Ravnos blinked. He hadn’t actually intended to say that out loud. On the other hand, he didn’t mind joining the president in a small game of “let’s annoy the rude admiral by talking about him as if he’s not there.” Ravnos nodded. “Yeah, that.” He tilted his head to glance at the agreeably sneering admiral, then turned to purse his lips thoughtfully at the president. “That must have taken quite some time to perfect.”
Kidd rolled his eyes and shook his head. “I’ve been trying for ages, but I still can’t quite get it.” He winked at Ravnos. “I have a few council members I would dearly love to use it on.”
Ravnos tucked his thumbs into his belt and smiled. “I could see how that might come in handy.” His mental files suddenly coughed up an image of the man beside him.
Admiral Roth “Satan’s Wrath” Moraine of the angel-class dreadnaught Righteous, also known as the Emperor’s Sword, in charge of the Imperium’s largest fleet, fourth in 110
Morgan Hawke
rank from the throne, a prince of the third quadrant, and twice decorated with the Imperial Star for heroism in battle.
“I am so pleased that my presence brings you such amusement.” Admiral Moraine’s voice was calm, cultured, and clicked into a perfect match with what Ravnos had recorded as Moribund.
Ravnos turned to stare at him. “I’ll be damned…” He is Moribund. But how could he be the most wanted man in known space and also be…the hero of the Empire?
Something to think about later. He tuned his entire mental array to memorizing everything he could about the man beside him, up to and including the exotic cologne that didn’t quite disguise the scent of extremely expensive designer hydraulic fluid.
Admiral Moraine inclined his head slightly, his eyes crinkling at the corners with humor, but his lips curled back to show perfectly even teeth in what one might assume was a smile, but according to the fine hairs on the back of Ravnos’s neck, was in fact a snarl. “Ah, so you recognized me?”
Ravnos blinked. That was the understatement of the century. Was he telepathic? Only one way to find out. He curled back his lips in an exact replica of Moraine’s snarling smile. “You’re a celebrity. Kind of hard to miss…” You murdering sack of shit.
Admiral Moraine nodded absently. “Yes, thank you, now if you don’t mind, Captain, I truly wish to have a private word with President Kidd.”
Ravnos released a soft breath. Nope, not telepathic, just a damned good guesser.
President Kidd waved his hand. “Of course you may have a private word!” He tapped the top of his desk. A holographic display bloomed into life a few inches above the surface of his desk. He frowned at the data flowing upward before him. “How does the twenty-third, at half past nine in the morning, sound to you?” He turned and smiled at the admiral.
The admiral’s eyes widened. “Three days from today…?”
President Kidd plastered on the sincerest look of regret that Ravnos had ever seen.
“I’m sorry, but that’s soonest I have available at the moment.” He shook his head sadly.
“I’m booked solid until then.”
Moraine shook his head. “I’m sure the captain wouldn’t mind…”
The president abruptly threw up his hands. “Oh, yes, how thoughtless of me!” He set one hand behind his back and waved the other in Ravnos’s direction. “Admiral Moraine, may I introduce Captain Ravnos, who was kind enough to agree to join my dreadnaught fleet.”
Moraine blinked, his expression going completely blank for a millisecond, only to be replaced by a very charming smile of utter disdain. “A. Ravnos, originally of the dreadnaught Reaper under Captain Maria Melchior?”
Ravnos gave a short, curt bow. “I have that distinction.”
Kidd nodded and smiled broadly. “He’s an excellent battle commander, particularly against Moribund Company ships.”
Interstellar Service & Discipline: Lost Star
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Ravnos didn’t quite flinch.
“So I’d heard.” Moraine turned to regard Ravnos with wide eyes yet a tight mouth. “Your pursuit of the Moribund Company leads one to think there might be a personal vendetta involved.” His brows lifted.
Ravnos smiled mildly. “Yes, one just might think that.”
President Kidd clasped his hands before him. “My most abject apologies, but I really do need to complete this meeting with Captain Ravnos. I have yet another meeting directly after with one my senators.”
The admiral eyed Ravnos, then lifted his chin to focus on the far-smaller man behind the desk. “With all due respect, President, I really must insist.”
“With all due respect, Admiral”—President Kidd set one gloved hand down on his desk—“I really must insist.”
The president’s guards took a simultaneous step forward, their bladed pole-arms crackling with electricity.
Admiral Moraine inclined his head toward the president, turned on his heel in a perfectly executed about-face, then strode back down the carpet toward the lift.
Kidd’s gaze narrowed, watching the admiral’s progress.
Behind him, Ravnos heard the soft ping of the lift closing. He leaned over the desk and dropped his voice to a subvocal wavelength that normal sound detection equipment wouldn’t pick up. “President, this may sound crazy, but that man was Moribund.”
The president nodded and leaned down to reply on the same subvocal wavelength. “I know.”
Ravnos stilled. “What?” He stared at the president of the Republic of the Caribbean Stars. “How?”
Kidd smirked. “Let’s just say that Agent Sear has a weakness for dark and bittersweet chocolate.”
Sear knew…? Ravnos narrowed his eyes. “If the Agency knows, then why…?”
Kidd waved his gloved hand and snorted. “Why doesn’t someone just go to his house and arrest him?” He shook his head. “Unfortunately, Moribund is not merely the mastermind behind a highly organized crime syndicate, he’s also fourth in line to the Imperial throne. There’s not a damned thing anyone in your Imperium can do about him… officially.” He leaned close and his smirk returned. “Which is where you and I come in.” He lifted a finger. “Which reminds me.” He reached into his
