S99

Security Man makes it clear that police will be involved. Minister Lev pushes back against that, promising a harsh constraint on Mose if police stay out of it. I sit in a corner and stay out of it.

Ambassador Ekard exchanges a few quiet words with Mose. Ekard was the one that recruited Mose off-world from Quishan. That’s a nearly two-month space voyage, so he has to be invested in this.

“You’re correct,” says Ambassador Ekard to Security Man. “This is too serious not to report. I know the lead investigator downtown personally. He’ll coordinate a special investigation. For now, the Assembly needs to look into what data Mose may or may not have broken into. For Assembly interests, however, allowing outsiders is even worse. This includes police who might be under Quishan bribery. Mose must be kept tight to the team campus, under watch by trusted individuals.” Drake points to Security Man.

Security Man straightens and nods confidently.

Everyone agrees. It’s an hour later, back at campus, that I shake my head. Security Man had ended up vigorously agreeing to the very thing he was arguing angrily against. Ambassador Ekard is a psychological manipulator of first rate.

As we leave, Mose glances at me and mutters, “Thanks.” I guess he didn’t like my neutrality.

Draw a small X in Mose Basbala’s Sway box.

Reduce morale by 1.