You don’t think too much of the matter before responding to Mu’randa, “House Von Sebastion is in the process of creating a new office on Dagda in the Tuatha system, so incorporating your liaison office into it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.”

”Excellent, that arrangement should do nicely. I assume that you would not mind ferrying me there?”

You roll your eyes, safe in the assurance that the signal is audio only, “It would be rather hard to do so otherwise. Same rules would apply at a minimum as they would on Vrenna however. Humans only, as the Imperium isn’t very tolerant of non-humans.”

”Of course. My superiors are hoping to set up Vrenna and the Outbound system as something of an interface to alleviate some of the problems along that line.”

You nod to yourself, “that would ease the threat of some xenophobe merchant skipper of pulling the trigger and starting a Diplomatic Incident.”

”You mean that the Aegis is not the ship you intend to devote to these cargo runs?”

You snort, “not permanently, no. I’ll probably need to sieve personnel to find appropriate skippers for the assignment, as well as procure additional ships. The Aegis is too versatile of a command to tie down on this kind of thing.”

”I’m sure the Empire…”

You cut Mu’randa off right there, “not worth the extra hassle on the Imperial side. I’m already straining one rather valuable set of contacts as it is. Bringing in non-Imperial ships and crews would draw additional ire, and in all likelihood, incoming fire as well. I’ll be putting out feelers for a sturdy transport and a skipper who can keep his mouth shut. It may take some time, but I’d rather play it safe than wind up dead.”

Nine Months Later…

You are sitting in your Aegis offices in orbit over the Dagda Branch, as it has come to be known by its occupants. Zheeves has been his usual efficient self, and local connections are already being paired with export and import needs. Right now, charter skippers are carrying the cargoes, and House Von Sebastion is only collecting the brokerage fees, but those are not inconsequential sums, given the volume and value of the trade.

Morrigan is doing much better for being home, and knowing that she is going to be assigned there until her retirement. She still has a full range of tics and twitches, but they have diminished significantly with time. The Night Terrors, on the other hand, have not abated much.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Vir is helping with that, and the two have very quietly let word out as to their upcoming marriage. It is scheduled for early in the Dagdan springtime, which puts it about two weeks away. Adam Mantium is presiding over the ceremony, of course, and most of the Aegis’ bridge crew is invited, including Mu’randa.

She has proven quite helpful in establishing the offices, and assisting Zheeves with sorting through applications from merchant skippers to work for the house. Despite her Tau connections, or perhaps because of them, you are contemplating keeping her aboard the Aegis as your official communications officer, instead of that post being filled by whomever is closest at the time.

You shrug, and decide to just ask her. The worst she could do is say no, after all. You scribble down a note to do so the next time you see her. As you riffle through some other notes, checking for anything you need to do today, someone knocks on the hatch. You make the proper noises, and the hatch opens.

Zheeves and Mu'randa enter. You cock an eyebrow, and gesture for them to sit, "so what brings the both of you all the way up here instead of simply picking up the com?"

They take to offered seats. Zheeves looks his usual collected self, while Mu'randa is frigidity. Zheeves speaks first, "three things Sir. First, we may have found a skipper and ship for the Outbound run, but he comes recommended by our... less than visible contacts. Second, those same contacts have also offered us a contract that may well be the first step towards reclaiming the Terra Incarnadine. Third, Mu'randa here has some things to ask you in person, and not in her official capacity as a Tau Facilitator."

You lean back in your chair, "The first two involve things i'd rather not reveal to any outsider, so We'll start with the third. Mu'randa?"

Mu'randa visibly takes a deep breath, "Working with Zheeves and yourself this past month has shown me quite a few things that the Empire would rather I not see. Notably the way you treat your people, like Morrigan. In the Empire, she probably would have simply vanished, a warrior unable to contribute. Instead, you went and found a job for here where she can heal and still serve. And you even assigned Vir to work alongside of her, despite his valuable skills.

"What I'm getting at is that I would rather work for you than the Empire. Unorthodox, and probably dangerous, I'm sure, but I feel I could be of quite some use to House Von Sebastion, instead of crushed between the Empire's uncaring gears."

You blink slowly, considering as many of the angles as you can wrap your head around. Aside from her name, Mu'randa could pass unnoticed on damn near any Imperial world so long as she was careful. As to faithfulness to your House, loyalty down begets loyalty up, and if that is the reason that she wants to change sides, that shouldn't prove an issue. The Heretic in the deck is Lord Pyrus and your inquisition contacts. Pyrus would probably insist on a Mind Scan, at minimum, and you have no idea how his Inquisition Handler will react.

On the other side of that question, they haven't objected to the Aegis' repairs, or to the information you have dropped off about the Nil'kvee system and its inhabitants. So you figure that you are probably safe. You can see Mu'randa staring at you intently, her hands nervously clenching and releasing as she awaits your answer.