George Armstrong Custer was my first and only taste of success, and even he was at best a moderate one. His end came poorly and with controversy, but he was my first host to avoid being forgotten by history. I now knew what other Quasing felt when they had a hand in guiding humanity. It was exhilarating. It had taken me more than eight hundred years to make my first mark, and now I wanted more.
I returned to Europe at the turn of the twentieth century, reinvigorated and eager not only to help the Prophus unwind the trap of political knots the Genjix had woven among the nations, but to seek glory and find success in another host.
The complicated alliances that the Genjix had woven leading up to the Great War were a cascade of disasters waiting to unfold. The first domino piece to fall started with the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, the Archduke of Prussia, incidentally also the host of Baji, the current Keeper of the Prophus.
To Surrett’s credit, he delivered. The 13 PARA Special Forces battalion had rolled into Surat the day after the failed ambush. The morning after that, Lieutenant Colonel Kloos, the battalion commander, had met with Rurik. Fifteen minutes later, he was sent to Shura’s office to deal with the details.
Of course he was.
Shura studied Kloos as he walked into the room and bowed. “Praise to the Holy Ones.”
“Praise to the Holy Ones. Have a seat, colonel.”
Kloos sat down. “If I may, Adonis, it is an honor working alongside the Scalpel. Your achievements in the Middle East and Sweden are celebrated among the unblessed. If you ever do form your own cadre, you would have many volunteers. I would be the first.” He paused. “If you would have–”
Shura cut him off. “Spare me the pandering rhetoric.”
Easy there.
Tabs was right. She was laying the dismissive tone on a bit too strong. She softened, just slightly. “I find private teams wasteful. I prefer subject matter expertise with every assignment as opposed to trying to force resources to adapt to different elements. The only benefit is individual loyalty to a commander, and loyalty is overrated when it comes to a vessel. It only pertains to the Holy Ones and to our standings.”
“Of course,” Kloos replied stiffly.
I believe he was expecting another answer from you, one more effusive.
“I would think less of him if he thinks that way.”
“Tell me, colonel,” she said aloud. “You’ve reviewed the mission objectives with Rurik?”
Kloos nodded. “Four hundred para supported by a thousand police should be sufficient to complete the objective. Crate Town is dense, but as long as we contain the perimeter, it is only a matter of time, Adonis.”
“What do you think of his plan?”
Kloos’s facial expression remained unchanged. He spoke after a small hesitation, in a measured tone. “The population of Crate Town is unknown. Estimates range anywhere from two hundred thousand to half a million people in an approximately six square kilometer area. There are three major roads leading out of the slum and five kilometers of perimeter to patrol, the rest bordering the water. The crux of the strategy will be wholly dependent on two factors: first, containment of the slum, which will be difficult. Second, the temperament of the residents in Crate Town.”
“Very astute, colonel,” she said, “but that isn’t what I asked. If I wanted a briefing on the logistics, I could have just looked at the same data. What are your thoughts on the tactical strategy? You and I must work closely, so speak frankly.”
“Risky,” he admitted. “A door-to-door search may prove problematic considering the population density. The slum is already on edge after the riots over Dumas. The checkpoints that were put up this morning might push tensions to spill over. However, the Adonis has made it clear that the capture of the Prophus Adonis is the primary objective. We do have a limited but sufficient number of Penetra scanners to conduct a thorough search.”
That is an accurate assessment.
“You have reservations, though,” stated Shura.
“If I may,” Kloos said. “I have some recommendations I’d like to offer the Adonis. I believe it will assist us greatly not only in locating the Prophus team hidden in Crate Town, but in mitigating the tension of the local populace.” He pointed at the map of the region on her desk. “Crate Town is divided in a way we can section off–”
Shura held up her hand. “I don’t need to hear it.” She stood up and walked to the window. “Tell me, colonel, does Rurik know who you are?”
“I introduced myself to the Adonis as soon as I arrived.”
“So he met you, gave you your orders, and then shuttled you off to me.”
“That is correct.”
She checked the time. “Let me guess. You two met at the pool while he was swimming laps?”
“That is correct.”
Shura turned and stared Kloos down. To his credit, he didn’t flinch.
You always err on the side of being overly dramatic.
“Lieutenant Colonel Mayur Kloos,” she began. “Decorated with the Maha Vir Chakra for service during the Iranian offensive, a Sarvottam Yudh Seva for the operational evacuation of the Mumbai province, and twice-honored with the Sena Medal for bravery under fire. You are the fifth-highest ranking Genjix operative in the Indian military and the highest still fighting in the field. And you managed all this while outwardly fighting on the wrong side.”
“I wish I could have fought directly for the Holy Ones.”
She shrugged. “It’s easy to point in a direction and fire a gun. It takes skill and finesse to serve the Holy Ones behind enemy lines, and still have the enemy give you medals for it. For the Genjix, you were responsible for assassinating General Pratik Patel and General Gokul Avninder, the latter a Prophus vessel. You were vital in crushing the Myanmar resistance two days after the enemy had swept in and retaken Thailand. You bought enough time for our Chinese forces to establish a new front line to stem our losses.”
“You’ve read my entire file.”
“Your mother was a politician in India, your father a business mogul. Both were very successful and influential in the government and in business, yet you enlisted under a pseudonym. You are beloved by the majority of your men, with a reputation for being tough yet fair, and you have slowly nurtured a fanaticism for the Special Forces that are sympathetic to the Genjix cause.
“The hierarchy is also in the midst of maneuvering a promotion for you to colonel that will hand you command of the entire Para branch. You are also on several shortlists to become a vessel for several high-ranking Holy Ones once India joins the Genjix.” She paused. “Is that in your file as well?”
Kloos looked thoughtful. “No, no, it is not.”
Shura went back to her seat and leaned forward. “I do know all about you, Colonel Kloos. I would never accept you into my cadre because I believe you are destined for greater things for the Holy Ones than simply carrying out my commands. So…” She put her hand on the map and slid it off to the side. “Here’s my advice to you. Adonis Rurik is trying to establish his credentials in the field. I suggest you follow his orders to the letter.”
Kloos nodded. “And if I don’t, Adonis?”
“Your choices will be remembered, colonel, by someone who makes a point to know names and deeds and loyalties. Or perhaps by someone who doesn’t, who only cares about achieving personal goals. Change is coming to India. Good officers will be needed to rule. Officers who are vessels to be elevated to positions of power and influence in order to best serve the Holy Ones.”
“I see.” Kloos stood up and bowed. “I beg your leave, but I have much to do over the next few days. Adonis Rurik has ordered the perimeter of the slum reinforced by tonight. He wants to start conducting Penetra sweeps within the next two days. I need to review his tactical plan and see if there are any necessary modifications. I believe, however, his plan is fundamentally sound.”
“You have my leave, colonel. Good hunting.”