*beep*
*beep*
--------
Sci sighed. "So, it's business as usual, then, sir. Save the world."
General Airen Cracken nodded. "How do you think it feels for me? Saving your world is, no offense intended, only one of the things I have to deal with today."
"None taken."
"Now then, replacement staff for Terra Group..."
"Yes, I thought you might appreciate the bios and details I sent you..." He broke off. Cracken was looking at him, befuddled.
"Bios? Details?"
"Yes, sir. I sent you those details a few weeks ago. You didn't get them?"
"I haven't heard a word about it. Lieutenant Cochran didn't know, either."
"Well, I've been playing my cards close to the chest on this one. I'm probably not going to do much more than say that we're getting new recruits, until they're ready to be introduced formally. He wouldn't know, especially since he can't read my mind and find out. But you didn't get my reports?"
"Not an electronic blip."
Sci shrugged. "Must have gotten lost in transit. I'll send you a new copy now."
Cracken nodded as the files came scrolling up on the screen. "There's a reason we gave you this much freedom of movement. If I have any serious objection, I'll let you know."
"Yes, sir." He closed the comm channel, and his gaze wandered around the comm center. There was the main board, with the details of where everybody was--now, of course, listing most in Mendellia. Even Sci; while he was outside Mendellia, his signal was piped through one of several secret routers, so that no one knew exactly where he was at any given time, but once he was inside Mendellian airspace, the routers powered down. There were the encrypt-decrypt controls, there was Zee. Staring at him. Impatiently, for a droid. He sighed and picked up his comlink. "All Terra Group personnel, briefing in the Batcave in fifteen minutes. Lead out."
--------
*beep*
*beep*
*click* "Yes?"
"Major, your 1400 appointments are here."
"Hold on one moment, please."
He looked through the reports. Bethany Brown, computer expert whose knowledge of Terran computer systems could be adapted to the more advanced systems that Terra Group typically used. She was, by comparison, fairly straightforward. The other two were not.
Sylvana and Arrek Lorrdain, siblings. She was a competent medic/healer, he was a linguist with strong connections in the organizations that Terran pro-Imperial factions used as a front, making him something no Intelligence unit could do without; an Intelligence specialist. Both a medic and an Intel analyst were missing from the ranks of Terra Group, and they had come highly recommended.
By Majors Wes Janson and Derek 'Hobbie' Klivian.
Therin lay the problem. Not that he didn't trust the judgement of either man; far from it. Their reports of the Lorrdains was that they were quick on their feet, skilled, and, since they already knew of extraterrestrial life, a liability unless they were agents. He was willing to believe every word of it. But...
He sighed. The decision was made, by me, weeks ago. Too late worrying about it now. He put the files away and pressed his comm unit. "Send them in, please, Zee."
He stood up, walked around to the three very confused people standing just inside his doorway, and greeted each of them with perfect formality, then stood in the doorway.
"My name is Scifantasy, and as you may have surmised, this is unlike anything you have ever seen before.
"Please, walk with me."
He kept a brisk pace down the corridor. "I hold the rank of Major in the New Republic Armed Forces, Intelligence Division. I am local commander of a small Intel squadron responsible for affairs on our planet. In short, I'm the equivalent of Zed from the Men In Black."
He stopped at a door and opened it. "We're looking for field agents, and we'd like you to be them." He turned around, looking at his audience for the first time since he began walking.
They were slack-jawed. Sci had to admit, the main vehicles hangar was very impressive. He looked fondly at the vehicles that Terra Group had assembled, lingering on the Gaia, his own shuttle, which they would be using very soon now...
The first to recover was Sylvana, followed by her brother. No surprise there; they've seen some of this before.
"We're in," said Sylvana, with a firm nod and a huge lopsided grin. Arrek had the same grin and was nodding just as fiercely.
"You couldn't keep me away," declared Bethany, still slightly dazed.
"Very well," Sci smiled. "Miss Brown, you will be assigned to Terra Two, partnering with Prophet Kristy. Miss Lorrdain, you will be Terra Eleven, alongside Emily Janson. Mr. Lorrdain, you will be taking Terra Eight, with Josh Cochran."
"Please come with me, and I will give you a few more details about who we are, who you will be, what we do, and where you'll be going. I'd suggest packing for a few days--there's a refresher, including facilities for showering and washing your clothes, on the shuttle, but it's not a big space, and the trip to Coruscant takes a couple of days. We leave in about 48 hours." That got their attention. They followed Sci dutifully down the hall back to his office.