Shoshone Station: The Galactic Consortium season 2

Episode Four: Meteor #1

Dan Oleson woke in a hotel room. He wasn't used to that, if he'd ever get used to it. He certainly wasn't used to how swanky this hotel was. One night here would cost more than he made in a month. Now he was being paid to stay.

There were two beds, but Dan's bunkmate was gone, doing the night shift. He rose, showered and dressed quickly. He admired himself in the mirror before leaving the room. He liked his new suit, a black secret service suit. He thought he looked good in it. He hoped Bakala would agree when he saw him again.

That wouldn't be for a couple of weeks, unfortunately. But a couple of weeks was still better than the murky, "when things get better between our countries." Dan packed his bag and set it at the foot of the bed, as he'd been instructed. One of his junior staff would come by later and gather the bags.

He took the elevator up first, exiting on the penthouse level. There were four penthouse's at this hotel and they were all well known in the security community, of which Dan was becoming part of. Two minor world leaders were staying, along with Ephram Blumenthal.

He approached Blumenthal's door and was saluted by the guards. "Agent Oleson," they said.

"At ease," he said. They were in an awkward place. Dan was the new guy, still in training. They were veteran agents with years experience. But Dan was their superior, his own position as much a diplomatic posting as a secret service one.

"The ambassador just woke up. He's still getting ready for the day," one offered, hesitantly, suggesting it would not do for Dan to barge in now.

"Of course, I just wanted to check in quick, see how the night went, before heading down to breakfast. Agent Hammond is operational today anyway. He'll see us to the OL."

There was a nod. Hammond was experienced. He was lead agent on the night shift and he'd stay in charge for the transfer this morning. Once they'd reached the airport and boarded the Orbital Lander for Shoshone Station, the roles would switch. Hopefully, the awkwardness would lessen then, too. Dan was the only agent on this assignment that had been on a Consortium space ship. "Quiet. Nothing to report," the man said.

"Let Hammond know I'm awake." He yawned. "Sort of. I'll be in the dining room, getting breakfast."

"You mean securing the location," one said with a sly smiled. "That's what we like to say, sir. We'd better secure that location."

Dan smiled at the shared joke. "I'll keep that in mind."

The hotel had a five star restaurant attached, but Dan bypassed it for a small lounge that served a simpler, free continental breakfast for patrons in a hurry. He found a bagel, cream cheese and most importantly a cup of coffee.

He sat at a free table. He looked around the room. He figured he might as well really "secure the location" since he was here. it was mostly empty and none of the few diners looked suspicious.

There was a newspaper on the table. Dan rarely read or watched Earth news anymore. He felt disconnected to it. Now that he was going to Saras, that disconnect was even greater. But the headlines on the paper caught his attention.

Meteors rain down on the Earth. What will the Consortium do?

He opened the paper and read. The more he read the more his brow scrunched in confusion. The article was filled with vague insinuations that there was a meteor, asteroid or some other sort of cosmic body that could, possibly, strike the earth someday. There was a long side article about some asteroid that orbited close to the earth and another article about how an asteroid strike was responsible for the mass extinction of dinosaurs.