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Acting on Assumptions
A Thursday Prompt story
© 2022 by Walter Reimer
Prompt: given
“Admiral Nguti, Sir,” the aide said, stepping out of the office as the sifaka approached Admiral-General Gromov’s desk and saluted the tiger.
Gromov returned the salute as the door closed. He gestured at a seat. “How are you doing, Karina? Your husbands and children?”
The sifaka smiled. “They are all fine, Feranq,” she replied.
“Good. You might have heard that I’ve been auditing all the Code Black projects.”
Nguti’s expression became guarded.
Fast.
“I may have heard something about it.”
“I’m not surprised,” the tiger said, his tail flicking slightly. “The only thing that moves faster than light is rumor, after all. Still, during my audit the Mockingbird prototype came up.”
“Oh? I’ve n – “
“Stop, Karina,” Gromov said. “Just stop. Your fingerprints are all over this, despite your best efforts. A ship designed to mimic a Kashlanin warship’s power signature – was it for infiltration, or attack?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
The tiger nodded, once. “I could have been one of your husbands.”
“As I recall, you refused.”
“Do you know why?” The sifaka waited. “Because I always think, ‘What does this person have to gain, and why?’ I always begin by thinking that everyone is out to get something, and to use me to get it.” The tiger’s whiskers semaphored. “As a result, I’m very rarely surprised.”
“You’re out to get something, too.”
Gromov grinned. “Of course. Aren’t we all?” He glanced down at his padd. “Your project’s been removed from your authority. It has been transferred to Fleet Research.”
“What? You can’t do that!”
“I can, and have.”
“Research knows nothing about this,” she fairly spluttered.
“Then do the right thing, and cooperate by surrendering all data and specifications for the prototype,” he said. “I could always have ‘M’ do it for me.”
“Him,” she growled. “He’s using you, Feranq,” she said as she got to her feet.
“Actually, it was the Kashlani who told me about Mockingbird,” the tiger said. “It was simply a matter of looking – and, of course, taking a good guess as to who would gain the most from the project.” He smiled. “Dismissed, Karina.”
The sifaka gave him a different salute, one involving an erect middle finger, before leaving the office. When the door closed again, the tiger chuckled.
Nguti Karina would be under surveillance for the rest of her career, if not her life, to make sure that she wouldn’t try anything so stupid again.
And he took it for granted that she would try again.
A Thursday Prompt story
© 2022 by Walter Reimer
Prompt: given
“Admiral Nguti, Sir,” the aide said, stepping out of the office as the sifaka approached Admiral-General Gromov’s desk and saluted the tiger.
Gromov returned the salute as the door closed. He gestured at a seat. “How are you doing, Karina? Your husbands and children?”
The sifaka smiled. “They are all fine, Feranq,” she replied.
“Good. You might have heard that I’ve been auditing all the Code Black projects.”
Nguti’s expression became guarded.
Fast.
“I may have heard something about it.”
“I’m not surprised,” the tiger said, his tail flicking slightly. “The only thing that moves faster than light is rumor, after all. Still, during my audit the Mockingbird prototype came up.”
“Oh? I’ve n – “
“Stop, Karina,” Gromov said. “Just stop. Your fingerprints are all over this, despite your best efforts. A ship designed to mimic a Kashlanin warship’s power signature – was it for infiltration, or attack?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
The tiger nodded, once. “I could have been one of your husbands.”
“As I recall, you refused.”
“Do you know why?” The sifaka waited. “Because I always think, ‘What does this person have to gain, and why?’ I always begin by thinking that everyone is out to get something, and to use me to get it.” The tiger’s whiskers semaphored. “As a result, I’m very rarely surprised.”
“You’re out to get something, too.”
Gromov grinned. “Of course. Aren’t we all?” He glanced down at his padd. “Your project’s been removed from your authority. It has been transferred to Fleet Research.”
“What? You can’t do that!”
“I can, and have.”
“Research knows nothing about this,” she fairly spluttered.
“Then do the right thing, and cooperate by surrendering all data and specifications for the prototype,” he said. “I could always have ‘M’ do it for me.”
“Him,” she growled. “He’s using you, Feranq,” she said as she got to her feet.
“Actually, it was the Kashlani who told me about Mockingbird,” the tiger said. “It was simply a matter of looking – and, of course, taking a good guess as to who would gain the most from the project.” He smiled. “Dismissed, Karina.”
The sifaka gave him a different salute, one involving an erect middle finger, before leaving the office. When the door closed again, the tiger chuckled.
Nguti Karina would be under surveillance for the rest of her career, if not her life, to make sure that she wouldn’t try anything so stupid again.
And he took it for granted that she would try again.
Category Story / General Furry Art
Species Tiger
Size 120 x 77px
File Size 47.8 kB
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