Breakthrough
© 2021 by Walter Reimer


Thumbnail art by  faust1173


“Is everything going well, Jūnxū?” ‘M’ asked before taking a sip of her tea. The minkess didn’t usually entertain guests in her private office, but this was official business.

The gazelle was ‘M’s second in command in the Intelligence Section. Jūnxū was her job title, meaning quartermaster; it was her job to coordinate the efforts of the Section’s analysts and ensure that field agents were adequately supplied. It was a difficult job.

‘J’ shook her head. At this level, the truth was required, with no prevarication or unnecessary language. ‘M’ had been known for killing furs who tried to hide things from her, particularly bad news. “The biggest problem we face is still trying to break the Colonial Fleet’s code. It’s been hybridized, for want of a better word, with Kashlanin base thirteen code elements. We’re unable to let the AIs take a look at it, by your order.”

“Yes,” the minkess said. There was a danger that, after their successes at Centauri and Sol, the Kashlani had included code within their ciphers to breach the AIs’ security protocols. “We – “ she broke off as shouting was heard coming down the hallway, and both she and ‘J’ were out of their seats, weapons drawn, as footsteps could be heard running toward the office.

The door was flung open by a panting tiger. “Ma’am! Ma – “

The gazelle stepped in close to him, aiming a hoof at his crotch and kicking him solidly in his genitals while driving the heel of her left paw upward under his chin. The tiger practically came off his feet and landed on his back as she covered him with her sidearm and security officers ran up.

‘J’ recognized him; he was one of the heads of the Analysis Division. “Stop!” she said as one wolverine raised a boot to crush the tiger’s windpipe. “Get him on his feet,” and the dazed tiger was hauled upright, where the gazelle slapped him across the face. “What the fuck is going on?” she demanded.

The hapless feline blinked and shook his head before he said in a pained voice, “Sorry, Ma’am. I wanted to tell you – we’ve cracked the AR-41 cipher!”

‘J’s mouth dropped open. Holstering her sidearm, she ordered, “Get him in here and sit him down,” and he was hustled into the room and seated. “If he tries to get up, shoot him,” the gazelle added before closing the office door. ‘M’ had stayed behind her desk, which (it was rumored) was armored and carried quite a bit of armament. Opinions differed as to whether the desk could outfight a tank or a corvette-type warship.

“What is it?” the minkess asked, holstering her own weapon.

The tiger looked from ‘J’ to ‘M’ and gulped. “One – one of our analysts has solved part of AR-41.”

“Explain,” the minkess said.

“Senior Analyst Ordonez is on the analysis team – “

“We know,” ‘M’ said coldly. Ordonez was a fallow deer, quite capable.

Suddenly recalling where he was and how close his death was becoming, he blurted, “Shewashavingsexwithhersecretaryandshehadaflashofinsight,” and he drew a breath before adding, “shewentrunningdownthehallnakedscreamingIfounditIfoundit.”

‘J’s eyes widened at that, and she looked back at her superior.

‘M’ . . . smiled.

“Whatever works, I suppose,” she said, and the tiger exhaled a breath he hadn’t known he was holding. “Has Ordonez tested it?”

“Yes, Ma’am. Seven percent reliability, but she’s sure she can build on that.”

“She had better,” the gazelle said. She gestured, and the guards took the tiger out of the room.

A little gentler than when they’d brought him in.

The gazelle started to follow him but paused when ‘M’ said, “Seven percent. It might also allow us to break the Imperial codes. Have Ordonez write up a full report, and I’ll inform the Lord Protector.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” and ‘J’ left the office.

After the door closed, the minkess started to laugh. “Would’ve liked to see that,” she muttered.