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Authors: Annabel Wolfe
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that if
they wanted to implicate Aspen, they could charge her with dereliction of
duty. She’s supposed to keep you in line.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.” It was a mutter.
Trey cocked a brow in amusement at the defensive look on his friend’s
face. “I think it’s well known enough you view military policy as a bunch of
suggestions, not rules.”
“I’m a civilian.” He paused by the table and picked up his glass but still
stood.
“Well, she isn’t and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out her career is
important to her. She’s not only a female, but half-bred, besides being young
for her rank. It’s clear she’s worked hard to get where she is. I think you’d
better come up with an alternative plan.”
“Well, shit, maybe you’re right.” Long fingers ruffled blond hair even
further into a state of disarray in a frustrated gesture. Larik gave him a direct
look, his sapphire eyes glimmering. “We’re both starting to get attached to
her, aren’t we?”
Trey was afraid it might be true. The fascination he felt for their
beautiful companion wasn’t just sexual any longer. Half the time they were
in bed now he spent talking to her, coaxing out details of her childhood, just
The Covenant: The Starlight Chronicles 2
49
touching her, sometimes even holding her hand. He liked to listen to her
breathe, for God’s sakes, and the way he felt a complication he didn’t
expect. “Yes,” he admitted.
“When we get out of here it might be a bit of a problem.”
“I know,” Trey agreed and drank the rest of his wine in a single gulp.
“In the meantime, let’s worry about getting out.”
“Fine. I’m open to any ideas.”
“Hack back in. Let’s read all the governor’s communications and look at
the energy station again. If you think that’s the key, Armada, I’m with you.”
50
Annabel Wolfe
Chapter 5
The speculative look on the faces of the rest of the council did not
escape him. Ran took his seat at the table and folded his hands in front of
him. Very rarely did he not know precisely what to say when addressing the
most powerful body in interstellar politics, but at this moment, he wasn’t
sure.
Damn Armada and his cryptic messages.
He cleared his throat and began. “Recently I have received some
information that might be pertinent to our current alarm over the possible
attack on Rapt One. Security measures have been drastically tightened as
you all know, and there is a possibility that the procedures now in place
might be just exactly what the enemy wanted.”
One of the elders, a statesman who had sat on the council since before
Ran was born, lifted a bushy brow. “Do you mind telling me, Governor, just
how increased security would aid whoever tried to infect the colony?”
“Well, for one, it would detain anyone coming in. The current
quarantine time is two months. The question we need to ask ourselves is
whether or not the virus—which was caught quickly and contained the first
time because it is so virulent the victims sickened and died within a day—is
the real threat.”
“It depends on the incubation period. As I understand it we have
scientists on almost all allied planets studying it.”
“I agree the virus isn’t to be dismissed lightly, but shouldn’t we make
sure we aren’t doing exactly the expected and thereby causing a greater
danger to not only Rapt One but all the colonies?”
One of the other members spoke up, a frown on his face. “Who
specifically would it detain, Governor Kartel?”
“The engineer sent to repair their failing energy station, Larik Armada.
He’s there now, trapped in seclusion for at least four more weeks. If it is
The Covenant: The Starlight Chronicles 2
51
necessary to rebuild the facility, the hope is, of course, he can design it
faster than anyone else. I’m sure you all know his name.”
Several of the Council nodded, but none of them looked particularly
convinced.
they wanted to implicate Aspen, they could charge her with dereliction of
duty. She’s supposed to keep you in line.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.” It was a mutter.
Trey cocked a brow in amusement at the defensive look on his friend’s
face. “I think it’s well known enough you view military policy as a bunch of
suggestions, not rules.”
“I’m a civilian.” He paused by the table and picked up his glass but still
stood.
“Well, she isn’t and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out her career is
important to her. She’s not only a female, but half-bred, besides being young
for her rank. It’s clear she’s worked hard to get where she is. I think you’d
better come up with an alternative plan.”
“Well, shit, maybe you’re right.” Long fingers ruffled blond hair even
further into a state of disarray in a frustrated gesture. Larik gave him a direct
look, his sapphire eyes glimmering. “We’re both starting to get attached to
her, aren’t we?”
Trey was afraid it might be true. The fascination he felt for their
beautiful companion wasn’t just sexual any longer. Half the time they were
in bed now he spent talking to her, coaxing out details of her childhood, just
The Covenant: The Starlight Chronicles 2
49
touching her, sometimes even holding her hand. He liked to listen to her
breathe, for God’s sakes, and the way he felt a complication he didn’t
expect. “Yes,” he admitted.
“When we get out of here it might be a bit of a problem.”
“I know,” Trey agreed and drank the rest of his wine in a single gulp.
“In the meantime, let’s worry about getting out.”
“Fine. I’m open to any ideas.”
“Hack back in. Let’s read all the governor’s communications and look at
the energy station again. If you think that’s the key, Armada, I’m with you.”
50
Annabel Wolfe
Chapter 5
The speculative look on the faces of the rest of the council did not
escape him. Ran took his seat at the table and folded his hands in front of
him. Very rarely did he not know precisely what to say when addressing the
most powerful body in interstellar politics, but at this moment, he wasn’t
sure.
Damn Armada and his cryptic messages.
He cleared his throat and began. “Recently I have received some
information that might be pertinent to our current alarm over the possible
attack on Rapt One. Security measures have been drastically tightened as
you all know, and there is a possibility that the procedures now in place
might be just exactly what the enemy wanted.”
One of the elders, a statesman who had sat on the council since before
Ran was born, lifted a bushy brow. “Do you mind telling me, Governor, just
how increased security would aid whoever tried to infect the colony?”
“Well, for one, it would detain anyone coming in. The current
quarantine time is two months. The question we need to ask ourselves is
whether or not the virus—which was caught quickly and contained the first
time because it is so virulent the victims sickened and died within a day—is
the real threat.”
“It depends on the incubation period. As I understand it we have
scientists on almost all allied planets studying it.”
“I agree the virus isn’t to be dismissed lightly, but shouldn’t we make
sure we aren’t doing exactly the expected and thereby causing a greater
danger to not only Rapt One but all the colonies?”
One of the other members spoke up, a frown on his face. “Who
specifically would it detain, Governor Kartel?”
“The engineer sent to repair their failing energy station, Larik Armada.
He’s there now, trapped in seclusion for at least four more weeks. If it is
The Covenant: The Starlight Chronicles 2
51
necessary to rebuild the facility, the hope is, of course, he can design it
faster than anyone else. I’m sure you all know his name.”
Several of the Council nodded, but none of them looked particularly
convinced.
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