"Air Captain Naren Parekh, to what do I owe the pleasure of seeing your auspicious face today?" Ishar addressed sarcastically.
"Maybe the fact that something strange is going on and we all are in danger. Don't worry, my auspicious face will keep you blessed for the rest of your life."
"What?" Ishar retorted, unable to believe such a stupid response.
"What?" Naren snapped back, the two rivals glaring at each other.
"Can't we have Tanik Sehwag, the Navy Captain in the group instead, sir?" Ishar looked at Aarush with a twinkling hope in his eyes.
"He's working with another team to strengthen our naval defense in case of need. And don't think I'm going to kick him out of the team," he said, when Ishar opened his mouth to interrupt.
Naren looked at him and smirked.
"You both are equally suitable, equally smart, and equally considerate. Consider this as a test of your emotional ability. Now follow me."
The General led the stubborn rivals, one each on his side, to the Hall of Information, a separate room and one of the most important chambers, run entirely on independent generators, holding the strongest computers and the smartest minds. Game theories, strategies, spyware, Defensive intelligence- it all happened here.
It was a highly confidential place- but currently, it looked like a frantic mess.
Turning towards the two, Aarush strictly ordered, "Look, you two. I know you have your differences but today, if the situation escalates, I do not want the whole country to be endangered because of your petty arguments. LEARN to work together, or else, I have no choice but to label you both as a liability to the team. Now shake your hands- nicely."
Ishar and Naren both gave each other a long, hard stare and reluctantly shaked, or rather crushed, each other's hands.
However, neither wanted their country to suffer because of them…they weren't that stupid.
Looking satisfied, the General turned towards the room, and called out, "Ms. Anjani Deshpande, please inform them what is exactly going on."
A beautiful, young woman walked towards them with a file in her hands, and looked at them with a calculating look.
Then, with a warm smile, she said, "Good morning. My name is Anjani Deshpande. I'm the Intelligence Team leader and a military research officer. I was actually about to come here, sir, because I spotted something strange-",
Her face suddenly held a twinge of worry,
"-and I think there's something serious going on here. Please come along."
Anjani led the group towards a large screen, depicting scientific data and information, along with various gadgets and guns. In fact, Ishar thought that it looked undoubtedly cool, but then remembered that there was always something cool going on in the Secret Conference room.