When I got the ssage from Polly early in the morning, I didn’t hesitate to launch myself out of bed and et her at headquarters.
She was standing at her desk, insignia pinched between two fingers, a small smile on her face.
I approached and saluted.
“Good morning, madam.”
“Good morning, Cooper. Ready to beco a Captain?”
“I’ve been waiting my whole life for this mont.”
“How dramatic.”
She rolled her eyes before reaching out and plucking off the insignia from my fatigues, pinning the three silver bars of Captain on my shoulder.
“Congratulations, Cooper. You’ve completed the easy part. Now, you get to work through the bullshit. I know you’re looking to speed through the ranks and you’ve certainly demonstrated how smart you are. I didn’t find a single wrong answer on your test, and I’ve never seen soone cite the exact lines out of the books their answers ca from. With those smarts, getting to Lieutenant Colonel won’t be difficult at all for you.”
“I appreciate the praise.”
“But the issue is ti. I’m a Colonel who parses Scourge activity in the region utilizing even the smallest details from reports that co in every day, from patrols to missions. I’ve been stationed here for 13 years, seen thousands co and go, and hundreds die on missions I’ve given them. By now I should be a Major General. And yet I still sit here as a Colonel, collecting reports and analyzing them, reporting to the Marshal whenever she calls. Do you know why that is?”
“No ma’am.”
I didn’t even try to guess. I really didn’t know why she was still in this position.
Polly planted herself in her chair and leaned back.
“It’s because summoners like to build ladders with overcomplicated regulations before kicking them out from underneath them. Being the weakest of the Magi, once they get a little taste of power and superiority, they hold on to it with a death grip and never let go. They’re scared shitless of anybody pushing in and intruding upon their slice of authority, giving excuses like how they’ve ‘already filled all their positions’ and how introducing another Brigadier General will only ‘create tensions that disrupt the harmony of the chain of command’. And since the cowardly bastards never die off in battle and never retire, there’s no chance of things changing.”
“Oh…”
“Indeed. Intelligence is their one asset and they know how to use it. Anyway, my point in telling you this is that you’re going to have to prove yourself. I’ve talked to Pollux. I’ve seen your performance at your Magisterium tournant. I have a pretty good grasp on your attitude. And now you’ve proven how smart you can be. You’ve also got a Marshal on your side. You’ve got loads of assets to be used to your advantage, so long as you’re given the chance to exercise your abilities in the first place. And I’m here to say that I’m going to give you that chance. Follow.”
Polly stood and walked off. I followed behind as she led to a big war room.
There wasn’t anybody inside. The walls were plastered with maps, markers, and movents. There were dozens of reports scattered on the table, loosely organized by date and location.
“I’ve heard about you guys. The Calamity Class. It’s amazing to think that you actually ca face to face with the King of Anarchy and survived. That day, we ca under siege ourselves. Thankfully, we had a Sovereign here. They’ve since been relocated, but we thankfully haven’t had a need for them. The pressure has been mounting though. We’ve had more activity in the past month than we’ve had in the year before Anarchy. I feel like you have a more intimate grasp on this than most, because either you’re very lucky or skilled to co out of what you did alive. ”
“Hm.”
I recalled mories of that day against Anarchy. Everything seed to have happened in no ti at all, yet every second was acutely seared into my mind.
Polly continued, looking toward the maps.
“Whatever it is, you’re going to start helping . I have two other Colonels and a dozen intelligence personnel working almost everyday to help synthesize information from reports. The Scourge is coming down harder, getting smarter. We have to step up. The war we fight here at Stronghold Charlie is a war of information. I frankly have no idea how we’ve survived this long, given that we’re sorely lacking personnel in all departnts, but so far I’ve managed to keep us winning. The Marshal knows this, which is why I’m the highest sitting Intelligence agent in this Stronghold. And now, you’re going to be another asset. Not just a thinker behind a desk like the rest of us, but one that can actually step onto the field and give us information from a perspective that soone like Pollux can’t. But before doing that, you’re going to need to understand how our tactics work. Then, you’re going to have to study our recent history, understand the war as it was, and as it is now, before contributing to its future. Which brings us here.”
