Chapter 5 - The Empire's Watchdog
Special agent Torian Falk of Imperial Intelligence was a man who was proud of his titles and accomplishments. Not because they got him much in the way of recognition or influence – a good intelligence agent wasn’t well known, after all – but because of the work they represented.
He carried himself with poise and dignity at all times, as any good agent should, even when there was no one around to see it. Who you were in private was far more important than who you appeared to be in public, he felt. This was especially relevant in his line of work, where the man he appeared to be often shifted from mission to mission.
He was not a man who enjoyed waiting. Oh, sure, he could wait if the situation demanded it – such as when it came to stakeouts – but waiting when it didn’t serve a purpose generally infuriated him.
The Station Commander had kept him waiting for three hours.
Torian had watched as the Commander met with security officers, his secretary, gotten some lunch, caught up with the Minister of Health, called a friend on his communicator and chatted for an hour, and then gotten a second lunch.
By the time the man finally deigned to see him, it was taking all of Torian’s considerable self-control to keep from snapping.
The Station Commander reclined in his seat with an air of barely concealed irritation. The room was cold, lit only by the muted glow of command panels lining the walls, casting deep shadows across the Commander’s face. He took his time, glancing at the dataslate on his desk with exaggerated patience.
“I do wonder, Agent Falk,” the Commander drawled, barely looking up, “what might have convinced you to go hunting an alleged insurgent with such… zeal?” He shifted, his belt stretching a bit too snugly around his midsection as he leaned forward with a forced sigh, trying for what might have passed as a concerned expression on another man.
“Three shuttles reassigned from their patrol routes, two dozen men promised overtime rates, and an entire neighbourhood roused from sleep, all to see… what was it again? Oh yes, the Empire’s forces breaking in the door to an unoccupied apartment.”
For the first time, real irritation coloured the Commander’s tone. “People have been asking me uncomfortable questions, Agent. I don’t like uncomfortable questions. I especially dislike not having any answers, so I do hope you have an explanation for this.”
Torian met the Commander’s gaze, his expression as stony as ever. He could feel the ache in his jaw from holding back what he’d really like to say, but he let none of that irritation slip through. “I have reason to believe that Darius Kallan may have some involvement in the malfunctions my ship developed,” he said shortly. “As such, I felt it was important to move quickly before he had a chance to escape. Unfortunately, I was too late.”
“You have reason to believe,” the Commander repeated, leaning back in his chair with a sceptical look. “Agent, I don’t mean to question your expertise, but this—” he tapped his slate, bringing up Kallan’s file, squinting at it in exaggerated disinterest, “—doesn’t exactly read like the profile of someone who could be as involved as you claim. Petty criminal record—some disorderly conduct, a few fines for resisting arrest, a couple of detentions… but hardly someone you’d expect to be capable of compromising an Imperial vessel’s power grid, now, is he?” The Commander gave Torian a sidelong glance, eyes sharp. “Are we looking at the same man here, Agent Falk?”“
Torian inclined his head just enough to acknowledge the comment, his expression unchanged. “Darius Kallan managed to access the Reactor of my ship while – possibly – posing as a worker. Less than two minutes later, the ship lost all power, and when it was restored all the malfunctions were gone.”
The Commander’s brows shot up, a feigned look of polite interest crossing his face. “So… let me see if I have this right. You’ve diverted personnel, launched an operation, and left this station’s resources tied up in the middle of the night to pursue a man who just happened to be somewhere he shouldn’t. Notably, a worker who, by the looks of things, was just doing his job and managed to fix whatever problems your ship was having.” He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. “A ship operating in my sector without my oversight, without even my knowledge of its existence. I’m sure you can understand why I don’t find that to be a satisfying explanation.”
Torian’s lips pressed into a thin line. “My vessel’s mission is not within your jurisdiction, Commander. However, I will remind you that this station exists to support the Empire, including operations related to Imperial Intelligence.”
