<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Tim Winston adjusted the cuffs of his jacket, tugged at the front placket, and adjusted his cuffs again.\u00a0 He flexed his gloved hands, taking a deep, slow breath as he waited outside of the red wooden door, studying the whorls and patterns of the wood\u2019s grain.\u00a0 Being called here was big.\u00a0 There\u2019d been a notice left on his desk to report to the office of the Inspector General immediately.\u00a0 Since he hadn\u2019t screwed up anything lately, it could only mean one thing.<\/p>\n
A new assignment.\u00a0 A big one.\u00a0 Considering that the only really big thing that would require<\/em> an investigation was the bombing of the Whispers\u2026<\/p>\n Focus.\u00a0 Breathe.\u00a0 This is huge.\u00a0 <\/em>Huge.\u00a0 This could be a career maker.\u00a0 The biggest difference I\u2019ve made ever.\u00a0 It could mean the difference between war or continued peace.<\/em>\u00a0 His stomach twisted.\u00a0 War or continued peace\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n The door came open, startling him.\u00a0 The Inspector General\u2019s page smiled at him and stepped clear of the doorway.\u00a0 \u201cThe Inspector General will see you now, Inspector Winston.\u201d<\/p>\n Tim took a deep breath and stepped into the office of Inspector General Sephora Damerian.\u00a0 She stood as he entered, towering over her large desk and the shorter man standing at the window.\u00a0 Tim swallowed hard.<\/p>\n The prime minister.\u00a0 Shit, she <\/em>is assigning me to investigate the Whispers bombing.<\/em>\u00a0 He found his voice after a moment.\u00a0 \u201cInspector Damerian.\u00a0 I came as soon as I got your message.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d the tall woman said quietly, \u201cI know.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry we kept you waiting.\u00a0 Mr. Parkstone inquired about your qualifications and I was obliged to inform him of my utmost confidence in you as an investigator.\u201d\u00a0 The dark-skinned woman was a head and a half taller than Prime Minister Anton Parkstone and he was significantly less impressive in the presence of the Inspector General.\u00a0 Tim suddenly realized why they never appeared in any broadcasts together.\u00a0 \u201cPrime Minster, this is Inspector First Grade Timothy Winston, one of only three First Grade inspectors still in service to the Office of the Inspector General.\u201d<\/p>\n Parkstone turned fully from the window and extended a hand to Tim, who moved over toward the older man to shake his hand.\u00a0 \u201cShe speaks quite highly of you, Inspector.\u00a0 Tell me, how did you get to the rank of First Grade so young?\u00a0 You couldn\u2019t be more than thirty.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTwenty-nine, sir, and the same way Frederick Rose did: hard work, determination, not being afraid to make enemies and getting the job done.\u201d<\/p>\n Parkstone glanced toward Damerian.\u00a0 \u201cIronic that he brings up Inspector Rose.\u201d<\/p>\n Damerian winced.\u00a0 \u201cYes, well, who wouldn\u2019t?\u00a0 The man\u2019s legendary in the halls of our office, and tragic.\u201d\u00a0 She glanced sidelong toward Tim.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s the only one to be killed in the execution of his duties as an Inspector First Class.\u201d<\/p>\n She means that as a warning.\u00a0 Rose died investigating Mimir.\u00a0 She\u2019s telling me this is going to be about as dangerous for me, especially since no one\u2019s taken responsibility for the destruction of the Whispers the same way no one took responsibility for Mimir\u2019s death\u2026everyone just swooped in to pick up the pieces and finish the job, like Chinasia and the Compact and Idesalli.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cI have no intention of meeting an end like Inspector Rose did, ma\u2019am.\u00a0 I\u2019d like to think I\u2019ve learned from his mistakes.\u201d<\/p>\n Except that the only mistake he ever made was being a zealous investigator.\u00a0 He was going to figure out who bombed his home come hell or high water.\u00a0 And that\u2019s what got him killed.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s good to hear, Inspector Winston, given what\u2019s going to be asked of you.\u201d\u00a0 The Prime Minister drifted toward the corner of Damerian\u2019s desk.\u00a0 He leaned against it, studying Tim for a few long moments, as if taking his measure.\u00a0 \u201cYou seem like a smart man, though.\u00a0 I imagine you can already guess what we\u2019re going to ask of you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou need me to investigate what happened at the Whispers.\u201d\u00a0 And not die in the process of investigating.<\/em>\u00a0 He glanced toward Damerian.\u00a0 \u201cRight?\u201d<\/p>\n The Inspector General nodded slightly.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re correct, Inspector.\u00a0 That\u2019s exactly what we\u2019re going to ask you to do.\u00a0 Alone.\u201d<\/p>\n Alone?\u00a0 This really <\/em>is like Rose\u2019s investigations into Mimir.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cAlone, ma\u2019am?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Whispers is a long way out, Tim.\u00a0 I only have two dozen inspectors.\u201d<\/p>\n And they\u2019ve got their hands more than full investigating irregularities and violations here.<\/em>\u00a0 He nodded slowly.\u00a0 \u201cI understand, Inspector.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you?\u201d<\/p>\n What isn\u2019t there to understand?\u00a0 I\u2019m flying solo because it\u2019s a long way out and she can\u2019t spare the hands.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure it\u2019ll be fine.\u00a0 There\u2019ll be someone local to help, right?<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cI think so, Inspector.\u00a0 I mean\u2026there will<\/em> be local authorities to help, right?\u201d<\/p>\n The prime minster and the inspector general exchanged glances before Damerian looked back to Tim.\u00a0 \u201cThat would mean that there were extant local authorities.\u00a0 Most word that we have says that the place was wiped out entirely.\u00a0 Other reports say that what few survivors there were died at the hands of the attackers or have run for E-557.\u201d<\/p>\n The Rose Foundation colony.\u00a0 Maybe I\u2019ll find some answers there.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s the nearest trustworthy system, I assume?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe nearest neutral<\/em> system, at least.\u201d<\/p>\n Damerian ignored the mumble from the prime minster and nodded.\u00a0 \u201cAs close as it comes, yes.\u00a0 The Whispers is pretty far out there.\u201d\u00a0 She rubbed at her temple and finally sat back down.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not sure how much help the Wanderers will be, either.\u00a0 They\u2019re very insular.\u00a0 You\u2019ll need an in and I\u2019m afraid we just don\u2019t have one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, maybe I\u2019ll find one at E-557,\u201d Tim said, trying to inject optimism into his voice.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got a lot of research to do before I hit the space lanes.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe can only hope,\u201d Damerian said<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Apologies to everyone who was looking for an update today. Due to travel and day-job commitments, There will be no update this week.\u00a0 Expect a return to regular updates on Saturday, July 7.\u00a0 Thank you for sticking with me! … Continue reading