Admiral Harket sat at his desk going through various datapads filled with requison requests and deployment orders when the intercom on his desk sprung to life.

"Admiral the Foxkin ambassador is here to see you." Harket gave a heavy sigh and made a mental note to have a word with his secretary about using such derogatory terms when referring to the Frayin Ambassador, before asking her to show the Ambassador in.

A few moments later a short, young, and rather beautiful looking woman, who looked to be in her mid twenties entered the room. She had long golden blond hair and blue eyes and would be easily mistaken as a human if not for a set fox ears atop her head and her matching tail, both the same golden blond as her hair. He had been rather shocked when he first met her and was told she was over two hundred and fifty years old. A number that is shocking enough before you converted it from the four hundred and ten day years that the Frayins used to the Terrains three hundred and sixty five day a year.

Standing up from his desk to greet her. He gave her a wiry smile and asked "Ambassador Siva, what can I do for you?" Trying his best to convey that he was incredibly busy and didn't have time for a long conversation while trying to not actually say so. The last time he had actually said he was too busy to talk long she had given him an incredibly sad look that had given him the impression that he had just beat a dog and they ended up idly chatting about various little things for the next six hours. It had taken him the better part of a month to catch up on all his work, and that was with the help of the Ambassador's assistant who had been sent to help after she had realized just how much trouble she had caused.

Admiral Harket returned to his seat as Siva sat down across from him. Her sharp eyes looked over the various items strolled across the desk before she let out a slight giggle.

"It seems they have you as busy as ever. As such I shall try to keep my meeting here brief if that's not too much trouble."

"Thank you and if there is anything I can do to repay you just let me know." As soon as he had spoken he knew he had just screwed up. As Siva's mouth curved into a sly smile as if she knew she had caught him. "Well then perhaps we can have dinner the next day you are free." The request if you could call it that left the Admiral feeling a little uneasy. Not because he found the idea of having dinner with a beautiful young woman objectionable but to put it plainly; for a human it just felt a little off to have a women who looked young enough to be his daughter, yet was actually older than him, to be so brazen in her attempt to form a relationship.

Just as he was recovering from the mild shock Siva's expression changed from that of a young school girl who had just tricked her crush into going on a date, to that of an experienced and well trained diplomat who had something gravely important to discuss. "Right. As you are aware, a large number of Frayins have moved onto Terra's orbital ring, Torus Station"

"Ah yes, I believe it was some six hundred and twenty three at the moment currently housed in section one twenty-six B." As he spoke he picked up one of the nearby datapads to confirm the most recent count.

"Yes those would be the ones. Colson has done a splendid job so far but between his personal duties and the sheer number of confrontations and incidents he can't keep up with everything. So the Imperial Navy would like to place a training squadron on Torus station. The squadron would also act as a liaison squadron and help deal with all the incidents involving Frayins in the system."

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

At this point she delicately picked out three of the datapads and held them up. "Which should significantly reduce the amount of work you would have to do."

Admiral Harket looked at the three datapads filled with reports and complaints regarding Frayins and sighed. "So why are you coming to me shouldn't you bring this to Ambassador Rothchester?" Personally it sounded like a good idea but this was definitely something that should be approved by the Terran Federation Senate and not some Admiral. Just by looking at her he couldn't figure out what she was up to. It was a common problem when dealing with Frayin. In the end it normally turned out to be direct with one’s questions rather than try and beat around the Bush looking for something to explain as to why they were doing something. Even still he was a little surprised at the answer he got.

"Oh I already asked."

The look of shock and confusion on his face must have been fairly evident as Siva broke into another sly smile almost like a cat that had just caught a mouse and continued her explanation. "After some debate it was decided that the final decision would be left up to you. As the squadron would be under your command. So I just simply asked if I could be the one to ask for your decision on the matter." At this she batted her eyes and gave the Admiral a look as if saying look how smart I am.

After taking a moment to recover. He reached over and pressed the button on the intercom. "Sadie, cancel the rest of my meetings for the day."

For the next five hours he and Siva went over all the details. Any meeting that he could miss being there in person he sent an aid, any that he couldn't he had Ambassador Rothchester attend for him. He would get some flak for doing this but this was important and he was actually the only person who could make the decision that had to be made.

In the end it was decided that Lieutenant Colson would be promoted to a 1st Lieutenant in the Frayin Imperial Navy, having a single Frayin officer of their choosing placed directly under him. The officer in question had apparently already been chosen. Then the cadets would be a mixture of Federation and Imperial academy cadets all chosen by Lieutenant Colson. With approval of each cadet following standard procedures. Do to safety concerns the squadron would have a personalized uniform designed that both Admiral Harket and Ambassador Siva had agreed would be acceptable for both the Federation and the Empire. The uniforms were ordered immediately and without review from either Navy. The decision was made that the squadron would be given a full set of Terrain TR 36 multi-roll fighters and a single dual use Frayin Precarin assault shuttle with optional torpedo bomber conversation capabilities. Each pilot would also receive a modified phase pistol that used the much better Frayin power packs. Finally, after all the details had been put in order, there was only one last thing to decide, the squadron's name and call sign.

Both Harket and Siva leaned back in their chairs. Hours had passed since they had started and they were both mentally and physically exhausted. "So all that's left is the name." Siva just sat there staring at the ceiling for a moment before reaching over and punching something into the datapad they had been working on. She then handed it back while getting up. She yawned as she stretched. Then turned and walked to the door. Harket just sat there and watched as her tail swade back and forth as she walked. When she reached the door she pressed the open button and turned back and said "Now remember you promised we would have dinner together the next day you were off." Loud enough to ensure that his secretary had heard and understood her.

For a moment Harket thought about arguing with her about it but having considered all the decisions he and Siva had just unilaterally made that both governments were just going to have to live with. He decided it was just as fair. Look back down at the datapad she had handed back to him. He read the name she had punched in and laughed. Of all the names she could have picked. On the line Stating the squadron's name it read Fox Squadron.