Operation In Secula Seculorum

[Lanakov]

On board of a Gallic transport, Orkney system. Two men sitting side by side in the cockpit.

"Feeling better, friend ?"

The pilot was wearing a GMS flightsuit and a tidy beard. His interlocutor had the same kind of suit, though it seemed less used. A suspicious eye would have noticed the contrast between the clean, new suit and its wearer's face, already marked by the passing of time and a likely tumultuous life.

"Much better, thank you. I just can't stop thinking about what would have happened if you hadn't shown up when you did."

The pilot chuckled, trying to hide his pride at having saved the day.
"Wouldn't have left you out in the cold, friend ! It's odd you got attacked in these parts, though. Ever since the military kicked out the Republicans and seized the Taus, pirate attacks in the area have largely decreased. We don't get nearly as many problems as during the first journeys out of Languedoc. The lack of bases of operation, I assume..."

The other man seemed to have lost himself in his thoughts. The pilot couldn't blame him after what he'd been through ; he was probably still shocked. Still, he wanted to be friendly to this man he saved, in order at least to comfort him ; and maybe get some information about him so he could boast about who he'd saved from the claws of the Brigands with accurate details. Ladies from Nevers weren't easy to impress.

"By the way, friend, you didn't tell me your name..."

Major Nitchiev Lanakov surfaced from his thoughts and faced the man who was about to give him an entrance ticket to Gallia. The whole pirate attack cover up had worked so far, now was another moment of truth.

"Bergier... My name is Jacques Bergier."

And while saying this, he observed the pilot's reaction, while keeping his neutral look.

There was no trace of suspicion on the man's face ; only what Lanakov could describe as honest friendliness.
The pilot handed his hand to him, and said ;
"Well then, very glad to meet you friend, my name is Jean-Pierre Le Blanc !"

Lanakov allowed himself to smile.
"The pleasure is shared, especially considering the circumstances..."

The pilot laughed.


As the impressive minefield appeared in the horizon, Lanakov knew Operation In Secula Seculorum was about to begin. He closed his eyes for a second. Deceiving this honest miner proved to be an easy task.
Might be substantially harder to deceive an entire nation, but it was most certainly doable.

As the ship dialed in the jump hole procedure, he opened his eyes. He had now become Jacques Bergier, honest subject of the Gallic Crown. There was no turning back now.

---

Feedback, insults, marriage proposals and declarations of fealty

If everyone was a bit more like Lanakov, the entire world would be more positive. Including pregnancy tests.