The Edge
"Beep, Beep, Beep" the communicator chimed echoing throughout the room, slowly rising in volume, until the figure in the darkness shifted from the bed, slowly reaching up to silence the detestable noise. The figure lay there again still in the darkness faded back into the realm of dreams. "Beep, Beep, Beep", the device continued non stop, the figure rose looking at the time [1:30 am] DC time. "Yes?" The figure spoke with a voice filled with fatigue. "Commander, there has been a situation, your presence is requested on the bridge" recognizing it as the voice of Admiral Harkin his second in command and Admiral of the Terran Starship Command Naval Command, he surmised that it was important. "I'll be there shortly" the commander said as he walked to his closet.
"sir, an update from Colonel Locke" a junior bridge officer wearing a crisp black TSC naval uniform said handing Admiral Harkin a holopad rendering a salute which the Admiral returned in kind.
Colonel Locke:
1st Army
3rd Brigade
Western Command
We intercepted a transmission 2217-0203-2225 Zulu time to the Western Brotherhood of Steel HQ. Upon our analysts' decryption, the message read " Authorization Delta-3-Epsilon 7, Initiate phase 3 of X-31". 20 minutes after receiving the transmission, the Western Brotherhood of Steel began the mobilization of two battalions of Powered armored infantry, with a detachment of a full wing of vertibird troop transports. According to our latest intel a battalion sized element within the BOS consist of 350-400 soldiers. After receiving this intel I raised 3rd Brigades' alert level to 3, I have stationed 3 Battalions in Pittsburgh To protect our strategically important industry there, also deploying the entirety of the 3rd brigade along our Western Borders in a gridlock fashion and recalled our patrols except the critical scouts, with the purpose of reinforcing where needed. I have contacted Brigadier General Karpov and have appraised him of the full details. I await my next orders...END OF TRANSMISSION...
After reading the report Admiral Harkin's mind pondered on the thought of what this mean for the TSC. Could this be a precursor to war? The months of diplomacy gone down the drain, and for what to appease their desires for advanced technology. The admiral looked over the bridge watching TSC Naval personnel go about their daily duties noting at how much more ease they were at since the transition of the alien technology with a more human dominated technology. The bridge small in the beginning was later rebuilt and expanded to include four sections. Weapons, Science, Engineering and Communications. The bridge was built into an almost incomplete oval with a walkway leading down from where the Captains and XO's chair sat to a huge window with a magnificent view of, earth, Humanity's Homeworld and an elevator that led to the teleporter room.
The Commander made his way to the bridge of the TSCS Olympus with his black guard in tow following him in synchronized steps, arriving the marine sentry called "Attention" to which everyone stopped and stood at attention in respect for their commander "as you were" he said with a soft, but commanding tone. The bridge resumed its normal activity seeing Harkin Seemingly in his own thoughts, the command made his way up. "Admiral" he said in a questioning tone. "Commander, I'll think you want to see this" Harkin said handing him the holopad. Harkin watched the commander as he slowly and methodically read over Colonel Locke's brief message. He watched as the commander 's brow furrowed in confusion at what he was reading fearing what he would say next. "How many troops do we have in 3rd Brigade do we have?" Looking Admiral Harkin Directly in the eyes, to which Harkin Responded "4,000, 3500 infantry and support personnel the rest an air detachment". The Commander then turned and stared at the viewport screen of Earth silent unmoving. With a sigh "how could we not see this?" "Command..." Harkin started, the commander held up his hand "it's fine Harkin" the commander said hastily "bring us to Defense Readiness Condition 2 and summon the high council".