“Ad hoc update,” Kalico told her. “I’m just back from Vixen. Had Torgussen patch me through to Turalon on the photonic com. I wanted to have a chat with Margo Abibi.”

“What does the good captain say?” Talina lifted the whiskey and sipped. This was one of Inga’s better batches; she’d let it set in charred aquajade casks for a couple of years.

“The good news is that these thirty marines aren’t accompanied by a replacement supervisor, nor is Margo aware of any orders regarding changes in administration for Donovan. The bad news is that Board Appointed Inspector General Suto Soukup is arriving on a fact-finding mission. The salient part is that he’s Board Appointed. Means they want him to find out just what exactly is going on. How everything works. Who is responsible for what. And if Corporate laws are being broken. And if, in his opinion, anything is amiss, the Board has granted him the authority to arrest and detain anyone for a violation.”

“We’re going to have to think about that,” Talina said, glancing down the bar to where Iji and Mgumbe broke out in hysterical laughter. “What else did I miss?”

“I was just finishing with Abibi’s report on The Corporation.” Kalico glanced Talina’s way. “You’ve heard Dek and me talk about it? Well, it worked out just like we thought it would. Turalon’s arrival sent a tremor through The Corporation, and Ashanti’s unheralded appearance was like a 9.5 quake through the Board itself.”

Kalico glanced at Allison. “Dan Wirth stepped off Ashanti wearing his rhodium-chain vest, and in his own charming way, has chucked the status quo on its head. They’re trying to keep a lid on it, but the story’s too big. There will be a reckoning.”

“At least Dan isn’t on Turalon.” Allison looked up, her crystal-blue eyes half-lidded. “But he will be back. Someday. I wonder if it will be as a Boardmember or a fugitive traveling under an assumed name?”

“Wish he’d stay. I was always afraid I’d have to kill him,” Talina said thoughtfully.

“You weren’t the only one,” Allison agreed, lifting her whiskey glass and tilting it in Talina’s direction in mock toast.

Shig, eyes thoughtful, rolled his wineglass on its base, watching the red fluid swirl. “So there’s chaos back in Solar System. Nevertheless, we have an Inspector General with a reputation for taking down bad guys. Not to mention a Grunnel—who Kalico informs us is tight with the marines—a Radcek, a Suharto, and finally Dek’s sister. All most important personages.”

“And each one is going to be a pain in the ass.” Kalico took a sip of her whiskey.

“Radcek I’ve heard of,” Allison said thoughtfully. “Tam Benteen hated old man Calypso. What’s this latest one like?”