For a long moment, Antonov and Lantu met each other's eyes squarely. Finally, the massive human spoke.

"I am. very interested, Admiral Lantu. I will meet with you, Commodore Tsuchevsky, and my intelligence officer in my quarters in five minutes." He cut the connection, stood, and moved towards the intraship car.

He would be a priceless intelligence asset, he reflected.

But how far can 1 trust him? How liberated is he, really, from a lifetime's indoctrination P

There was no way to know - yet. But it was just as well Kthaara was off with the fighter squadrons, a good few astronomical units away!