'So soon?' Khan couldn't help but wonder at that revelation. The political team was barely one week old, but the Thilku had already sent a formal invitation.
"Is something the matter, Captain?" Ambassador Abores questioned, even if nothing had appeared on Khan's face.
"It sounds hasty, sir," Khan admitted. "Did the Thilku predict a joint investigation?"
"Worrying about that isn't part of your duties," Ambassador Abores scolded, "Especially with the incoming [Hunt]. Can you tell me why?"
'Is he testing me?' Khan wondered but still proceeded with a simple reply. "The Thilku Empire features all kinds of environments. Predicting which one they will choose is virtually impossible."
Khan didn't need to add the most important detail in that conversation since his role was clear. As a scout, Khan would have to prepare for every possible environment. He would be too swamped with reports to think about the Thilku's intentions.
"It is impossible," Ambassador Abores nodded. "However, I'd still like to hear your professional opinion."
Khan opened his mouth but quickly closed it. He couldn't get away with a simple answer. His explanation needed to stretch past mere alien environments and include the Thilku's innate behavior and their history with humankind.
"The Thilku can easily choose a favorable environment," Khan eventually stated. "Their resilience will greatly benefit them in hazardous locations, especially those with cold temperatures."
"I didn't ask you to show off," Ambassador Abores sternly commented.
"I believe they will choose a neutral environment, sir," Khan responded.
"Why?" Ambassador Abores asked.
"Belittling us would make the investigation start on the wrong foot," Khan explained. "Our relationships with the Thilku are good, and they are in the wrong here. Refusing to use their home advantage would be their way of doing us a favor while showing that they can win on even ground."
Ambassador Abores didn't falter nor nod, but his mana was enough for Khan. He knew his answer had been well-received. The Ambassador was actually surprised Khan could understand the Thilku so well.
"Then, what's your next move?" Ambassador Abores questioned.
"Isolating the possible destinations according to this information," Khan responded, "Preparing for their biomes and fauna, and summarize everything in a form ordinary soldiers can understand."
"I expect similar summaries even on unlikely destinations," Ambassador Abores said. "I want my team to be prepared for everything."
"It will be done, sir," Khan promptly exclaimed as his eyes fell on the interactive desk. The Ambassador didn't give him a deadline, but the [Hunt] had sounded close, and the amount of work was by no means small.
"Another thing, Captain," Ambassador Abores called.
"Yes, sir," Khan stated, looking at the Ambassador again.
"As the team's scout," Ambassador Abores announced, "It will be your duty to join the game. You'd have to set up the ground for the capture of the Tainted animal."
"I'm aware of that, sir," Khan declared. The Thilku's [Hunt] could come in many versions, and Khan didn't know every rule, but the past studies had given him a general understanding of that game.
"The Thilku are very proud," Ambassador Abores continued. "Your stunt in the past meeting might have bought you their respect, but we aren't aiming for that now."
Khan fell silent. He understood what the Ambassador wanted him to do, but clarifications were needed. After all, his political image was at stake there.
"Are you asking me to lose, sir?" Khan questioned.
"I'm asking you to do what's best for the investigation," Ambassador Abores stated. "Can you understand what it implies, Captain?"
"I do, sir," Khan confirmed.
"Will you do it?" Ambassador Abores added.
"Won't the Thilku be suspicious, sir?" Khan wondered.
"They will," Ambassador Abores said, "If your performance isn't convincing enough."
Khan held back a gulp. He didn't fear the Ambassador's prowess, but the consequences of that pretense could stretch far past the investigation. Yet, that request had put him in a pickle.
"Can I trust you, Captain?" Ambassador Abores asked. "Can I trust you to put humankind before your goals?"
"You can, sir," Khan immediately replied.
"I expect your lies to be more convincing during the [Hunt]," Ambassador Abores snorted. "Get everything ready by the end of the week. The game is set for the next weekend."