Polly reached out, setting an Orb in front of on the nearby table.
“This Orb contains four books. morizing them will technically be enough for you to reach Colonel. I’ll give them to you and then expedite you through to the rank of Colonel, given enough ti. You’ll get the speedy promotions you want and you’ll get so preferential treatnt around here. You’ll be one of mine, after all.”
“... And?”
I raised my brow. As I listened, I realized that this was a deal being offered. I was quite interested.
Polly smiled.
“In exchange, everything you do here, all your contributions, your accolades, will fall under my na. This is my initiative. A new war is coming, and I don’t plan to remain a Colonel for much longer. I’m already prid to beco a Brigadier General because there were a few that died at Purple Sky. I’ve been ready to take their place for a long ti now. And Brigadier General is just the first step. However, I need to impress so people. Which is why my na has to be at the top. My other two Colonels already understand this. And if you help as much as I think you can, not only will my job be easier, but I’ll know just who to take up there with when I climb. Your promotions will co as easy as breathing with my na behind it. And barriers, like access to these books, will be a nonexistent issue.”
She twirled the Orb on the table, satisfied with her explanation.
A mutually beneficial cooperation agreent. In exchange for all my achievents being tossed under her resu, including the help that only I could give, I’d be on the fast track to Colonel. I wouldn’t stand out nearly as much, probably fading into the background as Polly received praise for all the things I did. But promotions, things that often took years for intelligence personnel to get, would co as quickly as I could get them.
She had already done it with two others apparently. My imdiate thoughts weren’t opposed. But when I thought about my goals and whether this lined up with them, I voiced my concern.
I looked her in the eye, no longer addressing her like a soldier, but on equal grounds. This was a negotiation, sowhat.
“I have one concern, Colonel Polly.”
“Yes?”
“You see, I made a deal with so friends, those of my prior squad, before we entered the military. We all plan on getting much stronger than we are, and to so extent our rise is almost guaranteed. They’re so of the most talented of the Magisterium, and although I often question it, I’ve co to realize that my talent and the foundations of my power will facilitate my growth well beyond average. And if you know who the Marshal behind is and why they’re there, then you’ll know the kind of people I’m talking about.”
“I assud as much, though you two seem to be closer than what a few moving pictures might suggest.”
“To the great displeasure of many nobles, we are. It also ans that I never foresaw any issues getting the recognition I needed to co into contact with a certain group of people. And if you take all my accolades, then I’m afraid I may not fulfill my end of the deal with my squad, for I will remain unseen.”
“... And what group of people might that be?”
She asked curiously, making smile.
“Special Operations.”
“Oh? You and your friends have quite an ambition.”
“A natural consequence of what we’ve been through.”
“... I understand. Good thing for you, I know so people.”
She smiled, picking up the Orb.
“I’ve been here for 13 years, and there has been no shortage of individuals who have co and gone from this place after being scouted by Special Operations. I happen to know the recruiter, since I chewed him out after he took a batch of my talented Snow Doves. So if that's your goal, I can certainly facilitate the transfer. Only after you’ve t his standards, of course. I can’t do anything for you if he simply refuses to take you.”
“That would be my fault for underperforming. So long as he’s made properly aware of my capabilities.”
“Which I can assure you of. Your performance in combat is yours alone. What I want from you is that strong mind inside your head, as well as the fruit it bears. And there’s no reason why I can’t help that recruiter understand your value beyond combat as well. So long as I get to where I need to go, I’ll promise that, as long as you’re capable, I’ll pave the way toward your goals. My contacts run deep, Cooper. Know that.”
“...”
I smiled. This woman, as unassuming as she looked, was quite the scher. This was a glimpse of the world of summoners, a battlefield of cunning and subterfuge. Like politics on crack.
I didn’t think I was quite cut out for that world. I didn’t like playing mind gas. Which was why I wasn’t bothered by my intellectual achievents being owned by Polly. My goals lay elsewhere.
Once we managed to bring the squad back together, there’d be nothing to stop us. And who knew? Years down the line, Polly might turn out to be an important ally.
This was a great opportunity, even if I had to sacrifice so things. Besides, if it really ca down to it, there were so people I could call to get out, and I’d just make my na big sowhere else. I seed to be good at that.
