Pathfinder Read Free Page A

empty a waiting room like a Minoan warrior.
    Just past the check-in counter and to the left was a door in the dividing bulkhead. Ariane knocked and entered.
    “Good to see you, Major.” Pilgrimage security officer Benjamin looked up from his small desk, his sharp eyes scanning her uniform. His husky build, an anomaly among generational types, who grew tall and willowy under the one gee boundary, had singled him out for this new security position.
    She glanced around, noting he was alone. Commander Meredith Pilgrimage, the senior ship commander of the Pilgrimage , had finally convinced the Minoans to recall their guardians. It must have been difficult for Meredith, who had the demeanor of a scholarly grandfather, to assure Warrior Commander that the Pilgrimage crew could now take over the Minoan’s security operation. “I’d like a private interview, under Consortium- Pilgrimage agreements, with Dr. Rouxe.”
    “Ah, so you’ve heard.” Benjamin cocked his head.
    Always the last to learn . She suppressed a sigh. “Heard what?”
    “You won’t be allowed privacy, once the Terran Counsel arrives. He’s taking over Rouxe’s defense and he’ll be monitoring all visits.” In response to her raised eyebrows, he added, “That doesn’t go into effect until tomorrow.”
    “Rouxe turned himself in to Pilgrimage authority, and he has Pilgrimage counsel. Why’d he send for Terran defense?” This seemed strange, since Dr. Tahir Dominique Rouxe made use of several gaping holes in Terran security in the process of stealing a Terran weapon. Rouxe couldn’t expect sympathy or generosity from the Terrans.
    “He didn’t, but our defense counsel was easily convinced that someone else could defend Rouxe better.” Benjamin tapped the surface of his desk to display a document. “This fellow named Istaga seems quite accomplished in interstellar criminal law.”
    In the act of raising her slate to make a note, she froze.
    Benjamin looked at her quizzically. “You know this guy?”
    “Yes.” She thumbed her slate so she could have somewhere to look, other than his face. “Dr. Rok Shi Harridan Istaga was on the temporal-distortion weapons inspection team that came to Karthage Point, when I was the treaty liaison officer.”
    “ Doctor? I can’t keep track of these new degrees; what specialty qualifies him to inspect TD weapons, in addition to acting as defense counsel?” Benjamin’s gaze went to the ComNet view ports on his desk, with the fascination only the crèche-get had for current events. Granted, they were always catching up; in this case, the crew of the Pilgrimage III had been out of touch for approximately twenty-six years. Plenty had happened since 2080, most notably the only wartime use of a TD weapon, and the cessation of warfare between the Terran League and the Consortium of Autonomous Worlds.
    “Dr. Istaga was on the inspection team as an interpreter. He has a doctorate in Political Science. Apparently, his skills also extend to interstellar criminal law.” She picked her words carefully, but crèche-get could be surprisingly perceptive.
    “You don’t believe that.” Benjamin watched her face. His unlined skin, even at the corners of his eyes, didn’t betray his age; he could have been as young as Justin. However, she figured Benjamin was at least 120 UT years. A transparent wariness overlaid his face and he had cynicism in his eyes that came only through wisdom.
    “I don’t question his education. I just can’t believe any Terran has Rouxe’s best interests at heart,” she said. “Besides, Istaga’s first move is to shut down access to Rouxe.”
    A sly frown formed on Benjamin’s face. “So the Terrans are performing triage?”
    “Of course. They need to control intelligence leaks. It’s a golem thing.”
    He nodded. The crèche-get loved the fictional drama surrounding Terran and Autonomist intelligence operatives, not realizing that “golem” was an accurate description for what