Captain Vorpatril's alliance

It was maddening to suspect something was in the Arqua works, but have no idea what. Did Simon know, by now? The comforting notion that, in that case, Simon would surely be on top of it ran aground on the reflection that Shiv could well be stringing Simon along with heavily doctored information. In which case, the former ImpSec chief would likely let things run a bit to see what turned up. Giving the former pirate time to get the drop on him in turn…

This cannot end well. Ivan clutched his hair and stumbled to the shower.

Tej and Rish were still asleep when he let himself out of his flat. The routine of the morning rush at Ops was calming, almost. Admiral Desplains inquired after Ivan’s evening, in a perfunctory sort of way, and was evidently much reassured by the news that Lady Alys and Illyan had welcomed the refugee visitors diplomatically and without incident.

“Ah, Illyan, of course,” murmured the admiral, gathering up his coffee mug. “ That should cover everything.”

“Mm!” said Ivan brightly, and turned to his comconsole.

He was still sorting snakes when a call came in over his secured channel from ImpSec HQ, the stamp informed him. Ivan mustered a faint, practiced smile of welcome when Captain Raudsepp’s face materialized over the vid plate.

“Good, Captain Vorpatril.” Raudsepp returned the nod. “General Allegre thought you should know, your case seems to be warming up. About a day ago, ImpSec Komarr picked up a team of four individuals at the main orbital transfer station who proved to be freelance bounty hunters out of the Hegen Hub, looking to collect your wife and her companion and deliver them to a contact back in the Hub.”

Ivan lurched in his chair. That was…fast? Slow? Expected, unexpected…unfortunate? “Just Tej and Rish? Not the rest of the clan?”

“Apparently. The reward for the two women’s delivery to the Hub station was substantial. A reward for their delivery all the way to the Whole is even more substantial. The source of what the Jacksonians are pleased to call an arrest order is confirmed to be this Prestene syndicate that took over House Cordonah eight months ago.”

“That’s not a surprise, by now. Were these rental goons arriving or departing when Morozov’s people caught up with them?”

“Boarding ship for Vorbarr Sultana, in point of fact.”

“That’s…a bit late.”

Raudsepp shrugged. “They were quite professional. And, while we now have red flags on anything related to the new Cordonah consortium, their damned bounty system puts a natural break in any connection. Anyone at all‑who is in the trade, that is‑may pick up an advertisement of the bounty, and the first thing the Jacksonians who posted it, let alone us, may know of them is when they pop up on their doorstep ready to deliver and collect. Personal motives not required.”

“Crap,” said Ivan. “Then they could come out of the walls anywhere.”

Raudsepp nodded glumly. “The charge of conspiracy to kidnap a Barrayaran subject will hold this crew for the moment.” He added in a more reflective tone, “One does wonder what we will do with them if they accumulate. Some special holding pen for galactic human traffickers might have to be devised. Not that we aren’t happy to have them identified and pulled out of circulation, but…well, perhaps it’s premature to look so far ahead.”

Ivan pictured it. What the hell was the Barrayaran government supposed to do with dozens and dozens of bounty hunters? They’d make a slippery bunch to hold on to, too, as well as some of them being seriously crazy. Miles would know what to do with a sack of rabid weasels, but that might be a cure worse than the disease. And anyway, Miles wasn’t here. It was perhaps unworthy to think, Thank God.

“I suppose,” said Ivan slowly, “They’ll keep coming as long as this Prestene consortium is still out there offering the booty. And for a while after, as people fail to get the updates. Speaking of updates, is there any sign that the Arquas’ enemies have found out that the rest of them are now all here?”

“Not yet,” said Raudsepp. “But I shouldn’t think that it will improve the situation once they do. This could get expensive for my department.”

Ivan grimaced. “I suppose you fellows can think of it as a live training exercise.”

Raudsepp appeared unamused. “Do you have any idea yet how long your, ah, relatives‑in‑law are planning to stay?”

“Their initial emergency visa runs thirteen more days. I don’t know if they’ll succeed in getting an extension.”

“Hm.” Raudsepp frowned. “Were you able to discover if they have any further plans? Otherwise, I don’t see any impediment for them to take their family members and decamp promptly. Which would remove them from my work queue, at least.”

“One of them is married to a Barrayaran subject. That’s an impediment.”

Raudsepp waved this away. “I was told this marriage of yours was a temporary ploy. Not one that anyone takes seriously.”

I do. Did he? Did Tej…?