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educational experience for you. Take an entire fleet when you go, however.”
    She stepped half a step back to see him better. He seemed sincere, but that was possibly just another act.
    “Why, Mr. Auric?” she asked simply.
    He shrugged. “One grows tired of having to pay bribes for safe passage of vessels and goods, Command Centurion, even here in the capital city. I would like to see something done about the criminal elements, but I am not in a position to do anything myself. And I am a patriot. It would do everyone on the perimeter good, which, in turn, is good for business.”
    “I see,” she replied. “And why would I receive different intelligence from other sources?”
    “A few elements, local ones, profit from the current arrangement.” He shrugged. “I do not do poorly, but I could profit more without them. Also, Lincolnshire is my home. I would like to see it succeed. The locals cannot handle that task. It is one of the reasons the governor asked Aquitaine for help.”
    Jessica nodded at that. “I will see what I can arrange, Mr. Auric.”
    It was, after all, why she was here. But best not to tell the locals the whole truth. Not yet.

Chapter VI
    Date of the Republic September 24, 393 City of Lincoln, Ramsey
    Jessica watched the sun go down through the big picture window as she entered the governor’s office. It had been an entertaining, mostly–vapid afternoon, but now came the interesting part.
    The governor of Ramsey looked like a politician was supposed to, according to all the popular videos. Tall and reasonably good–looking, with a full head of hair and perfect teeth. His middle was getting thick from sitting at a desk. She suspected there was a girdle in his immediate future. Or possibly surgery.
    Jessica supposed she was supposed to swoon for him, based on the looks he had been giving her across the room during the reception. This man did represent the apex of the social pyramid for the entire region.
    She probably should have researched that aspect of the man more thoroughly.
    Jessica sighed internally, tired of all the attempts at seduction she had been subjected to in one day. They hadn’t even been all that bad–looking for the most part, but there were none here that really got her attention. There usually weren’t. It came with the territory.
    Jessica pasted that same neutral smile on her face and took the guest chair. They quickly waded through the inane chatter and inconsequentials.
    She regretted not having either Marcelle or Enej with her, but Governor Wapasha had requested a private meeting. No aides, no recordings. No records.
    “So, Governor,” she said when she could finally break through his small talk, “First Lord Kasum has asked that my task force be put at your disposal to help Lincolnshire with a piracy problem. What might we do?”
    She watched him shift uncomfortably in his chair. He slid open a drawer and pulled out a small device that he thumbed active. It began to make an irritating buzz as he set it on his desk.
    She raised an eyebrow at him silently.
    “I don’t believe my office is entirely secure,” he began. “This will hopefully distract the sensors for a bit.”
    “Your own office?” she inquired, suddenly very serious.
    “Indeed, Ms. Keller. Perhaps my own staff. It’s hard to say. Even this will cause some friction and trouble.”
    “I see,” she said, leaning back in her chair. “And you can’t stop them?”
    “It would be impolitic to try, at the present time,” he smiled at her grimly. “I am still an elected official, subject to the forces and whims of the wealthy merchant classes funding a challenger if I am too much of a threat. Or perhaps undertake a more direct method.”
    “So the stories about the rise in crime on this planet…?”
    “Are true,” he completed her sentence. “I’m sure the causes are mostly off–planet elements, but they have wormed their way into the power structure here.”
    “But if the pirates in the