“At least the Priminae aren’t lying to us,” she said. “That does confirm their story.”

“As far as they know. I’m certain they’ve been honest,” Eric said neutrally.

“As far as they know?” Gracen asked, one eyebrow rising.

“That’s a long chunk of history, ma’am, and I don’t think I trust their records,” Eric declared. “The people today are honest, but I’m not so sure about their ancestors. I had a long talk with Admiral Tanner about just that, and even he admits that we’re in mythic territory here.”

Gracen considered his statement for a brief moment, deciding that it was a fair point. Whitewashing history was a relatively easy feat. Hell, a lot of the time you didn’t even need to do so. People naturally ignored anything uncomfortable and pretended that only the good happened. Centuries had passed before anyone was willing to admit that Columbus was anything less than a heroic explorer, yet, after World War II, only a few years had gone by before the first denial of the Holocaust was uttered.

A great Machiavellian schemer wasn’t necessary to whitewash history. People did that all by themselves, usually while whining incessantly about how one had to learn from history or be forced to repeat it.

“Point,” she conceded aloud. “What do you want to do with the prisoners?”

“Could send them back to Earth,” Eric offered.

She winced. “Not in the current political climate. Too many people, politicians and citizens alike, who want blood for blood. Can’t guarantee their safety on Earth, and I’d rather not set precedent that will come back and bite us.”

“Roger that,” Eric sighed. “Well, we have a small base on Ranquil. That’s probably our best option for the moment.”

Grace nodded. “I’ll stop by the planet and see to it, and make sure that they operate the base under the Geneva conventions. The last thing we need is another . . . well, you know.”

“Agreed, ma’am. I remember.”

He would, Gracen thought. “We’ll run this by the books for as long as I can keep the civilians out of it. We’re professionals, Captain. We don’t do revenge.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Good. I’ll see to the situation on Ranquil,” Gracen said. “You need to get my ship back out in the black and find out what Passer and the Auto discovered. Then take your new squadron and see if you can locate another Imperial ship and make them talk to you. I’m serious, Commodore. I don’t care if you have to board one of their ships and chat with her commander at gunpoint. Talk to them.”

Eric laughed, a little weakly. “I’ll do my best.”

“Failing that, I’ll settle for rock-solid evidence that they sent the Drasin our way,” she said. “If they don’t want to talk then . . . we make them scream.”