Argh! Argh! Argh! 

What a dreadful day. Just horrifically dreadful in the way toiling as a cog in the machine can be. On the plus side, it made writing this scene far easier. Maybe as an exorcism of today's demons, inspiration to never fly a desk again or maybe I too really wanted to do this.

The excerpt is from my space opera story. The working title is Once and Future Queen. Our protagonist has been called to task by an officious bureaucrat. Spoilers, don't get attached to the bureaucrat...

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“Come in, come in,” said Ghalem as Glynn entered the Administrator’s office. He noticed the large chair in the centre of the room. It looked quite comfortable. “Please sit.” continued Ghalem and waved towards the chair.

Obediently Glynn sat. That was what a loyal subject of the Ascendancy would do and what were humans if not loyal subjects?

“A rather interesting request here Senco. Rather interesting indeed,” said Ghalem.

Glynn tensed. What had this official noticed? What had given them away?

“Interesting?” he repeated.

“Yes, requests for provisions, medicine, but little in the way of charge packs or capacitors, ” said Ghalem.

Damn. That was it! They had focused on making sure everyone was adequately provisioned that they had forgotten that technically, they were still subduing the Pacherri. It was always the little things.

“Err, we ran into a few supply problems. It needed to be made quickly,” said Glynn.

“No time for the Shanxi to approve of it?” asked Ghalem.

They had no longer been there. So the Shanxi or any supervisory Invar could or indeed, would have approved the request.

“No, they were overseeing fighting elsewhere. Since the Pacherri around us had surrendered it was felt there was little need for more fighting materiel.”  attempted Glynn

“So, you thought it could be done on your own, very independent of you there,” said Ghalem.

Independent was not a favourable term for Humanity. They were expected to be obedient, focused on the common good, and in all ways be good workers and soldiers for the Ascendancy. Independence was good if you were an Invar, Cayman, Tollan or an Arkan. Even the Bucelli could be now. Never Humans, not really. Humans bred, toiled and fought as their Invar masters ordered. They knew best, you just obeyed. 

Glynn had lived, trained and fought under the guidance of these betters, these oh so superior aliens who, it was dawning on him, were not smarter, wiser or more learned than him. 

“So, in the absence of a cosigned document…” said Ghalem.

They were also a mere sixty centimetres high. This one was small for his species.

“...will have to decline this request.” ended Ghalem.

Glynn stared at the diminutive Invar. This pompous little official thought he could stop him? This wretched ball of fur! Why he could simply lean forward and grab the insignificant obstruction and with one twist…

Glynn realised then that he was standing on the other side of the desk, the Administrator limp and quite lifeless in his hands. Neck broken. As he dropped the body in shock, the door burst open as Artura and an armed squad burst in.

“I see you’re already ahead of me, my dear. Let’s step up. Forward the Revolution! Forward Humanity!” said Artura.

“Forward the Revolution! Forward Humanity!” the squad began cheering.

Glynn found that he too was cheering with them.