Moore stared at Bentley for several seconds, his mind spinning. He could feel his face heating up with the realization that Narang had deliberately left him out of the loop. He wondered what safety measures the ICDC could set up, without Navy support. Or if they’d even bothered. Idiots.

“And the other thing?”

“Sir, we can’t bring it up with Pritchard unless he mentions it first. Unless we want to admit we’re monitoring communications. Of course, he probably suspects that, but as long as everyone maintains the polite fiction, we can all be friends.”

Moore nodded. “Whereas, as soon as that’s out in the open, it becomes a jailer/prisoner relationship. Understood. Thing is, none of this is unreasonable as a topic of discussion. We need someone to engage him in casual conversation.” Moore looked significantly at Bentley.

“Oh. Uh, I’ll take care of it, sir.”

Bentley would pursue the matter and get back to Moore when done. Until then, Moore had other issues to deal with. Like this plan to send samples to Earth. Damned scientists! No slightest clue about risk analysis. Moore would have to find out if they’d already taken the samples, and if they’d already sent them. If not, there might still be time to nip this idiocy in the bud.

* * *

Narang looked down at her mug of tea and sighed, then returned her gaze to Admiral Moore. He avoided showing his amusement. Displaying emotion like that was a tactical failure. He hoped she wasn’t that transparent when dealing with patients.

“No, Admiral, we haven’t shipped the samples yet. That’s not really our job. Or our decision, for that matter. The task will be handled by the UEN Science Council administrator who will be taking over the Pritchard case. He will be up here in a few days, at which point I will be leaving. This was in the report I gave you.”

Moore nodded. His own fault for not at least scanning her report immediately. Although he doubted he could have actually derailed it, even with more warning. “Fine, Doctor. I’ll take it up with him.” He shook his head. “I have to say, I am boggled by the casual attitude being taken.”

“Casual?” Narang frowned. “The safety precautions are legion. This will be less risky than transporting fissionable materials, and people do that all the time. You can’t blow up fissionables in an emergency—well, you know what I mean.”