“The possibility no doubt exists, Sir,” Isenhoffer said slowly. “It just strikes me as rather more Machiavellian than I would have expected out of her.”

“Me also,” Rabenstrange admitted. “To be honest, I don’t like considering the possibility even now. But it’s possible that her public concentration on domestic reform has, in fact, been something of a mask all along.” He shook his head with a grimace. “Even now, when I hear myself saying it, it’s hard for me to believe that of her. But what I keep coming back to, Zhenting, is that her Secretary of State approached us with the offer of an informal, behind-the-scenes understanding. Almost an undeclared alliance against Manticore. He came to Kaiserfest, not the reverse. And the entire time that he and Kaiserfest were building their ‘working relationship’ he never even broached the possibility of Havenite naval forces in Silesia. Not once, Zhenting. Clearly Pritchart is working to some sort of carefully orchestrated plan, and equally clearly the Empire will eventually become aware of the presence of her military forces in the Confederacy. This is not a stupid woman, because a stupid woman couldn’t have achieved all that she has. So why would she deliberately approach us with this informal alliance, and then turn around and intrude militarily into the very area she’s had her Secretary of State encouraging us to annex? Unless her entire plan was to keep us ignorant of her ships’ presence for as long as she could. Until it was too late for us to do anything about them.”

“But that way, it sounds… plausible,” Isenhoffer said finally. “Insanely reckless, unless they have indeed managed to build their naval forces to a level far in excess of Intelligence’s estimates, but plausible. Yet, with all due respect, Sir, every bit of it is completely speculative. At this point, we don’t have any proof even that the Republic is contemplating attacking the Star Kingdom at all. Duchess Harrington’s hypothesis is the only indication that they might be, to be perfectly honest. And whatever suspicions you might have, His Imperial Majesty’s instructions are explicit.”

“I realize that. But the ultimate responsibility is mine as the Sachsen fleet commander. And our timetable isn’t all that time-critical. Even if my suspicions are completely unfounded, we would lose little by waiting a few more weeks, or even months. If, on the other hand, there is any substance to them, we might court disaster by not waiting.”

Troubadour’s data code reached the hyper limit and vanished, and Chien-lu Rabenstrange inhaled deeply.

“Inform Communications that I will require a dispatch boat,” he said quietly.

· · • · ·

“Do you think it did any good, Your Grace?” Mercedes Brigham asked.

“I don’t know,” Honor replied honestly. “I can tell you that Herzog von Rabenstrange believed I was telling him the truth. Or, at least, that nothing I told him was a lie. But precisely how he’ll react… ?” She shrugged.

“Well,” her chief of staff observed, “whatever comes of that part of it, at least we managed to nail down a little more definite information on Andy capabilities. Unfortunately.”