All Good Things (January 29th, 2201)
Wolk Putyata sat down in his new chair and stared at the piles of papers on his desk. His promotion to Director of Intelligence for the NOA had been a long time coming, but the influx of briefings and programs he had to sign off on had not been a welcome change. When he was home he barely spent any time with his wife anymore. He spun in his chair a couple times, taking in the view of the Karjinas. The NOA operated from a fairly large building in the east of Nrida, which unfortunately meant no ocean view. But today, with the west flank of Mt. Bekren soaring up until her peak disappeared into the rainclouds, Wolk couldn’t think of a better office to have.
Wolk took a sip of coffee and got to work. He had divided the stack into categories by type and importance, so he started with the most urgent reports. Most of the briefings he could delegate to his assistant, who had Secret clearance. Wolk would have to have him assessed for Counterintelligence and Top Secret clearances as well. If his assistant could see everything he could, it’d help reduce the workload significantly. Worst case scenario, I’ll just get a new assistant who can be cleared, he thought. Skimming the reports, Wolk yawned. The world was fairly quiet these past few months, and the NOA wasn’t too interested in anything that didn’t affect Novenad directly.
Most of these reports were on the various elections and successions in Kafrica, Zokesia, and Sahrland, and how they might affect Novenad and her allies. As part of the Pan-Veiidic Commonwealth, the NOA had certain obligations to keep tabs on the happenings of the rest of the world. Wolk was particularly interested in a report on the situation in Sahrland, which outlined the succession of Kirbo Lavro by Reydi-kae Lavro. Wolk frowned. A king owned by the Ascensionists wasn’t necessarily a threat, but there’s no telling what a new king might mean for the system as a whole. He’d have to keep a closer eye on Sahrland and Chadastok moving forward.
After reading through another few briefings, Wolk was beginning to make headway. He was halfway through a report on the latest Solarian economic policy when his assistant came in with a coffee. “Hmm. Four o’clock already, Milankov?” Wolk asked, rather miffed that the day had passed so quickly. “Yes sir,” Milankov said, on his way out. “I added a little spiyrt from the cask you got.” Wolk chuckled. He wouldn’t be changing assistants after all. He took a couple sips, and picked up the monthly counterintelligence report on the Pan-Veiidic Council. As he read the first two paragraphs, his smile dropped off his face. Eyes glued to the page, he went to put down his cup, missing the table and spilling his coffee on the rug he’d picked out only two days ago. Setting his jaw, Wolk picked up the phone and dialed the Grata Demokratska. “This is Director of Intelligence Wolk Puyata. I need to reach the offices of Prime Minister Berislav.”