this about, General! Why are you flying recon drones over the village" Orlando asked?
"Just trying to get to know our enemy."
"I am quite sure not in the best interest of both sides," Mason replied while daggering his eyes at Talbot.
"Son, I am only interested in what is best for the human race. Anyway, I did not ask you both here for chit-chat. Let's discuss how we can all be on the same page and keep this situation under control with Joilee."
"Joilee doesn't need to be controlled, General. She needs us to respect how she chooses to operate," Mason replied.
"Excuse me, son," the General asked.
"What Mason is trying to say is that let's try talking with her instead of going full military on a group of people that we have the upper hand on. I know you won't cause unnecessary carnage."
"I hear you, General, but we human race does not have the luxury of talking. However, I will try both ways...."
"No, let's see how Joilee wants to do it."
"Fine, I will stay away from the Quexamtil tribe territory."
"Good! Then we have nothing else to discuss."
Just as Orlando and Mason leave, the drone catches a Quexamatil female warrior ready to throw a spear at the drone.
"Sir, you gotta take a look at this?'
Talbot, Mason, and Orlando look at the screen. Talbot smirks.
"There is no way that salvage can throw that weapon a half a mile in the air."
The female warrior hurled the spear toward the drone. As the spear destroys the drone, the OLED screen reads, "Drone offline."
"Look like she made the shot," Orlando replied.
*****
Talbot watched Mason and Orlando exit the command center. Talbot grabbed his OLED Palmer and went to the office of the command center. Talbot took a seat at the desk and opened the secured communication channel. On the other end was a caucasian male EGC officer on the other end. His name is Lt. Major Ivan Volkov. Volkov gives Talbot a salut
"At ease."
"What is the honor I owe this call."
"I just want to update you on your expected mission when you arrive in a week. I am sending you mission plans."
Talbot pressed a button to send information.
"These are maps of the Oxuna."
"Yes, when you arrive, I want to attack and subjugate the village."
"Why sir, I thought our main mission was to destroy the weapon at the temple."
"That is the mission. I need you to create a distraction for our little traitorous misfit."
"I see; I will make preparations."
"Oh, and I Captain this mission covert and need-to-know basis.
ORLANDO & DR. YELENA
In the late night hours inside the colonial military base, Orlando arrives inside his quarters with a bed, a sink, a shower, and a small OLED. Screen quarters. It was enough for a couple without children. Dr. Yelena is present as he goes over Joilee's psychological report. Orlando quickly greets his wife with a peck on the cheek. Within that kiss, Dr. Yelena could tell that Orlando was upset about something. Dr. Yelena put down her OLED tablet to give her husband her full attention. After Orlando took off his military jacket and boots, he plopped down on the bed. Orlando could feel a migraine coming.
"What is wrong, dear," Dr. Yelena asked as she sat next to Orlando.
"Nothing, it's just that it has been a long day."
"Orlando, you can't lie to me. Remember, I am not just your wife, but I am also your therapist. Talk to me."
"It's that idiot General Talbot. He is going to start an unnecessary war."
"What do you mean?"
"Since he has been here, he has been obsessed with starting a fight with one of the natives. I just caught him doing flight recon over the Quexamatil village. This is not a good start in building relations with the natives."
"Orlando, you and I know that the military has always done recon."
"I know, but if we gain Joilee's trust, we must honor her request."
Hearing Orlando bringing up Joilee's name caused Yelena to get upset. Yelena quickly got up from the bed.
"What is it, Yelena?"
"Is that all you care about is Joilee."
"What are you talking about?"
"You really have been concerned about what Joilee wants. Guess what? Joilee is not the woman you would have married 40 years ago."
"I know that, but...."
"But what? Your obsession..."
"I don't have an obsession with Joilee."
"Then what is it?"
"Can't you see this is my chance to make things right with her after she was left here in the bush!"
"Make things right? Orlando, you did nothing wrong. You were not the cause for Joilee getting stranded here."
"I know," Orlando replies as he rubs his bald head. Dr. Yelena hugged Orlando's head close to her stomach.
"My love, I am afraid this has all been too much for you. Why don't you try to get some sleep."
"Nah, I can't!"
"Well, if you can't." Yelena backs away and removes her military uniform showing her nude body. Maybe we can make up for lost time. We haven't made love in months."
Orlando smiles.
"I guess you really want me to relax!"
"You are my husband!"
Dr. Yelena approached Orlando and sat on his lap. They both kissed passionately just before they both descended onto their bed.