Chapter 2 (Adam Johnson)

Although it was a time of war and the Hansa had its hands full of problems throughout the Spiral Arm, Adam Johnson could not understand why he was summoned to Hansa HQ.

Not only this, his mind raced with the knowledge of meeting Chairman Basil Wenceslas and why? Either he'd done something grievously wrong, or the Chairman wanted something, it was a matter that would clear itself once the meeting began.

He sat in the waiting room with the sun blaring through the window unable to ignore the compy robot that was scurrying around like a mindless toy that continued in its relentless task at cleaning up every speck of dust. The room was already impeccably cleaned to perfection, but it carried on like a computer performing tasks in a loop.

Then too much of his surprise, it arrived with refreshments that was somewhat limited to Cardamom Coffee or water.

Not feeling the need for both, Adam politely gestured with his left hand and the compy scurried of with the sunbeams reflecting a shine from its metal exterior.

He straightened his uniform and ran his elegant hand through his dark hair, after he removed his hat. He often wore a hat, even in the mists of a battle.

But he had the fortunate time to miss the Hydrogues attacks. Even if he was a man of war, he still preferred not to be thrown into the lion's cage and he often wondered what the Chairman was up to. In his entire carer with the Earth Defence Force, he had not once set foot into his office and this situation had made him more aware then ever.

With stern eyes and hard resolve, he waited patently, but his patience was not without limits and he had been sitting there for half an hour already. He could do nothing but recite the current mission he was pulled off from. Perhaps the Chairman wanted to see him regarding the mission he was doing?

On the outskirts of a known roamer port called Hurricane Depot, a small fleet of EDF ships crept, hiding in the shadows of a passing comment. Listening, observing. The Hansa kept a close eye on the trade routs from current ekti supplies and had always kept this information a secret, in case they ever needed some reason to invade and take over the complex. It was a main focal point for all supplies and seemed impotent to the Roamers, so Adam Johnson thought. He was ordered to observe and report back estimates on ekti shipments so the Hansa could calculate if the Roamers where holding back or trading with Hansa colonies on the backhand. Ekti supplies are limited already and Basil Wenceslas wanted to know what exactly was going on.

With a keen eye and hot wit, Adam Johnson toggled through the manifest of the shipments received by passing vessels that was transferred by mail courier drone. If the results add up then everything will be fine, if not, the Chairman will have more cannon fodder to fire at his cause, which was to find a way to smash the Roamer resistance and unite all of humanity in one group. Such a cause would require a lot of effort and Adam was not willing to be part of it. But as he was the commander of his Manta, he needed to follow orders and keep to it.

"Sir, just as we suspect, the roachers are hogging ekti from us." Said the science officer who was going over the results form his scans. His tone of stating the fact was more then overenthusiastic.

Adam leaned his elbow on the armrest of his chair and held up his chin with his fist, making sure to allow his long beard to flow down comfortably. He did not want to feel discomfort on a spy mission.

The science officer looked back, his close-cropped ginger hair gleaming in the artificial light as his stony white face itched with the question. "Sir, should we rush in there and take what's rightfully ours."

Adam let the comment pass, his standing orders was to witness and to observe, not engage. He knew that his science officer always overstepped his mark and he thanked god that he was not in any higher chain of command. But he needed to be slammed down from time to time, something he had done so many times in the past.

"No, Our orders are to watch and observe, nothing more." He leered at the science officer who turned back to his workstation, disappointed and muttering under his breath, making sure the captain could not overhear.

After a few hours of trailing the comment as far as they could, the tension in the command deck grew slightly higher.

"Captain, if we loose the trail of the comment, we will be detected by the roamers base." Someone interjected, his voice cracked on the sudden realisation at being discovered.

With skill and precise calculation, Adam had already calculated that they are currently outside the Roamers tracking range. It will be OK to drift away from the comets path, "Don't worry, we have exceeded the roamers tracking range." Said Adam, his voice was cool, calm and collective.

The filtered air seemed fresher now as the small fleet of Mantas and Remoras pulled away into the darkness of space. This was another well-completed mission under Adam's belt, but he wished he were given a more meaning full mission and not to spy on other humans. Being forty-eight and ageing elegantly, he often thought he was destined for something more. But as he glared on through the panoramic windows, he often thought the Ildiran Empire was up to something. They would have been a worthwhile target. But he honoured his orders and followed them flawlessly.

Without warning, the comm officer interjected the idle chatter and sounds on the command deck. "Captain, another mail courier drone is on a intercept course." The individual paused as he waited for authorisation, "It's from Chairman Wenceslas. A private massage for you."

Adam Johnson was suddenly startled out of his daydreaming state when a rustle of people rushed into the waiting room dragging an uncooperative person through. He struggled and fought with a huge grin on his face, "You lot don't have to man handle me."

The spunky, sporty man with clipped dark hair and boyish shaped face stood with his arms in the air, he waited for the two Hansa officials to let their guard down, as soon as they did that, he made a run for it out the nearest exit.

"General Lanyan!" Said the other officer; "he's making a run for it."

But as soon as Lanyan looked behind himself, Basil Wenceslas slammed open the door in front of the escaping individual smacking him in the face, he fell to the floor with a thump and he called Basil a 'cunt.'

Basil was emotionless and did not respond at all. Unruffled, he grabbed the individual and dragged him back to the waiting room. He stood in front of the two men, suit all creased and ruined. He was not happy. "Adam Johnson, meet Ian Ironheart, you're second in command…" Basil grunted, checking his expensive suit.

Adam stared at his new second in command, blood dripping from his noise and smiling like a boy. "Hello" Ian said, offering his blood soaked had in a friendly handshake.