Seriphona Derimosteinas Dofioenad (Universal Diplomacy Bureau)
The Bureau's personal staff-only Quantum Gate opened, waiting for Diremonteis to put in the coordinates. Quantum technology had drastically evolved since his first travel with it. He hadn't even really warped to his destination at this one; he was basically flinged around with a Mach 13 quantum railgun, at a trip of 2 weeks.
Now, Quantum warping was not only feasible, but also relatively easy. Almost everything that could fit in the Gate and meet the power requirements could teleport everywhere in a radius of 30 light years and return with no assistance from other portal networks. Teleportation of a sole human without special equipment was also rendered relatively riskless, and having used the Gate enough times, Diremonteis didn't even have to get scanned before warping.
However, as he was just about to warp, the whole Bureau got a blackout. Diremonteis was too startled at first to realise how lucky he was; casualties from last-moment Gate electronics failure was still frequent. His cadet did, though and rushed to the room, fearing the worst.
"Are you alright, Commander?" he said, when he saw he was not only alive, but even mostly unscathed. Diremonteis' official title was now Elite Universal Diplomat, but his cadet could still not get used in the idea. Therefore, Diremonteis permitted him to call him however he wanted when alone; he also preferred that title. He had actually started to miss his former life; he always hated trouble and difficulties, but his participation to the first Korvichai encounter with foreign species, and their first engagement with the Draconians later, now made him miss the thriil he experienced back then.
After sighing, he responded. "Theromisian, call President Dimitri and tell him to prepare the Recipient Gate for teleportation. We have insufficient power supplies to conduct such a trip by ourselves." Even now, using a Quantum Gate had exorbitant power demands, and the inverse-size inefficiency of the design made more energy to be lost the smaller the object warped was.
Fleet Beta
"I don't care" slowly said Serohimean, trying to pick his words carefully, and without showing too much emotion "what he is doing. All I care about is quarantees. Are you sure that this i the guy we've been searching about? Are you completely sure that you found the cadet of that day's Diplomatic Leader of the Draconians?"
"Yes, we are" said the Comms Master. He had a problem saying the next sentence. "And sir, yes, this guy is the... ... the killer of your cadet, sir."
Serohimean was furious now. He seriously felt the urge to rush out of the airlock, dive on the unknown planet, then sprint to that bastard's house and struggle him to death. Memories of him and Herebusia passed in front of his eyes in quick succession: their preparations before the launch, their feared hug during the monstrous propulsion, their cooperations and silent communication during the trip. The preparations for the diplomatic meeting with the EA, their soft -and almost sensual, now that he recalls the scene- consersation during it, the gentle interruption of the President, followed by a smile -even he had understood.
But also even longer ago, during the World War, when he was just a Lieutenant. The day she got shot at the spinal cord; she barely survived. He was the first to rush to help her. He was the one who carried her to the medic. He slept the whole night next to her that night, risking his life, trying to calm her down. She lost a node back then, but was still one of the smartest persons he had personally met. Ioannorent knew all about that event. Actually, he was the one who assigned the members of the mission; he was the one who assigned her as his cadet. Even he knew Serohimean better than himself. And he was too blind to see it. What a fool. He could not notice. What an idiot.
The scene of her death flashed back. The Draconian leader had just informed him of the incoming assault, he told him everything was lost, and finished by insulted his nation; he could not remember exactly how. He could only remember that he was enraged. Before a split second passed, he was already standing up, without warning, with his almost ancient flintlock pistol aimed at his head. And then, it was gone. Before he understood what happened, the Draconian's cadet had jumped behind his Commander, holding his lost pistol on a mechanical handlike appendage. And then, he shot it, with the same smug smile his Commander had.
Serohimean was too startled to understand what happened. At least, until his cadet jumped on front of the amethyst bullet. The bullet pierced a weak spot on her neck and connected with her node at the back of her head; it was a fatal hit noone would be able to survive. Only then, only when he fell down, only when he pressed her almost dead body against his. Only when he kissed her, for the first and last time. Only then he knew. Only then he understood. What an idiot. What a fool. What a f*cking jackass. And that f*cking goddamn bastard would die now!
"Are you alright, Commander?" said the Comms Master, seeing him burst with silent anger, almost ready to pass out.
He woke up, and tried his best to regain his consiousness. He managed to pop out a confident smile. "I'm okay. Alrighty, then. I would hate to hurt an old senile man that's left alone on a small dot on the map, but I quess I have no other choise."
"I, err, would not call him old and senile, sir. And ther eis no way I would call him alone."