Chapter 2:
“Where is he damnit?”
Adams asked, annoyed.
"In his quarters, most likely sleeping sir."
The security officer replied, looking at the tablet that monitored the crew locations on the ship.
"Well, someone go down and wake him up, I want his ass here in 5 minutes."
Adams was feeling a little on edge, with the sudden appearance of the xenos on the border.
"Aye, sir."
The security officer said, slightly irritated by the Admiral.
"I'll go, better if I wake him."
Said a very large Ape, seemingly unfazed by the whole ordeal and the attitude of the stand-in high admiral. No one protested his decision to wake Mihajlovich up.
Mihajlovich was in his quarters, finally managing to fall asleep after more than thirty hours. Since the war ended, he wasn't the same man, but he refused to leave his ship, or what used to be his ship. His official designation was “sick leave” though the chances of him being put back into active duty practically were zero. Although he still had his rank, all his clearances were removed, well almost. They were removed everywhere except in his fleet that is. They were still active there to an extent. Of course, the admiralty pulled all his clearances in general, but his engineers blocked that order, managing to do a system override. Unwell or not, he was their admiral. After all, they weren't loyal to the admiralty, they were loyal to Mihajlovich alone.
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Admiral Grayback made his way to the officer's deck 01, where the officers with the highest rank had their living quarters. He made his way down the corridor until he reached his destination. “A. Mihajlovich,” it said on the door, the plate with the rank missing below the name.
He sighed and started banging on the door. He really didn't want to wake up his friend. He knew Aleks hardly slept because of the nightmares. He often found him in various states of mental and physical decay. This was his brother after all, the only brother he knows. The two became orphans at the same time practically, growing up together, serving together. They climbed the ranks side by side for decades. He really didn't want to wake up Aleks, but he had to.
But that damn stick-up-the-ass admiral was demanding his presence on the bridge. Gregory hated the admiral, well not him specifically but the admiralty for putting him in charge of the fleet. But that imbecile wanted Aleks on the bridge so here he was, banging on the door like a maniac. He was banging so hard he put a dent in the thing. He wanted to punch something, so the door had to be the victim.
"Come on Aleks, wake up, there's a situation and Mr. 'I command this fleet'," he said in a mocking voice, "demands your presence on the bridge. It's a wonder he can wipe his own ass, Aleks? Shit."
Gregory punched the side panel next to the door, connected his data pad to the security mechanisms, and performed a system override. The door opened, Aleks was clearly passed out, an empty bottle of pills in his hand. Gregory sat down next to his friend, a sad look in his eyes.
"I’m sorry to do this to you old friend, but duty calls."
Gregory took out a stimulant syringe out of his pocket. He hesitated for a moment looking at his best friend, then rammed the syringe into his friend's chest hitting the discharge button.
Aleks’s eyes flew open in shock, and he took a deep breath, trying not to choke.
"WA, WHAT the fuck Megillah! You trying to kill me, there are easier ways to do that you know?" he said, confused, he was still under the influence of the pills he took.
"Sorry Aleks, the err admiral needs you on the bridge, there's been a development."
"Anything fun?" The large Ape grinned, "Maybe, but let's find out."
Mihajlovich put his boots on and grabbed a clean t-shirt from a pile on his chair. It had a large death head on the front, and “reaper” printed on the back. He didn't bother putting on a uniform.
Then he stood up and exited his quarters and made his way to the bridge, Gregory now walking next to him..
