Free Accord of Mars (Accord Series Book 2) by Kevin McLaughlin Page A

many interesting things since I arrived here,” I said. I kept my tone cool, pitched just loud enough so that he could hear. I doubted anyone else would be able to pick up what I was saying over the general buzz of conversation in the room. “Like the fact that the Navy is loaning personnel to the UN for their space program.”
    “Thomas, I…”
    “And loaning officers, too,” I said, cutting him off. “Tell me, are you in bed with them? Are you going to help them attack us?”
    “The entire program is classified, Thomas. I couldn’t discuss it with you even if I was involved.”
    I looked him in the eye. He looked away first.
    “Admiral, you gave me some good advice earlier. As a friend of my father’s, I’m going to return the favor,” I said.
    He looked back at me, his face crinkled with worry. And shame?
    “Sit this one out, Admiral.”
    “I have my orders,” he replied. It was as close to an admission I was going to get. My worst fears were true. They were going to have Perrault in their fleet command. Maybe leading their fleet. It made sense. He was the only person on Earth who might match my father when it came to experience in space combat. What leverage did Choi have on the man, to make him turn like that? Or was it just pride talking? This might be the only way Perrault could ever command in space again. I knew how much I missed being in command of a fighting ship. How much worse had it been for Perrault, who’d been flying a desk for years? With the US effectively barred from putting a Navy in space he might never able to go out there again without joining the UN.
    “Betting against my father and I is a bad move,” I said softly. “Choi hasn’t learned that lesson yet, but if he comes at us it’ll be driven home.”
    “You can’t win, Thomas,” he replied, his voice bleak. “I’m very good at my job. Your father is…better. I would never come at him unless I was certain the forces were so mismatched that he had no chance of beating me.”
    Perrault’s words were chilling. He and Dad knew each other from way back. Was it possible that he was right? If he had a good estimate of Dad’s abilities and resources, could he just stack up so much against us that no matter what we did, we’d lose?

Chapter 14
Thomas Stein
    A man wearing a white tuxedo came up and touched my elbow. One of the serving staff working the banquet.
    “Sir?” he said. “Your presence is requested.”
    He gestured off to the corner to my left, where a table was set on a raised pedestal. I hadn’t seen it when I walked in. Setting it off to the side was brilliant. Someone sitting there could observe the entire room, and see every person as they entered without being noticed first.
    There was only one person seated there. It was Choi.
    “It looks like you’ll have to excuse me,” I said to Perrault. “I’m sure I’ll see you again soon.”
    “Say hello to your father for me when you see him,” Perrault said. He gave me a wry grin. “You’re so much like him.”
    “If you say so,” I replied.
    I allowed the servant to lead me over to my enemy. My other enemy, I supposed. It was going to be hard to think about Perrault that way. The man had been to my sixth birthday party. He and Dad were friends from way back. I could rationalize his decisions however I wanted, but it still felt like a betrayal. It hurt.
    Choi stood as I approached. He gave the smallest of bows to me, his eyes never leaving mine. “Mr. Stein. Thank you for accepting my invitation.”
    “You are a man of great importance, Mr. Choi,” I replied carefully. “How could I refuse?”
    “How indeed?” he said. He waved his hand at the only other chair at his table. “Please, be seated.”
    I sat, and the white-clad man left us. Choi settled himself back into his own chair and slipped a small device that was now becoming incredibly familiar to me from his pocket. He placed it on the table and pressed a button on the device.
    I chuckled.