Honey : The Empire's Treasure 10 Eject 5

"If she thinks I own her something. She'll regret ever having that thought."

Kara exit the room, refreshed and dressed to met the Commander.

_____

"A good cleaning?" Commander raised one eyebrow. "We have been struck drifting in space for a hundred days. And all that will get us moving is a good cleaning?"

Kara couldn't believe all Pace could come up with was cleaning the engines. She didn't understand the engines, and even she knew not to give such a sorry ass explanation.

Kara wouldn't hold it in. So she laughed along with the Commander.

When she pick up her head, Pace's intense stare met Kara's coy one. The tension between the two could be felt by everyone in the room.

Commander looked between the two, after he was able to calm his laughing down. Seeing the two having a stand off. He gave a look towards secretary Jun to bring to the two back to the subject at hand. Competition was all well and good, but now pressing issues come first.

"Umm....Kara do you have any explanation for why the engines have failed?" Secretary Jun took the hint from the General. Steering the room back towards the issue at hand.

"Actually I do. However I need to speak with you alone, if possible." Kara replace the coyness from her eyes with scholarly look.

The Commander has always been very astute by nature. So he saw the changed in Kara' eyes when she faced him. This made his observation of Kara jump from prey to predator.

"Sure. You two are dismiss."

Pace wanted to demand he should stay since she got to hear their explanation. It's should only be fair to hear her's. But the Commander's tone broke no room for demands.

Taking the cue from the General, secretary Jun lead Akio and Pace to the door.

"Please follow me this way gentlemen. ", before returning to his spot by the General's side.

Kara took a breath, to calm her nerves. She has played this act a hundred times before. Although never in front of someone like the Commander.

"Commander General, I have a theory on why the engines have failed. I just need extra hands to put my hypothesis to the test. I was wondering if I could add a couple of people to help with the test." Kara's whole aura was presenting refinement. A slight simile graced her face as she waited for his response.

"Kara we can not have a bunch of unauthorized people inside the engine room. I understand the need you intellectuals have for secrecy, but I will not allow the engine room to become a playground for your friends."

Kara feeling ecstatic. The Commander was playing right into her hands. All she had to do now was close the deal.

"Okay, how about one person. I completely trust her. We will have the engines up and running by the end of the month."

"A month?" the Commander was excited by the news

"Hmm....by the end of the week and you can have your friend."

Kare was shock. "Did he just say by the end of the week."

"Sir, your not giving us a very long time to..."

"Kara." The Commander's tone was the same when dismissing Pace and Akio from the room.

"You told me you have a plan to solve the engine if you didn't you wouldn't have promised me a month. Do I need to stress to you how important it is to get back on course?"

Kara shook her head. "No, Sir."

There was no room for negotiation. Lila only had a week. A week to find the problem and fix it.

"Any else?" The Commander saw Kara made no move to leave.

"Umm...Can you issue a direct command for her cooperation?"

The Commander lean back into his chair.

"Why is this needed for your friend?"

"Lila followed after me her whole life. She wants recognition from me and others. So I thought to include her in this. To help her gain some credit. I hope sir can help me with this little request."

The virtuous image would be hard for anyone to turn down. Even for the Commander.

It was easy to get what you wanted under this mask.

"Sure, it's an easy request. Secretary Jun I'll leave it you."

"Yes, sir."

"Well if that is all."

"Yes. I'll get moving on those engines. I won't disappoint you, sir."

Kara walked out of the conference room head held high.

"All that time wasted on convincing her. Putting up with her attitude. Why make it harder than it has to be, when it can be so much simpler?"

Kara laughed at her pointless effort with Lila.

____

Only secretary Jun was left in the room with the General. Looking at him he couldn't work his mind around it.

"Sir? If I may ask you a question?"

"You want to know why I choose to entertain Kara in her lies?"

Secretary Jun nodded his head. "Yes, sir."

"Cause the engine are top priority right now."

Secretary Jun nodded his head once again understand now where the General was coming from.

General stood up from his chair and walk to the one of few windows on the ship.

"After they are fix though...", the General laughed.

"The audacity she has to lie to my face."

Chapter end