This didn’t make any sense. Tennal knew Surit wasn’t that good at acting. This sounded like he was feeling actual guilt for something he hadn’t even done. “Can I clear something up?” Tennal said clinically. “Lieutenant Yeni has been sickeningly noble about this whole thing, actually. He barely writes me.”

“And yet not scrupulous enough to fight your forced conscription,” Oma pointed out.

Surit’s eyes flickered to Tennal, agonized. Tennal made one last-ditch attempt to read him, but Surit was still a complete void.

Oma’s head turned to Tennal, and she raised a quizzical eyebrow, as if she’d felt that attempt. “Is he writing you now?”

Tennal gave her a bland smile. “No. You can tell because I’m much less obnoxious when I’m under write command.”

“I’m not writing him,” Surit said in a low voice. He’d linked his hands in his lap and was staring at them. “My conduct didn’t meet ethical standards. I understand this.” Tennal fought the urge to shout at him that he hadn’t done anything.

“I’m glad you do,” Oma said. “I’ve added the charge to the list that I’ll be taking to Cavalry high command. You are also charged with entering a prohibited area with potential to destabilize local space-time, along with the rest of your fleet.”

“I—I did that,” Surit said. “I take responsibility. But—Governor. I know I have no right to ask questions, but … my unit. Retrieval Unit Two-Eight-Seven.” It was a question.

“I’d also like to know where they are,” Tennal said.

“Your old unit?” Oma said to Tennal.

“I’m not attached,” Tennal said blandly. “I’m just very nosy, and I might have some scores to settle.”

“All rankers have been offered a temporary reassignment,” Oma said. “I’m not interested in low-ranking soldiers. Archer’s only dispute is over the officers.”

“So you’re sending Surit back to Cavalry?” Tennal said. “You probably should. He can write me if he’s here.”

“Cavalry will negotiate for their officers,” Oma said calmly. “But I understand your concern.” She turned her attention back to Surit. “You understand your presence is a danger to Captain Halkana?”

“No,” Tennal said.

“Yes,” Surit said at the same time.

Oma gave a brisk nod. “I’m going to lay a compulsion on you.”

Tennal blinked. A compulsion was an advanced form of writing. Usually a write command disappeared as soon as the architect stopped paying attention, but if they were really strong, they could lay down a command that lingered. It was rare to find an architect who could manage that even on a person with no defenses. There was no way she could lay a compulsion on someone as strong as Surit.