I put out my hand for a shake. Polly grinned, dropping her terser negotiation smile, and clasped my hand with hers, Orb between our palms.
“You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours.”
“That’s an interesting phrase. Quite fitting. I’m not one to disappoint those who help , Cooper. I need friends and allies, and the more powerful they are, the more we all benefit. Besides, the more power us summoners have, the more control we’ll have over the battlefield and the soldiers on them. I don’t plan to get overrun like Purple Sky, so this is both a war for benefits and survival.”
“Indeed. Have the recent battles here been that bad?”
“They’re escalating, and if we aren’t proactive, it’ll quickly get out of hand. Absorb the information in the Orb. Take the ti to really understand it all. After that, I’ll start teaching you about the war we fight in here. Before all that though, go see Pollux. He has your Sergeant insignia. I heard you were particularly outstanding at the Treehouse. He told to send you to him when you were ready.”
“Understood.”
I took the Orb, stashing it away, then delivered a salute.
The deal was made. Now I just needed to do my part.
After leaving headquarters I went to go find Pollux. He was in the rec room, enjoying a drink at the bar.
I slipped in and sat down beside him, remaining silent as he took another sip.
Once done, he set down the Sergeant insignia on the bar top, sliding over the three stripes.
“Congratulations, Sergeant Cooper.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Keep this up and it won’t be long before I have to give you your own squad. I’ll give it three years for you to hit First Sergeant.”
“Hoh, I’m not sure, sir. My current goal is to hit Authority Seven in three years.”
“That’s awfully ambitious.”
“Well what about you, sir? Where do you see yourself in a few years?”
I plucked the insignia while asking, swapping out my corporal rank.
Pollux just chuckled.
“Heh, you ask that like I’m young.”
“Who said our elders can’t have goals and ambitions?”
“You calling old, Sergeant?”
“Not a chance, sir.”
“Hm. Hopefully in a handful of years I’ll still be kicking like I am now. This is an unforgiving war, and it’s getting worse by the day. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Scourge cos marching through those gates tomorrow with a million-strong army.”
“Well, that’s dreary.”
Pollux downed the last of his drink.
“Pessimism, and generally expecting the worst, is how I’ve survived this long.”
“Well, I can’t say I haven’t adopted a similar mindset. Hopefully I’ll get to the point where I can do sothing about it before that happens though.”
“If you can hide from Royals in plain sight, you’ll have a better chance than most.”
“Hm, speaking of, mind if I test out my stealth on you?”
“On ?”
He glanced over at with a peculiar eye as I stood.
I smiled.
“Just sit down there and keep your focus on . Don’t let vanish in your eyes.”
“Alright.”
He nodded and swiveled to face head on. Then, I let out a long breath.
White fog spread out from my person, obscuring Pollux’s view, as well as the sightlines of all those around us in the rec room. I felt several eyes fall on .
And then, I disappeared with the fog. I saw Pollux’s eyebrows raise before I started slowly moving to the side.
The entire rec room was silent, and I was able to move out of everyone’s line of sight. Although Pollux seed to be able to follow for a short ti, once I distracted everyone with a glimr of myself in another location, I was able to completely vanish.
I moved behind the bar, grabbing a bottle before mixing sothing up and serving it in two glasses.
“Can I interest you in a drink, sir?”
“Hm?”
Pollux flipped around, eyes wide as he looked between and the glasses.
At so point, he shook his head.
“Ridiculous. My Aura was never exceptional, but I didn’t think soone three Authorities below could just vanish from my sight. Are all the Magisterium Elites like you?”
“No, otherwise I wouldn't have won the tournant. Plus, I’m a summoner, and that technique sses with your mind. Not many people have ever had to deal with summoners. If I were you, I wouldn’t bla myself.”
“Weak excuse. But at least I know now that you can keep yourself safe.”
“Mm.”
I downed my drink in agreent. Showing Pollux my skills like this would help when it ca ti to impress certain recruiters. Although I was sure I could rely on Polly, I wanted to keep all my bridges clear.
I went to the back of the bar and sat back down on a stool, hanging out for a bit longer.
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