COLONEL CONDOR'S EXPLOSIVE DEBUT

Jun 8th 2011, 11:44 by E O Hatterpol | 832 AU FROM SUN

"CAPTAIN Makemake wants to play games?" Colonel Condor drawled slowly with a grin.  "Then here comes a new challenger."



A young cadet burst into the control center with a harried look on his long face.  He was tall and skinny, like a beanpole, and had a shock of reddish-orange hair that stood straight up.


"Sir! Colonel, sir! We are in position to strike the salty space pirates where they anchor.  Orders, sir!"


The Colonel smoothed the birdlike feathers of his moustache slowly.


"Can you tell me what the seven P's are, Roosterman?"


"Sir! Colonel, sir! Proper prior planning prevents piss-poor performance, sir!"


"Very good, Roosterman. Keep them in mind when preparing the CM-B array for my disposal.  You are dismissed."


The young cadet stood rooted to the spot, battling some internal conflict.


"Yes, Roosterman?" the Colonel asked.


"Sir! Colonel, sir! I cannot recommend use of the CM-B array in this instance, sir! We risk both the lives of thousands of civilians trapped in Captain Makemake's plutoid lair and another disciplinary hearing about your itchy trigger finger, sir!" the Roosterman answered.


"We shall have to flourish in the face of adversity, then, won't we?" the Colonel fired back calmly.  He had the slightest gleam of madness in one eye, as if he were using nearly all his energy to keep a dark monster inside of him from escaping.


"Sir! Colonel, sir! My good conscious is prevent-"


"SOLDIER through it, boy!" the Colonel snapped. "We have the chance to eradicate my old friend Makemake & his pesky pirate infestation in a single, devastating blow! Go prepare the CM-B array immediately. You are dismissed!"


The Roosterman snapped into a taut salute, then disappeared from the control room.  Colonel Condor swiveled in his high-backed chair and wrapped his hand around a joystick labeled "DANGER: CM-B ARRAY. WILL EXPLODE EVERYTHING."


His lips twitched ever so slightly when his finger met the joystick's red trigger.  He licked his lips, savouring the moment, and then-


"FIRE!"