Talk Time

       The Expediator still sits lifeless next to the newly formed asteroid cluster previously known as Zeta III.
  The Expediator's helmsman finally speaks up to break the silence.
       "Sir, plans?"
       Zero takes in a deep breath and stands as he exhales. He puts his hands behind his head and looks down for a moment.
       "..... Begin search and rescue of the surrounding area. Contact base."
       He sits back down and swings his chair around 180 degrees. The comms officer spins left in his chair to face his console. He presses a single button. "Ready, sir."
      Zero puts his right elbow on the armrest and props up his head with his hand.
      "Base, this is Zero, we've got a big situation."
      The head commander responds. "Alright, fill us in."
      Zero notices that the one replying has a higher pitched tone to his voice. Last contact was only 2 hours ago and current duty shift of the head commander doesn't end for another 3 hours. He rubs his chin.
      "Hey, you the head commander?"
      "Yes sir."
      "What happened to the other guy that was here 2 hours ago?"
      The clone on the other side of the line now sounds puzzled. 
     "Nothing. He's me. Is there a problem?"
     "Yes, our problem is that I was contacted two hours ago by Command about Zeta III. Is that true?"

     "No, we were going to send in a small scout ship to go investigate a loss of communications from that area."

     Zero blinks a couple of times. "Ok, now that is a problem that I am going to have to solve." Now here is the real problem right now. Zeta III is now an asteroid bealt. An unknown craft that uses dark matter for fuel took off from Zeta III. The loss of interstellar mass caused the planet to shake apart. No one got off the planet except my troops whom I had originally sent to quell a PTMC invasion."
     "PTMC invasion? When did that happen?"
     "You mean you didn't know?!"
     "Sorry sir, I'm looking around and nobody here at Command knows what you are talking about."
     "Well now you do. The PTMC has some explaining to do, and we have a spy or someone from outside the ZA that was able to hack into our comms, which is extrordinarily hard to do."
     "What is your plan of action?"
     "I need to make a call. Zero out."
     The comms officer cuts the aduio transmission. Zero states his next order.
     "Dial up the PTMC vid-line."
    The communications officer opens a contact list. Right on top of the priority list is the PTMC. The Zero Alliance and the PTMC are constantly bumping heads over mining territory rights and other points of interest.  The PTMC is not high on the Zero Alliance's ally list. Especially not after the Zeta III incident.
     "We've got President Wallace Breen on the vid-line."
     Zero sits up straight and looks into the large, newly materialized hologram formed 6 feet infront of him. The face of a pudgy man with thinning hair and small wrinkles looks back at him.
     "Mr. Breen, we need to talk."
     "Ahhh, Zero from the Zero Alliance, what a pleasant suprise. How can I help you?"
     "You can start by not rocking the boat and attacking my mines on Zeta III!"

     Breen attempts to sound calm and casual, but it is obvious that he is up to something. Patronizingly he replies, "What? Us? Attacking? You can't possibly be serious. We are just a simple mining corporation. We do not have the means to stage any sort of attack. Your policies strictly enforce the law of "no transfer of technology." We are to progress at our own pace, so obviously, our mercenaries are at a technological disadvantage. They don't have a ghost of a chance to stand up to one of your soldiers.
    Zero mentally rolls his eyes, knowing that he is just making a pathetic excuse. 
    "Yes, obviously. You didn't have to tell me what I already know. Now tell me what the heck you were doing out on Zeta III if you are so sure that you would get your asses kicked!" 
    Furrowing his eyebrows a bit, Breen replies  "Please, take it down a notch. Your impatience is not making this go faster."
    Zero explodes and yells "Listen, pal! Troops that had your weapons, armor, and insignia were attacking one of my mines! How do you explain that?!"
    Mr. Breen steeples his hands in front of him and begins to drum his fingers together.
    "I can assure you that we had no direct involvement in this situation. We have obviously been framed."
    Zero barely supresses a scoff.
    "(Could have fooled me.)"
    "We must have someone dealing under the table to an unknown terrorist group. It could most definately be another mining company, despirate at clearing out the competition, playing dirty tricks in order to get you to fight their war for them. I can assure you that the PTMC holds you in high reguards and would do absolutely nothing to aggravate you.

     Zero clenches and unclenches his fists. "I need evidence."
     "I do apologize, but I am far too busy to get involved in a matter that the PTMC did not do anything in. We were not involved; it is not our problem. It is yours."
     Zero jumps out of his chair in disbelief and confusion that Breen is brushing off this event and that he is going to sit idly-by while his company is at risk. Astounding.

 Zero shoves his finger into the floating face of the fat man.
     "I can't trust that you weren't involved! It was your junk out there!"
     "Good day, Mr. Zero. Breen out."