Classified, Imperial Intelligence Agency HQ, Tortsin

  July 28th, 2505

  “I believe a congratulations is in order, Agent. You and your team managed to capture a sizable number of Crimson Iron and Sons of Tortsin operatives

  Raven cracked a smile in her formal uniform, and locked her eyes at the office room of Operations Director Mikael Andreas. She is in the classified sector of the IIA HQ. And fittingly enough, the interiors were was designed to be sterile and inconspicuous, leaving an impression that it was designed as habitats for scientists and their labs. And Director Andreas’ office was no exception

  Neither her teammates nor her sister were called in for the debriefing, thus it was only Raven by herself.

  “I couldn’t have done it all by my own, sir.” Raven said. Andreas chuckled, “Of course, that Ranger made quite an impression, hasn’t she?”

  Oh, she did Raven mused. “Do we have to worry about news reports, sir?”

  Andreas shook his head, “All the news would say is it a black bag op by IIA turned into an intense firefight, leaving a number of suspects dead. Nevertheless, dozens of suspects were captured and sent to prison as a life sentence. A fitting punishment for their terror attacks against the good people of Tortsin.”

  Raven wanted to protest the notion that her people would see violence in their homeland as a regular occurrence, but there were other concerns in her mind. “Sir, there’s something you should know…”

  Andreas narrowed his eye, “Go on.”

  “We intercepted comms that there are other Crimson Iron cells working within Tortsin and our Imperial borders. Not only that, there’s rumors that some of our government officials are working in Crimson Iron’s interests, including Charybdis Group.”

  Raven stood stoically, and waited to hear more.

  Director Andreas stood up from his chair, and looked intently at the Agent. “Your concern over Crimson Iron’s activities on our borders are sound. However, the notion that some of our leaders are working for the enemy, including an enigmatic shadowy group that not many people know about? We can’t act on that prematurely. This would compromise not only the Bureau, but the Agency as well.” Raven flicked her eyes left and right.

  “Maybe so, but no government is immune to corruption. If there’s any chance that our home is in danger, we must do something about it. We can’t pretend everything is fine.”

  Andreas’s expression was cold, and looked at the Agent intently. “Do you have any evidence about all of this, Agent?”

  Raven sighed, “No, not yet. It’s only a feeling at the moment.”

  She looked down for a moment, then focused her eyes on the Operations Director. He was in his 50s, fair skin, silver streaking through his dark hair, and wore white and blue shirt-vest and dark blue pants.

  Andreas sighed, “In that case, there’s nothing to act on this until there’s solid proof. If there’s nothing else, you are dismissed.” He goes back to sit on his chair. Raven nodded, and left his office.

  When she left his office, Andreas looked around. Aside from his desk and couch, he took a look at a shelf where he kept books and some memorabilia he left on the shelf’s roof.

  As he sat back on his chair, he took the phone from his desk.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Cafe, Haig District, Tortsin

  July 29th, 2505

  Ranger Hawk wore a dark blue shirt with a leather jacket and green sweatpants, and looked more of like a civilian, sitting in a cafe.

  After the mission was done, she told her sister Anya aka “Raven” that she recorded a conversation between a Crimson Iron and Sons of Tortsin operatives when she intercepted her comms. When Raven asked how she managed to record that conversation, she replied via advanced comms interception module in her armor. Which was a bluff, of course. Better that Aquila is kept secret for now.

  Given the fact that Crimson Iron have other cells working secretly in Tortsin and any colonies within the Imperium’s territories, Hawk believed that that some Imperial officials are working with Crimson Iron, and that the Tortsinan Empire is compromised.

  Of course, there was that mystery about Charybdis. Hawk heard that name a few years ago, but she couldn’t recall what or who they are. Like a memory that only tells fragments.

  Before Anya “Raven” was sent to debrief, Hawk told her to lie to Operations Director Mikael Andreas, that she doesn’t have proof. Hawk couldn’t help but think there’s a conspiracy that goes deep in the higher echelon of Tortsinan Empire.

  While drinking her favorite beverage; hot chocolate, Hawk felt a buzz and took out a pager from her pocket. She saw numbers that are coordinates for an alleyway southside from the cafe. She put the money on the bill and got up to leave. After a few minutes from walking, Hawk made it to the alleyway. She heard footsteps, then looked at who was coming. Beige shirt with a longcoat, dark pants, and unmistakably the facial characteristics of Anya Hawkins. Black hair and brown skin. But unlike her siblings, Anya’s eye color was blue.

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  “Kate.” Anya called out.

  “Anya.” Kate called in return.

