Time Ghost

Chapter 51

 ~batabatabata~

The helicopter warms up for the journey ahead. Marcel Dubois has geared up in black suit that was primed for formal meeting or public conventions alike. Natalie dons a fit-sized silver suit to get along with Presidential visits of the day.

“I want to schedule a stop for the congress. Could you fix them up for me, Natalie?”

Marcel Dubois flips a few page on the confidential dossier, then showed a sheet for the blonde-haired woman to see. It has two hours written on the table alongside a small window of one for the Presidential speech,” I thought ceremonial event should be less than an hour to take.” He commented.

The blonde-haired woman, however, placed a sneer in-between her bland look. Natalie displays no interest over his arrangement and fixated her attention more towards the other documents in her grasp.

“Jamie Krueger will be presented there as well, Mr. President. Could be better for you to discuss about this matter with him before adjustments of the following rundown of your schedule.”

Closing her own book, Natalie approached him close afterwards, as if her ensuing information is practically secretive for anyone else to listen,”He wants to have a restricted meeting with you once the inauguration ceremony has over.” She whispered to his ear. The President needs only to nod ahead of his secretary’s input.

I never think a President’s duty would be this difficult. He needs to maintain every movements thoroughly yet still have to consider high-ranked officials’ opinions of such decision firsthand. Too much hearts to maintain onwards, and they all demanded attentions at the same level regardless of how limited my hours will be.

“Alright, first will be a meeting with Secretary of War. So be it, then.”

The President of Naulus hopped into the helicopter as soon as everything is settled to the brim.

---

Secretary of war has been waiting for the President’s arrival at the rooftop of Donn military headquarters. A number of black-suited agents are already lined-up for defensive perimeter around the landing circle. Defensively-equipped drones were hovering across the building to counter-act with mini airborne assaults who would draw themselves near for cultivation of intelligence it could have in the area.

He’s Roger Huntington. Sounds so nomad-like for someone close to the battlefield against Armea. He’s a veteran of several global-scale events in the world. A commanding officer for the second outbreak of the cold-war skirmish at Durino, leader for the campaign at the Atlantic Sea and the middleman for the heated relationship of the United States and the European Union.

A reliable person without trace of colorful backstory in the previous tenure.

“Welcome aboard, Mr. President.”

Roger Huntington situated his left forearm to meet the President’s right, then placing the other ones on his shoulder to embrace. Marcel Dubois received them all in amicable gesture, bending his back a little down and putting a wide smile upon the face,”How do you do? Pleased to meet you too, Roger.” Marcel Dubois said afterwards.

“I’m hoping you’ve entered our domain with great news to unfold, as much as I relished to inform yours.”

The Secretary of War has fairly-smaller posture than the rest of war Generals of Naulus. He boasted 170 centimeters in height, a shoulder-less in comparison to the President himself. Identical to most old-timer Generals in their ranks, gray-haired style ornaments the near-bald area above the top. He attains conservative personality for the spark of leadership tenure the man has created throughout the four-years of service.

I awaited your command on this circumstance, Mr. Roger. What’s going on for today?

Obscurity veils the conference room when the two major personality made entrance into the lair. A ghost will feel emaciated against the virility of the two men inside. No tensions wafted in the air, merely presence of their importance that ignites them all therein.

“Let’s start with yourself, Mr. Secretary. What should I have to be aware of today?”

The President took a seat near the entrance. Roger Huntington stays on the opposite end, sticking himself close to the many buttons on the war table.

”Please wait for a moment, Mr. President. I have to turn this on first.” He said.

Despite his shrunken stature, Roger Huntington’s masculine gaze will intimidate anyone who dares to challenge him into battle. No doubt, it forms an almond-shaped contour that would aggravate any damage caused by plain stare into the soul. A regular soldier stood no chance against the man’s devouring gaze and will be shuddered by the amount of pressure it creates.

~beep-beep~

Three-dimensional mapping of Durino shows up on the table. In contrary to the previous ones Marcel Dubois had in the three-way meeting of Generals earlier, it has diversified colors along the course of the two countries’ borders. Red ones for Naulus and many areas it has been conquered. Otherwise, Armea’s current territory are shown up in blue.

“I’ll start with Armea’s condition. We have seized their strategic supply lines and dominates several flanks for a small-time interruptions of their advance.”

The secretary of War pointed across the western side of Durino, then continues to the blue ones across the eastern area,”We have lost one area amongst many across the borderline so far, and it is Moyra that we have been controlled for months.” He marks the small blue dot at the middle of ruins on the table,”We were lost because of that man. His name is Baron Schneider, one of their reserved infantry and a former basketball athlete of some sort.”

Damn it, they recognized him already.

Can’t inform them of me, or my whole strategy will be exposed.

The President raised a hand, interrupted Roger Huntington in the middle of his speech,”What’s the point on you telling me about him, Roger?” He asked.

“Well, I’m on my way to speak about him, Mr. President.”

Roger Huntington then flicks a picture of the man afterwards,”Yesterday, he received a new prosthetic legs from someone abroad. We don’t have much informations about whose person is responsible, but we will acquire intelligence as much as we can.”