Free The Devil and Deep Space by Susan R. Matthews

guessed her strategy. She’d just reminded them all of why she was Admiral.
    “In the interim period, however, evidence must be carefully placed on record by a neutral observation party. I will send a preliminary assessment team as soon as possible to begin this important preparatory work.”
    She didn’t have a strategy, not yet, but nobody else needed to know that. She’d think of something. Ap Rhiannon couldn’t bar a properly constituted preliminary assessment team, not with her request for a Fleet Incident Investigation team going forward.
    Ap Rhiannon apparently realized that she was outmaneuvered; she was churlish about it. That was all right with Admiral Brecinn. The Lieutenant shouldn’t have tried to get clever with her. “As you say, Admiral Brecinn. We will await your preliminary assessment team. Will that be all, Admiral?”
    Ap Rhiannon underestimated her opponent if she thought she could seal off her boundaries so easily. “We’ll let you know when the team is on its way. Pesadie away, here.” She terminated the communication link with a forceful nod of her head to the technician on the board, and smiled. Take that, you pathetic amateur .
    It was half for show and half pure honest spite, and Brecinn could see by the expressions exchanged among the reasonable people on her staff that it served the purpose. They believed she had a master plan. So she would, in time.
    Brecinn rose to her feet to signal that the morning’s work was winding down. “Thank you, gentles; and good–greeting to you all.”
    She had one day before she’d have to talk to anyone about it. There was no time like the present to be started. Forcing a confident stride, carefully keeping a serene smile on her face, Brecinn fled with all deliberate speed to go to ground in her office, and make plans.

    ###

    Mergau Noycannir had not been idle since the snoop she’d planted on the Admiral yesterday had shown her a possible line of approach.
    Despised and discarded at Chilleau Judiciary she might be, but she had contacts that had yet to fail her, developed over the years with favors and information and the general exchange of mutually profitable courtesies that characterized the conduct of business from one end of Jurisdiction to the other. She hadn’t needed more than a few quiet inquiries to get her all the information she could wish with which to build a strategy.
    Following Admiral Brecinn out of the observation hall Mergau kept close enough behind her to make it clear to the others that she meant to talk to their superior officer, in order to forestall any such actions on their own part. She waited to speak until the Admiral had passed through her administrative complex and stood in front of her office door, however, because what she had to say was to be between the two of them alone. “Excuse me, Admiral. I have a concern. May I have a moment?”
    Brecinn was a tall woman. Mergau could not see her face, standing as the Admiral was with her back to the administrative area, caught in mid–movement as she set her palm to the secure on her private office. Mergau could see the fabric shift across the back of the Admiral’s shoulders, though, and it was as good as a scan–reading.
    “Dame Noycannir. You surprised me.” Yes. Mergau already knew that. She waited. “By all means, then. Come in. What can I do for you?” Her presence was not welcome, Mergau could tell that easily enough. But unless she missed her guess, she was about to make herself Admiral Brecinn’s very close friend and intimate acquaintance.
    The door opened. Brecinn stepped through into her private office. Mergau followed. The lights came up as the Admiral crossed the room. Mergau looked around her appreciatively. Large office. Very nicely done, lots of plants — conspicuous consumption of water; at a headquarters located on an asteroid platform that was as good a rank–signal as anything.
    The Admiral had a taste for architectural forms in furniture, it