Free From Furies Forged (Free Fleet Book 5) by Michael Chatfield

intelligence department.
                  “You called Jilem?” The human, Carter by his nametape, asked.
                  “Drova here wants to talk to Salchar about creating a Union. Seems more your type of thing,” Jilem said, he'd probably called Carter as soon as he got her information from the kiosk.
                  “Very well, if you would follow me Ms. Elisati Drova,” Carter said, gesturing for her to follow.
                  Well seems that someone did their homework.
                  She repeated her intent three more times to various people before she found herself in a conference room.
                  An Awakened Avarian walked into the room first. It was so damned big it could only be an Awakened Avarian.
                  The Chief of Staff, Rick Hansen walked in.
                  “So how do you propose we start?” He asked, taking a seat and reclining.
                  “We write up a charter, people in the Union can travel between the planets with their talents and training being compatible in any other system. Taxes are the same and go to the Free Fleet as well as other administrative needs such as relief efforts, medical care and such,” she said.
                  Rick nodded in thought, his eyes weighing Elisati.
                  “Then I think we have some work to do.”
                 
                                                                          ***
     
                  Knox stared at the after-action report in shock, shock which was quickly turning to anger.
                  It took all of his self-control to hide that anger as Keith Edwards, the prick that had reported on the Free Fleet and done everything in his power to get the kind of information that the free fleet didn't want anyone having, gloated.
                  “It was rather easy, with my knowledge matched with General Davidson's powered armor strike force the two freighters didn't stand a chance,” Edwards said, almost flippantly.
                  “All of the crew are dead?” Knox's voice was somehow calm. All he needed to see was that smile on Edwards face to know the truth.
                  “Well we couldn't let there be any possibility of a leak. Having witnesses that are able to talk are, well you know,” Edwards said brushing the point away.
                  You just killed three hundred Kuruvians traders you idiot! The Kuruvians might be peaceful for the most part but they have the most ships out there other than the Kalu and the Free Fleet. They also have damned close ties to the miners of AIH. It wouldn't take much for them to change their agreement of materials for ships to our heads for ships!
                  “Anyway, we now have two hundred HAPA's under our command and our strike-force distributed across that amateur's fleet,” Edwards said, not hiding his disgust for Salchar.
                  That is the crux of the issue. He didn't care for your bullshit and walked all over you. That's why you've been such a proponent of attacking the Free Fleet.
                  “Why was I kept out of the loop on this one?” Knox asked, lowering the papers which had been written out in pencil instead of trusting it to any computer system.
                  “If it went badly I don't think the higher ups wanted you to get pulled down as well. While Min Hae is a pretender, his people have shown that they are good at tracking down their quarry and pulling information from them,” Edwards said darkly.
                  I wonder if he actually thinks that Min Hae tortures those he questions, or that he's trying to use it as a reason for him to keep on torturing those that he believes have