Rebel Defenders: Emergence of the Spectres (Book 1)

Chapter 9: Mixed Messages

"I've been trying to call him but I keep getting voice mail." Anatoly said frantic as he paced back and forth

"Forget Wesley! It's pointless!" Vladimir screamed

"Why is it pointless? We appeal to his employer. Tell him that we have access to information that Wesley can't get. Remember I still have the spider drone following Wesley."

"This is a waste of time. We need to go to Vizago now and make preparations to defend ourselves." Vladimir argued as he waved off a airship mechanic with a clipboard

"Why brother? We have had more success here than we ever did in Russia. Don't you remember how we were betrayed by our so called allies to those mindless clones?" Anatoly said as he grabbed his brother's arm

"I remember brother but I also don't you want to trade one group we can't trust for another. We have an opportunity to get power if we plan carefully with Vizago. We buy his droid army at an expensive price, he gives us information and we strike."

Vladimir shook off his brother as he sat down rubbing hands over his face.

"You're letting your emotions speak for you. We enter a war with Wesley's employer we challenge the rest of the cabal. Its smarter if we form a partnership with him by making it look like Wesley is making mistakes. He is taking on the Masked Man himself. So use this to make him look bad but in the process we find out who his employer is. We prove ourselves so that he trusts us with his plan."

"Why do we have to kneel like dogs before him?" Vladimir challenged

"Because I'm sick of war!" Anatoly screamed

He clenched his hands into fists and started pacing faster.

"We already have lost half of our men to this Masked freak! We fight a war for what? Your pride. Your ego. Then we lose all our brothers and conquer the ashes of what's left? For what? We have a good thing. We have come a long way from being betrayed and having nothing. Why waste that?"

"Because we can have more than money." Vladimir said

Anatoly sighed and then walked out slamming the door. Vladimir leaned back in his chair and breathed heavily. He put his hands over his face again. After a few minutes of silence he exited his office and entered the vehicle staging area. He went over to the subordinate that approached him earlier and signed the papers on his clipboard. Vladimir decided to give Anatoly some time before calling him again and getting him to understand.

...

"Healy my man what's going on my brother? It's been a while since we've seen each other. Anything new with you, how's the family." Turk greeted joyfully

"Cut the bull Turk. You said you had something for me." Healy grunted

Healy was of average size and build with balding red hair and a rough looking goatee of the same color. He had the look of the typical Imperial office drone than a hardened criminal. Turk's attempt to keep things light was obviously because Healy's reputation preceded him. He was only used for difficult jobs mostly for Wesley and his employer. People were poking into matters related to them and Wesley needed him to deal with this. Turk ushered Healy further into the abandoned warehouse that he converted into a secret smuggling depot.

"Ok you want to skip the meet and greet aspect of things I understand. Wesley and the big man he answers to they got they stuff on straight. They got you on a tight timetable I get it. But don't worry Turk Barrett has got you covered with the best that money can buy. Hopefully you got a crapload of credits cause smuggling this stuff under Kallus's nose was not easy."