A Rumor of Peace

CHAPTER 7

SUMMARY :  Roark and Harry finally call the team together to discuss their plans.  Roark gets angry at Ardyn because of his continued attitude.

The call went out to the team members the next afternoon.  They were to report to Aquarian Colonial Headquarters at eight hundred hours, in conference room 1.  They all arrived early, then waited impatiently for the Peverell Potter brothers to arrive.  At the last chime of eight hundred hours, Roark walked into the conference room, a new, several pocketed dark brown leather satchel in his hand.  Coming in immediately behind him was Harry, who was followed by a rather grim faced Severus, his midnight eyes looking around the table as Fili, then Logan and Kili entered.  They were then followed by Alexei, Desmond, Jordan and Tyler.  Alexei saw, but didn't acknowledge the shocked, surprised expressions on nearly all of the faces as soon as they saw the uniforms of what was now ten Colonial Counter-Intelligence Officers, especially Ardyn's as he got to his feet, mouth opening to begin to speak.

Alexei shot him a calm, stern look, which immediately made Ardyn close his mouth and re-take his seat, his eyes on all of them, his expression smoothing to nothing.  "Good morning, everyone," Roark spoke as soon as he reached the table.  "I'm quite sure you have all been told who we are, but let me introduce us anyway," he stood before his chair, laying the satchel on the table in easy reach before him.  Harry doing the same on his right, though his satchel was black.

Fili took a standing position in front of the chair to his immediate left, while Logan moved to the chair beside Harry, Kili moving to take the one beside his brother, while Alexei and Desmond moved to take chairs next to Logan.  Severus moved to the other end of the table, directly opposite of Roark, while Jordan and Tyler took places on either side of him, all three pulling out chairs, but not sitting down, throwing smirks at the Peverell Potter brothers as the team reacted to the seating arrangement by shifting nervously.  They looked around at them, each of them wondering what they were doing here.

"I am Lt. Roark Peverell Potter, to my right is Hadrian Peverell Potter, Colonial Counter-Intelligence.  As you can see, and as was always intended, Captain Fili, and Lt.'s Logan and Kili have also been promoted to Counter-Intelligence.  The other five Counter-Intelligence officers are Logan's new partner, Healer- Lt. Colonel Severus Prince Snape, Major Alexei, Captain Desmond, Colonel Jordan and finally Major Tyler Durin.  They will be joining the team as of yesterday, by order of Admiral Roark, Commander Thorin, Lt. Commander Dacian, Lt, Colonel Gabriel, and Major Raphael Durin.

"As I am sure you have all heard several rumors, let me make this perfectly clear.  There are no rumors, gentlemen," he looked around the table at them all.  "As of two sectars ago, this case against Tom Marvolo Riddle was handed over to Counter-Intelligence.  My orders...OUR orders, now come directly from Intelligence Command on Caprica."

The sound of a throat being cleared.  Roark turned his head to Alexei, nodded, and he spoke.  "Now it's my turn to make something very clear to all of you.  This case was placed into the hands of Lt. Roark for a reason.  We four are here to support him, NOT to take over.  You will NOT report to or come TO us with any concerns you may have about this case, or the orders given to you, unless you are otherwise instructed to do so.  We are all well aware of how young Lt. Roark is, of how young Lt. Hadrian is, but they have proven, beyond ANY shadow of a doubt that they can, and WILL do the jobs that are required of them, not just as Colonel Warriors, but as Counter-Intelligence Officers .  If you have a problem working for either of them I suggest you say so now."

"And what if we do have a problem?" came the growled question from someone near the middle of the table.

"Then," Harry began, his own tone harsh as he looked at the man with calm emerald eyes, "you will be removed from this team Lt. Mikel," he nearly smirked at the surprise that flared in the man's teal colored eyes, obviously surprised that he had known his name.  "We will soon have more than enough trouble without having to deal with dissension on the team as well."