“Remnants are classification level four,” Surit said, still staring at the floor. “None of the soldiers detaining me had the authority to take custody of them.” Tennal had a fleeting vision of Surit quoting regulations at a boarding party and was absolutely certain that had taken place.

“And did you have the authority to keep them hidden?” Oma said. Surit shook his head without looking up. Oma tapped the desk lightly. “They have been retrieved and neutralized. You will be glad to hear chaotic space is still—just about—stable.”

Surit wasn’t even going to bloody ask what was going to happen to him, Tennal suddenly realized. He didn’t know what they did to soldiers caught in interdivisional spats—probably sent home with a scolding and a demerit—but that could ruin Surit’s career, and he wasn’t even going to ask. This fucking military obedience. Tennal had assumed Surit could take care of himself, but that was only true if other people were playing by the same rules as he was.

Well, Tennal had never agreed to the rules. “What are you holding Yeni for?” he asked Oma, leaning against the desk. “None of his unit wanted to go into chaotic space. They were doing what they were ordered.”

Oma didn’t take her gaze off Surit. “Yes, doing what you were ordered,” she said. “Let’s explore that. Lieutenant Yeni?”

Surit finally raised his head. “Governor?”

“You aren’t a normal Fractal Note soldier, are you?” Oma said. “You were under a double brief from the regulators. Care to tell us what that brief was?”

Surit straightened his back as if reporting, his gaze just behind Oma’s head. “Sir. My brief was to sync Tennalhin Halkana, identified to me as Agent Fifty-Six, and hold him ready for orders. I assumed that referred to orders from the fleet pilots. Sir.”

Now that Tennal thought about it, it seemed even weirder. Why not sync him to a pilot specialist from the get-go? Or make Surit a pilot if they couldn’t find another architect?

“And you agreed,” Governor Oma said mildly.

Surit’s shoulders hunched. Tennal’s eyes narrowed: there was no reason not to tell Oma they weren’t synced, except for the fact Tennal didn’t trust her.

Surit shut his mouth and appeared to rethink something. It didn’t look like a pleasant thought. “I agreed.”

“Were you aware Tennalhin had not agreed?”

“I became aware of it,” Surit said, more quietly. “Later.”

“Are you familiar,” Governor Oma said, “with the concept of an illegal order?”

“Yes.”

Oma propped her elbows on the table and leaned forward. “So you knew you could have raised the matter through the appropriate channels and had Tennalhin returned home. You were intimidated by his … illustrious relative.”

Surit was longer sitting up straight; he had slumped in the chair by invisible degrees. His mouth barely moved. “I suppose so. Yes.”