11-05-2014, 07:54 PM
His staff filtered a world's worth of information on a minute by minute basis. By the time Nikolai walked the halls of the Kremlin, he was presented with only the most important sliver updates. At present, those updates were being given by his deputy consul, Viktor Stepanovich. The man was sharp, as usual. Nikolai expected nothing less.
"There was a small change to your schedule today, Ascendancy."
Viktor offered up a viewing of two Chinese Brigadier generals. "Consul Klimeš will be arriving at 30-after the hour to update you on overnight intel regarding change in Chinese military staff. Two nuclear commanders from Pingquan air force base were terminated last night, and a research scientist at micro-nuclear propulsion was found dead this morning. Consul Klimeš believes it is related to yesterday's leak out of Pingquan."
Nikolai frowned. Yesterday he had been dealing with Valdir, fielding updates on this potential situation from the air there and back again. Yesterday, leaks from Pingquan Air Base hinted at a complex subterranean military system thought only to be myth. Today two high-ranking officers were terminated. Which, to the Chinese, meant the Generals and every member of their immediately family were going to disappear.
"Very well. Thank you, Viktor. Anything else?"
"Tazmine tells me the Sigma is waiiting on you,"
Viktor replied, almost after-the-fact.
Nikolai hadn't forgotten the summons. Ten minutes to deal with Marcus was not going to be enough. Then again, he knew within minutes how to handle Valdir.
As soon as Nikolai entered the main hub of the Executive Offices, staffers came to their feet. He shared good-mornings and Happy New Year's greetings with those he passed most closely. Tazmine, the staffer that Viktor mentioned, seemed ready to burst with child. Although Marcus was nearby, whose eye Nik briefly caught, he paused to speak with her instead. "Good morning, Tazmine. I hope you and Colson are well."
The staffer laid a hand on her bulging belly and smiled fondly. "Of course we are Ascendancy. I half hoped he would come yesterday, but it seems he is holding out for '46."
Nikolai chuckled and wished her well before continuing on.
Viktor caught sight of Marcus and split away for the time being, but the two Barrier agents remained in Nikolai's shadow as he headed for his office.
Nik did not miss a step as they passed Marcus. He waved that he should follow. "Come in, Marcus. We will chat."
He led them into the office of fame and power. This was the room that served as backdrop to Nikolai's many addresses to the world.
He seated himself behind the desk, flicking apart the button of his suit-coat as he did. The two Agents positioned themselves outside the door. Which left Marcus to seal them inside, seemingly alone. The Ascendancy's presence, like his attire, was formal rather than rigid, his bearing regal. The points of the Arcus band touched the sides of his temples and a hawk-like gaze settled itself onto Marcus.
"Lets hear your story, Marcus. Not the one on your application. Your other one."
Nik did not need to demonstrate to communicate what he meant.
"There was a small change to your schedule today, Ascendancy."
Viktor offered up a viewing of two Chinese Brigadier generals. "Consul Klimeš will be arriving at 30-after the hour to update you on overnight intel regarding change in Chinese military staff. Two nuclear commanders from Pingquan air force base were terminated last night, and a research scientist at micro-nuclear propulsion was found dead this morning. Consul Klimeš believes it is related to yesterday's leak out of Pingquan."
Nikolai frowned. Yesterday he had been dealing with Valdir, fielding updates on this potential situation from the air there and back again. Yesterday, leaks from Pingquan Air Base hinted at a complex subterranean military system thought only to be myth. Today two high-ranking officers were terminated. Which, to the Chinese, meant the Generals and every member of their immediately family were going to disappear.
"Very well. Thank you, Viktor. Anything else?"
"Tazmine tells me the Sigma is waiiting on you,"
Viktor replied, almost after-the-fact.
Nikolai hadn't forgotten the summons. Ten minutes to deal with Marcus was not going to be enough. Then again, he knew within minutes how to handle Valdir.
As soon as Nikolai entered the main hub of the Executive Offices, staffers came to their feet. He shared good-mornings and Happy New Year's greetings with those he passed most closely. Tazmine, the staffer that Viktor mentioned, seemed ready to burst with child. Although Marcus was nearby, whose eye Nik briefly caught, he paused to speak with her instead. "Good morning, Tazmine. I hope you and Colson are well."
The staffer laid a hand on her bulging belly and smiled fondly. "Of course we are Ascendancy. I half hoped he would come yesterday, but it seems he is holding out for '46."
Nikolai chuckled and wished her well before continuing on.
Viktor caught sight of Marcus and split away for the time being, but the two Barrier agents remained in Nikolai's shadow as he headed for his office.
Nik did not miss a step as they passed Marcus. He waved that he should follow. "Come in, Marcus. We will chat."
He led them into the office of fame and power. This was the room that served as backdrop to Nikolai's many addresses to the world.
He seated himself behind the desk, flicking apart the button of his suit-coat as he did. The two Agents positioned themselves outside the door. Which left Marcus to seal them inside, seemingly alone. The Ascendancy's presence, like his attire, was formal rather than rigid, his bearing regal. The points of the Arcus band touched the sides of his temples and a hawk-like gaze settled itself onto Marcus.
"Lets hear your story, Marcus. Not the one on your application. Your other one."
Nik did not need to demonstrate to communicate what he meant.