instrument for application to precise targets. In fact, I'd say the Ministry of Justice was more dangerous than either the Fleet or Cadre, since it's the covert side of this whole operation that's most likely to lead the other two to us, and Justice is best equipped for getting at us from that side. As far as the Cadre's concerned, I'll start to worry when we see a major transfer of its personnel to this sector or one of its neighbors. Until that happens, Keita's just one more spook. A good one, but no more than that.'
'I think you're right, Rachel,' Howell said. At any rate, he certainly hoped she was. 'We'll proceed on that basis for now, but I want you to double-check with Control ASAP.'
'Yes, sir. The next intelligence courier's due in about five days. It may already be bringing us confirmation; if it isn't, I'll send a request back by the same dispatch boat.'
'All right.' Howell toyed with a stylus, then danced at Alexsov. 'Is there anything else we need to look at while we're all together, Greg?' Alexsov shook his head. 'In that case, I think you and Henry might make a quick run to Wyvern to set things in motion there. Don't take along anything incriminating-we've got the liquidity to pay cash for the first orders-but sound out the locals for future marketing possibilities.'
'Can do,' Alexsov replied. 'How soon can you leave, Henry?'
'Ummmm … a couple of hours, I'd guess.'
'Good,' Howell said, 'because unless I miss my guess-and unless Keita is going to make problems-we ought to be getting our next targeting order from Rachel's courier. I'll want you back here for the skull sessions, Greg.'
'In that case, I'd better get packed.' Alexsov stood, a general signal for the meeting to break up, and Howell watched his subordinates file out of the briefing room. He walked over to the small-scale system display in the corner and stood brooding down at the holograph star and its barren, lifeless planets. Rachel was probably right, he decided. If Keita were the spear-point of a Cadre intervention, he would have brought at least an intelligence staff with him. On the other hand, Keita was the tip of a damned spear all by himself; the rest of the weapon could always be brought in later, and that could complicate life in a major way.
He reached out, cupping a palm around the minute, silvery mote of his flagship, and sighed. Problems, problems. The life of a piratical freebooter had seemed so much simpler-and so much more lucrative-than a career with the Fleet, and the bigger objective was downright exciting. There were the minor drawbacks of having to become a mass murderer, a thief, and a traitor to his uniform, but the rewards were certainly great … assuming one lived to enjoy them.
He released his flagship with a heavier sigh, folding his hands behind him, and started thoughtfully towards the briefing room hatch.
How in hell, he wondered silently, had Midshipman James Howell, Imperial Fleet, Class of '28, ended up here?
Chapter Six
'Still so eager to be up and about?'
Alicia inhaled a spray of sweat as she gasped for breath, but she welcomed the teasing malice in Lieutenant de Riebeck's voice. The physical therapist was a fellow Cadreman, without a trace of the semi-awe her drop commando reputation woke in ordinary medics. That was refreshing enough, and his complete indifference to her mental state was even more so. Alicia had agitated so noisily to get out of bed that even Okanami and Major Gateau had finally given in, but de Riebeck had been their revenge. His sole interest lay in getting one Captain Alicia DeVries not merely ambulatory but fully reconditioned, and his was clearly an obsessive personality.
'Looking a little worn to me, Captain,' he continued brightly, and cranked the treadmill's speed control up a bit. 'Care for another five or six klicks? How about another five percent of grade just to make it interesting?'
Alicia moaned and collapsed over the handrails. The still-moving treadmill carried her feet from under her, and she twitched with a horridly realistic death rattle and belly-flopped onto the belt. It deposited her on the floor with a thump, and she oozed out flat.
Lieutenant de Riebeck grinned, and someone applauded from the training room door. Alicia rolled over and sat up, raking sweat-sodden hair from her forehead, and saw Tannis Gateau clapping vigorously.
'I give that a nine-point-five for dramatic effect and, oh, a three-point-two for coordination.' Alicia shook a fist, and the major chuckled. 'I see Pablo is being his usual sadistic self.'
'We strive to please, Major, ma'am,' de Riebeck smirked. Alicia laughed, and Cateau reached down to pull her to her feet.
'You know, I never thought I'd admit it, but this is one part of the Cadre I've missed,' she panted, massaging her rebuilt thigh with both hands. The repaired muscles ached, but it was the good ache of exercise, and she straightened with a sigh. Despite her reactivation, she refused to cut her hair, which had escaped its clasp once more. She gathered it back up and refastened it, then scrubbed her face with a towel.
'I think I'm going to live after all, Pablo.'
'Aw, shucks. Wen, there's always tomorrow.'
'An inspiring thought.' Alicia hung the towel around her neck and turned back to Cateau. 'May I assume you arrived for some reason other than to rescue me from Lieutenant de Sade?'
'Indeed I have. Uncle Arthur wants to see you.'
'Oh.' The humor flowed out of Alicia's voice, and her forefingers moved in slow circles, wrapping the towel- ends about them. Her success in so far avoiding Keita made her feel a bit guilty, but she really didn't want to see him. Not now, and perhaps never. He was going to bring back too many painful memories … and Cadre rumor credited him with telepathy, among other arcane powers. He'd always made her feel as if her skull were made of glass.
'Sorry, Sarge, but he insists. And I think it's a good idea myself.'
'Why?' Alicia demanded bluntly, and Cateau shrugged.
'You didn't quit the Cadre just to avoid Uncle Arthur, and you've been hiding from him long enough. It's time you faced up to him. He knows, whether you do or not, that you didn't 'fail' him by resigning, but you're never going to feel comfortable about it till you talk to him in person. Call it absolution.'
'I don't need 'absolution'!' Alicia snapped, jade eyes flashing with sudden fire, and Cateau grinned crookedly.
'Then why the sudden heat? Come on, Sarge.' She hooked an arm through Alicia's. 'I'm surprised he's let your debrief wait this long, so you may as well get it over with.' 'You can be a real pain in the ass, Tannis.'
'True, too true. Now march, Sarge.'
'Can't I even clean up first?'
'Uncle Arthur knows what sweat smells like. March!'
Alicia sighed, but the steel showed under Gateau's humor, and she was right. Alicia couldn't keep pretending Keita wasn't here. But Tannis only thought she understood why Alicia had resigned. No one-not even Tannis-knew the real reason for that, and how much it had cost her or why she had turned her back so utterly upon the Cadre. No one but Sir Arthur. Yet even reliving that decision, horrid as it would be, was only part of her present hesitance.
A heat which was rapidly becoming familiar tingled in her right arm, radiating from its contact with Gateau's left elbow, and she felt her friend's thoughts. Amusement. Pride in the way she was bouncing back from her wounds. Carefully hidden worry over the upcoming interview. A burning curiosity as to the reasons for her dread over meeting Keita and concern over their possible consequences, and under it a deeper, more persistent worry about Alicia's stability-and what to do about her if she was, in fact, unstable.
'Stop that!'
'Why? She is your physician, and we need this information.'
'Not from Tannis-not this way. She's also my friend.'
A mental grumble answered, but the information flow died, and she was grateful. Stealing Tannis's thoughts was a violation of her privacy and trust-almost a form of rape, even if she never felt a thing-and Alicia hated it.
Not that it hadn't been useful, she conceded. The first time Tannis had hugged her, Tisiphone had plucked a disturbing suspicion from the major's mind. Alicia's monologues had gotten just a bit too enthusiastic, and Tannis
