NERVES OF STEEL

CHAPTER 2- A DISAPPOINTMENT

               Meanwhile, back in the training room, a Corporal comes in to see Warner with a message from the commander. He walks in, interrupting the Lieutenant Colonel's personal training session. Warner turned in, his punch hanging mid air.

"Good day, Colonel."
"And a good day to you, David." He walked to the young man and exchanged handshakes with him. "Why are you here?"
"A message from the General." David said.
"The General?" Warner blinked in surprise.

             Marcov Fedorcenko was the brains behind the entire military affair. The country operated under a military system of government and he was highly respected. He used to be the Commander-in-Chief but that position was now to his son, who had to travel abroad for other intensive training.

"He demands your presence in his office, immediately."
"Right away. I'll be there."
"Have a nice day, Colonel."
"You too."

                  Immediately the Corporal left, Warner put the room in order and briskly walked out. His car keys in one hand. Diane saw her father in such a hurry and she got suspicious.

"You're leaving?"
"Yes."
"Where to?"
"The General demanded for my presence."
"The General?" She gasped, wide eyes.
"I thought so too. All may be far from being well. Take care of the facility while I'm gone. I'll be back soon......hopefully."
"I will. Take care of yourself."

                  Warner walked outside and went to his BMW X7 parked in the garage. He got into the car and drove off in a hurry. Diane watched him disappear with concern in her eyes.

What could have gone wrong?

            The cool confines of the General's Office came into view as Warner was ushered in by one of his guards. The heavy oak door creaked open, revealing the space inside. The air inside was thick with a sense of command, the very atmosphere exuding discipline and order. The walls, lined with dark wood paneling, seemed to absorb sound, giving the room a quiet intensity that could make even the most seasoned Soldier feel a twinge of unease.

                Behind the General's desk, a large window overlooked the military compound, offering a panoramic view of the vast training grounds. Soldiers moved like clockwork in the distance, performing drills. The sunlight barely penetrated through the thick, bulletproof glass, adding to the room's heavy, somber tone.

               On the walls hung various framed medals and commendations, each representing decades of service, wars fought and victories claimed. Above them, a portrait of General Marcov in full military regalia dominated the space.

            A large, meticulously detailed map of the country hung on the wall opposite the window, marked with red pins at key strategic locations. The rigid Man could be seen, sitting behind his desk that afternoon. His face hard and disturbed. His countenance dim and filled with displease.

"Good day, General." Warner curtsied.
"Have a seat, Colonel." Marcov said, gesturing to the office chair opposite his.
"You sent for me. Is all well?"
"Far from it."
"What could be wrong?" The latter, hurriedly inquired, equally disturbed.
There was an open laptop on Marcov's side of the table. The General turned it around so Warner could see.
"What is this?" Warner asked, perplexed.
"Play the video."
He did as instructed and a blurry clip started playing.

"We are the S.A; Shadows Anarchist and we have a message for you, General. Your time of rule has now been numbered as we no longer have need of you in power. It's time for a change, General. A change of rule, a change of government. You have three weeks. Three weeks or things will get bloody and I mean, WAR!"

The video came to an end. Warner stared back at the General on the other side of the table.
"What do they want this time? I thought they were paid enough money to shut up for good?"
"These people are like leeches, Colonel. Hard to get off."
"General, we both know what was done to ensure your family sat on the throne of leadership. As it stands, we can't keep letting those wretched Anarchists keep blackmailing us."
"I thought so too, Alvarin." Marcov bellowed. "However, to win this fight, we must outthink those hypocrites. No one can bring the Fedorcenkos out of power. Not while I am still alive." He swore.
"What do you suggest this time, General?"
"Enough of us bending to their wishes. If it's war they want, we'll give them a fair battle and have them out of my life for good."
"A war....General, don't you think this isn't the best strategy for our nation at this moment?"
"It's either that or becoming a slave to those animals and that is one thing I will never agree to."
"But General...."
"Enough, Colonel. This has to end with me if not, Russo would suffer the same fate in his reign and I wouldn't want that for my son. I'm sure you'll understand what it means to want the best for your own son and to...." Marcov stopped halfway. "...oh that's right. You don't have one." He said, sourly. Warner could feel the mockery in his voice as a painful stab to his heart.
"No I don't." He said, shortly.

           Suppressing the pain and shame just as always. He should be used to it. Afterall, he's friends and colleagues had mocked him on the subject for years now. Some even suggested he got a mistress who would bear him a son but Warner loved his wife so much that he could never bring himself to cheat on her.

"In that case, I'll have to send for my son."
"That would be the proper step to take."
"You may leave, now."
"Thank you so much, General. I'll be on my way now." Warner got to his feet and shook hands with the latter before taking his exit from the office.

               Warner drove away from the General's residence and took a stop by the afternoon bar. Sitting at a table, he ordered a bottle of whiskey and decided to  drown in his sorrows for awhile but not to the point of drunkenness, given his position in the society.

                 A man of his caliber needed a son to forge ahead. A son was the backbone he needed in his eventual old age. He needed a son not a daughter who would one day fall in love and become some other man's property. For Warner, his life was officially over. What use was a man of his stand, without a male child?