Read Online Star Risk - 02 Scoundrel Worlds by Chris Bunch - Free Book Online
Authors: Chris Bunch
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more positive. "He's spent too many years in the service of his system to suddenly turn traitor."
Riss was still skeptical, but there was no point in continuing the debate.
"Very well," von Baldur said. "Would you mind describing your office routine? No, wait. First, did you ever have access to this proposed defense system for Belfort?"
"I did not," Sufyerd said. "I was told of its existence less than a week before my arrest. I was supposed to vet it and write an appreciation, but was arrested before it arrived. It was late, by the way.
"Someone above me, the real culprit, must have shortstopped the information and sent it on to Torguth, although how we discovered these plans had been copied is also beyond me."
"Since we're not getting any cooperation from Ha," von Baldur said, "would you mind describing your section?"
"I do this with a deal of reluctance," Sufyerd said. "I suppose the information has low classification, but I still hesitate at describing anything about Strategic Intelligence to an outsider. But I suppose there's no harm, and I certainly don't want to be taken as uncooperative.
"Ha works in small sections, to increase security. My own team of four was one of several dealing with Torguth."
"Specializing in Torguth's interest in the Belfort System?" Grok asked.
"No," Sufyerd said. "My section worked the general field, and would be given specific assignments in any given area as our superiors saw the need."
"No dealings with Belfort normally," von Baldur said. "Was this brought out at your court-martial?"
"My defense, such as it was, attempted to introduce that fact, but it was denied admission."
"Premier Reynard has given us a copy of your transcript," Jasmine said. "That isn't mentioned in it."
"There was a great deal of testimony presented sub rosa," Sufyerd said.
"I think it would be helpful if you would tell us what information wasn't permitted," Grok said.
Sufyerd took a breath. "Very well� but I assume any recording devices you brought along with you have been confiscated, as with all my other visitors� such that were permitted."
"Don't worry," Jasmine said. "I have an excellent memory."
Sufyerd licked his lips and began.
"So much for the exciting life of an intelligence type," Jasmine said. "All that poor guy ever did was read reports, write summaries, and read summaries and write reports. For which they're going to gas him."
"Like that's new data?" Riss asked. "Weren't you paying attention to what you were doing when you were shuffling papers for Cerberus Systems� or when we stuck you with running the home office while we were off playing?"
"Setting that aside," Grok said, "why was Sufyerd picked as the patsy?"
"I do not know," von Baldur said. "If we can get a clue as to that, we might have a lead as to the real culprit. Perhaps just for his religion, even though that sounds somewhat thin."
"Speaking of which," Goodnight said, "M'chel, would you care to accompany me to one of Mr. Sufyerd's group's services? Being as how the Jilani are supposedly an ecstatic sort of cult, from what Reynard said, things might get interesting, and I've never been to an orgy and would hate to be unsupervised."
"I have," Riss said. "In the course of business."
"And?" Goodnight asked.
"And I found out that mostly ugly people like that sort of thing. Normal folk seem to be able to get their ashes hauled without having to go to a meeting."
"Mmmh," Goodnight said.
"While these two are being ecstatic," Grok said, "Jasmine, would you care to accompany me to dinner? I've found a new sort of eating here, and you might appreciate it."
"Enchanted," King said.
"Leaving me odd man out," von Baldur said. "I guess I shall just wander over to Tournelle's and pile on the calories in a solitary fashion." He touched keys on the yacht's secondary console. "Assuming no charming or powerful person has called me with another invitation�"
The screen lit. checking messages flashed three times, then two items
Riss was still skeptical, but there was no point in continuing the debate.
"Very well," von Baldur said. "Would you mind describing your office routine? No, wait. First, did you ever have access to this proposed defense system for Belfort?"
"I did not," Sufyerd said. "I was told of its existence less than a week before my arrest. I was supposed to vet it and write an appreciation, but was arrested before it arrived. It was late, by the way.
"Someone above me, the real culprit, must have shortstopped the information and sent it on to Torguth, although how we discovered these plans had been copied is also beyond me."
"Since we're not getting any cooperation from Ha," von Baldur said, "would you mind describing your section?"
"I do this with a deal of reluctance," Sufyerd said. "I suppose the information has low classification, but I still hesitate at describing anything about Strategic Intelligence to an outsider. But I suppose there's no harm, and I certainly don't want to be taken as uncooperative.
"Ha works in small sections, to increase security. My own team of four was one of several dealing with Torguth."
"Specializing in Torguth's interest in the Belfort System?" Grok asked.
"No," Sufyerd said. "My section worked the general field, and would be given specific assignments in any given area as our superiors saw the need."
"No dealings with Belfort normally," von Baldur said. "Was this brought out at your court-martial?"
"My defense, such as it was, attempted to introduce that fact, but it was denied admission."
"Premier Reynard has given us a copy of your transcript," Jasmine said. "That isn't mentioned in it."
"There was a great deal of testimony presented sub rosa," Sufyerd said.
"I think it would be helpful if you would tell us what information wasn't permitted," Grok said.
Sufyerd took a breath. "Very well� but I assume any recording devices you brought along with you have been confiscated, as with all my other visitors� such that were permitted."
"Don't worry," Jasmine said. "I have an excellent memory."
Sufyerd licked his lips and began.
"So much for the exciting life of an intelligence type," Jasmine said. "All that poor guy ever did was read reports, write summaries, and read summaries and write reports. For which they're going to gas him."
"Like that's new data?" Riss asked. "Weren't you paying attention to what you were doing when you were shuffling papers for Cerberus Systems� or when we stuck you with running the home office while we were off playing?"
"Setting that aside," Grok said, "why was Sufyerd picked as the patsy?"
"I do not know," von Baldur said. "If we can get a clue as to that, we might have a lead as to the real culprit. Perhaps just for his religion, even though that sounds somewhat thin."
"Speaking of which," Goodnight said, "M'chel, would you care to accompany me to one of Mr. Sufyerd's group's services? Being as how the Jilani are supposedly an ecstatic sort of cult, from what Reynard said, things might get interesting, and I've never been to an orgy and would hate to be unsupervised."
"I have," Riss said. "In the course of business."
"And?" Goodnight asked.
"And I found out that mostly ugly people like that sort of thing. Normal folk seem to be able to get their ashes hauled without having to go to a meeting."
"Mmmh," Goodnight said.
"While these two are being ecstatic," Grok said, "Jasmine, would you care to accompany me to dinner? I've found a new sort of eating here, and you might appreciate it."
"Enchanted," King said.
"Leaving me odd man out," von Baldur said. "I guess I shall just wander over to Tournelle's and pile on the calories in a solitary fashion." He touched keys on the yacht's secondary console. "Assuming no charming or powerful person has called me with another invitation�"
The screen lit. checking messages flashed three times, then two items
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