The fatal flaw that the Nemesis had was she was expensive and complicated to build, taking an army of engineers and technicians almost eighteen months to finish from the time the keel was laid to firing the reactors for the first time. Back in the old days, well before Jackson's time, a starship could be expected to be in service anywhere from fifty to seventy-five years. Now, after two wars and another on the horizon, Starfleet no longer had the luxury of spending years building a ship that might be destroyed two months into her service life. The problem with that realization is it came too late. The ESA had been making bold moves in the background while the Federation was flat on its back, panting after barely surviving the war against the Darshik.

"Barton, you standing out there?"

"As always, sir."

"Call the master at arms and have her meet us down where you're holding Trapp. Let's get this over with."

23

"Comfortable, Lieutenant?"

"If I'm being formally charged, Admiral, I'd appreciate legal representation," Trapp said, her eyes and voice flat as she watched Jackson and his people come into the small room.

"As you're well-aware, those rights don't apply to traitors," Jackson said. "We've had your com activity tracked and found all the spy toys in your quarters. We will likely charge you with capital murder when it comes to Captain Hardy and Commander Trane, but to be honest, that will take second billing while the CIS has possession of you."

"Possession?"

"Oh, yes. They're going to want to speak at some length. You seem to be highly placed. Too skilled to be just someone they're blackmailing, so I'm guessing you're a sleeper operative. Your psychological conditioning—assuming I'm right, of course—will make you impervious to any sorts of nasty things Barton or Munoz might do to make you talk. But I'm hoping that somewhere in there, deep down, there's a chance you might help us out." Jackson leaned back in his seat and stared at the small woman chained to the chair as if she were a dangerous animal.

"Honestly, Admiral, things are already in motion you have no power to stop. The people involved now were groomed early on and this plan, or some version of it, has been generations in the making," Trapp said. "I won't bother protesting innocence. If you searched my quarters thoroughly enough, I know I'm destined for a CIS black site and a deep, dark hole for the rest of my life…or at least for as long as the CIS even still exists."

"Confident?"

"Practical," she corrected. "The Federation is completely unprepared. The enemy within has already killed you before the Alliance fired the first shot. I think you'd be genuinely depressed to learn how easy it was to flip people on New Sierra who hold high, critical positions."

"What was your mission? Why were you attached to me?"

"Don't flatter yourself, Admiral. I was sent to get Bluebird. News of that system leaked almost as soon as your scientists perfected the entanglement process. You coming aboard the Jericho was just an added bonus. I had actually been ordered to kill you, but I convinced my handlers it would be more useful for me to get close and try to steer you."