along.”
There wasn’t any point in responding to that.
He sighed again. “I shouldn’t have blocked your way, should I?”
“No.”
“I said I was sorry.”
“I know.”
“I meant it.”
“Okay.” Answering a gesture from the general, Torin left him standing there—hopefully reevaluating his place in the current scheme of things, but she doubted it. An ego like his had to be resilient.
“Staff Sergeant, I want you to accompany Commander Verite and the security detail she’ll be taking down to meet our unexpected visitor. I want to know everything that’s said.”
“Yes, sir.” She shot a glance at Captain Travik—who was looking petulant—and slid it over to Lieutenant Stedrin.
General Morris read her question from the motion. “I’m not sending the lieutenant, because I don’t want to give this representative from Sector Central News too much credence.”
“Yes, sir.”
He didn’t bother explaining why he wasn’t sending Captain Travik. But then, he didn’t need to.
* * *
“Hey, Sib, that ship’s particle trail leads right back to the exact point the
Berg
exited Susumi space.”
Sibley frowned over at the tiny ship surrounded on all planes by the six fighters, their extended energy fields all that was holding it together. It was smaller than an STS shuttle, smaller than the
Promise
would be without her cargo panels. “Is there even room in that thing for a Susumi engine?”
“Well, they sure as
sanLi
didn’t take the long way out.”
“Good point. And good piloting. Given the readings coming off it, I’m amazed they’re not sucking vacuum.”
* * *
The nine members of the security team were wearing side arms. Neither Torin nor the commander were carrying weapons.
“Sensors read three Katrien in there,” Commander Verite said softly as they took up positions at the air lock’s innerdoor. “No weapon signature, but if this is some kind of an elaborate trick, Staff Sergeant, I want you to get out of the way and let my people handle it.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Telltales are green, Commander.” The crewman by the door had one hand on his weapon, the other about a millimeter above the release pad.
“All right.” She checked her masker and nodded. “Open it.”
Torin had been on Sai Genist when the media had landed—it was like being attacked with both hands tied, with the Marines helpless to do anything in their own defense. Fortunately, it hadn’t lasted long. The vid crews seemed to believe that, while they were shooting, they were immune to what everyone else was shooting. They weren’t. And the signal from their equipment made it easy for the enemy to lock in. Torin’s platoon had been covered in debris, but the enemy’s aim was so exact no Marine was actually injured.
Vid crews got smarter after that. At least the vid crews from that particular news company. She didn’t think they belonged to Sector Central News although a number of the crew had been Katrien.
The moment they had room enough between the door and the bulkhead, the three Katrien pushed out into the corridor, all talking at once.
Torin recognized the one in front. Recognized the silver fur edging the dark mask and running in single lines down each side of the muzzle. Recognized the way the black vee ran up the collarbone and over both shoulders to spread into a dark cape that ended in a narrow triangle halfway down the spine.
And if that’s not enough, they’re the same fukking dark glasses.
“Staff Sergeant Torin Kerr.” The Katrien pushed right by the commander. “I are Presit a Tur durValintrisy, Sector Central News. I are thanking you for your help in leading us to this story.”
The next Katrien out was definitely recording.
Torin could feel the eyes of the entire security team now locked on her rather than on their visitors.
“Staff Sergeant?” The commander’s voice was a low growl. Things were about to get ugly.
“One minute, Commander.”
There
There wasn’t any point in responding to that.
He sighed again. “I shouldn’t have blocked your way, should I?”
“No.”
“I said I was sorry.”
“I know.”
“I meant it.”
“Okay.” Answering a gesture from the general, Torin left him standing there—hopefully reevaluating his place in the current scheme of things, but she doubted it. An ego like his had to be resilient.
“Staff Sergeant, I want you to accompany Commander Verite and the security detail she’ll be taking down to meet our unexpected visitor. I want to know everything that’s said.”
“Yes, sir.” She shot a glance at Captain Travik—who was looking petulant—and slid it over to Lieutenant Stedrin.
General Morris read her question from the motion. “I’m not sending the lieutenant, because I don’t want to give this representative from Sector Central News too much credence.”
“Yes, sir.”
He didn’t bother explaining why he wasn’t sending Captain Travik. But then, he didn’t need to.
* * *
“Hey, Sib, that ship’s particle trail leads right back to the exact point the
Berg
exited Susumi space.”
Sibley frowned over at the tiny ship surrounded on all planes by the six fighters, their extended energy fields all that was holding it together. It was smaller than an STS shuttle, smaller than the
Promise
would be without her cargo panels. “Is there even room in that thing for a Susumi engine?”
“Well, they sure as
sanLi
didn’t take the long way out.”
“Good point. And good piloting. Given the readings coming off it, I’m amazed they’re not sucking vacuum.”
* * *
The nine members of the security team were wearing side arms. Neither Torin nor the commander were carrying weapons.
“Sensors read three Katrien in there,” Commander Verite said softly as they took up positions at the air lock’s innerdoor. “No weapon signature, but if this is some kind of an elaborate trick, Staff Sergeant, I want you to get out of the way and let my people handle it.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Telltales are green, Commander.” The crewman by the door had one hand on his weapon, the other about a millimeter above the release pad.
“All right.” She checked her masker and nodded. “Open it.”
Torin had been on Sai Genist when the media had landed—it was like being attacked with both hands tied, with the Marines helpless to do anything in their own defense. Fortunately, it hadn’t lasted long. The vid crews seemed to believe that, while they were shooting, they were immune to what everyone else was shooting. They weren’t. And the signal from their equipment made it easy for the enemy to lock in. Torin’s platoon had been covered in debris, but the enemy’s aim was so exact no Marine was actually injured.
Vid crews got smarter after that. At least the vid crews from that particular news company. She didn’t think they belonged to Sector Central News although a number of the crew had been Katrien.
The moment they had room enough between the door and the bulkhead, the three Katrien pushed out into the corridor, all talking at once.
Torin recognized the one in front. Recognized the silver fur edging the dark mask and running in single lines down each side of the muzzle. Recognized the way the black vee ran up the collarbone and over both shoulders to spread into a dark cape that ended in a narrow triangle halfway down the spine.
And if that’s not enough, they’re the same fukking dark glasses.
“Staff Sergeant Torin Kerr.” The Katrien pushed right by the commander. “I are Presit a Tur durValintrisy, Sector Central News. I are thanking you for your help in leading us to this story.”
The next Katrien out was definitely recording.
Torin could feel the eyes of the entire security team now locked on her rather than on their visitors.
“Staff Sergeant?” The commander’s voice was a low growl. Things were about to get ugly.
“One minute, Commander.”
There
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