Recruit: Book One of the Universal Conflict ( Under Constant Editing)

Chapter 23

  "I'm sorry about your mate." Cory told Rufin "I'm glad you're staying with us, though, we need you."

  "Thanks, Cory," Rufe said "I really don't know what else I have now."

The loss of his mate had Rufe in a deep depression and he was anxious to leave. The longer he stayed home the worse it got. He made his decision to stay with the fleet because of it.

  "All my living relations are staying with the fleet." Rufe stated "We'll go home when this is over. We want payback and we intend to get it!"

  "That said, the next planet will be in range soon." Cory said "At this rate I'll never get home with Krystal."

  Cory wanted to show her off to his family. Many of them saying  he'd never find a cute girl because of his low self esteem issue.

He wanted to see their faces when they laid their eyes on her.       

  Cory smiled then shook off the thought as an idea struck him.

  "I need to talk to T'ilvesh," Cory said "I might have a way to speed things up a bit."

  "C'mon, spill it." Rufe demanded, his curiosity peaked by Corys statement "Out with it! Don't leave me hangin'"

  "Not yet," Cory replied "I want to check it out with the Commander first."

  "Then let's go see him."

  The two left the training bay and headed to the bridge. Feeling in need of a shower before going in, Cory stopped at his cabin to clean up first. Getting Rufe a drink for while he waited, Cory ran into the bathroom and took a fast shower. Coming out in a fresh uniform Cory got himself something to drink. Finishing quickly the two left the cabin to go see T'ilvesh.

  Walking onto the bridge Cory walked up behind Krystal and gave her a quick kiss before asking about the Commander.

  "He's on the Retailator with Slei." Krystal informed the two.

  "When will he be back ?" Cory asked "Soon I hope."

  "Is now good enough?" T'ilvesh inquired, striding onto the bridge "What's so urgent?"

  "I have an idea to speed up our mission." Cory answered "I need your input on whether or not it would work."

   "Okay, let's hear it."

  "The infested planets are too many to take back one at a time." Cory started "It would take more years than many of us will live to eradicate them."

  "I follow you so far." the Commander said.

  "Split the fleet up and take back as many as we can at the same time." he finished "We could end this in a couple of years."

  "It might be possible." T'ilvesh said "It just might be possible. I need to contact the commanding officers of the battle group ships, though."

  Turning from Cory, T'ilvesh went out to the operations center to have Shree, Hawks mate and comm officer, contact the battle group commanders.

  While waiting for the responses T'ilvesh had Cory gather the squad in the ready room for a discussion about getting translators on the prisoners. Soon they were seated around the table, coffee or drinks in hand, bouncing ideas off each other.

  "Too bad the translators can't be fed to them." Hawk joked "That would make it easy."

  "Too bad they won't wear them." Surni stated "The older models had to be implanted."

  "Really?" Cory asked "Where were they put?"

  "Just behind and below the ear." Surni answered "Why?"