Snippet #1043435

“Welcome Colonel Hierarch,” the tall and tanned man in the suit said casually as Gabriel floated through the door to the center of the Orbital station. This was the highest security room in the whole country, the Presidents war room. The man who had addressed him was none other than the 16th President of Liberty. The men were standing around the table in the middle of the room, holding on to the bars that were around them to stay in place. “We waited for you.”

“Thank you Mr. President, I apologize that it took me so long to get to this room, it seems my cover ID set off one of the alarms.”

“Just your luck Gabriel, getting caught with false papers, I guess karma finally caught up with you.” This time the voice was low and rough, instead of being light and calming like the President’s, and came from the broad and scared man in the corner. “I’d think you would have chosen to keep one identity, but maybe people just don’t change.”

Minerva wasn’t the only in the world who didn’t trust or like Gabriel and the fact that he had betrayed the UWP, this man was one of them. “Thank you for those words of wisdom General Bartle, I’ll be sure to remember that for the next time I’m in combat.” Gabriel said with a wide smile and a cheery tone of voice. The General just scoffed and leaned back against the wall in the weightlessness.

“Moving on, I believe we were discussing what to do about the lines. We have just started the final evacuations and they should be done in three days, so we are faced with two choices.” This time it was Colonel Michael from before who spoke. Several of the other men in the room (12 in total) nodded or grunted agreement.

“Yes, we can hold the lines were they are for as long as possible and seek diplomatic options, or…” A man in a green uniform said indicating to the photomap on the table that showed the current battle

“Or, we can pull back immediately and stage a last defense here at Anchor with all our forces.” Michael finished as he tapped a few controls and the map showed all the Liberty forces instead gathering around the base of the Elevator.

“Well, as a Diplomat, I’m all for the first option, if we have enough time I feel we may reach an agreement with at least one side. Though after meeting with the NAC commander, I must say I highly doubt they will stop their advances. Perhaps the UWP will-“

“No, they will not stop, I can assure you that, we don’t have any chance of diplomacy.” Gabriel interrupted as he floated along the wall with his arms crossed.

“General Bartle looked at him with fire in his eyes and sneered, “Oh please, spare us Gabriel. It’s not like you’re an ambassador, how can you tell what they will and won’t do. You were just a tool to them after all, like you’d know anything about how they truly think.”

Gabriel was already agitated over the events of the previous day in Germany, and now this desk officer was about to make the soldier give him a taste of real combat. However, a smooth voice interrupted his train of thought, “That’s enough Bartle.” It was smooth but stern, clearly coming from someone who knew he had the man on a leash, namely, the President, Hugh Construct. He wasn’t the usual figure head placed in power by the ruling party, and had managed to control the nations more radical elements since his term began 5 years ago. “I know you dislike the fact that the Colonel is from the UWP, but I value his opinion on a matter such as this above anyone’s. We have to face the fact that he has more battle field experience than anyone here. Pleas continue Gabriel.”

“Thank you sir.” Gabriel said with a grateful smile as he kicked off the wall and headed to the table. He inserted a personnel drive into the system and brought up a hologram of the elevator as well as the station and front lines. “I’d say your best bet would be option two, if we can conserve our forces, we may be able to hold this line long enough to gather our military and make an escape to Sicily. If we can-“

“Wait a moment Colonel; are you suggesting we just leave without finishing the fight? If we did follow your plan, we may be able to hold the line until the two forces start fighting each other, then we can push back against them and-“ Bartle had interrupted him.

“No, that won’t work.”Gabriel said quietly.

“What, and why not?” the general countered.

“Because, they are not after the land just to reach the other side, they are after the elevator. They are still in a near Cold War state, but they are actively fighting us to get their hands on that technology. That is their whole reason for being here now, why they didn’t leave after the Letters were proven to be false. Don’t you see that fool?” Gabriel spat back, he had had enough of this man.

“Watch your tongue, Colonel, or I’ll rip it out of you.”

Gabriel saw the General, who was much bigger than him floating toward him, but he knew full well it was a bluff. So he called it. “I’d love you too try.” He said as he kicked off and floated right up to the General and stop just short of the man’s face. “Where did you get those scars anyway? A Car accident I suppose, cause they sure as hell aren’t battle scars.”

The General went to grab Gabriel by the collar and swing at him. He hit Gabriel full force in the face, but as he pulled back to hit again he found himself frozen. The man was much large then Gabriel, and had just hit him full force, but it didn’t even stun him. He just sat there with a defiant look on his face. Sure his glasses were gone, but he had shaken of the hit like it was nothing. “My turn.” He said, and with one foot anchoring him to the table he punched the large man straight in the face, knocking out two teeth as it flung him against the back wall.