Taking Space 2

- WHITE SUN STATION -

"How fair our efforts in the Colloidal sector," Adolph asked.

One of the holographic men sitting at the long conference table spoke up, "We have taken care of the leak and Gregor is once again fully cooperating albeit reluctantly."

"Good," Adolph answered. "What's your assessment of the damages this leak caused?"

"The people are not happy that I have publicly taken over the investigation," the man answered. "Some of them have even began to point fingers at Gregor."

"I see," Adolph said. "That is unfortunate. He may need to be displaced sooner than I was planning. How is—" Adolph cut himself off as a soldier entered the war room and came to attention beside the door.

Turning to him he said, "I trust this is important?"

The soldier nodded and walked over handing him a tablet.

Adolph quickly read over it. Apparently over seventy-five percent of the money stolen by Vilex was on the move. Vilex was buying something big.

"Thank you," he told the soldier then stood up and address the room. "Something that needs my immediate attention has transpired. We will reconvene at my leisure."

***

Adolph sat at his desk his hands steepled in front of him staring at the readouts hovering in the air before him. His people had tracked the money across fourteen different transfers at which point a few thousand of the crypto broke off and was supposedly used to purchase a dairy cow then the rest of the money just disappeared.

He had some of the best hackers in the galaxy at his disposal, one would think it would be easy for him to retrieve his lost money and find the definitive location of the traitor. But the exact opposite turned out to be true.

He prided himself on being a calm man this whole situation however was pushing his patients. Vilex betrayal had hurt his economical power immensely but far worse it was constantly making him lose face. He had taken the shambled mess of his father's tiny kingdom and turned it into an empire by rallying the people behind him and outmaneuvering every small-minded government that stood in his way. Vilex had been there at his right hand all the way, willing to do whatever needed to be done.

With his help the Empire devoured sector after sector only ever having to resort to brute strength twice, oh Adolph would like to claim that it was all due to his superior intellect but that would be foolish. Vilex's dirty hands had a great deal to do with his success. So much so that everyone knew the blood-stained hand of the Adolph's migration logo was modeled after Vilex's own hand. It was a symbol meant to drive fear into anyone who had opposed him. A statement that said that no one was safe, a declaration that the underside of the Empire could kill you in your very own home if need be.

Vilex's betrayal however had turned that declaration on its head. Thanks to this some of his highest-ranking officers were starting to question his abilities and authority in their back rooms.

This was something he could not allowed to continue any longer.

"Contact commander Eldridge," he said aloud.

Shortly a hologram of the same commander he had sent down to the planet Magyar appeared before him.

The commander came to attention and saluted.

"Did you investigate the purchase I asked you to?" He asked him.

The commander lowered his hand. "Yes, I talked to the proprietor. The cow was picked up by an automated vehicle shortly after its purchase."