The Commander’s expression twisted into a faint sneer. “So your people keep telling me.” He lowered his voice, tapping the slate once more. “Let’s assume you’re right about Kallan’s... unfortunate habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And let’s pretend he does know something. I’ll remind you, Agent, that your unsanctioned ‘operation’ was a failure precisely because you decided that you knew best. Had you followed the chain of command, we could have surrounded the neighbourhood and smoked him out.”
The words lingered in the air, biting through the cool, dim light of the office. But then, almost abruptly, the Commander’s expression shifted, his tone softening with a disingenuous warmth that made Torian’s spine stiffen.
“But, Agent Falk, I’m a reasonable man. Perhaps you’re right; maybe there was a need for urgency here,” the Commander continued smoothly, adopting an air of friendly cooperation. “In fact, I’d like to help facilitate your investigation during your stay on Caldera. You’ll have access to a dedicated squad, should you need it.”
The Commander’s eyes gleamed faintly, his smile twitching just enough to suggest the barest hint of mockery, though his words were pleasant enough. “This squad, of course, is highly competent—fully capable of supporting an Imperial Intelligence agent. And if there’s anything else you require, please don’t hesitate to inform them. They’ll be able to make arrangements on your behalf.”
“Generous,” Torian replied, carefully keeping his voice neutral. “Though I wouldn’t want to impose on your station’s resources any longer than necessary.”
The Commander’s smile sharpened just a fraction. “You’re quite right, Agent Falk. I imagine you’ve other matters awaiting your attention elsewhere, so let’s make this arrangement as… efficient as possible.” He tapped a final command on his slate, barely glancing at it. “I trust the squad will keep you well-equipped and informed. Anything further? Just let them know, and they’ll see to it.”
Torian wasn’t fooled by the Commander’s sudden bout of helpfulness. Doubtlessly, this ‘squad’ would be reporting back on any moves he made. An irritation, to be sure, but the chances of them stumbling onto anything of real value were slim at best. Still, he hadn’t made it this far by hoping for the best. Not to mention how the Commander had left him with no grounds for refusal.
Declining the offer would make him look both paranoid and defensive, neither of which he could afford. “I appreciate the… courtesy, Commander,” he replied after a moment, his tone neutral.
The Commander’s grin widened, and he nodded with the pleasant, unhurried satisfaction of someone who had just secured an advantage. “Anything for the Empire. It’s rare that we have guests with such high clearance on Caldera. We all want to ensure things go smoothly and that you can carry out your work here effectively. I’m only too happy to see Imperial Intelligence succeed.” He folded his hands and leaned back, his gaze drifting lazily over Torian, the suggestion of impatience creeping into his tone. “It’s a privilege, really.”
Torian inclined his head, masking his distaste. “Naturally,” he replied. “Then I’ll be sure to make the most of this station’s resources.”
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
The Commander might appear to be little more than a bureaucrat playing power games in the safety of his station, but Torian was beginning to realise the man’s careful balancing act. Fat and complacent as he appeared, he wasn’t simply surviving on Imperial favours. He had a keen sense for control and knew how to leverage the Empire’s own structures for his own ends.
As Torian stepped out of the room, he allowed himself a single, measured exhale. If nothing else, this encounter had served as a reminder: no one, not even the most unassuming of officials, could be dismissed lightly. It was something he intended to keep in mind as he continued his hunt for Kallan.
* * *
Torian signed the latest requisition document with a barely contained grimace, swiping it to the side only for another to take its place. He resisted the urge to hurl the dataslate across the room.
The Commander was a more cunning man than he had suspected, Torian would give him that. It wasn’t the first time someone had tried to bury him in paperwork – it had been his academy teacher’s preferred punishment – but time hadn’t changed his opinion of the process.
He had assumed that the squad’s primary purpose was to keep an eye on his activities and possibly try to obstruct him in some subtle ways if the Commander felt he was making a nuisance of himself. He hadn’t taken into account the amount of work involved in taking command of a squad.
