The Major Is Done For (Please Keep Reading and Bookmark!)

Perhaps because the situation was urgent, Major Mars failed to notice how strange Commander Adam's wording was.

Without pausing, he answered quickly:

"I heard it from one of my informants. He got it from an Imperial Spy hiding inside the base."

"An Imperial Spy?"

"Yes. Captain Valra Margaret at the base hospital. We identified her a long time ago."

Commander Adam did not respond at once.

He straightened from his reclined position and leaned forward over the desk, folding his hands beneath his nose.

At just the right angle, the room's light reflected off the lenses above the bridge of his nose.

With human augmentation technology so advanced, no one suffered from nearsightedness or farsightedness anymore.

The handmade, gold-rimmed glasses Commander Adam wore were nothing more than an ornament meant to display his wealth.

Now their glare concealed his eyes perfectly.

Standing before the desk, Major Mars found it difficult to read his expression.

"If this intelligence is accurate, the Empire won't stop at a minor skirmish after unilaterally tearing up the peace treaty."

"We'll face a large-scale surprise attack. The planetary Defensive Fleet alone cannot withstand an Imperial assault."

"Under standard protocol, we should warn other planets and even neighboring star systems in advance, then immediately recall the Mobile Fleet to defend near-planet orbit."

Commander Adam laid out his analysis and plan in an orderly fashion.

Major Mars nodded slightly. At least the "pig of a commander" in front of him wasn't completely useless.

"Since this intelligence came from an informant, who heard it from an Imperial Spy,"

"we would normally do everything we could to verify it."

Commander Adam paused. Major Mars took the opportunity to speak.

"That's the second matter I came to report. I intend to—"

But he was cut off before he could finish.

"There's no need to verify it, Major Mars."

"Commander Adam, what do you mean?"

Major Mars asked, puzzled.

"Because it's true. The Empire's Eighth Expeditionary Strike Group will launch its surprise attack in three days, at exactly 23:00 local time."

The intelligence chief on Robert IV immediately realized what that meant.

His eyes widened in disbelief, and he opened his mouth to speak.

But an index finger was already pressed against his right temple.

Someone had appeared behind him.

Wait. When did he get there?!

An advanced Psion?!

That was Major Mars's final thought.

The next instant, an invisible surge of energy tore through his brain.

Within a thousandth of a millisecond, it overloaded his central nervous system.

The clarity faded from Major Mars's eyes. He stood motionless, like a wooden puppet that had lost its soul.

Behind him, the air warped unnaturally.

A faint honeycomb pattern of blue light flashed, and a figure in a one-piece combat suit appeared out of thin air behind the major.

"The plan is starting to veer off course, Adam."

A synthesized voice came from beneath the advanced Psion's faceplate.

He withdrew his right hand from the major's temple. Major Mars remained as still as a puppet.

"That mind control was meant for Dallas, but I had to use it early."

"I can't use your Psionics recovery chamber. I won't be able to control another mind for the next three days..."

Despite the synthesized voice, Commander Adam could hear the advanced Psion's displeasure.

"Don't be so nervous. Everything is still under our control."

He raised his plump hands in a gesture for calm.

"Controlling Dallas was only a backup plan. Now that it's off the table, we'll skip it."

"I'll still sign the order to begin the 'Meteor' exercise tomorrow. The planet's main mobile forces will assemble in several designated exercise zones."

As though the problem had been solved, Commander Adam settled back into a comfortable position. His furrowed brow relaxed.

"We gave you those locations long ago. When the time comes, have the fleet bombard them."

"Even if Dallas survives three days from now and organizes a defense, it won't change the outcome. The disparity in forces is too great."

He picked up his still-steaming black tea and blew on it gently.

"A few more grunts might die. That's all."

Tailstinger, a senior operative of the Empire's Star Dragon Fang Psionics operations unit who specialized in missions behind enemy lines, was thoroughly fed up with the "pig's" attitude. Even so, he suppressed his irritation.

After all, Adam was a high-ranking Federation officer whom the Empire had gone to great lengths to turn. He held the most power in this base.

The surprise attack the Empire had spent so long preparing still required his cooperation.

His superiors had also ordered him to assist Adam however he could while undercover at the base.

"Then... how do you want me to deal with that turncoat Fledgling?"

Tailstinger rolled his neck. Several rough assassination plans had already taken shape in his mind.

"Leave him alone. He can't cause much trouble."

Commander Adam sounded relaxed, as if Amber's defection meant nothing to him.

"Besides, the Communications Center is staffed by Dallas's people. I'll have trouble moving them elsewhere. When Margaret makes her final assault on the Communications Center, that Fledgling will still be useful."

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

Commander Adam's words made Tailstinger laugh in disbelief.

"He's an Imperial Spy who's already defected. Why would you expect him to help us storm the Communications Center?"

"Oh, don't get worked up, Mr. Tailstinger. I know you're an expert in special operations, but you clearly don't understand people very well."

Commander Adam smiled, unbothered by the anger Tailstinger could barely contain.

"We still have some time. Let me explain my reasoning. You may agree with me once you've heard it."