Epilogue...
One week later...
Revanche-class Star Defender Swiftsure, in orbit around Contruum
“You sure you don't want to face him in the Council?”
General Cracken winced and collapsed onto the couch of Costigan's private quarters. The man took a sip of lomin ale and set it down on the table, turning to admire the various souvenirs that Costigan had collected from his travels across the galaxy. His eyes picked out an odd stone carving. Cracken pointed at it.
“Where's that from?”
“Anzat,” replied Brailey, “Lucerne insisted that I visit a couple of the Anzatis while they were getting resettled there. One of those personal relationship type things he tries to get all of the higher up Confederate officers to do.”
“Productive?”
“Sometimes,” replied the man, “but in any case, my source didn't have much more to offer you than that. Hopefully your own councilor will be able to do a better job of countering any of his schemes, if he does turn out to be...well...a terrorist.”
Cracken sighed, “Well, it's closer than we were before, I think. But since the provisional governor is the new Councilor, I guess I'll be a little too busy to really look deeply into this yet. I can't believe they dropped this mess in my lap.”
Costigan shrugged, “It's not that bad...”
“Getting a bunch of surviving Imp loyalists of my world is painful enough, even if your providing the transportation, and they're all coming willingly heading back to Imperial space. I really do appreciate that, Admiral. But that doesn't mean the Imps won't come back knocking. They've done it twice before, I'm sure they try to get us at least one more time.”
“Contruum's part of the Confederation now,” mused the Admiral, “they do not yet have the strength to fight us and everyone else...especially since we're leaving the asteroid forts in your hands.”
“A poor substitute for a fleet, but once the shipyards are up and operational again, I suppose we'll have that too.”
Costigan hesitated, “So what would you suggest I do about Sheamus?”
Cracken set down his glass, “As soon as I'm done here, I'll have to come take a closer look myself, but this is where I'd start out while I'm stuck here...”
One week later...
Revanche-class Star Defender Swiftsure, in orbit around Contruum
“You sure you don't want to face him in the Council?”
General Cracken winced and collapsed onto the couch of Costigan's private quarters. The man took a sip of lomin ale and set it down on the table, turning to admire the various souvenirs that Costigan had collected from his travels across the galaxy. His eyes picked out an odd stone carving. Cracken pointed at it.
“Where's that from?”
“Anzat,” replied Brailey, “Lucerne insisted that I visit a couple of the Anzatis while they were getting resettled there. One of those personal relationship type things he tries to get all of the higher up Confederate officers to do.”
“Productive?”
“Sometimes,” replied the man, “but in any case, my source didn't have much more to offer you than that. Hopefully your own councilor will be able to do a better job of countering any of his schemes, if he does turn out to be...well...a terrorist.”
Cracken sighed, “Well, it's closer than we were before, I think. But since the provisional governor is the new Councilor, I guess I'll be a little too busy to really look deeply into this yet. I can't believe they dropped this mess in my lap.”
Costigan shrugged, “It's not that bad...”
“Getting a bunch of surviving Imp loyalists of my world is painful enough, even if your providing the transportation, and they're all coming willingly heading back to Imperial space. I really do appreciate that, Admiral. But that doesn't mean the Imps won't come back knocking. They've done it twice before, I'm sure they try to get us at least one more time.”
“Contruum's part of the Confederation now,” mused the Admiral, “they do not yet have the strength to fight us and everyone else...especially since we're leaving the asteroid forts in your hands.”
“A poor substitute for a fleet, but once the shipyards are up and operational again, I suppose we'll have that too.”
Costigan hesitated, “So what would you suggest I do about Sheamus?”
Cracken set down his glass, “As soon as I'm done here, I'll have to come take a closer look myself, but this is where I'd start out while I'm stuck here...”