Friends or no friends

Previously

…He had a contact, a deep-space intelligence broker who owed him a significant favor. He needed to know more about Elara. Who was she, and why was she here? The risk of compromising security was immense, but the risk of letting this situation fester was even greater. He initiated the encrypted call, the faint glow of the screen illuminating the weariness etched on his face. The mission, their camaraderie, their very sanity – all were on the precipice, and he, the commander, was blindsided by a woman who had arrived like a meteor, leaving a trail of fire and doubt in her wake. The foundation was crumbling, and the storm was just beginning.