The Strike Fang
"He won't make it for the Titan Procject!" The chief of Mechanized Studies tell the lady assessor in front of him.
The lady assessor insisted and said, "He has all the potential and qualities for the program. It is a waste to deny him of such opportunity!"
The chief breathes in deeply and explained to her and said, "Look, let me explain. It does not matter if this candidate of yours is the fittest, the best of the most talented of the third generation pilots. Due to the type of stress and stimulant the unit uses, he cannot participate in the program. Given his tolerance to the drug and his resistance which is non-existent, he cannot participate!"
"Is there any other way?" The lady assessor tried to change the chief's mind.
The chief shakes his head, "He will die if he continues with the program!" He stands up then walked out from the room.
The lady assessor stands up and fixes her white military uniform and her white pencil skirt. She looks at the data again and realizes it is hopeless for her candidate for the Titan Program.
"Carlo Montenegro, I am sorry but we will have to find a different program for you." She walks out from the room and looks out from the window.
Her sad eyes suddenly turns bright when she saw something from the cargo being unloaded, "Is that what I think it is!?"
Carlo returned to his senses, his head feels heavy. He tried to move his body but it feels numb as well, the sensation he felt is uncomfortable as he tried to move.
Someone called him in a boisterous manner, "Carlo, glad you are awake!"
Carlos was confused in seeing the man who is calling him in the infirmary, "You? Ronaldo?"
"What's with that reaction?" Ronaldo asked Carlo who is surprised to see him.
"I thought you are still on your mission?" Carlo asked in return.
"Dummy, it must be the stimulant that has gone into your head!" Ronaldo laughs him loudly and pats his shoulder.
"I have been out for a leave for a week, have you remembered? I have a surprise for you, take a look at this beauty!" He added and shows a picture of a woman.
"Who is she?" Carlo asked him.
"It's a secret between you and me..." he whispers the woman's name to him which opened Carlo's eyes in surprise.
"You are not kidding me!?" Carlo suddenly blurted out.
"Yep, that nerdy girl you used to bully at school. She turned out to be a beauty and is looking for you!" He again bursts into laughter.
"I hear you volunteered for the next gen Titan Project." Ronaldo continues, "Do not force yourself if you can't do it. You have no need to push yourself further to your death you know!"
"I won't die... this is just a setback!" Carlo tried to stand up.
Ronaldo stopped him and tells him to not to strain myself.
"Is this about Juliana?" he asks Carlo about their old childhood friend.
Carlo did not say a thing and stares at Ronaldo.
"Look, it has been a long time! You do not need yourself to be haunted by such memory..."
"I know!" Carlo suddenly interrupted as the memory triggered him..
"You have been suffering from that memory for a year now... I hope you can move on one day. Your family is concerned about you!" Ronaldo stands up, opens the door of the infirmary and left.
"I'm wasting my life huh?" Carlo muttered as he look towards the afternoon sky in the horizon.
Meanwhile in the hangar the lady assessor earlier approach a technician who with his team who are unloading the new cargo. The crate marks "Strike Fang" a new product of S.C. Arms Industry from the Atlantic Federation.
"If you would excuse me!" The lady assessor introduced herself, "My name is Juliana Hart. An assessor of the mechanized program in the Armed Forces."
"I apologize ma'am, you have no clearance for this new cargo!" One of the technicians said.
"What?" Juliana was surprised in what she hear from the technician.
"Strike Fang as it is called is not cleared for assessment." The other technician speaks to her and signals his companion to continue what he is doing.
"Wait!" Juliana rushes in front of the technicians and tried to persuade them, "If you want I have a very promising candidate for this project. Please, contact me if you want information about him!"
Juliana hands her contact details to the technicians. Seeing her eagerness and willingness to disclose information. The two looks at each other and then discuss the matter to themselves. After a small talk, one of the technicians nods and accepts her contact details.
"We will try to contact our superiors about the matter!" The technician spoke and then leaves with the cargo with his companion.
Juliana smiles with the partial victory she has achieved that afternoon. She looked at the window to the infirmary where Carlo is staying and smiles, "Finally, your dream may come true, Carlo!"
Inside the hangar, the technicians meets with the supervisor who is waiting for the two.
"What took you so long?" The supervisor impatiently looks at the two.
"My apologies, there is this someone named Juliana Hart that was bugging us earlier." The technician who talks with Juliana earlier.
"Juliana? What does she look like?" The supervisor asks the two.
"She is tall, good looking and looks like she is from Qina." The technician described her basing on her appearance.
"She is the one!" The supervisor is in deep thought then dismisses the two men before him, "You can both leave now. Thank you for delivering the Strike Fang!"
"My pleasure sir!" The two technicians left immediately.
The supervisor took his phone and dials Juliana's number from her contact card. After three rings she answers her phone and said. "This is Juliana Hart, assessor of Verlusian Mechanized Armed Corps. Thank you for calling, how may I help you?"
"This is Eckart Flint, supervisor of S.C. Arms Industry. I am the Officer In Charge of the Strike Fang program. I would like to talk to your superiors for an evaluation." The supervisor replies to Juliana Hart on the phone.