Threshold of Annihilation (The Firebird Chronicles #3) - T.A. White Page 0,28

their descent.

"You were right about a mole. They're good too."

They'd have to be to go this long without discovery.

"If I hadn't known they existed, I don't think I'd have caught their trail so easily," Jace admitted.

Outside the viewing window, the small orb that was the planet grew until it filled the screen.

"They're pretty high up in the ranks," Jace said. "I'd say an admiral or rear admiral. It could also be someone who had regular contact with the Curs."

Kira shook her head. "I thought of that. Most of them are dead."

"It could be a survivor from one of the ships present at Rothchild," Jace pointed out.

"If that was the case, they would have been on the CSS Vega. They couldn’t have guaranteed their survival."

The handful out of thousands who'd survived had done so by chance. Kira didn't see a Tsavitee double agent taking that sort of risk.

"That leaves someone who had knowledge of troop movements and highly classified information," Jace said.

Of which there was only a small number.

"Tell me one thing," Kira said. "Do you suspect Himoto?"

The muscles in Jace's face jumped as he quelled his instinctive denial.

Kira's stomach twisted as she waited for his answer. It wasn’t easy contemplating whether Himoto was a traitor. He’d raised her after the camps.

At one time, he’d been her hero.

"At first glance, he would seem to be a prime candidate," Jace allowed before shaking his head. "I simply don't see it. Himoto would do many things to safeguard the Consortium, but I can't see him being capable of that. He'd have to be a much better actor to pull something like this off."

That fit with her assessment as well, but she’d also known she was too close to the matter to be objective.

"There are multiple people who were at Rothchild and at other battles now in positions of high authority," Jace said, sliding a microscopic data unit her way. "I've included dossiers on all of them. I think you'll find one of particular interest."

Kira took the device and held it up to Jin. He scanned, pulling the data off it, and frying its circuits when he was done.

"Kent," Jin said.

Jace inclined his chin. "The thing I find most interesting about him are his ties to a certain faction that has its roots in Zepher."

Kira's lips curled. "Why doesn't that surprise me?"

"That brings me the second piece of information I have for you—one Himoto wanted you to have. Factions are forming in the Consortium."

Kira sent him a quizzical look. That was nothing new. There had always been factions in the Consortium.

"They’re the kind that could tear it apart and jeopardize our alliances." Jace’s face was grim. "Himoto and I have come across some disturbing communications. Nothing concrete enough to allow us to act."

Everything in Kira stilled. "What does that mean?"

Jace didn’t look away from her as he confessed, "Someone wants to restart the project."

Emotions fractured the bond between Kira and Jin. Anger and frustration assaulting her senses as a gnawing feeling of helplessness grew.

Kira took a breath, steadying herself as she reached for composure. She was Kira Forrest. The Phoenix. Scourge of the Tsavitee. War hero and villain at the same time.

Neither she nor Jin were helpless anymore; they hadn't been for a long time.

If the project was being relaunched, she'd deal with it as she had whenever people thought they could trespass into realms they had no business visiting—by destroying anyone and anything that had a hand in it.

"Himoto gave me a message for you," Jace said carefully. "We'll handle this. There's no need for Kira-chan to get involved at this stage."

For Jace to repeat the message verbatim said how aware Himoto was of her activities both before and after the war.

This wasn't the first time someone had gotten the idea to revisit the objective of the camps. Jin and Odin had protocols in place designed to find and root out those interested in using bioengineering with the goal of creating the perfect soldier.

What happened to her and the rest would not happen again.

"Himoto has gotten bold in his old age." Kira's expression wasn't exactly friendly as she said that.

"Perhaps that's why he's chosen to train me as his successor.”

Kira frowned. There were dozens of talented officers in the Consortium. Why pick Jace?

Her hands clenched. "If that's what you want.”

"It's what's needed."

She made a scoffing sound. "Now you sound like him."

Jace's expression lightened as he teased, "Such compliments will make me blush."

Kira rolled her eyes. Her expression sobered as she considered all that