Fic: Prisoners of War, Chapter Four (cont.)
Yeah, I think this bit is going to start cementing the idea that Mel is the baddie in this story.
Hazel knocked on the door of the Major’s office, slipping inside at her sharp call of “Enter!”
“I just vanted to give you my initial report, Security Major,” she said, saluting and coming to attention. Major Softpaw was seated behind her desk, her riding crop set aside as she frowned at some paperwork.
“At ease, Leutnant. Any surprises with the Captain?”
She switched to parade rest, footpads apart, paws clasped behind her back. It didn’t pay to get too relaxed in front of the Major, especially when she had an interesting project to work on. Or work over, as the case may be. “No, it vas as you predicted. A little bit of teasing and petting and he vas practically trying to lick ze drool off his muzzle.”
The Major chuffed. “Their nobility is so weak and decadent. Did he offer any information beyond the basics?”
“Not yet, Security Major. But he vas probably glad to get back to his cell so he could debrief his left paw. Another couple of sessions and he’ll probably start letting information slip.”
The Major nodded. “Very good, Leutnant. But don’t take too long. Supreme Command believes that the Mother Country is going to attempt an invasion of Gerwart before too long. They are amassing ground troops and putting together vhat appears to be a massive fleet of bomber airships.”
Hazel raised an eyebrow. “So they’re not going to try and take the port as suspected?”
“If they go overland they’ll hit our defense fortifications. If they try to hit our main ports, they’ll be ripped apart by our superior ships. Either is a bad choice, but we must find out exactly what they are planning so as to concentrate our defenses properly.”
“They’re airship was flying over the naval base, obviously on a reconnaissance mission. Sure zat is proof enough, Security Major.”
She knew she had made a mistake the moment the words left her mouth. The Major’s ears flicked back and she stood up from her desk, taking hold of her riding crop as she walked around to face Hazel, who automatically came to attention once again. She raised her chin up as the tip of the crop stroked the fur underneath, coming to rest directly on the collar of her shirt.
“Lt. Swiftfoot, do you consider yourself loyal?” she asked softly.
“I am a sworn officer of the Gerwart Sicherheitsdienst, Security Major.” She kept very still as the Major began to walk in circles around her, the crop trailing around her neck.
“That does not answer my question, Leutnant. Who are you loyal to? The Security Service? Gerwart? Myself?”
“I… would like… to be thought of as loyal to all three.” Hazel swallowed as the riding crop moved down to rest on her heart.
The Major made a hmm sound, then said, “There are those who might question your loyalty. You were not born in Gerwart. Your family are mere immigrants.”
“My father’s grandparents were from Gerwart. My father and mother moved back when I was very young. This is all in my personal records, Security Major. You know this.”
“Yes I do. But I also know that only those of absolute, unquestioning loyalty are permitted to enter the Security Service. Anyone with ze taint of being born outside our borders will be under suspicion their entire lives. Or at least they would, without powerful patrons to support them.” As she spoke, the Major stepped closer, her voice dropping to whisper, until she and Hazel were almost nose to nose, the Major’s tail wrapping around her subordinate’s waist. Hazel didn’t move, didn’t dare to even blink, lest she be suspected of trying to break away from the Major’s cold gaze.
“Security Major, I am loyal to Gerwart, I am loyal to the Security Service, and I am loyal to you above all,” she said, trying to keep the tremble out of her voice. “I am grateful, vill always be grateful for your support of me.”
“Good answer,” the Major whispered. “Now, what would you say to a subordinate in the Security Service, who questioned the need to interrogate a prisoner?”
“I would say they are very foolish, Security Major.”
“ A very good answer, Leutnant. Very safe.” The Major drew her hand back, as if to strike Hazel across the snout, and she flinched. But the tip of the crop merely tapped her nose. Then the Major rubbed her cheek against Hazel's, like a mother comforting her cub. “Never forget that you must constantly prove yourself, even more so than a child who was born here. And remember that Supreme Command will not be willing to wait for very long for our report. And they are far less forgiving of failure than I.”
