The Lost Stars: Tarnished Knight

“The agent is new,” Malin said. “We don’t have much track record to go on.”

“How did you—?” Morgan glared at him. “If we wait for everything to be perfect, we’ll never move. But Iceni will. General, you know we can’t screw around indefinitely waiting for a one hundred percent chance of success.”

“That’s true,” Drakon agreed. “But the bigger question is whether I want to, and if I did want to, whether now would be the right time. I told both of you, and no one else, where Iceni is going and why. You know how important it is that the mission be successful.”

“That sub-CEO knows her job,” Morgan said. “She can do it without Iceni.”

“That is not a certainty, and Iceni has not targeted you, General,” Malin said.

“That we have determined,” Morgan snapped back at him.

“I have more confidence in you than that,” Malin told her with a cold smile. “If someone was trying to get at General Drakon, you would know.”

That compliment took Morgan aback for a moment, but she rallied quickly. “I’m not perfect. General Drakon knows better than to put total trust in anyone,” she added with a look that made it clear that the jab was aimed at Malin.

“Then why should he trust this agent? It’s an old ISS trick, General. Dangle an opportunity in front of someone, and when they take the bait, you have them. How do we know that President Iceni doesn’t want you to send that order? If you do, and this is a setup, you’ll be playing right into her hands.”

Morgan’s eyes blazed. “Are you implying that I’m working with Iceni?”

“I would not imply a charge like that. I’d make it outright if I had proof.”

“Only if my back was turned! General, I know my job. I know what the agent will do.”

Drakon closed his eyes, trying to sort out options. The bottom line is, I don’t want to kill her. Not unless I’m forced to. She’s doing a good job running her half of things and hasn’t been working to undermine me in any obvious ways. Whether she’s working in less obvious ways is another question. “No,” he finally said. “I don’t think this is the right time, the solution isn’t one I want to pursue unless it is clearly required, and I would like to have a better track record on the agent before I entrust that person with such a critical move.”

Malin tried not to look triumphant while Morgan suppressed a scowl. “But the option isn’t off the table?” she asked.

“It doesn’t hurt to have someone in that position ready to act if necessary. The capability might be very important at some point.” The identity of that individual might also prove useful if Drakon ever had to sacrifice anyone to keep Iceni convinced he was working with her. “But I’ll make the decision on whether and when it’s necessary.”

* * *

HER stateroom on the heavy cruiser was far from spacious or luxurious. Iceni sat looking around its confines, remembering her own days as a junior executive, living in quarters much smaller and more Spartan than this. You’ve become spoiled, Gwen.

Having ensured that the defenses and antisurveillance equipment built into her outfit were all working properly, Iceni called Sub-CEO Marphissa. “I need to see you.”

Marphissa arrived with gratifying haste. “Yes, Madam President?”

“Close the hatch and sit down.” Iceni waited, watching Marphissa intently, her equipment remotely analyzing the sub-CEO’s physiological status for signs of not just nervousness but also fear or outright deception. The tiny, portable equipment wasn’t nearly as effective as that inside an interrogation cell, but it provided helpful inputs to regular observations of someone. “Have you heard from General Drakon?”

The signs of nervousness shot up, but no clear signs of deception registered as Marphissa answered. “Not since we left orbit.”

“You heard from him before then?”

“Not from him. Just expanded instructions from whoever is in contact with me. I already had a code phrase that would order me to kill you at the first good opportunity. The expanded instructions added a second phrase, which would order me to wait to kill you until we were outside the star system.”

“I see.”

“I take it,” Marphissa said cautiously, “that means our current trip toward the jump points means we will actually jump for another star.”

Iceni made a noncommittal sound in reply. “But you haven’t received either code phrase?”

“No.”