6. 7. 8. Kline increased the treadmill’s speed. His hazel eyes focused on his room’s display screen. Two headlines stuck out:
Global Gazette: XLS party gaining ground despite “extremist” label.
Federalist News: Union blames XLS propaganda for another riot-related death.
A chime. “Captain Bashui Lee,” announced the female voice. Kline slowed.
“Admit.”
The door slid open. Bashui Lee sauntered into the room. Sharp features. Lean build. Cunning and driven. Former war hero. Now, captain of XLS Phase Travel Operations.
“Evening, Marcus. Up for a walk?”
Kline stepped off the treadmill. Wiped sweat off his brow. Nodded. They headed toward the briefing room.
“Any news on Randolph?”
“Not yet,” said Lee. “He doesn’t know enough to be dangerous.”
“He lost it. Almost got me killed. Nearly jeopardized the mission. He’s a fanatic. He doesn’t belong here.”
“So you’ve said. He had been a good soldier up until Los Alamos. His brother was killed by a Union police unit during a protest outside Sydney the day before you transferred. Wrong place, wrong time. Eric must have heard right before you two left.”
Kline stopped. “I’m sorry for his loss. But I won’t work alongside extremists, Captain.”
“You won’t have to. Next mission’s a solo shot.” Lee entered the briefing room. “The doodles that you brought back from Los Alamos sparked some creative thinking in Tactical Sciences. Rahul Banerjee really was onto something. Tactical claims they can build a device that’ll cloak a small city.”
Lee flipped a switch. Holographic blueprints appeared over the briefing room table.
“Operation Yamato–”
“Launched this morning. Our best chance of crippling the Union and allowing the Xi’an Liberation Society to become a true player in world politics starts now. Soon as the cloaking device is ready the excavation team will transfer out. It will be the largest phase travel operation we’ve ever put together.”
“Which means–”
“You’re headed to Dallas.” Lee grinned.
Our first glimpse into the present day, XLS headquarters on earth’s moon. We also get to meet Kline’s boss, Bashui Lee. These last two episodes fling us into the main plotline.
As an aside, the name Yamato does have some significance. What kind? Well…you’ll see.