Misadventures in the Multiverse

Chapter 35: The Union

They arrive at The Union's home world with no issues. No one tried to shoot them down, and Raleigh didn't bug out. Clyde is almost weirded out it went so smoothly. They land in a hangar shortly after exiting The Hopper. They are met with a line of soldiers in green uniforms standing at attention, and a lady who looks very nervous is also in uniform. She has neat brown hair tied up, she has blue eyes and glasses. Her lip quivered nervously. "Well... welcome Captain Raleigh we are pleased you agreed to come to meat us at Concordia today. Please, right this way." She said sheepishly walking away toward outside the hanger. They follow her out to where soldiers are training they stop their drills to salute them.

"What's with the warm reception," Clyde asks out of concern. "Well, they have been trying to recruit me for a while. I kinda lied, and told them I was going to join, maybe." She whispers. "What are you going to do when they find out you lied your ass off," he asked looking around at all the smiling faces they must have told them to be on their best behavior to impress her. "Most people can't just waltz in here and tell them what we need to tell them." She said. He sighs hoping they aren't too upset by her deceit. "As you can see we have the best men we can get, and they have amazing... training regiments." The brown-haired girl says trying to impress them.

She leads them into a large building and an elevator. "The General is very excited to see you today. Please um... don't disappoint her. Who is this guy you brought with you by the way." She asks her. "He's... my first mate," Raleigh said holding back on calling him something silly since they do need to speak with them. "Oh, I see. If he is with you, he must be quite strong." She said nervously like she is walking on eggshells around them. "Oh yeah, he's super strong. He can bench press a mountain for sure." She said snickering. "Wow really?" She asked believing her completely even backing away from them a little. The elevator opens to the top floor, and into a reception room. No one is at the desk. The brown-haired girl walks near the door. "The General is in here waiting." She said sweating bullets now.

In the next room, a woman is sitting at a desk. She has a serious-looking face, short white hair, green eyes, and an officer version of the green uniform everyone else was wearing. She looked to be in her twenties very young for such a high rank. "Oh good, you arrived. Please take a seat. I was surprised you finally decided to join our side. I'm General Natasha Starcrafter." She said putting away the paperwork she was doing. Clyde and Raleigh both sit down while the brown-haired girl remained standing. "Yeah about that. I kinda lied. I needed to talk to you guys about something else." She smiles apologetically. The brown-haired girl looks like she might faint. The General Glares at her. "You said you were sure she was being honest." "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, she seemed genuine on the call." She said in a panic thinking she was about to be fired for sure. The Natasha sighed. "It's alright I half expected this. For punishment, you have to finish all my paperwork for me." She says. The girl sighs in relief. "Tha... thank... you..." She managed to say taking the stack of papers from her desk and taking it out of the room.

"At least I don't have to do all that anymore. Now tell me why you are here, and it better be good." She commands. Raleigh started to explain everything about Operation Deforestation sharing the data they had with her. "Well that is pretty serious if I'm to believe you, but honestly I don't think this is enough evidence for us to mobilize." She says. "Wha... aren't you guys chomping at the bit for any reason to attack each other," Raleigh said a little disappointed with that answer. "While we do have a shaky non-aggression pact with them. We aren't exactly excited at the prospect of war." She General sighs. "That's probably what the bigwigs just told you to say tell me how you really feel," Raleigh demands. She pauses for a moment, but ends up answering her. "look I don't know how you think a nation is run, but it is complicated. It's not a decision I can make alone. It's not like the empire there are levels of bureaucracy. The Union doesn't like to make the first move."