Auslan Empire, Military Department.
Angsi looked at Ruka sitting at the desk, his expression filled with worry.
He had never seen the Colonel looking so haggard.
The man in front of him wore a somewhat wrinkled white shirt, sleeves rolled up to the elbows, two buttons carelessly undone at the collar, a cigarette held between his fingers. His once sharply defined jaw was now covered in stubble, and his eyes, previously firm and cold, were filled with exhaustion.
The ashtray in front of him was full of cigarette butts, like a beach after high tide spread with silvery fish, the crumpled butts almost spilling out.
"Colonel, you should stop waiting. The Federation has already responded clearly, they won't allow you to go to Soter."
"Has there been any news from the first group that was sent?"
