Commander Stella Whitehall of the Realmguard was surrounded by incompetent idiots. This became apparent as she stared at the operation report in front of her. The rain cycle didn't help her mood any further. Frankly it gave her a headache, listening to the pitter-patter on her office window all day and feeling the pressure in the air. She'd tripped going up the stairs this morning, then spilled coffee all over her new white uniform. This… Well, this was just the cherry on top she supposed.
"Walk me through this," Stella said slowly. "Explain to me what I'm looking at."
The officer on bad news delivery duty today was a newer one named Klein Shivan, a Voidhunter from Dragonsfold. Today, Klein Shivan was unlucky. Stella happened to know that the officers down below drew lots to decide who would deliver bad news. After all, it was only a month ago that she'd been down on the officer's deck drawing those very lots. If the ones delivering the news thought they had it hard, they ought to try being the one whose neck is on the line because of it.
"Ma'am?" Klein asked sheepishly.
"Explain to me what I'm looking at," Stella demanded. "I assume you've read it, as per your job description. So tell me about it."
"Y-yes ma'am." Klein swallowed hard. "William Fletcher intercepted the enemy, but they were able to escape due to the influence of the rebel Clay Carver and an–" He paused, recalling the next words with a hint of pain. "An unexpectedly powerful boy with white hair," he said finally.
Stella sighed. "This was intel blessed by Eternity itself. We had one chance. One chance to capture Lex Aitsuko. I didn't trust anyone else in the Void to do it, certainly not one of you… And so I hired the man who is supposed to be the best at killing people!" She slammed both of her balled fists into the desk. It shook, but didn't give any indication of breaking. Maybe if I was a Voidhunter people would take me seriously. Maybe then I could've gone and killed him myself.
Stella stared at the report for a long while and thought about how it was possible to get ahead of the situation. Headmaster Belle and her Five Blades were all gone save for Elric Havernack who was getting up there in age and usually spent his time training the troops. That left Stella largely in command, but with shockingly little firepower. There were ten Voidhunters on base, with the remaining hundred or so on Distortion duty. This was combined with about three-hundred standard issue officers, one-hundred of which were on permanent duty guarding the lower decks.
What was the enemy's next move? Maybe Belle was right and they'd just attack the transfer like a bunch of buffoons. But no… This was Clay Carver and Lex Aitsuko, the aces of Realmhome's University, one of which happened to be a renowned terrorist partially responsible for the battle of the great divide. They couldn't be underestimated or thought to be mere simpletons. There was a plan, even if Stella didn't know about it yet. The real question was whether Stella could discover the plan before it was too late.
"Belleram," she mumbled, "whatever you're busy doing, it better be important… Dammit all–"
Klein was watching this borderline mental breakdown from the doorway, afraid to say anything or make his presence be known lest he be reprimanded somehow.
"Klein," Stella said suddenly. "You're in charge now, congratulations!"
"Ma'am? What are you–"
"Grab every Voidhunter you can find on site and take them to guard the archives. You're to be there until I tell you not to be."
Klein opened his mouth to speak.
"And no asking questions about it," Stella added. "If anyone down there questions you, give them this and tell them to fuck right off." She clicked her pen and scribbled something on a piece of paper which she promptly handed to Klein.
Don't ask stupid questions and listen to your superiors - COMMANDER Stella Whitehall.
"Right–" Klein said.
"And listen carefully to this next bit, Klein." Stella stood up. Her blonde hair leaned towards brown, and she was quite short unlike her sister. Even so, she tried her best to look threatening. She opened the drawer on her desk and drew a revolver from it before walking up to Klein. He didn't dare move a muscle as she lifted the gun to the side of his head and cocked it.
"I'm listening… As carefully as my ears will allow, ma'am," Klein said slowly.
"The information about the incident, you're the only one who read it?"
"We followed protocol. The only ones who've read it are myself and the one who wrote it," Klein promised.
"If you tell anyone," Stella said venomously, "believe me when I say, Klein, that you're going to wish I went with the bullet to the head."
