Background III
14 Jun 2020SunshinyComet
Background III3287
"Sergeant Atraedis. I understand you performed well on the raid yesterday. Two confirmed kills, plus another nineteen suspects in custody, not to mention that you finished your sweep the fastest - impressive, for a relative newcomer such as yourself."
"Thank you, Colonel. I received good training."
"I'm sure you did, but what I've found after this many years on the job is that some people distinguish themselves from others not because of any training, but because of their drive, their ambition, their willingness to see something through no matter what - a thirst for justice, if you will. This drive is what I hope I'm beginning to see in you."
Colonel Anderson began swiping through Augustus' service records.
"Promoted to Sergeant after only a year and a half of active service, huh? I might just be right about you. So, tell me, Augustus."
Anderson brought the holographic display down, and met Augustus' eye with a knowing smile.
"Am I right about you?"
"I believe you are, sir."
"Very good. Now, enough about praise; let's move on to rewards. Your service at the raid was stellar, and while we can't promote you again just yet, there is one opening that I have in mind for you. A special function, if you will. You'd perform special operations that come straight down from me. Not quite off-the-books, but not really something you can bring up at mess - you understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very good indeed. Now, during these operations you would be officially placed on temporary leave - just so your NCOs don't get the wrong idea. You would receive an encrypted comm from me detailing the parameters of the operation, you would visit the quartermaster to pick up any specialised equipment, and you would ship off on whatever vessel is designated. I want to emphasize again that these are all top-secret operations - any kind of security breach, anywhere, and your head is on a spike in front of the entire Board of Directors. However, for each operation successfully completed you will receive a bonus in the form of 15% of your annual - Earth-years, that is - income. All this to take down whatever terrorists decide to mess with us next.
Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Great. Now, these operations come along as they like to, so you won't receive more than a week's notice for any given op. And, as it happens, there's a specified contract from me open right now. I've just sent it to you on an encrypted channel - more details will be provided upon arrival.
Dismissed, Sergeant. Good luck out there."
Augustus stood, and left the room. The colonel smiled to himself. He had known that the Sergeant was something of an idealist, but he hadn't thought that Atraedis would have been that easy to dupe. It's always the do-gooders, he thought as he pulled Augustus' records back up.