Torian glanced at the number of requisition forms still awaiting his attention and felt a renewed pang of irritation. Even as he sat there, his slate chimed to signal the arrival of another blasted form. He was going to be seeing them in his sleep at this rate.
Every piece of equipment, every insignificant supply for the squad, each one needed a separate request. Imperial protocol might insist on this level of precision, but rarely had he seen it enforced so meticulously. Ordinarily, this paperwork would be processed as a formality, bypassed by the necessary approvals on its way to an archive. Instead, he had been chained to this desk, filing each request by hand in a room that might once have generously been called an office, albeit a few station refits ago.
So far, he had requested, by separate form, permission for a standard-issue armour kit for each squad member, including but not limited to; boots, chest piece, trousers, dress shirt, earpiece, sidearm, and even socks and a belt. That wasn’t even mentioning how he was apparently expected to request separate security clearance for each sector of the station he was expecting to operate in.
The station had over three hundred sections. The very nature of an investigation meant that he had no idea where he was going to operate, which technically meant he would have to request clearance for each and every one of them.
At this rate he was going to have a lot of frustration to take out on Darius Kallan when he finally caught up to the man. Torian slid another requisition to the side with a frustrated flick, pausing only when the sound of footsteps echoed through the narrow corridor outside.
Lieutenant Thalina Veris appeared in the doorway, standing at attention as she entered. Torian looked up, the irritation fading slightly as he took in her brisk professionalism. He hadn’t met all the squad members, but he knew from her file that Lieutenant Veris was a promising officer, newly promoted. It was one reason he’d selected her as his aide. Fresh rank had a way of lending itself to integrity—for a while, at least.
“Lieutenant Veris, reporting as ordered, sir.” Her voice was clear and composed, though it betrayed a hint of curiosity.
He nodded, setting down the stylus. “Lieutenant, thank you for coming. I assume the sergeant briefed you on your reassignment?”
“Yes, sir,” she replied, eyes forward. “I’ve been assigned as your aide for the duration of your stay here.”
“Correct. I’ll need a reliable second, and I believe you’ll be able to handle the responsibility.” He glanced down briefly at his dataslate with a faint sigh, then met her gaze again. “And the workload.”
He caught the beginning of a wince in her expression, but to her credit, she smothered it before it could fully cross her face.
“Lieutenant, you’re relatively new to this station,” he began, watching her closely. “Do you feel you’re familiar with how things are… typically handled here?”
Her brow creased, barely a shift, but she nodded. “I’ve familiarised myself with station protocol, sir. I hope I can perform to your expectations.”
His lip quirked in something close to a smile, more a reaction to her restraint than the reply itself. “Good to hear. Because as you can see—” he gestured at his dataslate, which chimed on cue, “—station protocol is going to be our main adversary.”
The corner of her mouth twitched downwards again, almost imperceptibly. She clearly saw where this was headed. But all she said was, “Understood, sir. Is there anything specific you require assistance with?”
He picked up the slate, handing it over. “I need these processed as quickly as possible. You’ll find some of the forms may be… redundant.”
She took the dataslate with a steady hand, though her eyes briefly widened as she scrolled through the unending list of requisitions. Torian almost felt a pang of sympathy as she scrolled farther and farther down the list. Almost.
“Shouldn’t take long, sir,” Veris said, doing a commendable job of keeping her voice neutral.
“Good,” Torian replied. “I trust you’ll find a way to work through it all. Efficiently.”
“Of course, sir.” She straightened slightly, clearly determined not to let a stack of endless paperwork dent her composure.
“Lieutenant,” Torian continued, leaning back as he watched her, “I selected you for this role because I expect professionalism and efficiency. That said, I’ll require more than form-filling once we’re through this… introduction.” He picked up a separate slate and handed it to her. “A rundown of our objectives and primary suspects, including Darius Kallan.”
