“So it did. Well, then, good work,” she responded dryly before motioning toward the far side of the deck where the lifts were.

Eric nodded. “This way, Admiral.”

►►►

► “What’re your thoughts on the Imperials, Commodore?” Gracen asked once they were in the Odysseus’ conference room. “Alliance Command wants everything you’ve got, yesterday.”

“I’ll have a record of everything we scanned during the fight arranged for you to take back,” Eric said. “As to my personal impression, they’re rigid fighters. Skilled but dependent on a distinct chain of command. Very little flexibility, if this fight is typical of their deployments.”

“How so?” Tanner asked, curious.

“We think we took out their command structure in the fight,” Eric said. “The effect wasn’t noticeable at first. They fight well, and with a crisis on the table they held it together, but once the engagement passed . . . they lost cohesion very quickly.”

“Huh, that’s not something I’d expect out of a technologically superior, more ancient culture,” Gracen mused. “Command should have devolved to the next in line automatically. A decent network should have assured that.”

“And I’m certain they have a very good network,” Eric said, “but I think we’re looking at an Empire in more than just name. We’ve gotten bits and bobs out of the prisoners we rescued, nothing actionable, but I think they have a nobility structure, not only in their government, but also in their military.”

Gracen blinked. “That’s . . . I don’t even know what that is.”

“I know.” Eric nodded. “If they’re running nobles as their top officers, then the underclass may not be able to respond to new situations effectively in their absence.”

“That’s going to throw our cultural analysts into a tizzy,” Gracen said.

“The Priminae have never had a system like this,” Tanner said, perplexed. “I am not certain I understand the implications.”

“It means that they’re going to react very differently than a Terran, or even Priminae, group would,” Gracen said. “In many ways, we have more in common with you than with them. An imperial system, if the captain is right about our foes, can be very effective when properly managed. However, they’re only going to be as good as their commanders.”

Eric nodded. “We, on the other hand, build from the ground up. Our lower-ranking people are often at least as good as their commanders and can do the job if they have to. If I’m being honest, the imperial system . . . When it’s good, it’s potentially better than we can field. However, we won’t be crippled by an idiot getting into our command structure. They’ll take a heavy hit in effectiveness in the same situation, and nobility systems are notorious for breeding fools in the high ranks.”

“I see,” Tanner said. “This is very interesting, but I believe that what most concerns me isn’t their culture, I am afraid.”