TALBOT & THE COUNCIL
A day after Joilee's transmission, Talbot went to the communications room. He ordered all communications officers out of the room and programmed a council security level access to the room. General Talbot contacted the Chief Council Spokesman, Council Maximus. A towering holographic projection, the council spokesman, appeared at least 9 feet in height.
"General Talbot, are you ready to report?"
'I am. Is this a secure channel?"
"Of course," The spokesman assured. "The council and I have reviewed the video log of Joilee."
"What do you think about her insubordination? She refuses to help us in our mission to colonize this planet."
"We have reviewed the logs from your base camp. Joilee has not openly refused to help us, but we are convinced we cannot control her."
"Do you think you can control a weapon?"
"A weapon!"
"Yes, Joilee is a living weapon. She has uncanny abilities!"
"Agreed. So what are your plans to contain this matter?"
"Joilee must be terminated if I am going to complete my mission to destroy the other alien weapon at the savages' temple!"
"I agree. However, the other council member does not. They believe Joilee is a key to our survival. Our scientists are coming up with solutions to contain Joilee alive. In the meantime, just play along. Focus on destroying that weapon."
"Why is it so important that we take out this weapon? We can settle anywhere on this planet with our created flight plans."
"The Oldumarey's old satellite detected that the area is rich in raw and unknown metals. To extract that raw material, we need to safely extract it from the surface to a mining ship. We plan to start mining operations in 6 months. That is your time to destroy the weapon."
"I understand. What about Mason and Orlando? They seemed to admire Joilee. Should I deal with them as well?"
"For the time being, they will serve as pawns. Once Joilee and the weapon are destroyed, Mason and Orlando will be reassigned to Earth for law enforcement."
"Fine, sir. I will carry out your mission."
"And remember, your mission is covert."
TALBOT & DR. YELENA
Dr. Yelena is in her psych office looking over the recording from Joilee's last message. Yelena is looking for social cues in her body language to understand Joilee. After she agreed to help the human race set up colonies on Sierra Alpha Prime. Yelena understands that Joilee was telling the truth to help the E.G.C, but why understand her deception in not using the plan.
While Dr. Yelan was deeply observing the video, General Talbot entered her office. Dr. Yelena quickly turned off the monitor for confidentiality purposes.
"General Talbot, how are you today?"
"Just damn peachy!"
"Are you here to finally start attending your psych evaluations? In your report, you have missed the last ten mandatory evaluations."
"I see you have been doing your homework on me?"
"It is my job as the chief psychiatrist on this base."
"I am not here as I don't have time for that."
"You know that it is very important and is mandated that all soldiers undergo a monthly psych evaluation.
"The council believes that my time is more valuable sitting here spilling my emotions on a shrinks table; since I have been cleared for duty countless times."
"Well, if you are not here for your evaluation, how may I help you!"
"I am here to discuss our little traitor problem. I was wondering if you could give me any detail on the time you spent talking with the enemy."
"I don't think Joilee is our enemy. However, I am concerned about her behavior."
"What do you mean?"
"Sorry, that information is restricted due to confidential patient protocols."
"Doctor, please spare me the policies. I am here to do a threat assessment of the enemy."
"Look, Doctor, I already know she has abilities that no other can explain. Not to mention these weird stones placed on her body, which seem to give her those abilities."
"How do you know that? That information is confidential," Dr. Yelena asked with a surprised demeanor.
General Talbot grabbed an OLED tablet and entered his General Level access code. He handed it to Dr. Yelena to review. Dr. Yelena's face is contorted in disgust.
"As you can see, Doctor, the council has given me unlimited access to any information about Joilee. You are ordered to cooperate with me on such matters."
"Fine, General, what would you like to know?"
"For one, do you think Joilee's mental state threatens the E.G.C.
"To be honest with you, I don't know. However, I find her behavior apprehensive when identifying with her own species."
"What do you mean?"
"I do believe she has resentment towards abandonment. Joilee has spent the last ten years of no hope of seeing the human race again. Moreover, Joilee has been adopted by the natives on the planet. Joilee feels that she is obligated to protect them by any means necessary."
"Even if it means killing her people," Talbot raises a brow.
"Only if she is provoked. I mean, you have to understand that since we arrived, we have done nothing but antagonize her."
"What about the stones on her body. I observed Quanyin's autopsy reports. She believes they are the reason why Joilee gained such uncanny abilities."
"I am no medical Doctor General; however, I believe they may be causing some mental side effects."
"Explain!"
"I really can't. There is not enough information that was gathered from them. However, if we get Joilee back here and evaluate and study those stones, we might get a possible answer."
"I see!"
"Is that all, General?"
"What about Orlando? How do you feel about him showing admiration to someone who disregards the E.G.C. rule?"
"General, I thought we were here to talk about Joilee."
"We are! Since your husband and Joilee were once engaged."
"That was a long time ago!"
"I find it a disgrace that he showed such compassion to someone who turned their backs on the Hearthtropolian government. It's a disrespect to our standards and, most important, a disrespect to you!"
"Orlando suffered much. I will support my husband by any means."
"Even if it betrays the council."
"To a point, I can remain loyal to both."
"Well, Dr. Yelena, there will be a time you can't have it both ways. You are going to have to one day choose sides.
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 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 talk about how we all can be on the same page and keep this situation with Joilee under control."
"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."
"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 E.G.C officer on the other end. His name is Lt. Major Ivan Volkov. Volkov gives Talbot a salute
"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 territory."
"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 Captain, this mission covert and on a need-to-know basis.