Chapter 232
The Price of ClosureRobert studied him for a moment. “Because you did us a favor. Several, in fact. And we pay our debts.”
Alexander waited.
Robert snapped his fingers. One of the remaining uniforms stepped forward. A woman, younger than the others, with a small pin on her collar that Alexander caught and immediately compared to the one on Robert’s own uniform. Identical. Naval Intelligence.
She set a briefcase on the table, opened it, and withdrew two thick stacks of manila folders stuffed with paper. Each stack was heavy enough to thud against the surface when she placed them beside Robert.
Alexander stared at the folders. “What is it with everyone and paper lately? It’s the seventies. We have tablets. We have holotech. Some of us have technology wired directly into our brains.” He tapped his temple with a finger. “And yet every meeting I attend, someone pulls out a stack of dead trees like we’re living in the dark ages.”
Robert ignored him and rested a hand on the first stack. “These are composite profiles assembled by some of the best intelligence agencies on Earth, including AEGIS, on you and your guild. One of our junior analysts started a file on you the moment you first set foot on Astra Omnia.” He gestured to the woman who’d delivered the briefcase. “She flagged a number of discrepancies between AEGIS’s assessments and those of other agencies, including her own findings. Her commanding officer dismissed them initially.”
Robert smiled.
“But I promote a healthy amount of individual thinking among my people. She kept the profile open despite being told to shelve it.”
The analyst stood at attention, her expression carefully neutral, though Alexander thought he caught the faintest trace of satisfaction.
“You came to my personal attention,” Robert continued, “when Gabriel Santiago accused you of kidnapping a group of alien diplomats.”
Alexander snorted.
“Because ONI knew nothing about any alien diplomats.” Robert let that sit for a beat. “Which meant one of two things. Either my people had failed so utterly at their one job that it called into question everything we’d ever done, which in turn meant that I had failed. Or someone was trying to sell me a bucket of shit while calling it the holy grail.”
He leaned back in his chair.
“So our analyst here got a well-deserved promotion when I went digging and found a profile for the man who, a short time later, went on to announce himself as one of the future Divines.”
Alexander glanced at Maximilian. That meant they had a profile on the members of the Throne of Scales, too. And by the slight tightening of his eyes, he’d realized it.
“As for why we covered for you,” Robert said, shifting forward again. He ticked each point off on his fingers. “You rescued abducted aliens. Transported them back to the Nexus and had them returned home. Defended the Nexus and improved Earth’s standing with the Galactic Council at a critical moment. And only then, after all the groundwork was laid, did you announce that Santiago Systems was responsible for their abduction.”
Alexander elbowed Maximilian. “I’m getting all the credit for the Nexus.”
The Dragon Lord nodded. “Seems that way.”
“Of course, we recognize everyone who contributed,” Robert said. “Still, from our perspective, what Grimnir did was some of the finest intelligence work we’d ever seen performed by a civilian entity. You held sensitive information for months, leveraged it at the optimal time, crippling one of the most powerful corporations in Sol without firing a shot, and limited collateral damage in the process.” Robert spread his hands. “And from what I can deduce, you did it all mostly because it was the right thing to do.”
Alexander cut through the bullshit. “So you owed us one.”
“We owed you several.” Robert placed his hand on the second stack. “Which brings me to these.”
Alexander eyed the new pile of folders.
Robert pulled the first folder free and slid it across the table. “The locations of two Sol-based research stations belonging to Santiago Systems. First is their primary serum production facility. Second is their classified zero-g cybernetics research and development lab.”
Alexander’s eyes widened.
“And one more detail that I thought might be of personal interest.” Robert’s voice carried a careful lightness. “Gabriel Santiago is currently sheltering at one of those two stations. I couldn’t tell you which. And I’m certainly not suggesting that anyone in this room do anything with that information.”
“That would be an act of piracy, though…” Alexander said slowly. “If anyone were to do anything, I mean. Which Grimnir, as very law-abiding citizens, would never do, of course.”
“He might be the most manipulative person I’ve ever met, Alex,” Talia said from behind him. “And I’m comparing him to everyone I knew at AEGIS, too.”
Alexander turned. “How so?”
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“Santiago Systems is considered a Special Asset through its connection to the Assembly, because they produce the most cutting-edge cybernetics on Earth,” Talia said. “The Councilor just gave us Level 3 Clearance, which means the Compact is now technically a Special Asset as well.” She glanced at Marcus. “Am I interpreting that correctly?”
Marcus nodded. “You are.”
Maximilian frowned. “What does that mean in practical terms? I will permit no attempts to leverage us just because you provided access to secret intelligence.”
“It’s nothing like that,” Marcus said. “There are no contractual obligations involved, but Talia is correct that the Compact is now considered an entity with special privileges.”
“Exactly,” Robert said. “Which means, just as when Goliath and Santiago Systems occasionally… field test their latest weapons systems against each other, the Space Force looks the other way.”
“So long as no civilian or military infrastructure is involved,” Jody added, “we do not pick sides between any of the sovereign nations and their conflicts, which includes any designated assets.”
Alexander liked what he was hearing. “So… hypothetically speaking… if the Sleipnir were to go on a bit of a vacation cruise and happen to run into Santiago Systems…”
Robert shrugged. “Our hands are tied, I’m afraid.”
“How unfortunate for our vacation plans,” Alexander said. He turned to Maximilian. “Would that cause issues between Grimnir and the rest of the Compact?”
Maximilian studied him for a long moment. Then he shook his head. “As long as your actions don’t take place in any of the designated territories.” He hesitated. “But I trust you’ll honor the spirit of the Compact as well, and make sure your actions don’t reflect poorly on us.”
Alexander nodded. Even meant it. Then he turned to Sindre.
The Northern Shield shrugged. “Just don’t expect any help from us.”
“That’s very fair.”
Robert slid a second folder across. “Current intelligence on the state of the Prophecy of Eight, which, I’m sure I don’t need to tell either of you, has gone to all hell with the death of the Lost Prophet. That’s why we needed confirmation from you personally. Some of our precognitives are still seeing the old future.”
Maximilian grunted. “That’s a good point. With his death, we shattered the Prophecy of Eight.”
“You said ‘some’,” Raelene said. “That means others are seeing something new.”
Robert nodded. “Yes, it does. I included what we have, but I’m sure you understand we can’t dedicate too much divination time to worrying about it. We’ll leave that up to the experts.”
Alexander wondered when they’d become the experts.
Robert slid a third folder across. “Complete dossiers on all known candidates for Divine Ascension based on everything we know.” He paused. “Including the one known as Flashpoint.”
Alexander’s eyes narrowed. “You’re being very generous for a stranger I just met. And I can’t help but notice you’re not offering my good friend Maximilian or my less good friend Sindre anything.” He glanced at Khalida. “Or even the ruler of Dubai.”