“Your visit brings great honor to our humble world, Excellency,” Sergio said. “Please come to the reception platform. Everyone is anxious to meet you.”

“And I am eager to meet them,” Parsons said jovially. He paused, smiled ingratiatingly, and asked, “Are these fine officers your sons, Baron? You must be Baronet Dale,” he said, offering his limp handshake to Dale, then turned to Austin and repeated the gesture. “Baronet Austin. A pleasure. Have you attained your citizenship yet?”

Austin’s mouth opened in surprise; then he managed to get out, “Yes, Your Excellency. Only last week.”

“Stellar! You have sons to be proud of, Baron.”

“You honor my family with your greeting, Excellency,” Sergio said, hiding his surprise that the Envoy recognized his sons. No dullard served Aaron Sandoval, but Jerome Parsons showed unexpected preparation for the visit to Mirach. Sergio had not thought it was the idle sojourn of a bored diplomat, but now he knew there was far more purpose than he had expected.

“Do let’s get on with the introductions,” Parsons said. “I need to freshen up afterward. Then perhaps you can find a few moments for private talk, Baron.”

“I am at your service, Excellency.”

The stout Envoy huffed and puffed as he mounted the few steps to the reception platform, then slowly made his way through the assembled dignitaries. Sergio noted that Parsons greeted most by name and spoke intimately with several, as if they were longtime friends. To the best of his information, Sergio doubted Parsons had ever met any of them before.

“I don’t like the time he’s spending with Elora, Father,” Dale said. “They act like they’ve known each other for years.”

“He is a personable man,” Sergio said. He had not missed how long the Envoy spent talking to Lady Elora, either.

“Please, sir, did Hanna—”

“I said we would talk of it later,” Sergio said sharply.

Dale stepped back, frustrated. Sergio was glad to see Austin whisper a caution to his brother. This was a public gathering. Not only were Elora’s reporters about, but private newscasters strained to pick up morsels of gossip. Since the net went down, off-world arrivals were lead topics. That a diplomat of Parsons’ stature had come would furnish Cingulum with news and gossip about his travels throughout The Republic for weeks.

Jerome Parsons moved from Lady Elora and spoke quietly with Marta Kinsolving and Dr. Chin. Sergio wished he had violated diplomatic protocol and installed eavesdropping equipment to monitor every conversation at the reception. He saw the expression on Elora’s face and knew the same thought ran through her mind. Sergio had ordered Manfred to oversee construction of the platform only hours before Parsons’ arrival, then keep everyone away until the last minute. That might not prevent spy devices from being trained on the gathering, but it kept them from being built into the flooring.

“Austin,” Sergio said to his younger son. “When the Envoy moves a bit farther down the reception line, go speak to Marta Kinsolving and arrange a tour of the AWC facilities.”

“For you and Parsons?” asked Austin.

“For yourself. Tell her whatever you have to. You’ll be a communications protocol officer on my staff.”

“A trainee, sir,” Austin said.

“You need not be too specific. Just get the tour and keep your eyes open. Envoy Parsons obviously appreciates Ms. Kinsolving’s company.”

“Is that a pun, sir?”

“Find out,” Sergio said. He nodded to Manfred Leclerc as Parsons finished with the last of the assembled dignitaries.

“We can go directly to the Palace, Your Excellency,” Sergio said. “Perhaps we can talk en route.”

“Excellent idea, Baron, a stellar notion.” Parsons paused as he saw Manfred drawing in battle-armored FCL guards to surround the limo. He nodded once, as if approving the arrangement, and huffed and puffed his way down the steps.

Sergio knew he had reached a critical juncture in Parsons’ visit. Protocol demanded that the junior enter the limo ahead of the senior. Sergio hesitated at the door, deciding what to do. Did a Planetary Governor outrank an Ambassador-at-large? The matter resolved itself quickly when Parsons hurried inside ahead of Sergio, settling the issue. Even more puzzled at the Envoy’s behavior and purpose, Sergio settled down on the seat facing Parsons, who looked exhilarated at having met so many people in such a short time.

“Thank you for inviting so many prominent citizens to the landing field to meet me, Baron. I appreciate the honor you show me.”

“Your visit honors us, Excellency.” Sergio hesitated, then added, “Whatever the purpose of that visit might be.”

“I am so sorry to have kept you in the dark as I have, but these are perilous times. I am sure you agree, Baron.”

Parsons reached into an inner pocket of his jacket and drew forth a small parcel of papers. He held them in the palms of his outstretched hands like an offering, leaned forward slightly, and waited for Sergio to take them.

“From the Lord Governor himself,” Sergio said, recognizing the seal. “We don’t get many official communiqués since the HPG went down.”

“Governor Sandoval wants to bring Mirach more into the mainstream of the Prefecture,” Parsons said. He folded his hands on his paunch and leaned back as the limo accelerated smoothly. “Tell me, Baron, do you find serving The Republic to be rewarding?”

“Of course, Your Excellency,” Sergio said, trying to fathom the rules of the game being played. The question sounded as if it carried a land mine or two with it. “I am loyal to The Republic.”

“And to the Lord Governor?”

“Yes,” Sergio said, his mind turning over the small clues. “Aren’t you asking the same question? Isn’t loyalty to The Republic also loyalty to Governor Sandoval?” Even as he spoke, he saw the flicker in Parsons’ emerald eyes suggesting that might not be so. This visit explained a great deal if Sandoval moved on his own, independent of The Republic.

Coupled with what Hanna Leong had told him yesterday, it seemed all the leaders of The Republic might be interested more in furthering their own ambitions than in maintaining unity.

“It is my duty to report if Mirach and its populace are comfortable being aligned with The Republic,” Parsons said smoothly.

“I am sure you will find that although the failure of the HPG net has unnerved many on Mirach, our loyalty is unflagging.”

“That is good to know, Baron. After all, another alliance might provide more benefit for a planet with considerable mineral wealth.” Parsons made a fluttering motion with his fingers, as if dismissing any such suggestion as being absurd.

Sergio started to open the packet the Envoy had given him, but Parsons reached over and stopped him.

“Those are such dry reports. You’ll have time to read them at your leisure and prepare a response for me to carry personally to the Lord Governor.”

Sergio inclined his head slightly in Parsons’ direction. He would need every possible second to formulate that reply.