case file.”
She saw the special information access form pop up on her slate and thumbed acceptance. The case file was categorized “Kressida” and she read it warily. Her lips tightened. “You’re peddling shit from the Great Bull itself, as my employer would say. No one needs to defect from the Terran League since they instituted their Open Gates policy.”
“The gates aren’t open for everybody. In particular, prior TEBI agents.”
“Why would we want Maria Guillotte?” Saying that name gave her a bad taste. She’d added Maria’s statement regarding Abram’s takeover to her report, but avoided speaking with her directly. Interviewing the woman who had kidnapped her last year was low on her list of fun things to do.
“She can provide recent information on TEBI. The Terrans say they’re dismantling the organization and it only has domestic tasking, but we think otherwise. If Dr. Rouxe was killed by a TEBI weapon, then she may provide support for your Istaga- Andre theory. On a more personal note, Maria knows far more than we do about what Cipher did on Karthage Point—particularly how Cipher convinced a Terran mole in AFCAW to do her dirty deeds.”
Okay, so Maria might be useful. Cipher was part of the crew on the mission that took out Ura-Guinn, and she had earned her nickname as a cryptography specialist, although she wasn’t too shabby with explosives, either. When she decided that everyone who processed the weapon release orders for Ura-Guinn had to die, including her former crewmates, she used all her specialties toward that end. Karthage Point was still upgrading the security systems that Cipher had infiltrated, as well as the environmental controls she’d used to kill the station commander. In addition to cleverly subverting those systems, Cipher also needed a pair of hands on the inside. These hands belonged to an AFCAW Lieutenant Colonel, whom Ariane identified as a Terran Intelligence operative, but there were gaps in their knowledge: for instance, how did Cipher manage to “activate” a Terran mole? Someone who had TEBI connections might be able to fill in those blanks. Someone like Maria.
Ariane read more, while Edones waited. Maria had contacted the Directorate after her favorite father died, leaving her with three estranged parents. The case file assumed this was the instigating factor for Maria’s defection request. Joyce was initially assigned to contact and negotiate.
“This file says she’s to remain in place, but she requested relocation and asylum on a Consortium prime planet.” Ariane looked up, questioning the contradiction.
“She’ll be most useful if she stays on Parmet’s staff. That’s all Sergeant Joyce was authorized to offer.”
“And did she agree?”
“You’ve got everything I know. The Sergeant didn’t have time to report before Abram’s Great Unpleasantness started. Hopefully he can brief you before you arrive at Beta Priamos.”
She didn’t show her distaste. Exploiting informers and defectors was the sleazy side of intelligence, in her opinion. The task looked even more disagreeable when she considered the subject.
Edones’s slate buzzed with an AFCAW-generated emergency message, the only type allowed through the security shield.
“It’s out of Pilgrimage security.” He dropped the shield and pointed the slate at the wall so they could both watch the report.
Her jaw dropped in surprise as the video from Aether’s Touch ran, concurrent with Matt’s voice-over. She immediately defended Matt’s actions. “The bot didn’t back off, so it was within his rights to fire. Classic defense steps, per CAW Space Emergency Procedures.”
Edones ran the disintegration of the bot in slow motion. Grudgingly, he said, “Mr. Journey appears to be correct. There’s a visible shock wave, courtesy of the escaped gas. Luckily for Mr. Journey and his ship, it didn’t have a lot of power.”
“And, once again, using an amount of explosive small enough
She saw the special information access form pop up on her slate and thumbed acceptance. The case file was categorized “Kressida” and she read it warily. Her lips tightened. “You’re peddling shit from the Great Bull itself, as my employer would say. No one needs to defect from the Terran League since they instituted their Open Gates policy.”
“The gates aren’t open for everybody. In particular, prior TEBI agents.”
“Why would we want Maria Guillotte?” Saying that name gave her a bad taste. She’d added Maria’s statement regarding Abram’s takeover to her report, but avoided speaking with her directly. Interviewing the woman who had kidnapped her last year was low on her list of fun things to do.
“She can provide recent information on TEBI. The Terrans say they’re dismantling the organization and it only has domestic tasking, but we think otherwise. If Dr. Rouxe was killed by a TEBI weapon, then she may provide support for your Istaga- Andre theory. On a more personal note, Maria knows far more than we do about what Cipher did on Karthage Point—particularly how Cipher convinced a Terran mole in AFCAW to do her dirty deeds.”
Okay, so Maria might be useful. Cipher was part of the crew on the mission that took out Ura-Guinn, and she had earned her nickname as a cryptography specialist, although she wasn’t too shabby with explosives, either. When she decided that everyone who processed the weapon release orders for Ura-Guinn had to die, including her former crewmates, she used all her specialties toward that end. Karthage Point was still upgrading the security systems that Cipher had infiltrated, as well as the environmental controls she’d used to kill the station commander. In addition to cleverly subverting those systems, Cipher also needed a pair of hands on the inside. These hands belonged to an AFCAW Lieutenant Colonel, whom Ariane identified as a Terran Intelligence operative, but there were gaps in their knowledge: for instance, how did Cipher manage to “activate” a Terran mole? Someone who had TEBI connections might be able to fill in those blanks. Someone like Maria.
Ariane read more, while Edones waited. Maria had contacted the Directorate after her favorite father died, leaving her with three estranged parents. The case file assumed this was the instigating factor for Maria’s defection request. Joyce was initially assigned to contact and negotiate.
“This file says she’s to remain in place, but she requested relocation and asylum on a Consortium prime planet.” Ariane looked up, questioning the contradiction.
“She’ll be most useful if she stays on Parmet’s staff. That’s all Sergeant Joyce was authorized to offer.”
“And did she agree?”
“You’ve got everything I know. The Sergeant didn’t have time to report before Abram’s Great Unpleasantness started. Hopefully he can brief you before you arrive at Beta Priamos.”
She didn’t show her distaste. Exploiting informers and defectors was the sleazy side of intelligence, in her opinion. The task looked even more disagreeable when she considered the subject.
Edones’s slate buzzed with an AFCAW-generated emergency message, the only type allowed through the security shield.
“It’s out of Pilgrimage security.” He dropped the shield and pointed the slate at the wall so they could both watch the report.
Her jaw dropped in surprise as the video from Aether’s Touch ran, concurrent with Matt’s voice-over. She immediately defended Matt’s actions. “The bot didn’t back off, so it was within his rights to fire. Classic defense steps, per CAW Space Emergency Procedures.”
Edones ran the disintegration of the bot in slow motion. Grudgingly, he said, “Mr. Journey appears to be correct. There’s a visible shock wave, courtesy of the escaped gas. Luckily for Mr. Journey and his ship, it didn’t have a lot of power.”
“And, once again, using an amount of explosive small enough
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