“Ja, Security Major, I will remember.”
Hazel knocked on the door of the Major’s office, slipping inside at her sharp call of “Enter!”
“I just vanted to give you my initial report, Security Major,” she said, saluting and coming to attention. Major Softpaw was seated behind her desk, her riding crop set aside as she frowned at some paperwork.
“At ease, Leutnant. Any surprises with the Captain?”
She switched to parade rest, footpads apart, paws clasped behind her back. It didn’t pay to get too relaxed in front of the Major, especially when she had an interesting project to work on. Or work over, as the case may be. “No, it vas as you predicted. A little bit of teasing and petting and he vas practically trying to lick ze drool off his muzzle.”
The Major chuffed. “Their nobility is so weak and decadent. Did he offer any information beyond the basics?”
“Not yet, Security Major. But he vas probably glad to get back to his cell so he could debrief his left paw. Another couple of sessions and he’ll probably start letting information slip.”
The Major nodded. “Very good, Leutnant. But don’t take too long. Supreme Command believes that the Mother Country is going to attempt an invasion of Gerwart before too long. They are amassing ground troops and putting together vhat appears to be a massive fleet of bomber airships.”
Hazel raised an eyebrow. “So they’re not going to try and take the port as suspected?”
“If they go overland they’ll hit our defense fortifications. If they try to hit our main ports, they’ll be ripped apart by our superior ships. Either is a bad choice, but we must find out exactly what they are planning so as to concentrate our defenses properly.”
“They’re airship was flying over the naval base, obviously on a reconnaissance mission. Sure zat is proof enough, Security Major.”
She knew she had made a mistake the moment the words left her mouth. The Major’s ears flicked back and she stood up from her desk, taking hold of her riding crop as she walked around to face Hazel, who automatically came to attention once again. She raised her chin up as the tip of the crop stroked the fur underneath, coming to rest directly on the collar of her shirt.
“Lt. Swiftfoot, do you consider yourself loyal?” she asked softly.
“I am a sworn officer of the Gerwart Sicherheitsdienst, Security Major.” She kept very still as the Major began to walk in circles around her, the crop trailing around her neck.
“That does not answer my question, Leutnant. Who are you loyal to? The Security Service? Gerwart? Myself?”
“I… would like… to be thought of as loyal to all three.” Hazel swallowed as the riding crop moved down to rest on her heart.
The Major made a hmm sound, then said, “There are those who might question your loyalty. You were not born in Gerwart. Your family are mere immigrants.”
“My father’s grandparents were from Gerwart. My father and mother moved back when I was very young. This is all in my personal records, Security Major. You know this.”
“Yes I do. But I also know that only those of absolute, unquestioning loyalty are permitted to enter the Security Service. Anyone with ze taint of being born outside our borders will be under suspicion their entire lives. Or at least they would, without powerful patrons to support them.” As she spoke, the Major stepped closer, her voice dropping to whisper, until she and Hazel were almost nose to nose, the Major’s tail wrapping around her subordinate’s waist. Hazel didn’t move, didn’t dare to even blink, lest she be suspected of trying to break away from the Major’s cold gaze.
“Security Major, I am loyal to Gerwart, I am loyal to the Security Service, and I am loyal to you above all,” she said, trying to keep the tremble out of her voice. “I am grateful, vill always be grateful for your support of me.”
“Good answer,” the Major whispered. “Now, what would you say to a subordinate in the Security Service, who questioned the need to interrogate a prisoner?”
“I would say they are very foolish, Security Major.”
“ A very good answer, Leutnant. Very safe.” The Major drew her hand back, as if to strike Hazel across the snout, and she flinched. But the tip of the crop merely tapped her nose. Then the Major rubbed her cheek against Hazel's, like a mother comforting her cub. “Never forget that you must constantly prove yourself, even more so than a child who was born here. And remember that Supreme Command will not be willing to wait for very long for our report. And they are far less forgiving of failure than I.”
“Ja, Security Major, I will remember.”