Southern Cross by Windstar

~Major Greggory Sims, Imperial Intelligence.
Julie wiped the bead of sweat from her brow irritably. She was tired, sticky and had the worst
feeling that what she had thought was a heat rash on her arm was something entirely different.
Dodging an oncoming mini bus, she made her way across the bustling street and into the
welcoming sanctuary of the hotel. With a small sigh of annoyance she did her best to air out her
shirt, trying to get rid of at least some of the sweat that was sticking to her.
Beijing, it seemed, did not agree with her. The heat wave sweeping the area did little to help.
A polite nod to the desk clerks and she managed to make her escape into the elevators, away
from the throngs of people spilling into the lobby of the hotel. It seemed that she was not the
only one fleeing the oppressive heat outside. Bitterly she wondered if any of them could have
done a better job then she had these last two weeks.
They'd traced down every lead they could think of trying to get their hands on the men, which
had killed the American president. Each of the leads had leads had lead to the same thing,
nothing.
The plasma carbine had been relatively easy to find. Too easy in fact, left as it had been at the
site it had been fired from. As if to taunt them with the only piece of solid evidence they would
find. Even more disturbing, she had not been able to read anything from the weapon itself.
It was blank, as if it had never been touched, or fired.
It was late summer now, and to add to the turmoil, which was spreading throughout the western
hemisphere, the American elections were to be held in the fall.
Using her key card she entered the suit, which was her room, and tossed her satchel onto the
couch. At least the Major had gotten good rooms for her and the rest of the team. Who were
currently out with the major trying to track down a slim lead on the ever-evasive General
Whittecker.
The shower was a haven after the hot muggy weather outside.
Emerging from it Julie moved towards the com panel that the team had brought with them.
"Computer, access Imperial com system."
Yawning she continued drying her hair while the computer completed the link up.
"Link established."
"Computer, contact First Guardian Emily Windstar, personal priority."