But she’d be alive. That was more than Kira thought she’d ever offer anyone who worked for the Tsavitee.
"I’m not a traitor, Kira. I’m exactly who you’ve always thought I was."
Kira nodded. "Alright then."
Blue’s forehead furrowed. "That’s it?"
"That’s all I need."
"You’re going to let me out, right? You’re not going to leave me in here?"
"It’s not that easy. I don’t hold any power in Centcom now."
And even if she wasn’t the one responsible, her actions had placed everyone in danger. Jace wasn’t happy about that. He saw it as a breach of security. Until Kira could find a way to prove someone had authorized Blue to send those communications, her friend would have an uphill battle trying to win back his trust.
Kira would do what she could, but Jace was the ultimate decision maker in this matter.
Leaving Blue behind, Kira moved toward her second reason for this visit. Aeron looked up at her as she stopped in front of his cell.
"I didn’t expect you to come personally," Aeron drawled, his expression changing to one of confusion as Kira opened his cell door. "What are you doing?"
She tilted her head. "Come on. There’s a gift waiting for you. Consider it a thank you for what you did on the Reliance."
Aeron’s face still held suspicion as Kira knocked on the hatch to request they be let out.
She raised her eyebrows at Aeron when he still didn’t move. "You coming or not?"
He gathered himself, rising. "I am not a dog to be summoned whenever you’re bored."
"Say that once you’ve seen what I’ve prepared for you."
Aeron followed Kira silently through the base, pretending not to see the reaction of the humans they passed. There was hostility and fear. Some plastering themselves against the wall to give the two of them room.
More interesting were the looks of a few. Assessing. Watchful. Like Aeron wasn’t someone they could put in the box titled evil anymore.
"What are we doing here?" Aeron asked as they stopped in front of the conference room they’d used for the briefing.
"You’ll see."
Kira opened the door, gesturing for Aeron to proceed.
He curled a lip in challenge, his expression freezing as he caught sight of the person waiting inside.
"Little brother," Aeron breathed.
The emotion contained within those words allowed Kira to set aside any doubt she’d had about the general’s motives. No one could have faked that level of relief and happiness as he rushed forward, enveloping the younger general in a hug.
"What are they saying?" Jace asked, joining her.
Kira shook her head. "I don’t recognize the language."
It wasn’t Tsavitee. There were notes that Kira associated with a Tuann inflection but that wasn’t quite right either. Since the generals and the Tuann came from the same root, it was possible that their languages had evolved from the same source as well. Time had caused the languages to diverge, each developing in a different direction.
Kira closed the door behind Aeron, giving the two privacy for their reunion.
"I didn’t think your plan would work this time," Jace confessed.
Kira shot him a sidelong grin. "Liar."
From what she’d heard, he’d thrown his lot in with her until the bitter end. Even going so far as to ignore at least two opportunities for a retreat. He must have had some faith to do that.
His expression was grudging. "It was close."
"It always is," Kira said as her uncle appeared at the end of the hall. "How did Centcom take the news?"
"They’re threatening sanctions and court martials for all my field grade officers. I don’t know if they will though. We’re being hailed as heroes in the media. Arresting us would mean having to defend their reasons. Right now, they know we have a lot of support." Jace made a wry face. "Though, we can probably kiss goodbye any thought of promotion until this blows over."
Jace wouldn’t be affected that much considering he already possessed a high rank. It usually took several years to progress from a rear admiral to the next rank. His subordinates, the captains and the commander, would be the ones hit the hardest.
Kira could foresee the effects of this trickling down to every junior officer and enlisted member who took part in the mission as well.
"The Tsavitee’s allies are the ones who will come at you the hardest," Kira said.