(Photo by Max Vakhtbovych)

Immolator Gres did nothing to conceal her displeasure with Fas. The two of them, following the introduction of the Ka’Raks to the battalion, had gone to Immolator Gres’ office. Upon entering the office, Fas bowed in salute but Immolator Gres did not place a hand on Fas’ outstretched hands and so Fas was left to remain in salute. Such a thing was only done when the commanding officer was particularly upset with their subordinate.

“Have you entirely lost your mind?” Immolator Gres demanded the moment she was seated behind her desk. “What were you thinking, garrisoning your soldiers with the Ka’Raks?”

“They’ve shown no signs of aggression,” Fas replied. “By incorporating the Ka’Raks into the ranks of the battalion they’ll develop a sense of kinship and be easier to work with. Already they’re showing their natural behaviors, allowing Observation to learn more about their culture.”

“All barracks are supposed to authorized through me,” Immolator Gres said, dodging around Fas’ explanation in her continued pursuit to discipline Fas.

“Of course,” Fas agreed, “and once the Ka’Rak’s ranks were made official, the warehouse they’re stationed in automatically became a barracks. As their Conflagrator,” Fas went on, “it’s my prerogative to determine how to distribute my soldiers within the barracks given to me.”

“What about all the new equipment they have?” Gres asked. “I don’t recall you requesting any of that.”

“I didn’t need to requisition any equipment for them,” Fas said. “The Ka’Rak’s created all of it themselves.”

Immolator Gres sat quietly for some time, fuming in silence while studying Fas through glaring eyes. For her part, Fas held Immolator Gres’ gaze but was careful to keep her expression respectful. She had nothing against Immolator Gres and could understand, to a point, much of her frustrations. Fas had been working more or less independently of Immolator Gres ever since she’d arrived. It hadn’t been on purpose, of course, but she just hadn’t needed much from Immolator Gres, not to mention that much of what she’d been doing was so different from anything else the military usually handled that there weren’t many protocols in place to deal with them.

“How long do you intend to leave your soldiers with them?” Immolator Gres finally asked, breaking the silence.

“I wasn’t planning on separating them,” Fas said. “As much as possible, I’d like to treat the Ka’Raks like any other unit within my battalion.”

“And what will you do when the Ka’Raks inevitably turn on your soldiers?”

“Have any of the Ka’Raks from Isarch rebelled?”

Fas suspected that Immolator Gres would be keeping close tabs on the Ka’Raks from Isarch, looking for any potentially troubling news.

“No,” Immolator Gres replied at once, confirming Fas’ suspicions. “But those Ka’Raks are alone with only their own kind. You mixing your soldiers up with them is incredibly risky.”

“I understand,” Fas nodded. “But it’s a risk I believe to be necessary in order to get the result I’ve been ordered to deliver.”

“I think you’re getting a little carried away with all your talk about belief,” muttered Immolator Gres.

“So far,” Fas replied, “every experiment I’ve run has confirmed my theory.”

“Fine!” Immolator Gres all but shouted. “Do whatever you want with them, but when it all goes wrong I won’t lift a finger to help dig you out of whatever pit you find yourself in.”

“In that case,” Fas said, “I request you remove yourself from the order of command overseeing the Ka’Raks.”

Immolator Gres considered the request for only a moment. Granting the request would mean cutting Fas off from any of Immolator Gres’ resources beyond the base requirements needed to maintain Fas’ battalion. It would also leave Fas to bare the sole responsibility for the Ka’Raks and any actions they might make. Thus, any discipline would be directed entirely at Fas. Of course, on the other end of the spectrum, any commendations for succeeding would also belong solely to Fas.

Immolator Gres’ eyes glazed over momentarily and then she stated, “It’s done. You have your barracks, including the warehouse, and whatever supplies and materials you have stored there. Besides your weekly supplies, any attempt to use or requisition anything else without my consent will be treated as theft. Now get out.”

Immolator Gres stood and just about slapped Fas’ hands, finally allowing her to leave her salute and leave. Fas knew that both she and Immolator Gres thought that they were the one who had come out with the better end of the deal. It certainly was a risk Fas was taking but she chafed at the constant interruptions from Immolator Gres. At least this way she could move forward without worrying about upsetting Immolator Gres. It was a bit worrying to be cut off from the resources offered by the base, but also exciting to see if she could overcome the challenge through the Ka’Rak’s belief. Already they’d furnished the warehouse quite well. If she could get a better grasp on how to direct that belief then she was confident that it would be Immolator Gres, and not Fas, who would regret this decision.