What a long and boring day. Ivan yawned as he finally lifted himself off his office chair after nearly 5 hours of tapping patiently at comconsole screens and speaking to impatient officers. Lunch at Miles' was really the highlight of my day...ops has been so slow lately. For surely, in the past three weeks, Ivan had literally been doing nothing but inconsequential paperwork and acting as some sort of pseudo liaison between ops and the other departments that wanted said inconsequential paperwork. This of course left Ivan pondering why it was that people hated every moment of ulcer-inducing hectic life, but secretly wanted it anyway when life got boring. I hope I didn't just jynx myself.

Straightening his uniform jacket, Ivan laughed at the memory and then the following vision of Byerly Vorrutyer playing babysitter with Miles' hilarious children, and silently wished him luck. Because he was a good person. Really. Hehehe.

Ivan took the nearest elevator down to the first floor, exited, and starting heading towards the main doors of Ops HQ. On his way out, he gave a friendly nod to the young officer posted as the main floor's communications secretary. "Goodnight, Watts. See you tomorrow." God I'm tired. Can't wait to put my feet up. He was just about to place his hand in the palm-lock to get the doors open, when a worried voice came from behind him.

"Captain Vorpatril, sir. A call just came for you. From Impsec." It was Watts.

Huh? What does Impsec want with me? Ivan turned back around towards the communications desk. "Thanks, uh...can I take it here?"

"Yes of course." Watts rotated the com screen so that it faced Ivan.

Ivan raised his head to find a stern-looking Impsec Officer staring right back at him. "This is Captain Vorpatril. What's going on?"

The man nodded his head. "Captain. There's been a...situation at the Imperial Residence. I cannot say more due to security constraints, only that you are requested to make your way to ImpMil right now."

Ivan's heart began to quicken. "Situation at the Residence? Good God..is everyone all right? What happened?" Wait...oh no. "Wait my mother--Lady Alys--she's supposed to have been there all day? Is she all right?" Ivan felt his stomach drop out from under him as he saw the Impsec man become sterner-looking still.

"That is why you have to go to ImpMil, now, Captain Vorpatril. It seems that she and Captain Illyan were attacked, but seem unharmed. I cannot say more though, security--"

"Yes dammit. I got you. No talking here," Ivan growled. At least they're ok..? "Right. I'm on my way."

Hanging up the comconsole, Ivan swerved around, smacked his hand on the palm-lock and plunged out the door, cursing under his breath the entire time. Jynxed myself. Jynxed myself. Why do I always have to think like an ass? Dammit if this has anything to do with why Miles seemed so on the edge today...Ivan shook his head. He needed to get to ImpMil pronto, since that's where he would find some much-needed answers.

Captain Ivan Vorpatril here, ready and reporting for duty. Heh, that is, unless my Lord Auditor coz is serving breakfast...*casts a hopeful glance around* No? Well then. What seems to be the business at hand?