So these meetings of the Council, while no doubt doomed to be steeped in argument, demagoguery and bile, would nonetheless only take a few seconds in real-time. While the meeting occurred, the Agent’s on the ground, as long as they were within reach of their subspace relays, would only have to briefly excuse themselves from whatever they were doing, their eyes would briefly glaze over for a second or two while they participated, and then they would be back to the business of assimilating themselves in to their respective organizations.

So, as this first meeting of the Council was convened by the AI, around the world the eight Agents became momentarily distracted. Most had found ways to be alone, having been notified in advance by the AI that the last of their ranks was almost within range of his relay.

Agent Mikhail Kovalenko, in Russia, was unfortunately in one of many long meetings with his superior, both in terms of time and wind. The strict Captain Gorovchev would think the junior officer was about to sneeze, and would be thankful when, a moment later, Mikhail’s eyes would focus again, allowing the captain to continue yet another of his frequent diatribes on the importance of discipline.

<Welcome.>

The word sounded from all around them, as their images resolved in the virtual meeting space. Because of the subspace tweeter, the signal travelled not through what we considered ‘normal’ space, but under its surface, so it was actually not burdened by the constraints of having to travel at all. It arrived instantaneously, and because of this a meeting would be conducted between eight people spread across the planet, without any of the delays such a meeting would suffer over our more primitive communications.

<I have created an agenda of items that seem pertinent. Agents are to keep additional topics for the end.>

The AI had orders on how to chair the meetings, and it was not flexible. A list blinked into existence in front of each of them, its contents immediately a part of their memory, sent as it was, and as all data was being, directly into their computer minds.

<The Indian Ocean Situation: Per updates provided, the research project was deemed a risk to Mission Security Parameters, monitoring revealed that Agent Preeti Parikh’s landing capsule had been discovered. All operatives were not available to convene Council and decide action. Protocol was followed, research ship and all aboard were eliminated two days ago when message was intercepted indicating identification of the capsule by human scientists.>

Lana Wilson’s avatar’s virtual mouth opened to speak, the AI sensing this the moment she began. In the millisecond between her deciding to speak and the word forming in her avatar’s mouth, the AI stopped talking and diverted her speech to the group. “Imagery of the action was conveyed to us,” said Lana, “but not of the surrounding area. Was the destruction witnessed?”