“Report,” the Commander said.
Janco glanced at Ari as if to say, ‘you go first.’
“We arrived in MD-1 on the fifty-first day of the cooling season,” Ari said. “We rendezvoused with Agent Kelia and her partner, Agent Cyrus, and they updated us on the situation. They had figured out that General Kitvivan’s hunting party planned on capturing snow cats by correctly deducing that the large steel traps and live sheep were for the cats, and not for other game.”
“How do you know they were correct?” the Commander asked.
“We observed teams of hunters setting the traps at various spots on the Northern Ice Pack. After they secured a sheep in each cage, they retreated.”
The Commander’s gaze turned icy. “Did they capture any snow cats?”
Janco scoffed. “Those cats are too smart to fall for a bunch of bleating sheeps.”
“No, sir,” Ari said, keeping his formal tone despite shooting his partner an exasperated look. No doubt because of Janco’s insistence that sheeps is the correct plural form of sheep. “We sabotaged their efforts.”
Intrigued, Valek asked, “How?”
“Well, first we released all those poor sheeps. Took them to a local farmer who promised to only shear them and not harm them.”
“We replaced them with mock snow cats,” Ari said.
“Mock?”
“You should have seen them!” Janco chortled. “Kelia sculpted them out of snow. We gathered bits of rocks and sticks and stuff for their face, teeth, and claws. I swear at ten paces out, they looked alive. She’s super talented.”
Valek hid his grin.
“When the hunters returned, they thought they had captured the cats,” Ari said. “They were so focused on their prize; they didn’t notice us.”
“My mother always told me to be aware of my surroundings,” Janco said. “Those guys obviously don’t know my mother. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have gotten caught in their own traps.”
“We rounded up the wagons and horses and brought the full cages back to General Kitvivan.”
“A thoughtful present, but the general disagreed.” Jancotsked. “However, it was a convincing visual to back up our credentials.”
“I’d say. What did Kitvivan do?” Valek asked.
“At first, he threatened to throw us in jail, and then he tried to bribe us. He’s a very disagreeable fellow. But Mr. Unflappable here”—Janco hooked a thumb toward Ari—"just stared him down. Told him if he didn’t stop hunting snow cats, we’d be back with the Commander’s elite guard and a newly promoted general of MD-1.”
“That was rather bold,” the Commander said to Ari.
“I determined the general is the type of man who values his position over all else. The threat worked and he promised not to hunt them anymore.”
“How can you be certain he’ll keep his word?”
“I can’t, but Kelia and Cyrus will remain vigilant,” Ari said.
“And if he tries again?”
Ari met the Commander’s gaze. “You’ve told him not to hunt the cats, and we’ve warned him. What’s the next step if he breaks his promise?”
The Commander laughed. “I’ll send my elite guard and promote another colonel to general.”
Proud of how his seconds handled the situation, Valek smiled. “I’d recommend Colonel Laban. In fact, why wait? Be proactive and promote them now.”
“I’m well aware of your opinions about the generals, Valek,” the Commander said. “Well done, Ari and Janco, you’re dismissed.”
“Yes, sir,” they said, then left.
