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He rarely kne she’d felt about things, though The records didn’t cover that, which hy ly intrusive It was al that was left to real y talk about

"You’re right," she said "There’s only one bigger blight on a girl’s social life than being ONI brass, and that’s being a Spartan Have you had this conversation with Naoed in her head…"

"Very wise"

Os about his donor, but lost her nerve BB was now her closest confidant She wasn’t sure if that was sad or rab a coffee while I can," she said "I’l take root in that da the day"

Port Stanley felt bigger and emptier than ever In the wardrooh to feel co for a crew of six, she poured herself a cup of the best Jaosky had laid on for the squad and s with the coffee ht leapt back to Phil ips, and that was nothing to smile about

It’s just a few days The rebellion isn’t affecting every city He’ll coh it

She shut her eyes and sipped For a few moments she was so far away that BB’s voice alht you’d like to know that I’ve located ‘Telcam," he said, "or at least some of his crew"

Osman slae at a jog "Can you get a cal in to the, but he see base outside the keep"

By the tiheili She could also hear the silish translation

"Ship "We must speak to ‘Telcam Get him" He dropped one voice to a whisper It was i with three voices sius data to -Yar ship I’ly authentic to them"

Osman sat down and tried to think like athe table and tel ing them that their ONI quarter to project Kig-Yar disdain "I demand to speak to Avu Med ‘Telcam"

BB formed a smal yel ow note and positioned it in her eye line IT’S FORZE, it read REMEMBER FORZE? JUL’S FRIEND

"And who are you?" Forze snarled

"Al you need to know is that I’ve kept him supplied "

"Unless you have a spare warship at this very moment, then I suspect he’s too busy to talk"

"Tel him," Osman said quietly, "that he’l need amble It was only words "Get him

Or is he dead already?"

The channel went silent Oser-dru Then a familiar voice came over the audio It was ‘Telcam, and he wasn’t amused

"Where is Pious Inquisitor?" he de you for an entire day"

The question was both unexpected and utterly fascinating BB had played the Kig-Yar card very wel indeed In one sentence, ‘Telcanificant of which was that the Kig-Yar had control of a battlecruiser Damn it, they had Inquisitor

"This is Os My people went in and he was gone"

‘Telcam took a couple of breaths He couldn’t ad now He’d keep his mouth shut

"We don’t have him"

"Then da "

"For theAlmost But you’re in chaos, lucky or not, and you can’t afford to ignore me "I want Phil ips back Put the word out Do whatever you have to do to find hiainst you"

"You know so"

"Find him And tel your people not to fire on my team, understood? Osman out"

BB cut the co, but it wasn’t She was in control again It felt good

"Remind me never to play poker with you, Captain," BB said "And not just because I haven’t any hands"

"Wel , that flushed out some surprises Good spoof, BB"

"And he’s misplaced a battlecruiser Oops Don’t you just hate it when that happens?"

Osman had backed herself into a corner over Phil ips, but it was a position she realized she would have found herself in sooner or later Kilo-Five was there for one purpose: to keep Sanghelios divided, and that ht winner

So … Pious InquisitorNohat do the Kig-Yar ith her?

"I have a feeling that we ought to keep an eye out for her," Osnusson held out her hand "I think we should do a blood test," she said "You’re not iled to hold his head up It was a disgrace to shoeakness in front of a human, but he hadn’t been able to keep down food for two days and he was finding it harder to stay alert