Page 197 of Commander’s Mate
“And you.”
Harper straightened.
“Yes?”
“If he becomes impossible, document it.”
Harper’s mouth curved.
“I already negotiated that authority.”
Ena laughed.
The sound came through damaged speakers into a stolen warship orbiting a world that was not ours.
For one moment, Farseek felt less dead.
When the call ended, no one spoke.
Harper came to stand beside me.
“That was rough.”
“Yes.”
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Good answer.”
I looked at the blank screen.
Freedom was expensive. Now I knew some of the names on the invoice.
Chapter Thirty-One
Zared
Administrator Cael Orvan did not threaten me.
That made him more dangerous than the men who had.
He appeared on the secure display wearing a dark Consortium uniform with no military markings.
Civilian authority.
Clean hands.
His office behind him contained glass walls and a view of a city untouched by war.
“Commander Maktu.”
“Administrator.”
“I appreciate your accepting the call.”
“I did not.”
