YOUR DEMEANOUR

Chapter 42: The Viper

A day before the night ball.

Upon entering his office, Calliax immediately sensed the buoyant atmosphere among his subordinates. Rowan, Zayden, and Marcus were engaged in animated chatter about the impending night ball, their excitement palpable in the air. With a silent nod of acknowledgement, Calliax accepted their salutes and settled into his chair behind his desk, observing them with a keen eye.

As Calliax entered his office, Rowan, Zayden, and Marcus looked up from their conversation, their expressions shifting to ones of respect.

"Colonel," Rowan greeted, standing a little straighter.

"Good afternoon, sir," Zayden added, offering a crisp salute.

"Colonel Calliax," Marcus chimed in, nodding respectfully.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen," Calliax replied, returning their salutes with a nod of his own.

"I shall have a word with you, team," Calliax began, his tone grave and commanding. "It's regarding our confidential duty. As all of you are aware, it seems like Major Jacques is making his moves, now."

The three soldiers maintained their composure, their expressions stoic yet attentive. They nodded in acknowledgment, indicating their understanding of the gravity of the situation.

"Sir, could you provide us with further details regarding Major Jacques' movements and how they may affect our mission?" Rowan inquired, his voice steady but tinged with curiosity. Zayden and Marcus echoed his sentiment with silent nods, their eyes fixed on Calliax, awaiting his response.

"Very well. Major Jacques seems to be unaware of Marshal Reynolds's backup plan, which involves us handling this delicate mission. However, recent intelligence suggests that he's begun to make moves. It's likely he's aware of the Coronation ceremony and the night ball, and he may attempt to disrupt the event in some way. We've taken measures to secure the area, but we can't rule out the possibility of an attack. However, I doubt he'll target the royal family directly," Calliax explained, his tone firm and authoritative.

"Major Jacques's true intentions remain undisclosed, but I can't discount the possibility of his ambitions. His recent maneuvers could be a bid for a more secure position within the military hierarchy, perhaps even aiming for the Marshal's field. As for the reason behind his actions, I suspect it may be related to our neighboring country," Calliax added, his words carrying a weight of concern and caution.

"Could it be that the terrorist attack on the border line was merely a decoy for events unfolding in the neighboring country? A tactic to divert our attention from their true threat?" Zayden inquired, his voice laced with concern and suspicion.

"You're right, cadet," Calliax responded, his tone grave. "Using terrorism as a diversion is indeed a cliché tactic, but bribing one of the highly esteemed officers of the British Army requires serious attention. We cannot afford to overlook this matter. It's not just about the neighboring country leveraging terrorists to their advantage; they're also using refugees as hostages."

Marcus and Zayden couldn't help but curse the enemy's cunning plan under their breaths, their frustration palpable in the air.

Marcus clenched his fists in anger, his voice heavy with disdain. "Those slimy rats! Using innocent lives as leverage."

Zayden's brows furrowed, his voice laced with indignation. "Despicable. We can't let them get away with this."

"Steady yourselves, boys," Rowan interjected, his tone reassuring. "The colonel isn't finished yet. We'll tackle this head-on, as we always do."