Chapter 25

General Leftcourt's office, Geneva Earth: Lando Molari was sitting in the chair in the General's outer office wondering why he was here. He was also wondering why there were an inordinate number of gray suited security people around the general's office. The General's secretary looked up from her monitor, and looked at Lando.

"You can go in now, the general is ready to see you now."

Lando went thought the doors, and he saw the General sitting at his desk, and he also saw a woman in the other chair.

"Hello General Leftcourt, I hear that you wanted to see me."

The general looked at Molari, and Lando felt that the General didn't really want to see him.

"Mr. Molari, the Earthforce would like to know why a Centauri cruiser would attack two ships that were in Earth Alliance space?"

Lando looked at the general, and his face showed no sign of knowing what the general was speaking about, even though that was far from the truth. "I'm afraid I don't know what your talking about General."

..
The woman looked at him now, "Two days ago, a Centauri cruiser the Asheval opened fire on a Narn Cruiser and an Earthforce Ally that were in orbit of Edding IV. The Narn Cruiser HagVarn was destroyed."

Lando looked at her, "And the earthforce ship was also destroyed?"

The woman looked at him, "No, the Cruiser Asheval was destroyed with nearly all hands lost."

Lando's jaw dropped and for a few seconds his expression was one of complete shock. He thought of the Captains family, they were well connected in the Centaurum, and he would have to do some quick maneuvering to keep his head if this were true.

"The cruiser was destroyed?"

The woman looked at him, "Yes it was, but we did manage to save a few of the crew."

Lando looked at the General, "General, I demand that the survivors be turned over to the Centauri Government as soon as possible."

The General looked at him and smiled, "Of course Mr. Molari, just as soon as they arrive from Edding IV."

Lando nodded his head, "Of course general, of course. Thank you for informing me of this incident. I will have my people look into this right away."

The general just looked at Lando, but the woman smiled, "On behalf of the Earth Alliance, I wish to thank you Mr. Molari. And would you please pass along our condolences to the families of the crew."

Lando just nodded his head, and stood up. " I think I should get started on this immediately. Good day to you."

..
After Lando had left the General looked at the woman, "I want to thank you Miss Maxwell."

She looked at the General, "What for General?"

"For helping me to put a few holes in that pompous windbag. I've been wanting to do that for the last year."

Miss Maxwell smiled at him, "My pleasure General. And I think you're right, he knew all about the attack, the question is why would they order it."

The general looked at her, "I'm afraid we may never know the reason behind the attack. But it was nice to see him squirm for once."

Both of them started to laugh.

..
Centauri Embassy, Geneva Earth: Lando Molari quickly entered his office, and sent a secure message to his associates on Centauri Prime. He waited in his office; all the time trying to figure a way he could shift the blame onto someone else. After all that was the Centauri way. A few hours later his monitor activated, the young man on the other end looked at him, "It seems that the Naval affairs office has been unable to confirm or deny the rumors of the Asheval's destruction. But my contacts in Naval Intel seem to believe that they are true."

Molari tried not to show his nervousness. "Thank you. Did you find out why they were there in the human system?"

"No Molari, it seems that the captain received special orders, but no one knows from whom. My people believe it may have been someone in the captains family, after all they lost a bit of prestige when the Narns gained their freedom."

Molari just nodded, "That would make sense, will there be an investigation?"

"Of course Molari, but with most of the crew dead, it will probably only be a minor investigation. But the captain's family may push for a more complete one."

Molari again nodded. "I would expect no less from one of the great houses."

"But right now Molari the evidence is pointing to his family, so they may just want to keep it quiet."

"I understand, and again thank you for your discretion in this matter."

When the monitor shut off Molari smiled, "I've still got it."

..
Beta Durani Station: Admiral Douglas and Colonel Ellison were walking toward the landing bay area after having seen General Hague, when the Admiral saw that they were being shadowed. He signaled the Col. who just nodded.

"Uh admiral, I promised the Security chief I would stop by and see him before I left."

"Of course Stanley, go ahead, I'll see you back on the ship."

Colonel Ellison turned the next corner and headed for the security section. The Admiral went further down the corridor, and around the next corner. He waited quietly, and soon heard something. He stepped out and found himself face to face with a younger man dressed in a black suit and gloves.

"Hello Admiral. My name is Alfred Bester, and I've been trying to meet with you."

"Is that why you're shadowing me?"

"I'm not shadowing you admiral, I'm just being cautious."

The Admiral looked at him for a moment. Alfred looked at him, "Admiral, that's not a nice, and it's also anatomically impossible."

"So your a telepath."

"Yes I am admiral, and I want to make a deal with you."

"Really, is that why you sent a spy to my ship?"

..
Alfred looked at him with a sickly sweet smile, "That was a misunderstanding admiral. I assure you that we in the corp. would never stoop to such underhanded methods. The young woman in question is attached to the senator's staff, at his request. Apparently he wanted her to see what she could find out about you and your technology. She will be appropriately punished."

"Uh huh."

"Please admiral, the corp. is only trying to help all humanity."

The admiral got very close to him, "I've met your kind before Mr. Bester. The Mandarins. Just like you they usually attacked from hidden positions. I didn't trust them, and I don't trust you. Now if you'll excuse me I have to get back to my ship, I need a shower."

The admiral turned to leave and Bester was about to reach out for him, when he felt a cold piece of metal at the back of his head, "I wouldn't if I were you."

..
The fact that he had a gun at his head didn't surprise him, but the fact that this person had snuck up on him did surprise him. Bester raised his hands and didn't move.

"Face the wall."

Alfred turned and faced the wall. Alfred tried to talk his way out of this situation, "Just so you know, I'm a security officer for the corp."

The person frisked him quickly, disarmed him, and then spun him around. Alfred found himself facing the meanest looking man in uniform he had ever seen.

"If you ever try to touch the admiral again, your friends will be calling you lefty."

Alfred tried to read this mans mind, but was more than a little surprised when he found that he couldn't. He looked in the eyes of the man, and from the look he got; even a Norm could tell what this guy was thinking.

"Now I suggest that you and your cronies leave the admiral, and the rest of my people alone. Or being left handed will be the least of your problems."

Looking in this mans eyes; Alfred Bester felt something he had not felt in a very long time, fear. This man and the admiral had chosen their spot well, and Alfred knew it. The three of them were not on any security monitors, and now he felt his pulse start to quicken. The man struck Bester in the solar plexus, causing him to double over and gasp for air. Alfred slumped to the floor, and the man just walked away slowly. Just before he turned the corner, the man looked at him, and Alfred saw him wave with his left hand while smiling. As he sat there catching his breath, Alfred knew that these Confed people were going to be trouble for the corp., and he knew that any dealings the corp. would have with them were not going to be easy ones.