silver-clad Danyeo troopers with renewed interest.
“Ah,” she acknowledged slowly. “Were you, by any chance, looking to arrest Sector Commander Gordon today?”
Nell knew the answer was yes before anyone sat before her even moved a muscle. That was why there had been the extended delay before meeting her.
They had not wanted to meet with her at all.
In an odd way, Nell felt rather hurt, but she gritted her teeth and carried on. She had come to the meeting in the white and gold colours of the Fleet, and she would be damned if she did anything other than see the thing through to its proper conclusion.
“This is an ideal opportunity for me to ensure you are informed that all of Gordon’s known activities have been stopped. They are being investigated as we speak. If you know or hear of any that continue in his absence, please let me know.”
Silence.
“Gordon has been relieved of command. He is currently en route to IGW headquarters, where he will be subject to a reassessment. Personally, I think it highly unlikely he will be fit enough to return to the level of command he previously,” Nell chose her words carefully, discarding ‘enjoyed’ in favour of, “occupied.”
More silence.
Nell gave a long sigh, casting her gaze from Danyeo, to Angel, to Rowe. “The Fleet would also like to apologise for any upset or distress his activities may have caused.” Nell was very aware her words seemed inadequate, given that he had tried to murder Rowe and kill her in the process, but it was still an apology. Nell looked at Rowe’s face again.
He did not look like a man who was about to accept a formal apology. Angel simply grimaced and looked away.
“I can appreciate that you came here today intent on having things out with Gordon, but, as you must understand, that is impossible. If, however, it is the Fleet you have an issue with…”
“We could take you by proxy for Gordon,” Rowe growled.
“No,” Danyeo interceded quickly, “I don’t think so. This is a border dispute—”
“That was being run by Gordon, and therefore, ultimately, when all is said and done, the Fleet,” Rowe protested angrily.
“Gordon has gone,” Nell insisted firmly. “He will not be back. I would also like to state categorically that the Fleet have no ambitions on the borders of Eastern Complex space, Lord Rowe. Whatever actions Gordon has taken against you were done purely on his own initiative, and not with the backing of the Inner Worlds.”
Rowe snorted loudly and Angel glared at her.
“So who is the new permanent Sector Commander going to be?” Rowe asked finally. “Another Thorn?”
“I think the Fleet might be running out of Thorns,” Danyeo muttered under his breath.
Nell was momentarily struck speechless, for she had already committed herself to the post indefinitely.
“That will, of course, have to be decided by the IGW in due course.”
“Will it?” Rowe’s tone was hardly nice.
“Well, if that is all you wish to discuss with me…” Nell stood abruptly, acutely aware that she had done as much as she could today, and there was nothing she could do or say that would make Rowe and Angel feel better. They were here for revenge on Gordon and she had snatched him away from under their noses, because she had wanted to protect them from the almost certain conflict that would have resulted from their action.
It was an act that would probably mean she would never see or speak to them ever again as friends, certainly not as lovers. They were seething, furious.
She had cheated them out of their payback.
Nell paused and looked back at Rowe. “In removing Gordon, I believe I have probably saved the lives of a considerable number of Rim inhabitants, including your own and Angel’s. I never thanked you properly for saving my life, but I am thanking you now for killing the assassin who attacked me that night.”
Rowe frowned at her, but kept silent.
“What I didn’t tell you was that the assassin carried
“Ah,” she acknowledged slowly. “Were you, by any chance, looking to arrest Sector Commander Gordon today?”
Nell knew the answer was yes before anyone sat before her even moved a muscle. That was why there had been the extended delay before meeting her.
They had not wanted to meet with her at all.
In an odd way, Nell felt rather hurt, but she gritted her teeth and carried on. She had come to the meeting in the white and gold colours of the Fleet, and she would be damned if she did anything other than see the thing through to its proper conclusion.
“This is an ideal opportunity for me to ensure you are informed that all of Gordon’s known activities have been stopped. They are being investigated as we speak. If you know or hear of any that continue in his absence, please let me know.”
Silence.
“Gordon has been relieved of command. He is currently en route to IGW headquarters, where he will be subject to a reassessment. Personally, I think it highly unlikely he will be fit enough to return to the level of command he previously,” Nell chose her words carefully, discarding ‘enjoyed’ in favour of, “occupied.”
More silence.
Nell gave a long sigh, casting her gaze from Danyeo, to Angel, to Rowe. “The Fleet would also like to apologise for any upset or distress his activities may have caused.” Nell was very aware her words seemed inadequate, given that he had tried to murder Rowe and kill her in the process, but it was still an apology. Nell looked at Rowe’s face again.
He did not look like a man who was about to accept a formal apology. Angel simply grimaced and looked away.
“I can appreciate that you came here today intent on having things out with Gordon, but, as you must understand, that is impossible. If, however, it is the Fleet you have an issue with…”
“We could take you by proxy for Gordon,” Rowe growled.
“No,” Danyeo interceded quickly, “I don’t think so. This is a border dispute—”
“That was being run by Gordon, and therefore, ultimately, when all is said and done, the Fleet,” Rowe protested angrily.
“Gordon has gone,” Nell insisted firmly. “He will not be back. I would also like to state categorically that the Fleet have no ambitions on the borders of Eastern Complex space, Lord Rowe. Whatever actions Gordon has taken against you were done purely on his own initiative, and not with the backing of the Inner Worlds.”
Rowe snorted loudly and Angel glared at her.
“So who is the new permanent Sector Commander going to be?” Rowe asked finally. “Another Thorn?”
“I think the Fleet might be running out of Thorns,” Danyeo muttered under his breath.
Nell was momentarily struck speechless, for she had already committed herself to the post indefinitely.
“That will, of course, have to be decided by the IGW in due course.”
“Will it?” Rowe’s tone was hardly nice.
“Well, if that is all you wish to discuss with me…” Nell stood abruptly, acutely aware that she had done as much as she could today, and there was nothing she could do or say that would make Rowe and Angel feel better. They were here for revenge on Gordon and she had snatched him away from under their noses, because she had wanted to protect them from the almost certain conflict that would have resulted from their action.
It was an act that would probably mean she would never see or speak to them ever again as friends, certainly not as lovers. They were seething, furious.
She had cheated them out of their payback.
Nell paused and looked back at Rowe. “In removing Gordon, I believe I have probably saved the lives of a considerable number of Rim inhabitants, including your own and Angel’s. I never thanked you properly for saving my life, but I am thanking you now for killing the assassin who attacked me that night.”
Rowe frowned at her, but kept silent.
“What I didn’t tell you was that the assassin carried
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