"Believe me when I say my lips are sealed," Klein said. "Can you please put that down?"
A knock came at the door, completely breaking the moment's tension. Klein turned his head towards his saviour.
"You're dismissed," Stella said begrudgingly. "Do what I told you to do."
"Yes ma'am." Klein spun on a heel and made towards the door with haste. He opened it and exited, during which Stella caught the briefest glimpse of a man's face. One who she was – unfortunately – familiar with.
Stella tucked the revolver into her waistband and covered it with her jacket. "Come in," she said.
The door handle turned once more and the one who walked through was none other than the surprisingly youthful looking Commander James Havas. "Stella," he said respectfully. "What exactly did you do to poor Klein? He looked like he'd seen a ghost."
"A man like that has no business being a Voidhunter. I thought they were supposed to have strong personalities?" Stella muttered. She stepped backward and leaned on her desk.
"And who would be better? You?" James asked. "I must apologize in advance. I did hear most of the conversation from the other side of the door."
Stella sighed. "Are you in the business of spying on young ladies, Mr. Havas?"
"Only suspicious ones," he replied. "Besides, I already read the report."
"What? How?" Stella was even more panicked now. She'd had the document delivered straight to her office and nowhere else.
"Before they even knew your name, they were reporting to me. It's a little thing called loyalty." He quickly stepped forward and grasped at Stella's bosom. She had an instinctual reaction and shoved him away. He stumbled, and then smiled, holding her revolver in his hand. "Loyalty is something you don't earn by pointing weapons at your inferiors, Ms. Whitehall," he said matter-of-factly.
Stella grasped at her waistband in panic and confirmed that the gun was gone before growling, "give it back."
"No problem," James said with a smile. He held the gun by the barrel and passed it back to her. Stella held the grip and considered shooting him for at least half a second before stuffing the gun right back where it had been.
"What is it you want, exactly?" Stella asked, agitated.
"To talk about our problem. Sit down." James gestured to her seat.
She eyed him suspiciously, but obliged and reclined in her seat after returning her revolver to the drawer. James, in turn, took the visitor's seat on the other side of the desk.
"I read the report," he continued after seeing Stella's curious expression, "and there's a few problems. You weren't wrong to hire Fletcher. He's the best of the best. His competence cannot be denied based on his track record and his… Ahem. Secrets, so to speak."
"His track record didn't save him from incompetence this time, it would seem," Stella countered. "Everyone has bad days."
"Even you," James jested, looking at the coffee stain on Stella's shirt.
"Even me," she affirmed. "Or is there something else you're getting at here?"
"I'm simply trying to say that you should think a little wider. Maybe it's true that William was having a bad day, but isn't it more productive to consider how this could've happened if that weren't true?" He slid the report closer to her. "You've seen it yourself. There were outside factors that we couldn't anticipate. There was Clay Carver, a rebel who we haven't had a trace of for longer than a year. More interestingly is this boy with white hair." He pointed at the spot on the report.
"What about him?" White hair is strange, though… Stella thought.
"Even our man on Earth didn't know that Lex would be bringing associates. We don't have any information on the blonde girl that was apparently there, but the white-haired boy featured just recently in the registry."
"What?" Stella's usually inexpressive face couldn't hide its surprise.
"I checked the active Voidhunter registry. Name, 'Frost', no last name given. He awakened not long ago, and started his tenure as a Voidhunter by overpowering and killing a wyvern on Dragonsfold where he also caused a ruleset violation."
"Talk about a trial by fire," Stella whistled.
"William's detailed account stated that he showed second stage enhancement, and came back to life after being shot. All of this was without using a main attribute at all. As well, his element is lightning." James frowned. "Does this sound familiar yet?"
Stella cupped her chin. "Awakening with a ruleset violation. Natural white hair. Lightning element. Unnatural power. Yeah… I've read the histories." She analyzed the page, and then looked up at James. They were both dead serious now.
James spoke her thoughts aloud. "It sounds just like Drake Direshard, doesn't it?"