the Section 3 databases would still have to include a Robin Sendrig, along with the rest of us.
“This is Alex Jax.” Andrew Jones, of course. I wondered why I was the only person whose code name didn’t have the same initials as his real name.
“Nice to meet you.” Andrew’s voice was smooth, but it had the same hint of mockery it always did. “I’ve always had the highest respect for members of the Arbiter Force.”
“Oh? And why is that?” asked Li Fei.
“The quality of your training,” was Andrew’s reply. When I’d first met him, virtually all of his comments had been aimed at the inferior quality of Arbiter training. It was all I could do not to punch him out back then. His personality was just that obnoxious. Ever since, I’d gone back and forth on how I felt about the guy.
“Thank you, I do appreciate that,” Li replied.
“This is Ted Yoxley,” Andrea said. Thomas Young looked up with a startled expression, as if it surprised him to hear that name spoken aloud. I actually saw him mouth the word who, but he had recovered by the time Li Fei stuck his hand out for a shake. He muttered something no one could hear, then sat back in his chair.
“And this one is Angus Contralvo.” She pointed a thumb in my direction, and Li Fei turned his attention to me.
“Angus Contralvo?” he asked, giving me a funny look. I couldn’t say what it was for sure, but I interpreted it as skepticism. It was hard to say, though, because he was grinning.
“Nice to meet you.” I reached out a hand for him to shake, and he paused for a long and awkward moment before taking it. Mike Mitchell noticed the awkward interaction and stared up at the Senior Arbiter in a way that suggested the two of them were communicating via dataspike.
Then Li Fei finally said something. “Nice to meet you too, I’m sure, Contralvo.”
Did he know? I had no way to be sure, but if I had to guess in that moment I would say so. I started to wonder how much of a rogue Li Fei really was. If I moved ahead of him on this mission, was I risking getting shot in the back?
The Commander returned from the bridge. “Command has cleared the mission; we’ve got the green light. Let’s finish this briefing, and then we’ll make our approach to Llyr station.”
“Sounds good to me.” Andrea smiled at the Commander, but it was a smile without any friendliness in it.
“This is a map of Llyr station,” the Commander announced, and the map changed on the briefing screen. “It’s a typical centrifugal gravity station. Approximately two kilometers in diameter. Ships normally match rotational speed on the empty central axis of the station then descend to their cleared dock. You’ll be doing something similar in your drop suits. You’ll jump into vacuum after our ship matches relative rotation, and then you’ll essentially fall onto the dock. Any questions?”
“Yeah—you mean we’re using Arbiter drop suits?” asked Andrew Jones. He seemed nervous at the prospect. Section 9 rarely had a need to operate in vacuum.
“That’s standard on these missions,” the Commander replied. “I assume your people have all been trained in how to use them?”
Andrea looked a little nervous too. “Yes, but for some of us it’s been a long time since we received that training. A crash course would be helpful if we have time.”
“I’m sure some of you remember perfectly well how to use a drop suit,” said Li Fei smoothly, looking directly at me as he said it.
“No doubt,” was Andrea’s reply. “All the same, a crash course would be helpful before going into a hot site.”
“Li will be more than happy to accommodate.” The Commander marked the map on the screen. “This is the dock you’ll use. It’s not the one the Havisham is docked at, but it is the one that gives you a direct path to the station’s bridge. With Llyr Station’s reputation, it’s best to establish secure control of the entire facility.”
“Won’t that give the Havisham time to escape?”
He shook his head. “We’ll be waiting for them. This ship only looks like a merchant freighter. If they try to run for it, we’ll be right on top of them.”
I had my doubts about the ability of any Arbiter drop ship to catch a rich criminal’s private yacht. The Havisham probably had racing thrusters and at least some firepower. Still, it was probably the best