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151. Grim Business


Deep beneath the Halls of Enterprise on Aglostarros, there is a chamber that predates the Coreworlds Conglomerate itself. This room of yellow, peeling walls and benches permanently bowed under the weight of obsolete machines is simply named the War Room, for its sole purpose is the grim business of warfare. Here, amidst ancient dust, the Conglomerate’s leaders discuss their opening moves against the Empire of the Queil.

“It’s been forty-eight hours since our declaration,” Executive Minister Lenthe began curtly, “and there has been no response or acknowledgement.”

“Are they ignoring us?” Defence Minister Arn pondered. “Perhaps they don’t find us credible.”

“Or they want us to act first,” countered the stony-faced Taro Kell, admiral of the Conglomerate’s modest starship flotilla, “to show they were provoked.” At this, the staff in the War Room shared a grave look. They had all been briefed on the weaponry the Queils were developing.

Minister Lenthe gave a long-suffering sigh, and with renewed determination stated, “Our priority is still recovering the Fortitude and her crew.” Gesturing to a highlighted area of the map projected between them, she looked to Admiral Kell. “Move squadrons to the Illal Strait and be ready to deploy the moment we locate her.” To Intelligence Minister Antra, she added, “I want a listening buoy with them. Something we can leave behind without them noticing.” The two nodded confirmation.

“Get our folks back, quick and clean, and we’ll be halfway to victory already,” Lenthe concluded, adding a confident smile she didn’t feel.

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