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neighborhood were broken?” she asked
    “Then I would have a much freer hand to try and make changes,” he completed the thought. “As it is, you have seen the number of guards around the palace, and the bodyguards accompanying people today. Fix the one, and it should fix the other. There are several places you might look. My favorite would be 9621 Jordani III .”
    Jessica nodded, holding a map of the area encompassed by Lincolnshire in her mind.
    “On the main trade route to Aquitaine ,” she observed. “Close enough to threaten Ramsey and a few other worlds.”
    He nodded.
    She paused to study the man’s face. “A little bird at the reception suggested I might also try Sarmarsh IV ,” she continued quietly. “Do you have anything on Sarmarsh IV? Colony? Mining Station?”
    She was rewarded by a surprised blink before the man got his face back under control.
    “Nothing.”
    “That would be much closer to Corynthe , Governor Wapasha,” she said.
    “It would also suggest that Salonnia is conspiring with Corynthe to threaten us and using piracy as a cover,” he replied nervously. “And that the trouble we have been having are of a much more political nature than they appear.”
    “Indeed it would,” she said carefully. “What would be your orders if we found something like that there?”
    His face grew serious.
    “Anyone you found at a place like Sarmarsh would be pirates, Keller,” he said. “Not just thugs with guns, but honest–to–Creator enemy agents. We have had a lot of trouble in that vicinity. Anything you can do to remove them would help with trade. It will probably also help here on Ramsey .”
    “Is it as bad as that on the surface here?” she asked pointedly.
    “Things have been better, Commander,” he replied. “I asked Aquitaine for help specifically because I do not know who can be trusted here. You, however, should be safe. I’ve seen your assistant and your bodyguards. Nobody would dare attack you.”
    Jessica nodded with a sour mouth. She leaned forward and covered the man’s hand and the small jammer device with her own hand. ”–– Jordani III ,” she said as she pushed the button to turn it off. “I will take that under advisement, Governor. It will be a good exploration cruise for my crew.”
    He scowled at her, confused, and shook his head.
    She responded by gesturing to the room around them with a serious face of her own, before letting a small smile through.
    “It has been a pleasure, Governor,” she said as she rose from her chair. “I expect we will take a few days at Ramsey to load supplies, and then run a patrol route as a familiarization drill. Perhaps we can scare off your pirates along the way.”
    “I see,” he said with sudden understanding. He rose as well and shook her hand. “Happy hunting, if I do not see you again. Hopefully you will visit us occasionally.”
    He walked her to the door and held it open as she departed.
    Jessica waited for the door to close behind her, eyes locked in tight on Marcelle across the room. She nodded once and strode out of the office without a word. Marcelle fell into step beside her, the taller woman’s longer legs easily letting her keep up.
    When they emerged into the twilight air, Jessica turned to her steward, her dog–robber . “We have ground transportation?”
    Marcelle nodded, turned, and took the lead. One of Auberon ’s marines guarded a ground vehicle parked to one side, eyes active and weapon bared. For once, Jessica was happy that her crew was a little paranoid.
    Marcelle and the marine, faceless and nameless behind a lowered faceshield, climbed into the front of the vehicle as Jessica got in back. “We need to find Moirrey, right now.”
    “Affirmative,” Marcelle said as she brought the vehicle into motion. “I have her itinerary.”
    “Good,” Jessica said simply. She reached into a pocket of her jacket and brought out a secured comm. “ Cayenne , this is Keller.”
    “Go ahead,” Gaucho ,