  “I lied to the operations director. He doesn’t suspect anything, at least I hope so.” Anya remarked.

  “Good. Anything else?” Kate asked.

  “On one hand, I think you’re acting paranoid. On the other hand, maybe you’re right on this whole conspiracy and think it’s best to keep it discreet. You wouldn’t have a copy of the recording on a thumb drive, would you?”

  Kate took a thumb drive from her pocket and gave it to Anya. “However you act on this, it’s up to you. But it’d be preferable to have people you can trust. Anyone in mind?”

  Anya took a moment to think on that, then remembered the years she was mentored by Kyla Weber during her intensive training in the Special Service Bureau. Last time she could remember, Weber retired 3 years ago and haven’t been seen since. No contact, no calls, nothing.

  “My mentor, Kyla Weber. But she ‘retired’ three years ago and haven’t seen her since. Gun to my head, I’d say she was sent to an SSB blacksite.”

  Kate sighed, “Anyone else?”.

  Anya tried to think of someone else who could help, then she remembered “Fredir’Vern. Versunen ex-SSB technician. Last I heard, he was offering his technical services to criminal syndicates in Abaddon Station. And last time I recall, no SSB operative is allowed in Abaddon.”

  “I can work that out.” Kate remarked, and Anya cracked a smile

  “I know we’re still talking business. And feel free to punch me in the face for asking this… how’s the family?” Anya asked, and anticipated whether her sister would answer or punch her in the face.

  Kate sighed and rubbed her eyes, “Haven’t talked to the old man for 6 years. Still pissed at him for lying about you. Mom is doing relatively fine. Maya is still a wreck when I talked to her 4 months ago. Music career is in jeopardy and she’s coping with alcohol and drugs.”

  “Logan is doing great as an artist and is working on his own original comic.”

  “River still suffers from his episodes, but he’s taking steps.”

  “Alison is starting out her career in visual design. Alexis and Kyle, my youngest brother and sister, are still in the house, caring for mom. But Anya…”

  “What?” Anya asked.

  “They still miss you. We all miss you. Maya blamed herself for years for losing you. Hell, she still does. I know you think growing up with us, being bullied and mistreated for being born out of wedlock was living hell for you. But we still loved you. We cared for you.”

  Anya was holding out her emotions. “I know that, Kate. I truly do. But I can’t just leave. I have a home here.” Anya brought her left hand to Kate, which had a ring on her fourth finger. “I have a husband. Two daughters. Surely you understand that.”

  Kate understood clearly. She had Ahmed, her husband, and one kid; her son David, only 2 years old. “I do, which is I’m not asking you to come back to Primoor. I’m asking you to at least send a message to our family. Let them know you’re alive. Doesn’t have to be a call.”

  Anya looked down, and took her moment to process. In the Imperium, in the SSB, she has a purpose and meaning. She has a family, But with the conspiracy lying ahead, she cannot risk danger for her loved ones.

  Anya faced up to Kate. “If I send them a message, it could be intercepted and used as leverage against me. How about an encrypted message with a cipher?”

  Kate thought about this. It’s true, the conspirators could intercept the message if Anya sent it via Pathfinder, the galaxy-wide network that a lot of citizens in the Milky Way use. An encrypted message locked with a cipher would be more secure.

  “Alright, you can do that when you have time for it. In the meantime…” Kate brought Anya for a hug. “I missed you, Anya.”

  Anya was surprised, but she let the warmness in. “Missed you too, Kate.”

  They both let go and walked together outside the alleyway “What about your friend, T?” Anya asked.

  “Grim? She’s doing great. She’s in some classified planet in the Imperium’s territories doing what she does best. Chaos and Containment. Lucky.” Kate answered.

  “She?” Anya was confused.

  “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” Kate teased. There was still one more question in Anya’s mind. “Given your assignment has finished here, will your superiors assign you elsewhere?”

  Kate smiled, “My current assignment is far from over, Anya. There’s still a few, if not dozens of Crimson Iron cells, in Tortsin. And I intend to spring them out.”

  Anya chuckled, “Ah, yeah. Can’t have those assholes fabricate Imperium serial numbers and use em on their PK-N payloads on your FDA colonies.”

  “Yep. And the whole Charybdis business. My money bets they’re a shadowy group of some kind, and we need to know who they are. So unless Command calls me up for emergency, I’m still here till September. Sorry, Anya, but you’re gonna have to suffer with me.” Kate teased.

  “Suffer? With you? Hah. Far from it.” Anya reciprocated. The sisters are glad to have each other for now.