Once the line with the other ship was cut, Raghnill spoke up. "You heard the Admiral. Chairman Koval is truly a traitor to the Empire and we plan to expose him before the Praetor and the Senate. It is not going to be an easy road; we may not even be successful, in which case we will be disgraced in front of our own people. But we swore to protect them, and to sacrifice our lives for them. You have never let me down. I ask you now to make the ultimate sacrifice and risk something bigger than life, to risk your own personal honor, to protect those people, to uphold the Honor of the Empire. You have already fought the Tal Shiar vessel as ordered. I will understand, however, if you don't want to follow this dangerous path and go directly against Chairman Koval. You have your families to protect too. So if some of you want to resign now, there will be no punishments. Just say so now. I will not tolerate any dissension later."
She finished her speech. Ajeya had turned lightly to face her. Both women looked at each other, waiting.
In the bridge, it was the sub-commander the one who swept his gaze around the assembled crew. They all nodded grimly at him, and he answered, his voice firm and clear. "Admiral, Commander, you have always had our loyalty and obedience, and you will always do, no matter what. We are yours to command."
Ajeya and Raghnill smiled; that was what they wanted and expected to hear. "Well then, Glory and Honor to the Empire!" the commander shouted
"Glory and Honor to the Empire!" answered her second in command.
And the rest of the bridge officers followed him, and so did other voices all over the ship. Ajeya had taken the communication with the Firebird in her ready room, but she had kept the channel open for all the crew to hear. A risky movement, if their talk had not turned out as she wanted, but again, she loved the risk, that way she had won many battles.
She laughed, satisfied. Raghnill joined her. "So there isn't going to be any punishment if they dissent," she commented lightly as she turned to face her daughter. "You weren't serious, were you?" She did not give her time to answer and added, " I hope not."