“ARE YOU CERTAIN, Commander?”
“Of course not, sir. If I could prove it, it would have been handled in the ordinary manner.”
The Admiral sighed. “I think we’ll refrain from going into that right now.” He rested his elbows on the wide expanse of polished wood beside the ornate console, leaning forward to pin the dark-haired Commander with piercing green eyes. “Let me summarize your surmises, and they are surmises, for all the circumstantial evidence you have presented.
“First, Major Wright managed to appear at Intelligence Headquarters without known use of Imperial Service transport or without being intercepted by any of your agents or by any friendly agents. Second, he admitted recognizing two attempts on his life by the late Commander Allen. Third, the health and service records of Commander Allen now in the data banks and the hard copies in Headquarters do not match the hard copies of the records found in the Commander’s personal effects. Fourth, Commander Allen should not have had access to all of his own personal records—”
At the open-jawed expression of the Commander, the Admiral smiled and interjected, “My summary is not confined to just those facts you have chosen to present, Commander.”
The Intelligence Service Commander closed his mouth without uttering another word.
“Fifth, Commander Allen was killed with the weapon found in his own holster inside a secure military installation by a Commodore who does not exist, but who knew background information known only to the senior watch officer, and not available to Major Wright under normal circumstances. Sixth, Major Wright detected and avoided two other assassination attempts you engineered indirectly and did not report to High Command. For whatever reasons, he chose not to even report all these incidents to you. Seventh, Major Wright still chose to return and to make a full, accurate, and detailed report, albeit with certain ‘precautions,’ and to request further orders, as far from Intelligence Headquarters as possible. Finally, he sent me a copy of the materials he presumably set aside to ensure his own protection.”
The Admiral smiled at the Commander, but the smile had all the warmth of a wolf confronting a wounded stag. “Now, Commander, would you care to draw any additional conclusions from my summary?”
“No, sir. I would be interested in your conclusions.”
The Admiral nodded. “I can understand that. First, despite your deviousness, your incredible stupidity, and your colossal egotism, your instincts happen to be correct. Major Wright represents a considerable threat to the Service. Second, your choice of an assignment for the man is also probably correct. And third, that is exactly what Wright wanted.”
The Commander swallowed.
The Admiral waited.
“I don’t think I follow your logic to the end, sir.”
“Major Wright is a threat because he will never see the Empire’s need for subtle action. Every direct action reflects poorly and stirs up greater resentment against the Empire. He will also destroy incompetence, one way or another, and most incompetents in the Service have strong political connections. They must be kept isolated and placated, but we do not have the political capital to destroy them.”
The Commander squirmed slightly in the hard seat, but continued to listen.
“Major Wright also inspires great loyalty in the able people who recognize his talents. They would emulate him, multiplying the destructive impact the man can create.
“Last, he has no hesitations. He is a deeply ethical man, in his own way, with the same lack of restraint as a psychopath. With him, to think is to act, and no structure, authoritarian or democratic, can react fast enough to counter him.”
The Commander cleared his throat softly, as if requesting permission to speak.
“Yes, Commander?”
“You make him sound almost like a hero. But you insist he is a danger, and you say that my actions were correct.”
“Correct on all three counts. He is a hero type. He is a danger, and if he cannot be eliminated, he must be kept on isolated and dangerous duty at all costs.”
“What if he deserts—” The Commander broke off the question as he saw the Admiral grin. “I see…I think. If he deserts, he destroys his credibility within the Service. And if he takes straight butchery assignments, he’ll either have to reject them, for which he can be court-martialed or cashiered, or lose his ethics in accepting them. Is that it?”
“More or less, Commander. Although we will attempt, with more subtlety, to render the longer-term issues moot.” The Admiral frowned. “That leaves the question of how to deal with Commander Allen. My thought is to leave the murder as unsolved, but to imply that he was indeed a double agent, and that a certain Major solved the Empire’s problem. Since that Major will not be around to counter the rumors, that approach will bear double duty.”
“Why are you telling me?”
“Because you will make the necessary arrangements, Commander. Need I say more?”
The Commander repressed a groan. “No, sir.”
The Admiral stood, with a brief shake of his head, the backlighting glinting through his silvered blond hair. “That will be all, Commander.”