" ...Yes," Nova said, speaking over the comm to Kaama. " ...Of course. I'll be back soon."

He hung up.

An electric car was brought around, sleek navy blue. It was a convertible.

Marden Ge'el gestured to it, and ran her hand over the door.

" There'll be a particle shield on the day of the event," she said. " DASS is lending us a team of security analysts to keep everything safe. The route is already programmed in. There'll be a driver in case of electronic failure, and you and the Commodore General will be in the back seat. Lyewa Prima will be in another vehicle behind you."

William looked over it, eyes scanning over the vehicle keenly. It was the most recent model from the Hesperian Aurlena company, a luxury vehicle with after-market modifications that largely consisted of discreet security measures. He could see the small black tabs that would generate the particle shield; they were military grade.

" Which sector are your security analysts from?" he asked.

She blinked.

" Our own, of course. Why would another sector be involved?" she asked.

" I'll be in touch with them soon, then," he said. He had already run a background check on the agency director; there was nothing worth his attention. She was just another naïve do-gooder in a sea of naïve do-gooders, someone who thought that peaceful discussion and compromise worked. The most controversial thing she had ever done was complain online about how not enough citizens cared about signing petitions.

Of course, stupid people made good pawns, and so he felt suspicious of the resources she was quickly cobbling together in order to pull the parade off.

Giving such a short timeline for the event... It felt like a deliberate measure to force less oversight on the SEA's part. Could it be Sector 05?

The pieces were clicking together in his head, rapidfire.

" Wille," Nova said to him.

" Yes?" he smiled, feigning attention.

" I've called Kaama to come shadow me during the parade," he said to him. " Since it's an important public appearance, Sturam will expect me to arrange personal security."

" Good," William said, still distracted. He was losing the thread. Marden Ge'el was walking ahead of them, babbling about how they'd be leaving from this garage and going through the downtown of the capitol bubble. It was arranged so that they'd pass by all the most important historic landmarks there. Very quaint.

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