Veris took the second slate, her gaze sharpening as she glanced over the brief notes, including the clearest shot of the suspect’s face he’d managed to get from his security system. “Darius Kallan,” she murmured, her brow furrowing. “Is he considered a serious threat?”
“We’re not certain yet,” Torian replied, choosing his words carefully. “But his… proximity to the recent issues aboard my ship makes him a person of interest. For now, your role will be to help me follow every trail and clear every doubt.” He folded his hands, meeting her gaze with steely intent. “That will require a degree of initiative beyond station protocol. Understand?”
She nodded, a small spark of intrigue lighting her eyes. “Yes, sir.”
“Excellent. Now then, I believe there are some forms that require your attention…?” He trailed off leadingly.
“Yes, sir.” Veris grimaced, already eyeing the endless stream of requisition forms as she started scrolling through them. After a moment, though, she paused, her brow knitting ever so slightly. She hesitated, glancing up from the slate, her hand hovering as though unsure whether to continue.
Torian noticed the brief pause but said nothing, curious to see if she’d speak up. After another brief hesitation, she cleared her throat.
“Sir, if I may,” she began, her tone cautious. “This image of Darius Kallan—” she gestured to the slate with his file and the accompanying shot of Kallan’s face. “Where exactly was this taken?”
Torian’s brows rose slightly, though his tone remained neutral. “Why do you ask, Lieutenant?”
She shifted, clearly choosing her words carefully. “Well, sir, the background looks like the interior of the Imperial ship… and I noted that, according to your report, the power fluctuations shut down the primary security network.” She glanced up, her eyes steady, though curiosity burned there. “So how was this image captured?”
The question gave Torian a moment’s pause. Her thoroughness surprised him, as did her apparent familiarity with the operational effects of the power disruptions. He leaned forward, folding his hands. “You’re well-informed, Lieutenant,” he remarked, watching her reaction.
“Thank you, sir. I made sure to review all relevant details in preparation for my assignment,” she replied, a faint blush colouring her cheeks but her tone unwavering. “I wanted to understand the scope of the situation properly.”
Torian felt a flash of irritation as he considered the implications. If she’d read about the power issues and their impact on security, the Commander was distributing far more information than he should have been. Still, Veris’s initiative impressed him. She’d come prepared, had already taken his expectations seriously, and now she was pressing him for answers most officers wouldn’t bother to ask.
After a thoughtful pause, he weighed his response. Finally, he settled on the truth, his tone measured. “The ship’s primary security network did, indeed, go down. However, I installed a secondary system in critical areas. It’s a standalone network, disconnected from the primary power grid.”
Her eyes widened. “That’s… not exactly regulation, sir.”
Torian couldn’t help a slight smile. “I’m aware,” he replied smoothly, watching as the realisation dawned on her that she’d just called out a superior. “But certain situations call for… flexibility. Sometimes, my work requires actions outside of standard protocol.”
She looked down, seeming to reconsider her previous comment. “Of course, sir. I apologise if that came across as… judgmental.”
“Not at all,” he said, his tone clipped but not unkind. “It’s precisely that attention to detail I’ll expect from you, Lieutenant. Just don’t be surprised if you find my methods somewhat… unorthodox at times.” He let the statement hang in the air, watching as she processed the implications.
“Yes, sir.” Veris gave a small, tentative nod, as if working to adjust her own understanding of what her duties as his aide might entail. After a moment, she returned her attention to the slate, tapping the screen and steeling herself for the mountain of requisition requests waiting for her.
Torian leaned back, intrigued. He hadn’t expected to find anyone worthwhile this far out from the core worlds, but it appeared that talent could be found in the most unusual of places. Maybe it was worth looking into the Lieutenant Thalina Veris a little more.
Imperial Intelligence was always on the lookout for potential recruits, after all.
really help me out. It only takes a minute or two, and it can make all the difference to a new or growing story.
really like this story, and just can’t wait to find out what happens next, someone’s told me there are 25 advance chapters on . Could be worth checking out?