An eerie breeze seemed to ripple throughout the room followed by a soft pneumatic swish as the doors to the reception room slid open. Two men walked beside a third individual. In this light, he had gray papery skin. White wisps of hair floated on his head adding to the feeling that the man approaching them was not of this world. He would be more appropriately placed in Cairo approach Lord Carnavon and Howard Carter than Kelly and her XO. The subtle boot scrape against the floor reminded Kelly of the shuffle of the walking dead.

“Here we go,” Kelly said under her breath.

“Captain Shultz…Erins....Bordeaux,” Perkins snapped his fingers as if he just remembered something important. “I should remember that name because you stole my yeoman.” Perkins looked at Ian standing next to the captain.

“Nah he just decided he didn’t enjoy the scent of mothballs and talcum powder,” Kelly shot back sticking out her hand lobbing half an insult at Perkins. “Told me walking into work every day was like walking into an elder care facility. Isn’t that right Ian,” Kelly made sure to use her husband’s first name instead of his formal rank as would be proper in this setting.

Perkins turned his dark gaze on the man that was once his personal attache. Bordeaux’s wife might think she was bulletproof but Perkins didn’t need to go after her to hurt Kelly. He could target other things. “Is that right…Ian,” he repeated Kelly’s question.

Kelly

“Senator Harland started the rumor when he used to visit he always asked about some hand sanitizer… do you want me to try and contact him for you, sir?” Ian asked as he looked pointedly back at Admiral Perkins. “We can get his opinion on this as well”

Bordeaux, Chief of Diplomacy

Kelly did a terrible job stifling her snicker. In fact there as little attempt to hide it. Perkins trained his icy gaze in her. “Excuse me Captain I have a call for you from Admiral McLaren,” a young ensign interrupted.

“Commander I trust you can handle the admiral,” Kelly said with a smile before slipping away.

There was no hiding the amount of dislike he had for the woman. As with all organizations the top was divided into two halves. These halves had their own supporters and agendas. They were only good or bad based on ones perception of them. Kelly was part of Admiral McLaren’s crew. Perkins has hated Adam McLaren since the first day at boot camp. Both men had rose to power but the animosity between them never cooled. Kelly, Dante, Rivar, and scores of other captains had tended to lean towards McLaren’s camp. This was balanced out by Perkins captain crew of Ren, Gruber, and Riddle. Ian here was someone that slipped from his ranks. Ian’s family knew the Harland family which was dotted with politicians since the anchor was dropped at Plymouth Rock. The Harland family was not shady but they did weild a lot or respect and power. It was loyalty to one group the Harland’s lacked. The Harlands always wanted to see the whole picture which at times needed to be foggy. Perkins needed to get Ian back on his side. The man was a brilliant negotiator and diplomat. His talents were wasted as the token husband of Kelly Bordeaux.

“So I see you have made a home here in the Altantis,” Perkins gestured about. “Helps when you are married to the boss. How long has it been,” he posed the first gentle question.

Perkins