In the Beginning

Chapter 1: Prelude to Terror
A lean figure stood alone in a dimly lit office. He gazed out the large window that formed the back wall.
"Mine. All mine." He murmured to himself. The door to the office clicked open and a short, stern-looking man in uniform entered the room.
"Mr. Sonrisa?" The man in the window broke his gaze long enough to glance over his shoulder.
"Ah, Colonel Isom. I take it you received my message."
"Yes sir. I came as soon as I received it."
"Then you have it."
"Of course."
"Excellent. Please, have a seat."
Colonel Isom walked over to the large mahogany desk and sat in a chair. Sonrisa stole one final glance out the window before taking his place behind his desk.
"Well, where is it?" Colonel Isom reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a long, slender, silver disk with a blue crystal embedded in its center. He slid it across the desktop into Sonrisa's waiting hand.
"And it's all here?"
Colonel Isom smiled, "Yes sir it is. Every personnel file, every shred of information, from their blood type to what brand of tissue they use to wipe their ass."
"You're sure that everyone is here?"
"My staff personally took care of everyone on that list."
"Davis?"
"Yes sir."
"Porch?"
"Yes sir."
"Norman?"
"Yes sir."
"The Partees"
"The both of them sir."
"The Vaughns?"
"Sir, yes sir."
"The McKees as well, Colonel?"
Colonel Isom looked up at Sonrisa in surprise.
"The McKees, sir?"
"Yes the McKees." Sonrisa glared at the colonel as his stern expression suddenly vanished. "I thought I made it clear to you that I would show no mercy. Those who betray me once may betray me again. I absolutely refuse to lose what I fought hard to gain because of a few people and if that means bringing Robert McKee down in the process so be it!"
"But sir, Major McKee has sworn allegiance to the Republic. He has seen the errors of his ways. I see no reason why we must-"
Colonel Isom paused as Sonrisa stood up and made his way to the other side of the desk. He rested his hand on the colonel shoulders.
"I am aware that you and the Major were comrades, but he was disloyal. Disloyalty must be punished, severely."
"I assure you sir," Colonel Isom began in a shaking voice, "that the McKees are on that disk."
"Good. Have you sent copies to the squadron leaders?"
"Yes and they are awaiting their orders." Sonrisa rubbed his chin, "Tell them to hold off on their missions until after the attack on Ethos."
The Colonel chuckled softly, "Going after Vaughn first?"
"Of course. No one opposes my leadership and lives to tell the tale. Besides, they attack will drive the uniformed RTF Units away from the planets we are targeting."
"Leaving them understaffed and unable to respond to the attacks that await them."
"Precisely."
"Excellent plan sir."
"Thank you. Your services have been more than beneficial. You are dismissed." Colonel Isom rose from his chair and saluted before quickly departing the room. Sonrisa wondered back over to his side of the desk and flopped down into the chair. He gazed down at the disk he still clutched in his hand.
"So small and yet you have the power to destroy so many lives.", he chuckled softly to himself, "It's so good to be in control."