The Shattered Empire (The Shadow Space Chronicles Book 2) by Kal Spriggs Page A

plan is to give both vessels to the Nova Romans and let them crew and equip them?”
    Admiral Dreyfus nodded.  “From what I understand, they've a wealth of experienced military officers and enlisted from the Melcer raid.  Admiral Mund is coordinating their rehabilitation and getting them spun up.”  Admiral Dreyfus smiled slightly, “From what I understand, the Emperor is very pleased with some of the personnel they've received.”
    Lucius thought of Daniel Beeson and Anthony Doko, who commanded both vessels, “Do we have commands for their officers and positions for their enlisted and junior officers?”
    Admiral Dreyfus nodded slowly, “Yes, Baron.  We've had extensive casualties from the fight with the Balor.  We haven't yet assigned commanders to a pair of our recently repaired battlecruisers, I'm sure we could make the move there.”
    Lucius nodded slightly.  “Very well.  I think...” He sighed and tried again, “I think that the cost of the Desperadoes is such that we should transfer them over to the Nova Roma contingent.  They'll be able to crew and maintain them more easily.”
    “Thank you, Baron,” Admiral Dreyfus responded.
    Lucius sat back in his chair.  “Now then, what else did you want to bring up, since you have me by myself for once?”
    “What makes you think this isn't all?” Admiral Dreyfus asked, his eyes narrow.
    Lucius cocked his head, “While I appreciate you wanting to get me alone for that discussion, you could have done it remotely.  There's nothing sensitive in the information about our logistics situation.  So that means that you had an ulterior motive, in turn, that suggests that it's both something I won't want to hear... and also something sensitive that you don't want getting spread around.”  Lucius kept his voice level, but there were only a handful of things that he thought qualified for this discussion.  None of them were topics that he particularly liked to think about.
    Admiral Dreyfus smiled grimly, “Well, I guess I'm not quite as smooth as I'd hoped.”  He sighed and slid a folder across his desk to Lucius.  “We have finished the initial vetting of personnel who might have been behind the escape of your rogue Admiral Mannetti.  As you know, whoever was behind it needed access to our codes, uniforms, and schedules.”
    Lucius nodded impatiently, yet he didn't allow himself to flip open the folder.  He wanted to hear Admiral Dreyfus's explanation before he did so.  He was already inclined to disbelieve that any of his people would so betray him.  Yet at the same time, there seemed to be no other explanation.
    “We've selected ten suspects, based upon their seniority, prior service or contact with Lucretta Mannetti, and a basic background screening of them all,” Admiral Dreyfus said.  “Captain Wu has done an excellent and very thorough job.  She has not been able to further develop his investigation without authorization to interrogate–”
    “No,” Lucius said softly.  “There will be no interrogation of suspects.  For one thing, if her theory is correct, then this individual fooled the best of Imperial Intelligence and fooled my entire crew and I for the past fifteen years.”  He looked down at his feet, “And furthermore, without further proof of betrayal, I won't subject loyal officers to the shadow of disgrace on nothing more than suspicions and conjecture.”
    Admiral Dreyfus cleared his throat, “If we have a sleeper agent within our organization...”
    “Then he still can do no more damage than if we destroy the trust of our own officers and citizens by detaining them without evidence and of holding and interrogating them without trial,” Lucius said calmly.  He was certain of that.  He had seen the Imperial Security Bureau transform into an organization of terror in their hunt for Chxor collaborators and rebellious elements.  He did not wish to see his own nation's security and military forces do the same.
    “Very