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Authors: Catherine Asaro
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believe him?”
“It isn’t unreasonable.”
“But do you believe him?”
Irritation flashed on Corbal’s face. “I think our dear admiral wanted to unload the man fast, before his appallingly bad health became obvious.”
“It sounds like a mess.” Jai could hardly admit he supported the Skolian escaping. “But I don’t see why the courts can’t take care of it.”
“Well, you see, we have a bit more of a problem.”
Jai regarded him uneasily. “More?”
Corbal leaned forward. “To escape, this dying provider just walked to a launch bay of Minister Iquar’s space habitat and stole a shuttle.”
“Wasn’t anyone watching him?”
“They were watching the news-holo of your speech when you became emperor.” Corbal smirked. “Minister Iquar says this provider of hers was also watching the speech. The next time she checked, he was gone.”
It still made no sense to Jai. “Her habitat must have security systems that could have stopped him.”
“Indeed it does. State-of-the-art, designed by ESComm.”
“The military? I thought her habitat was civilian.”
“It is.”
“But then why—”
“Apparently,” Corbal said, “your military and finance advisers have, shall we say, ties that are a bit too close.”
Jai had no clue how to unravel the conflicting intrigues here. He stuck to the obvious. “How did the provider escape?”
“It seems that he somehow shoved his mind into the computer networks and shredded the security throughout the habitat.”
Jai had learned enough about ESComm to know what Corbal described couldn’t happen. “That’s impossible.”
“Indeed.” Corbal couldn’t contain his glee any longer. “Astonishing, isn’t it? This man pulverized Minister Iquar’s system and pfifft —he was gone. It is one of the worst security breaches in history. And one provider managed it, without a single weapon.”
“It’s incredible.” Jai could see why this had reached the highest levels of the government and military. Unfortunately, he had no clue what to do. “Is ESComm working on it?”
“Yes. Also the Ministry of Intelligence.”
Jai squinted at him. The Intelligence Minister, Azile Xir, was Corbal’s son. The chronicles of Azile’s rise to power showed an impeccable record. Too perfect, in fact. Jai had found traces of less-than-impeccable deletions in the files. Having one’s father next in line for the throne had its advantages.
What to do? Jai felt as if I’m lost! was emblazoned on his forehead. Trying to project confidence, he leaned one elbow on the arm of his chair, copying his posture from portraits he had seen of his great-grandfather. The pose felt more natural than he wanted to admit.
“What Minister Iquar and Admiral Taratus need is a judge and court,” he said. “Not me.”
Corbal studied Jai as if sizing him up. “Your Finance Minister is set against one of your top admirals in a matter that involves a severe breach of security, and a phenomenally expensive provider with too much military knowledge is gone. This isn’t the time to distance yourself, particularly not from Tarquine Iquar. She has too damn much power, and she isn’t likely to ally herself with us.”
Interesting. Apparently Corbal didn’t much like the Finance Minister. “Why wouldn’t she?”
“She covets the influence of the Xir Line.”
Hah! So Corbal didn’t like the competition. That could be useful. “What do you suggest I do?”
A gleam came into Corbal’s eyes. “I think it is time Minister Iquar and Admiral Taratus paid their respects to our new emperor.”
The four of them met in the ivory and gold sitting room of the palace: Jai, Corbal, Minister Iquar, and Admiral Taratus. They sat in wing chairs around an octagonal table, and Jai’s bodyguards took up posts around the walls.
Jai was surprised to find that even with three Aristos at close range, he could bear their minds enough to control his anxiety, at least for a short time. Actually, they
“It isn’t unreasonable.”
“But do you believe him?”
Irritation flashed on Corbal’s face. “I think our dear admiral wanted to unload the man fast, before his appallingly bad health became obvious.”
“It sounds like a mess.” Jai could hardly admit he supported the Skolian escaping. “But I don’t see why the courts can’t take care of it.”
“Well, you see, we have a bit more of a problem.”
Jai regarded him uneasily. “More?”
Corbal leaned forward. “To escape, this dying provider just walked to a launch bay of Minister Iquar’s space habitat and stole a shuttle.”
“Wasn’t anyone watching him?”
“They were watching the news-holo of your speech when you became emperor.” Corbal smirked. “Minister Iquar says this provider of hers was also watching the speech. The next time she checked, he was gone.”
It still made no sense to Jai. “Her habitat must have security systems that could have stopped him.”
“Indeed it does. State-of-the-art, designed by ESComm.”
“The military? I thought her habitat was civilian.”
“It is.”
“But then why—”
“Apparently,” Corbal said, “your military and finance advisers have, shall we say, ties that are a bit too close.”
Jai had no clue how to unravel the conflicting intrigues here. He stuck to the obvious. “How did the provider escape?”
“It seems that he somehow shoved his mind into the computer networks and shredded the security throughout the habitat.”
Jai had learned enough about ESComm to know what Corbal described couldn’t happen. “That’s impossible.”
“Indeed.” Corbal couldn’t contain his glee any longer. “Astonishing, isn’t it? This man pulverized Minister Iquar’s system and pfifft —he was gone. It is one of the worst security breaches in history. And one provider managed it, without a single weapon.”
“It’s incredible.” Jai could see why this had reached the highest levels of the government and military. Unfortunately, he had no clue what to do. “Is ESComm working on it?”
“Yes. Also the Ministry of Intelligence.”
Jai squinted at him. The Intelligence Minister, Azile Xir, was Corbal’s son. The chronicles of Azile’s rise to power showed an impeccable record. Too perfect, in fact. Jai had found traces of less-than-impeccable deletions in the files. Having one’s father next in line for the throne had its advantages.
What to do? Jai felt as if I’m lost! was emblazoned on his forehead. Trying to project confidence, he leaned one elbow on the arm of his chair, copying his posture from portraits he had seen of his great-grandfather. The pose felt more natural than he wanted to admit.
“What Minister Iquar and Admiral Taratus need is a judge and court,” he said. “Not me.”
Corbal studied Jai as if sizing him up. “Your Finance Minister is set against one of your top admirals in a matter that involves a severe breach of security, and a phenomenally expensive provider with too much military knowledge is gone. This isn’t the time to distance yourself, particularly not from Tarquine Iquar. She has too damn much power, and she isn’t likely to ally herself with us.”
Interesting. Apparently Corbal didn’t much like the Finance Minister. “Why wouldn’t she?”
“She covets the influence of the Xir Line.”
Hah! So Corbal didn’t like the competition. That could be useful. “What do you suggest I do?”
A gleam came into Corbal’s eyes. “I think it is time Minister Iquar and Admiral Taratus paid their respects to our new emperor.”
The four of them met in the ivory and gold sitting room of the palace: Jai, Corbal, Minister Iquar, and Admiral Taratus. They sat in wing chairs around an octagonal table, and Jai’s bodyguards took up posts around the walls.
Jai was surprised to find that even with three Aristos at close range, he could bear their minds enough to control his anxiety, at least for a short time. Actually, they
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