Commander Genys hated these meetings. She always felt that they made her look… less than efficient. Not that there was something about the way she did anything that was less than efficient, it was simply the juxtaposition of her squadron against the other commanders with their Tinarian soldiers. Those recruits had been trained for years and hers, the Yarvans—well there was just a significant difference to account for.
And everyone knew why she had been placed where she had. They knew about her record, they were aware of her achievements. It was supposed to be the highest honor in the Republic Militia to put her over the least trained recruits, but that didn’t stop her from wondering if there was something else going on. Plans seemed to have been changed suspiciously quickly. Also, she couldn’t help but wonder how long it would take the others watching her herd a bunch of greenies before they started to forget why she was put there in the first place.
Genys took a deep breath as she made her way down the old canvas hallway of the Capitol Militia base and set her jaw and eyes hard. She wasn’t intending on letting anyone forget.
The traditional-style tent was set up inside a larger stone structure, a nod to military base-of-command that dated back to the Yarvan Crusades. Genys affixed her ceremonial half-mask and pushed through the main flap. She took her place at the large table with the various other commanders. There was Kager Yiles over squadron B, and Lun Horven over D. Those two had been recruits with her, and they were also the only ones who acknowledged her when she walked in. The meeting was already underway and she didn’t dare apologize for her tardiness. She wished she could though, as it would have allowed her a moment to remind everyone of what she was dealing with. The Yarvans had made her late in leaving camp this morning and it was entirely their fault, but it wasn’t proper to say so. All anyone would see was her showing up late. She didn’t relish that.
“What I’m saying is that Thori has held an alliance with us for the better part of twenty years,” Chancellor Hitten said. The man was scrawny and political and Genys hated him. Probably most of the commanders did, seeing as he was the official representative of the Senate, and therefore what he said was given nearly the same weight as if the senators were here themselves. They—of course—weren't. They never were, and why they never were she couldn’t say.
Events, parties, and public appearances. The Senators were supposed to be shining examples of Tinaria’s democratic glory, but Genys often felt like it was more a bunch of old men and women competing to say the most words with the least amount of meaning.
“I’m not talking about risking any of our alliances,” High General Pyrn said calmly. He was a massive man, but always spoke in the same powerful, controlled tone. “I’m only pointing out that Thori is potentially connected to some concerning moves against the Compact—moves which Tinaria could at least investigate.”
“Moves based on what? Spurious evidence to be sure,” Hitten said dismissively. “The Senate is not in favor of acting on rumors, especially accusatory ones. The Thori Compact has been upheld for generations. Thori is Tinaria’s devoted ally and we have no reason to believe otherwise. I thought we discussed all this last month when we dispelled that rumor about the supposed new rebel leader.”
“If your excellency pleases,” Kager Yiles broke in. “Rumors of the Shadow have been growing. We think it represents a legitimate individual who is proving problematic. And as far as the Thori Compact is involved, the soldier who uncovered the information was one of mine. They were acting undercover in Yarva and brought me the latest report this morning. We suspect some sort of connection. If you’ll just allow me to—”
A young commander, Ufen Lis who oversaw Squadron A, interrupted. “I’ll remind the chancellor that by official order any documents to be treated in this council must be submitted a full half-day in advance.”
Every other commander looked at Ufen. Some hid their distaste better than others, and the half-masks were meant to conceal most expressions, but it was obvious most of them were glowering. If he had seen Genys he would have thought she was willing glitz to blast out of her eyes at him.
Miserable little man. If my mother was Akka Lis I’d have been running the entire Militia by now.
“Commander Lis is correct,” the chancellor said, trying not to look smug. He was the one among them not of the Militia and therefore not wearing a mask. “I assure you on behalf of the entire Senate, we are incredibly interested in your report so long as you submit it through the proper channels.”
“And lose it in mountains of paperwork.”
The entire room went silent.
“What was that Commander Genys?” Hitten asked.
Genys’ eyes widened. She hadn’t realized she said it out loud. She knew everyone was looking her way and it took everything in her to regain composure before she risked looking up at the other commanders. She flipped through options of what she should say, but every moment that passed increased the temperature of her face. She hoped it wasn’t outwardly visible. She was grateful for the half-mask covering her mouth.
“I think what Commander Genys is trying to say,” Lun Horven interrupted, “Is that we’ve all experienced… delays with the official reporting system.” All the other commanders besides Ufen mumbled in agreement.
“With a matter as pressing as this,” General Pyrn said, “I’m certain the Senate would make an exception.”
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Genys tried not to explode. She hated that Lun had spoken for her. Had she waited a single moment longer Genys would have said the same thing, but she didn’t want to feel that way about her. Lun had only been trying to help, and she was the last person Genys wanted to resent. If there was anger she needed to point it in the best direction possible. The Commander blew out a quick breath and turned to look at the chancellor instead. Hitten was very obviously squirming under the prospect of directly negating what the General had said. He certainly wasn’t brave enough for that.
“We read it then,” he said, putting out a thin hand. Commander Yiles quickly brought up the flexible wooden scrolls and placed them in his grip. Hitten snatched them away and began haphazardly thumbing through it all.
“Out loud Chancellor,” Pyrn said gently. “If you would.”
