If her meteoric rise in the Corporate ranks back on Transluna had taught her anything, it was to seize the initiative. So here she sat, back in the command chair on Vixen’s AC. The dot from the photonic com glowed like an evil red eye as she waited.

From Seesil Vacquillas’ usual seat, Captain Torgussen watched, ready to confirm the photonic link. Other than that, only Second Officer Valencia Seguro was present at the sensor array. Most of Vixen’s crew were either off duty, or down-planet on leave.

“Got a signal coming in,” Torgussen called. “Fixing now.”

The red dot vanished to be replaced by the image of a fiftyish man, bald, long-faced, with cunning hazel eyes. The man’s nose had been smashed sometime in the past and never fixed. He wore a marine colonel’s dress uniform, which probably explained why he had kept her waiting. Upon Captain Abibi’s summons to the AC, instead of hustling to the Command Deck, he’d stopped to don his formal uniform.

“Colonel Stanley Creamer, I presume?” Kalico asked. “I do hope that whatever kept you, it was pressing.”

His first reaction was to stare, a slight twisting of his pursed mouth and a tightening of his eyes proof of his reaction to her scars. “And you are?” The disdain filled his voice. He was taking in her quetzal-hide cape, the embroidered claw-shrub shirt, her pulled-back hair.

“Corporate Board Supervisor Kalico Aguila, I am in control of all Corporate assets in the Capella star system, which includes Turalon, and, more to the point, your command, Colonel. Or do I need to quote you the Corporate Code regulations covering the powers of a Board Supervisor’s authority?”

“I, uh, no, Supervisor. I am fully versed in Corporate regulations, including Article One, Sections Thirty-eight through Forty-one.”

“Then as the ranking officer within the system . . .” She paused. “I am correct in assuming you are the ranking officer?”

“Yes, ma’am.” His expression had gone perfectly blank, voice controlled. He’d played this game before. Saying nothing. Admitting nothing, thoroughly aware that somewhere down the line, a board of review might dissect the recordings looking for any misstep.

Kalico gave him a smile, the one she knew rearranged the scars on her face. She could barely detect the tightening at the corners of his mouth. “Colonel, I understand that you have a detachment of twenty-nine marines.” She held up a copy of his orders. “It is also my understanding that you are here to assist me in the managing and performance of my duties. I see the usual wording, here, ‘To protect and support the colony. To ensure the peace, orderly conduct, prosperity, and the common good.’ After that we have the usual paragraphs regarding conduct, dedication to duty, performance, training, and rapid force engagement. Am I correct?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Creamer was beginning to stiffen in his chair, no doubt sensing a trap.

“And you have no other field orders?”