base was quieter, the a

lective metal. At the end of the hall, standing outside a set of

corated with rows of medals. His skin was a deep bronze, and a jagged, pale scar-a burn mark f

miral Fletc

at Cassandra, and the hardened, brutal lines of his face ins

dator that had suddenly realized it was

eading, and spoke in a low, rumbling voice. His hands, which look

s expression neutral.

ner," Jefferson translated. "

ed a small, hes

acknowledgment, but he quickly spoke again

cker of annoyance crossed his

d, his AI still struggling to build complex sent

rowned. "Th

kly. "But... he insists. Offers... his per

a stoppe

sed the words. P

military commander. He was staring at her with an intensity that

read flooded her mind. The alien overlords.

floor. A cold sweat broke o

s me in

She took a step back, putting more dista

half-step forward, raising a hand as if to stop

, cutting off whatever Jeffe

her fingernails into her biceps. She glared at Fletch

e his 'generosity,' but I am not moving into a strange man's b

to Fletcher's devastated one. He realized immediately that a massive cultural transl

n their native tongue. His tone w

error of the First Fle

taring at his boots. He looked exactly like a massive, abused do

radiating from

onfusion. Why is he acting like that? I just refused t

r-the-top protection, the manic doctor, the

her mind. What if it's not just him

was watching her carefully

her heart rate picking up again. O

rson, her voice tight and col