Free The Swarm by Orson Scott Card Page B

it versatile and combat ready.”
    â€œIf?” Mazer said. “Meaning it wasn’t tech the Hegemony asked for. They asked for something to put the world’s mind at ease, and you gave them a recommendation on what that tech should be?”
    â€œI fail to see your point,” said Vaganov.
    â€œYou gave them the gravity disruptor,” said Mazer. “Out of all the proposed tech, you gave them the one that wasn’t ready to showcase.”
    Vaganov’s expression darkened. “Are you questioning my judgment?”
    â€œI’m questioning the motivation,” said Mazer. “There are dozens of projects in development here from other defense contractors. Why Gungsu? Why the GD?”
    â€œMy motivations?” said Vaganov. “Perhaps you’ve forgotten, Captain, but there is a fleet of Formics heading this way with more firepower than we’ve cooked up in our worst nightmares. How many marines and pilots will we lose if we fail to take out just one of those warships? A thousand? Ten thousand? A man’s leg is an acceptable attrition rate. You may not like that math, but such is the arithmetic of war. Be grateful one leg is all we lost.”
    It was a baseless argument. The GDs wouldn’t work against the warships. Vaganov had even agreed to that fact. The man was clearly abandoning logic in pursuit of another agenda. He simply wanted to shut Mazer up.
    Don’t push him too far, Mazer thought, not before you’ve confirmed your suspicions.
    â€œYou’ll forgive me,” said Mazer, bowing his head slightly. “My emotions are raw, sir, and I forgot my place. Shambhani is a dear friend, and I’m taking his loss too personally. I apologize for speaking out of turn.”
    Vaganov visibly relaxed. “I understand. It is an unfortunate loss.”
    â€œI don’t think it’s wise to take the nanoshield to Gungsu, though,” said Mazer. “Their track record in nanotech is not nearly as good as others. The nanoshield would be better off in the hands of Juke Limited or Galaxy Defense, I think.”
    Vaganov looked amused, as if he had just heard the mindless prattle of a child. “Leave that to me, Mazer. I was in Acquisitions. I have a good sense of a company’s capabilities.”
    â€œI don’t doubt it, sir,” said Mazer, “but Shambhani, when he filed for the patent, explicitly stated that he wouldn’t want Gungsu developing this. I think he’ll object.”
    Vaganov’s face fell. “Well, Shambhani has no say in the matter, whether he filed for a patent or not. He is an employee of the IF, and therefore we hold all intellectual property rights. He’s a fool to think otherwise. Gungsu has the project, and with Gungsu it will remain.”
    It was all the confirmation Mazer needed.
    â€œYou will forgive me, sir,” he said, “but I cannot accept a liaison position with Gungsu.”
    Vaganov’s anger returned. “This isn’t open for discussion, Mazer. I’m not making an offer for your consideration. Gungsu insists on this.”
    â€œWith all due respect,” said Mazer. “I am not beholden to a corporation, sir. No soldier is.”
    The subtext was obvious, and for a moment, neither man spoke. In the silence Mazer could see the wheels in Vaganov’s mind spinning, wheels that seemed to say, “He knows.”
    Vaganov brushed an invisible speck of dust off his sleeve, his demeanor suddenly relaxed. “You surprise me, Captain. I thought someone as smart as you would know how the military works.”
    Vaganov pressed a button on his wrist pad, and one of his lieutenants entered the room.
    â€œSir?” the lieutenant said.
    â€œCall two MPs to take Captain Rackham here into custody on charges of failure to obey a lawful order and gross negligence in the line of duty, resulting in a member of his team to be needlessly wounded.”
    â€œYes,