“Are you sure about that?” She sat back on her heels. “Only, two ships appear to have turned themselves off within a few days of each other. One was an Outward scout ship, and the other this liner we’re here to find.”

“You think the Conglomeration shot down an Outward liner?” I couldn’t keep the incredulity from my voice. “To what end? What could we possibly gain from such an action?”

“Maybe you’re looking to start another war? It doesn’t matter. The point is that if that weapon exists, I’ll need to know everything you can tell me about it.”

I blinked up at her. I might be disgraced, but did I really want to compound my transgressions by discussing the Conglomeration’s secrets with a foreign national?

Stalling for time, I asked, “Even if I knew, why would I tell you?”

Captain Konstanz huffed, as if frustrated by a wrong answer. “Because, genius, you’re literally stuck on this ship.” She pushed the shoulder of the exoskeleton with her fingers, demonstrating my immobility. “And we’re flying into this situation blind. If some unexpected super weapon attacks us and we go down, you’re going to be going down with us. And the only way to avoid that is for you to give me the information I need to keep all our butts intact.”

I looked around at the metal walls, and was forced to concede the logic of her argument. “Fair point.”

“So.” She leant forward. “Have you got anything for me?”

The logo on her hat caught the light. It was the stylised golden star of the House of Reclamation—the organisation to which this woman, her crew and her ship had dedicated themselves in the wake of the war. An organisation that had offered them a clean slate and an expunged record in return for their service. An organisation that didn’t much care who you had been or what you had done, as long as you were prepared to dedicate yourself to its ideals of selflessness and benevolence.

And just like that, I knew.