As the screen in front of him faded to black, Andy clone sat back in his seat and smiled. Eagle was easy to manipulate. Just pull a couple strings and you'd have him dancing like a puppet.

He turned to the officer sitting beside him. "Begin pulling our forces out but make it look like a retreat."

"Yes sir."

Andy clone liked that. He leaned back in his seat. He could get used to being a CO.

The attack had gone well, but that stunt the dying fighter pilot had pulled was a setback. Andy clone shrugged. Oh well. Orange Star and Green Earth would be tearing each other apart soon.

Andy clone heard the command room door open and close. Heavy footsteps thumped across the metal floor, and the officer next to Andy clone gulped nervously. A metal hand settled on Andy clone's chair back. "Is everything going according to plan?"

Andy clone turned to face the dark and towering figure. "Our forces are beginning to withdraw now."

"Excellent. Were there any mistakes?"

Andy clone paused. "Gelstop Airbase wasn't bombed due to a fighter from Alpha Unit Two that escaped the ambush."

There was a long pause. "I see." The figure turned to the officer next to Andy clone. "Get me Venom Unit Three."

Andy clone saw a bead of sweat roll down the officer's forehead. He punched a few buttons on his console. "Come in Venom Units Three. This is Forward Command."

A short pause. "This is Venom Unit Three."

Sturm leaned over next to the officer. "Venom Unit Three, why did you fail to completely destroy Alpha Units Two and Three?"

"Sir-" The man's voice was shaky. "He was too fast to get a lock."

"Do you believe that I will accept that pathetic excuse?"

"No sir, but-"

"You displease me. I cannot allow such incompetence to exist in my forces."

"Please, sir-" The man's voice was laced with panic. "I can do better next time!"

"For you, there is no next time."

"Please, no!"

Sturm stood up and his eyes dimmed. Suddenly the room began to shake. Consoles sparked as energy from the room was gathered into one spot. Sturm appeared to grow, and his presence filled up the entire room.

Suddenly screams came over the radio and then static. Something snapped and Andy clone felt as if he'd woken from a dream. The room had stopped shaking and everything was back to normal. The officer next to Andy clone was visibly shaking.

Andy clone shook his head. A whole missile unit sacrificed. Why?

A gauntleted hand fell on Andy clone's shoulder and a chill danced down his spine. Sturm's voiced seemed to come from inside his head. "Fear."

Then Sturm turned and walked away, cape billowing in his wake. Officers rigidly saluted him with wide eyes and the door hissed shut behind him.



THE END | | |

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