UAC Offices

[Norris]

Overlooking the UAC HQ is an imposing Office Block with various mammals running back and forth. The offices are mainly used for all the tedious paperwork that goes into a military organisation, abundant in filing cabinets choked with paper and ever-broken coffee venders.

At the back of the offices is a small depot that leads out to the Genus Military Railway, and it is here that one of the office workers, Edgar Stephenson (A white-furred hare in a smart business suit) is waiting for a train that is due.

[Kooshmeister]

As the train pulled up to the depot, Renfield Billings pauses to speak to Corporal Stirling for giving him a lift before stepping off the train. "Thank you for the ride, Corporal," he says, smiling at her.

[Norris]

"Don't mention it." She grins playfully, before resetting the engine and reverses back up to the railway.

The white-furred hare looks slightly amused at the exchange of smiles, but pretends he didn't notice. "Glad to have you back, Lieutenant," he salutes. "I'm Edgar Stephenson, I was told to welcome you back.

[Kooshmeister]

Renfield blinks at Stirling's flirtatious smile and doesn't really know how to handle it. All he can do to avoid looking like a complete fool is to mirror her smile and wave to her as the train departs back down the tunnel.

The smile fades as the locomotive disappears and Renfield turns, his mind so preoccupied trying to process that small moment that he remains unaware of Stephenson's presence until he almost runs into the white hair. "Oh!" he says, stepping back, his hand going to his chest. "Sorry, Stephenson. You, uh, startled me."

[Norris]

"Sorry about that," Stephenson smiles. "I take it you completed your census?"

TBCB Renfield

[Kooshmeister]

"That's quite all right Stephenson," Renfield says as he and the white hare walk along the main corridor to the lifts. "And yes, I completed my census. We're in better shape than I thought we were, but a number of S.P.A.C.E. outposts and space stations could still benefit from some extra funding, if possible." Renfield grumbled, remembering Stephenson telling him some time ago that before Fritz Warner became chairman of the UAC, the Council was notoriously stingy with its money.

As they rode the lift up to the top floor, where Renfield's office, among others, was located, the moss-green hare continued, "Of course, I trust that you won't let any of these go beyond this office block, Stephenson. After all, we captured three toad spies earlier, and it seems that someone within the UAC itself gave them a diskette containing some sensitive information." Renfield balled up a fist and shook it slightly in the air. "And when I get my hands on whoever the traitor is, I'll give them a piece of my mind, I tell you what!"

[Norris]

With no surprise, Stephenson was shocked. "Who in the frell, excuse my french, would want to do such a heinous act?!" He tries to calm himself down with some feng shui lessons he'd taken. "Do you think we should alert the UAC Admiralty? No doubt the Home Guard will want some part in it."

[Kooshmeister]

"I don't know, Stephenson," Renfield said solemnly, shrugging. "Perhaps they're just bad seeds, or perhaps the toads threatened them? There's a million possibilities."

When they reached his office door, which was located all by its lonesome at the end of a short hallway separate from the rest of the offices, Renfield paused, pondering a moment on Stephenson's words.

"Well," he said, "Chairman Warner already knows, of course, but perhaps you have a point, Stephenson. All right, you have my permission to alert the Home Guard, but no one else. And make sure they get that message as well. We don't want a frelling panic on our hands!"

Opening the door and stepping in, he looked back to Stephenson and addressed the white hare a final time. "Now, I don't wish to be disturbed for anything less than a visit from Chairman Warner himself. Understand?"

[Norris]

"I understand sir. Oh! Bu the way, have you heard about Captain Corporal just now?" asks Stephenson as he is about to shut the door. "As you were with him a while ago, I thought you might like to know."

[Kooshmeister]

Renfield was just about the shut his office door when he heard Corporal's name. Leaning back out into the hall, he said, "Uh, no. I haven't heard. What's happened to him? Is he all right?"

[Norris]

"Well, I've just had word from the UAC Admiralty that he's due for a promotion. Whether he knows or not I'm not sure, but I've just been told that he's now a Rear-Admiral! That's what I forgot to tell you at the Depot." Stephenson remarks, trying not to look too bemused.

[Kooshmeister]

"How wonderful for him," Renfield said, stroking his chin in thought, thinking that if he could get a Rear Admiral over to his side, that is, that of the toads, it would benefit the toad cause immensely. But Corporal seemed like such a nice fellow, and he'd hate to-- Renfield stopped, mentally shaking his head. Being among these filthy mammals, worse, being one of them, was confusing him. Regardless, he said, "Tell him to stop by my office after the interrogations are done later, Stephenson. I'd like to congratulate the Captai-- Er, the Rea Admiral personally."

[Norris]

"Very good, Lieutenant." Stephenson replies and shuts the door gently as not to disturb Renfield in his work.

Stephenson thought for a moment why it took so long to get an answer. "Must be the stress of work." he says to himself and walks off to his own office.

[Kooshmeister]

Stress, indeed. As soon as the door was closed, Renfield locked it. Turning, he leaned back against the door and sighed with relief. Alone at last. His office was a typical well-furnished, large, comfortable work area equipped with a wet bar, sofa, armchairs, a bookcase, and, of course, a modest desk with a high-backed office chair. A door to the left-hand side of the desk led to the Lieutenant's private washroom. It was nothing compared to the offices of Chairman Warner and the other higher-ranking Security Council members, but Renfield was never one to complain. Besides, this windowless office provided him the privacy he needed in order to maintain his sanity.

Crossing the office to the desk, Renfield removed his suit jacket, throwing it over one of the armchairs and loosening his necktie. He slipped into his bathroom, and a few moments later emerged, his eyes now that eerie jaundice yellow because he had removed his contact lenses, which were soaking in special fluids. Renfield went to his jacket, removed the confiscated diskette, and tossed it on the desktop, muttering about what an idiot Dr. Croaker was as he plopped into his high-backed chair.

After relaxing for a moment, he reached into his pocket and produced a key. Using it, he unlocked the large bottom drawer of his desk. From this drawer, Renfield removed a number of items that had helped him survive during his time here on Genus: Two glass jars, one containing crickets, the other flies, and a small, portable television. The portable TV he put on the desk, his attention turning to the two jars full of live insects. Licking his lips hungrily with a tongue too long for a hare, Renfield fought with the lid of the jar that held the crickets, unscrewing it and letting it fall to the floor. He reached inside, grabbed a handful of the crickets, and, in a sight sure to chill the blood of any self-respecting mammal who might happen to walk in, he stuffed the entire handful of bugs into his mouth.

Chewing noisily, Renfield turned on the portable TV, sure to keep the volume low. Leaning back in his chair, the jar of crickets in his lap like a bowl of popcorn, munching lazily on the insects, Renfield, the toad in hare's clothing, began to relax and unwind with some amphibian comfort food and Toad TV.

OOC: Oooh, went a little overboard there didn't I? Oh, well. XD

[Norris]

As Renfield was relaxing, there is an unexpected knock on the door, followed by Corporals' familiar voice.

"Renfield, are you in? I was told to come and see you. Are you busy?"