Alive || 86: Eighty-Six [ vers. ENG ]

final preparations

Since the Federation re-established contact with the Republic of San Magnolia, Colonel Helma Arenberg has experienced an increase in workload. The intelligence department had never been as overwhelmed as it had been recently. Contrary to her usual practice, she had even let her subordinates take care of most of the work while she enjoyed a moment of respite alone in her office. She had personally selected the talented individuals under her command. Most of them during their training time at the Academy. As for the others, she had trained them herself after recognizing their potential. Her eyes were rarely wrong.

Unfortunately, she knew full well that she would never be able to enjoy a moment of peace for very long.

Someone suddenly knocked on her door. She hadn't noticed the person's presence until they made themselves known. Helma cleared a few documents from her desk before answering. Her gaze then fell on a piece of paper she had forgotten about. She placed it in front of her.

"You may come in."

And without the person introducing themselves, she continued.

"What can I do for you, Commodore Willem Ehrenfried?"

He entered alone. He closed the door behind him.

"You can act as usual, Helma. There's no one around.

"Fine."

She let out a short sigh before continuing.

"It seems to me that my name should no longer be on your list of subordinates to harass. Why me?"

"Foolishness. Changing departments doesn't mean your name is crossed off," he explained.

"And I thought the opposite," she lamented falsely. "Did I wasted my privileges on false hope?"

"Is that really why you changed departments? Having you under my direct command would make my job much easier. Especially now that the Western Front has lost sixty percent of its personnel."

"Let's not exaggerate. My reasons have nothing to do with you. For the moment, my current position is fine. Let me finish what I have to do here first. Maybe if I'm offered your position, I'll come back sooner."

"My position?" he repeated. "You're incapable of sacrificing anyone."

He sat down in an armchair facing the desk.

"It's hard to deny the facts. Unfortunately, I didn't receive the same elite education as you. After all, I wasn't even supposed to take over the leadership of my family. If I am where I am today, it's simply because my elders lost their lives during this war. Once their wishes have been fulfilled, I will finally be able to pursue my own goals."

She stood up and walked over to a cabinet, where she took out two cups. She poured coffee into them.

"You're lucky. I recently received some high-quality coffee."