“I’m not surprised,” Dunham said with a smile. Then he turned to Amanda. “Milady, would you explain?”
“By your leave, Your Majesty.”
“Then please go ahead.”
“Mr. Stauss,” Peters began, “in the latter half of Earth’s Twentieth Century, in the polity known as the United States of America, there were several specific organizations set up to contribute to the safety and overall welfare of the nation. One was known as the Federal Bureau of Investigations. It was a police force internal to the nation that operated at the federal level, and concerned itself with maintaining the national laws and enforcing them.”
“Yes, Milady. It has been a while since I studied the history, but I recollect it from my schooling.”
“The equivalent in what we now call the Galactic Empire would be the Imperial Police,” Peters continued.
“Yes, Milady. That seems apt.”
“There were other organizations involved in intelligence and policing sorts of duties,” Peters went on. “One of these, and the one I feel is most pertinent to this conversation, was known as the National Security Agency. It was responsible for gathering information on domestic and foreign intelligence and counterintelligence operations. Largely within the bounds of the nation, but not always. And it tended to work hand in hand with the other organizations, when it was needed.”
“All right, Milady,” Stauss said. “I follow you so far. But I’m afraid I don’t see how this pertains to me.”
“Mr. Stauss,” Dunham said, “the Empire is now extremely large, and extremely diverse. There are many people in it who were born in some other star nation. Not all of them necessarily want to be citizens of the Empire.”
“And so there are those who are fomenting unrest, and Your Majesty needs to know about them,” Stauss extrapolated.
“Exactly correct. And to that end, Mr. Stauss, we are creating a new organization, one that corresponds more closely to the historical National Security Agency, and we need your help.”
“I will be happy to help in any way I can, Sire,” Stauss said, confused, “but I still don’t see how…”
“You and your organization, Stauss Interstellar, as large as it is, as interwoven throughout the Galactic Empire as it is, could easily be our cover, Mr. Stauss,” Peters explained. “When a request comes in through a special mail address for a position to look into... say, bribery of a given Sector official, on a certain planet, one of your corporations ‘hires’ our operative. They become a sales rep, or shipping agent, or purchasing agent, or, or, or,” she said. “Whatever position is available and convenient. And then they are automatically transferred to the correct location... where they carry out your business, and ours as well. The worst anyone would think is that he – or she – is a corporate spook. You know, Mr. Stauss’ eyes and ears in the local organization. Certainly not an Imperial agent!”
“There would be a certain danger for you and your son,” Dunham noted, “but there would also be a certain deniability on your part as well, Mr. Stauss. You were just hiring the right person for the job; you had no idea he or she had such connections. You get the idea, I’m sure.”
“Huh,” Stauss grunted, thoughtful. “Yes, Your Majesty, I do. And it does make a great deal of sense. I would need to tell my son, Dieter, about it eventually, because the day will come – probably sooner than later; I’m not a young man any more – when he will indeed be running the organization, even if I still have my hand in it a little, here and there. And one day I will no longer be here...”
“By all means, yes, Mr. Stauss,” Dunham agreed. “That is only right and just. But it may be better if you leave that until very late in the game. Perhaps even a post-mortem message…”
“Yes, I can certainly see that, and understand it,” Otto Stauss murmured, still pondering the matter. “But do you even have anyone to run it yet?”
“We think we do,” Peters said, “though he hasn’t given us the formal acceptance quite yet.”
“He has matters of his own to work out, so that it happens as it should, with no one the wiser,” Dunham explained. “So, Mr. Stauss, your answer is both yes and no.” Dunham grinned, and they all chuckled.
“Yes, I can certainly see that, and understand it,” Stauss murmured, contemplative. “I have no problems with it, and will be happy to continue it for as long as it is needed. And I can start working on the details to ensure it’s maintained in perpetuity, or as long as Stauss Interstellar exists, at least. In fact, I’m deeply honored that Your Majesties trust us this much. I cannot think of anything other than the Gratitude of the Throne which has honored my house more. No, no,” he said, holding up a calming hand, as Peters made to say something. “I fully understand that this is an honor which no one outside of this room and your organization itself will ever know about. And I’m content with that. Yes, Your Majesty, Stauss Interstellar is, as always, happy to serve the Throne. Once you have your... spymaster... in position, let me know how he wants things handled, and I will see to it. And I will see that Dieter is informed of it at… the appropriate time.”
“Thank you, Mr. Stauss. Were you not already in possession of the Gratitude of the Throne, I would certainly see that you were, after today.”
“Your Majesty, may I ask a question?” Stauss asked.
“Certainly, Mr. Stauss.”
“What is the name of this new
