Vistna lifted a shoulder, his shockgun to Crane’s head. “Guilty.”
Juy’s face was slack with surprise. “But you’re . . .”
“Grih?” Vistna asked. “A ranking officer?”
“Both those things.” Juy took a step to the side, giving Hal room to move.
He’d appreciated everything about the officer since he’d met her. If he could, he’d get her transferred to theIllium.
“Who’s the dead body?” Crane asked. “Did you kill him?”
“I don’t know names or faces. I don’t even know if he’s a Grihan ally, or part of the team taking control of the way station.” Vistna’s lips twisted.
“Why reveal yourself like this then?” Juy asked. “Your friends upstairs are secured and you didn’t act then. The drone from Security is restoring comms and you didn’t try to stop that. If you’d kept quiet and played along with us, no one would have been the wiser.”
Vistna gave a short laugh. “That crossed my mind, believe me. I joined this little revolt because I’m against the thinking systems. A year ago, that wasn’t even a radical position to take, except now, it’s a Battle Center directive to get all the Class 5s on our side.”
“That still doesn’t explain why you’ve got a shockgun to Crane’s head,” Juy said.
“He doesn’t want us to open that door,” Hal guessed. “And that means there’s someone in there, helping him, who he’s trying to protect.”
“I persuaded them to help me. They trusted me. And then I discovered, after it was already too late, that the Balcoans were lying.” He half hunched his shoulders. “We were supposed to jam the comms, and the Garmman were going to provide military support, and the Balcoans were going to take the way station back from the thinking system and that orange who encourages and supports it.”
“What are you talking about?” Crane turned his head a little in shock. “Whatarethey doing then?”
“The Balcoans weren’t trying to get rid of thinking systems,” Hal said. “Neither were the Garmman. They were just trying to steal a thinking system of their own.”
“You know.” Vistna’s eyes widened. “Does Battle Center . . .?”
“Yes,” Hal said. “Do you think we don’t have intelligence? Do you honestly think we haven’t got people down on Balco?”
“I . . .” Vistna shook his head. “They told me they were going to look for the thinking system so they could destroy it, and they had to have the comms down for that, but to be honest, I didn’t think they’d find it. Then they did. So quickly it took everyone by surprise. So quickly, all our plans were upended.”
“Plans for what? Taking the way station by force?” Juy’s voice was incredulous. “Do you think Battle Center would stand for that without a fight?”
“Battle Center’s not going to oppose the Balcoans on their own way station by using force,” Vistna said. “And if the Garmman show up with a battleship and say they’re here at the Balcoans’ invitation, as protectors,” he lifted one shoulder, “what could Battle Center really do?”
“So where’s this battleship?” Juy asked. “And where are the Balcoans who are trying to take the way station?”
“They grabbed the thinking system and left.” Vistna’s tone was bitter. “And now I’m forced to expose myself to save someone I got into this mess. Someone who’s only motivation was to get rid of the thinking system running this way station.”
Hal focused over Vistna’s shoulder. “It’s better that he’s immobilized,” he said. “So we can question him.”
Juy frowned. “Who are you talking to? Do you mean the person in the conference room?”
“No,” Hal said, his gaze going back to the Scary Caterpillar, who was just behind Vistna, lifted up on its back legs so its head and forelegs were about waist height. “Can you not . . . do the usual?”
The Scary Caterpillar seemed to bob forward, and Vistna flinched, a hand going to the small of his back. He looked behind him, and flinched again.
His shockgun clattered to the floor and he fell, and Crane had to grab him and lower him to the ground.
Crane backed away when he finally noticed the reason for Vistna’s collapse.
“Thanks,” Hal said. “We’ll take it from here.”
The Scary Caterpillar looked at him for a beat, and then whirled around and disappeared.
“A drone, you said?” Juy asked, and her voice was a little wobbly.