Hitten’s eyes flitted to the massive man quickly before he cleared his throat. “‘Day one—First hour: shipments arrive from seaside to Yarvan city Ullulia. No identification present. Second hour: shipments are tracked back to holding in the center of city where they are stored. Third and Fourth hour: nothing. Fifth hour: shipments are moved to secondary location. Sixth, Seventh and Eigth hours: nothing…’” he stopped a moment. “Does this ‘nothing’ go on for quite a bit longer?” he asked. Pyrn motioned for him to continue and he sighed loudly before doing so.
“‘Ninth hour: shipments are observed opened. Foodstuffs contained. Tenth and Eleventh hours: nothing. Twelfth hour: additional shipments are opened. Clothing items contained. Thirteenth hour: nothing. Fourteenth hour: shipments moved once again to cave outside city. Fifteenth and Sixteenth hours: undercover agent unable to obtain information from inside cave. Seventeeth hour: individuals leave cave with what appear to be weapons hidden under clothing. Eighteenth and Nineteenth hours: nothing. Day two—first hour: All individuals leave cave. upon entering cave crates are found suspected to be those in which shipments arrived. Crates appear to have been burned.’”
Chancellor Hitten looked up at the commanders.
“Well, that’s not a lot is it?” Ufen said.
“Certainly not a cause for alarm,” the chancellor agreed, nodding. He turned to Commander Horven. “This is your evidence?”
“And this,” Lun said, drawing something out from behind her cape and throwing it on the table. It was a charred piece of wood, and on it was clearly the Thori insignia.
Everyone began murmuring quietly. Genys thought she saw General Pyrn smiling under his mask. The chancellor was flustered.
“Even so, even so!” Hitten said, lifting his arms. “It is not sufficient evidence to make any legitimate accusations against a breach in the Compact. Thori trade is common in Yarva, and therefore artifacts of this kind are commonplace.”
“There is clear evidence of contraband,” Lun Horven said. “My sources confirmed multiple Yarvan militant groups likely in possession of Thori weapons.” There were more murmurs before she continued. “We need to send q subsection of squadrons to investigate. I think it’s impossible that Thori—”
Ufen was the one who interrupted her. “Commander, be cautious with your words.”
“Agreed,” Hitten said. “This is not direct evidence of illegal imports. I see merely a Thori shipping container with no connection to glitz-based resources of any kind. Anything else is hearsay. Much like mentions of this ‘Shadow’ character. Suggesting sending a military presence of any substantial size into Yarva would be foolish for a number of reasons.”
“The Yarvans are relatively new to Tinaria,” Commander Tyn over Squadron E said. “It would be foolish to scare them with what would likely be the largest military force to enter Yarva since the crusades.”
“Especially for something so… unconfirmed,” Ufen added, ignoring Commander Horven’s glare.
No one said anything to that. Genys looked from one commander to another and most had averted their gaze, choosing to look at the floor instead of the chancellor’s smugness. When her eyes fell on General Pyrn though, he was already looking straight at her. She tried to look back at him questioningly, but he only nodded and turned to Hitten.
“What about a military presence of a less substantial size?” he asked. The chancellor was obviously confused until everyone in the room turned to look directly at Commander Genys.
“What are you saying, General?” Hitten asked.
“I’m saying we have a very particular situation here,” Pyrn said. “One I think would be foolish to not take advantage of.”
“And what situation is that?” Ufen chimed in. Pyrn simply motioned across the table.
“I think Commander Genys could tell us.”
Genys tried not to look around wildly. This was it, exactly what she had been waiting for, and Pyrn had set it up for her. This was her chance and there wouldn’t be another one like this again. It was unexpected, but she remembered immediately something he had told her a few weeks back when she had first been selected as a commander and asked his advice. He had given her some pointers, and then said something a little more cryptic—
Be ready Jal, I’ll open the way.
“Well,” Genys said. “As you are all aware, I currently lead the new recruits for this season. There happen to be slightly less of these new recruits when compared to other squadrons, and they also happen to be Yarvan.”
It was as if a light had turned on in the room. The other commanders slowly started nodding and looking to one another. It was clicking.
Genys continued. “They speak Yarvan, they know the lay of the land, they’re native, and a good number of them came from Ullulia specifically.”
Ufen threw up his hand to begin to say something but Genys spoke right over him.
“I propose you allow me to take my squadron into Ullulia and investigate the matter. If there is a small threat, we have enough glitz to deal with it quickly. If there is nothing, Tinaria will have simply rewarded our Yarvan soldiers with a trip home. Either way, Tinaria is stronger.”
There was a pregnant silence in the room. Hitten, Ufen, and a few others were squirming, but she could feel Kager Yiles and Lun Horven hiding smiles, and Pyrn as well.
“Genys is one of our most decorated soldiers,” the High General said. “I personally couldn’t think of a better choice to lead such a mission.” He turned back to Chancellor Hitten and laid a meaty hand on the frail man’s shoulder. “And seeing as this now seems a matter of militia organization rather than espionage, I’ll save you the trouble Chancellor by discussing the details directly with the Senate.”
He looked over and said, “Commander Genys of course will join me in doing so.”