Ambassador Abores didn't wait for Khan's reply. He didn't even turn when Khan stood up for a military salute. Clarissa also hurried outside the separate office to follow after her boss and the two left the area to disappear inside the corridor.
Khan kept his gaze on the exit and ignored the eyes that had fallen on him. Francis and the few soldiers on the interactive desks didn't miss that talk, and misunderstanding it wasn't really an option. Everyone had guessed what was happening, but Khan didn't bother to address those onlookers.
A sigh tried to escape Khan's mouth, but he held it back as he fell on his chair. A few taps on the interactive desk generated holograms that hid his face, and he pretended to look at them while his mind wandered.
'It's not like they didn't warn me,' Khan thought.
Commanding officers often hindered the careers of promising soldiers to make room for specialists from Earth or wealthy families. That was even more true in the political field. Ambassadors held unique positions in the Global Army, and scouts rarely succeeded in making the jump toward that different role.
Khan didn't believe Ambassador Abores was trying to hinder his career. He didn't feel any spite in his mana, and that approach made sense. Losing against the Thilku would put them in a good mood and create valuable opportunities. The human team could learn a lot if the aliens underestimated them. Still, the issue remained, at least for Khan.
'Losing would taint my fame,' Khan considered, 'But winning would put me on the Ambassador's bad side.'
Ideally, the Global Army would contain the news or directly understand the political team's plan. However, the network didn't work like that, especially when it came to public opinion. Khan could already imagine Madam Solodrey using that crack in his fame against him.
'This is so fucked,' Khan sighed. 'Shut up already.'
Khan wasn't talking to anyone, but his mind had a second speaker. His mana wanted to give its opinion on the matter, which was as predictable as possible.
'If the Thilku spread rumors about me,' Khan realized, 'I might have a chance. Ambassador Abores is the only problem. I can't see him giving up his position without a fight.'
Khan was planning ahead. His past experiences with aliens had taught him that he was good at the job, and his relevance was bound to improve if he did as he wished. Still, problems would arrive if the Thilku started to value him more than Ambassador Abores.
'What am I even thinking?' Khan cursed. 'I just have to lose on purpose. How hard can it be? I'm the best liar in the entire Global Army!'
That might have been true in the past, but Khan knew he had changed. He was still good at lying, but it didn't come as easy anymore. His being simply opposed that behavior.
Things got worse when Khan added his situation to the equation. An ordinary soldier had the chance to lay low, but he had to keep succeeding. That was his greatest quality from the Global Army's perspective. His presence was synonymous with victory.
'It's pointless,' Khan admitted. 'I can't find the best path now. I can only adapt to what the Thilku throw at me.'
That was another lie, but Khan pretended not to notice it. Instead, he immersed himself in his work, which was far from little. The Ambassador didn't specify it but probably expected Khan to list all the possible Tainted animals for the game alongside the various environments.
Francis couldn't help with those tasks. Khan was on his own, but Professor Parver's lessons came in handy. The latter had prepared him for a similar job. It was almost his specialization by now.
Reports after reports crossed Khan's eyes as he reread and isolated any vital information connected to each possible destination. Initially, he compiled all of that into messy groups that only he could understand, but that simply was the first phase of his approach.
After dividing into messy groups, Khan began to rearrange everything according to the patterns learned from Professor Parver. The summaries that came out were still unreadable for most soldiers, but that was inevitable. A translation was necessary, and Khan handled it during the third phase of his approach.
The process was far from fast. Each possible destination required hours of work, writing, and reviews, but Khan's resilience was inhuman. He didn't take breaks even when Monica called him. He only made sure to have those conversations when the office was empty or during his trips back and forth to the embassy.
After two days of incessant work, Khan made Francis review everything and apply the necessary corrections before finally delivering his results to the Ambassador. The latter pointed out more mistakes, but Khan fixed them in the following hours and repeated the process until his superior gave the okay. Only the [Hunt] waited for him at that point.
