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It is extremely pathetic! Gehenna chirruped. She’d gone quiet, but clearly was on top of things as usual. I almost didn’t notice it, because it was so very ineffective.

Hmmm, okay, again, good to know. Keep a close eye, guys. I still want to see if we can’t settle this without showing them how ineffective they are, Jace said.

Davies is not surprised. He suggests… uhm, not letting them know what we can do if you can help it. He says, Gehenna paused, to let them think they’re safe. If at all possible.

Jace knew what Davies was getting at. If the Alliance still had the impression that it had a way to fight back, it might not act desperately. However, if it had that belief, it likely wouldn’t negotiate either. Davies was acting him to act from a defensive posture, but he might have to go offensive.

“You think I cannot affect your vessels now?” Jace asked.

“We have taken steps,” Staed said.

“Yes, I know.”

They stared at one another. He saw Khoth’s lips curl into a smile out of the corner of his eye.

“They think they have locked us out?” Khoth guessed.

“Yeah, Gehenna said it was pathetic, but, you know, it probably is as impressive as they could make it,” Jace murmured, though the Osiris was not letting Staed hear what they said.

“High Councillor Voor was not going to promote him, because his prejudiced views were too much for her,” Khoth said. “If the Council has appointed him as High Commander now, I fear that they have decided to go in a very unfriendly direction.”

“We’ll see,” Jace said, though he agreed with Khoth. It wasn’t looking good.

“Your Commander has his back to me,” Staed said.

Khoth turned around. His expression bland. “Staed. You were promoted. How… interesting.”

Jace bit down on his inner cheek. Khoth was throwing shade! And it appeared to have hit its mark.

“My promotion was only logical,” Staed answered tartly.

“Was it?” Khoth asked mildly.

“We needed something different than another Voor in charge,” Staed answered acidly. Khoth showed nothing, remaining upright and still, but Jace knew the words hurt. “Now that there are no more of the Voor bloodline in our ranks things will go better.”

And now he’s pissed me off.

“Staed, what do you want?” Jace snapped. “I’m here to land and speak with the High Council as well as certain representatives of various Alliance races. High Councillor Voor has already agreed to these terms. Unless you are here to renege on them.”

“On the contrary, we are merely here to escort the Osiris into Haseon airspace,” Staed said. “You did agree to abide by our laws. Did you not?”

Jace was tempted to say that they needed no such escort. But could he blame the Alliance for wanting protection from him? No. He had to respect their rules. He had agreed to them like Staed said. Yet not showing his power now meant that when he went down to the planet’s surface, they might attempt something foolish.

Osiris, I want you monitoring the Alliance’s communications, Jace said.

That is being done. They plan to honor their agreement with you, though there is chatter of others who wish to imprison you, the Osiris answered.

Oh, great, just great, Jace said. Definitely, not a tourist spot.

Don’t worry, Jace! Davies and I are on the case! Gehenna told him.

I have suggestions for those who you can get on your side, the Osiris said. There are fractures in their power structure. You can take advantage of these.

Send them to me. Everything you have.

One of the people that will be most useful in your favor is Justiciar Typhon Moturin, the Osiris said softly.

Jace met Khoth’s gaze. His Commander was patient and brave and knew he was talking to the AIs. He would do whatever Jace needed him to.