The door to his cabin felt couldn't open soon enough. The house arrest had been hard on him, he could not continue his investigation and instead was trapped like a caged animal, there for the pleasure of spectators; in his case, Jansen. After being discharged from the medical wing he hadn't even spoken to Okoro or Ramsey. They were still on duty, but neither had visited him. That suited him fine, he didn't want to deal with their emotions.

This evening, though, things were set to change. Earlier that day a transmission request had come through the console. Garrick accepted the link, and an officer wearing black uniform appeared on his screen. Ah, a mediator.

"Mediator Silas requests that you come to the Admiral's briefing room," the woman said, all business. Garrick respected that. "An escort will arrive at 2200 hours, ensure you are ready."

Garrick cracked a smile at the thought of it. Mediators had a reputation for being omniscient, and whoever this one was couldn't have arrived at a better time if they tried. Now he could lay everything he had learnt out, and there would be the authority present to do something about it.

At last the door chimed, and Garrick, dressed in his normal navy uniform for the first time in days, met the guard who escorted him up to the bridge. There were very few people in the dark corridors, mainly those who had just returned from the Ezekiel, or those off to socialise in the mess or another crew member's quarters. A few nodded at him as he past but most just ignored him. Like Jansen, there were others on the ship less than impressed by what had happened to Peterborough.

An automated announcement came over the intercom. "Attention. The ship will enter jump space imminently. Systems will power down in one minute."

Garrick's escort paused in front of the lift that would take him to the bridge. "Sorry, sir. It's not worth the risk of getting stuck in."

"Not to worry, it's good exercise."

The bridge too was quiet. It was also where Peterborough's absence was felt the keenest, so there were no welcoming looks for Garrick. A commander he didn't recognise was sitting in the captain's chair to keep watch for Jansen, who must already have been in with the mediator. He figured he better not keep them waiting.

Garrick knocked on the door, which slid open for him. He stepped inside and took stock of the sight in front of him. Admiral Jansen sat with her arms folded at the head of the rectangular table, looking out the window at the swirling blues of jump space and away from the man talking. The person in question had short close-cropped black hair which matched the black uniform he wore that set him apart as an Alliance mediator. He was frowning at Jansen, the two of them had obviously been arguing.

After one of the Mediator's offered Garrick a seat, he gave up trying to engage the Admiral and instead turned to face Garrick. "Commander Karn, thank you for joining us." He had a softer voice than Garrick was expecting. "I am Mediator Abraham Silas. I've come to the Phoenix Rises on the authority of the Secretary General himself. I'm keen to hear about your investigation-- I'm impressed, Commander."

"PO Silas," Jansen interrupted before Garrick could respond. "Commander Karn is under investigation for how he handled himself on the Ezekiel. He was responsible for the events that led to Captain Hennessey's death. I do not think it's appropriate that--"

"I care not for how the events on the Ezekiel played out." He waved her concerns away with a free hand. "The Mediators have also been investigating the somewhat erratic actions of that vessel. What I came here for was the information that Commander Karn uncovered. Just how he came on this information doesn't concern me."

Garrick decided he liked this Silas, specially after how he stepped in to put Garrick back on the investigation. "I have my suspicions--I wasn't able to confirm them due to the Admiral's actions--but I want guarantees that what I say won't lead to a court martial or disciplinary action."

"And just why do you need that?" Jansen glared at him.

Garrick ignored her. "I need that assurance, Mediator."

1. I'm here for answers, Commander. Not to throw those who give them to me in the brig."

This was it. No turning back. "Mediator Silas, I believe that a senior officer on the Phoenix Rises secretly ordered the Ezekiel to travel to hidden Alliance outposts to steal information that was then leaked to an insurgency movement."

Silas' facial expression didn't change, but Jansen looked like someone had slapped her. She opened her mouth to speak but Silas held up his hand to stop her.

"What makes you say that?" He said.

"The Ezekiel travelled to a hidden Alliance outpost in the Rouen system, which I can only assume was linked to the bombs, either that or one of the other countless stations that the Ezekiel had visited over the past months. The Ezekiel then made a stop on Hope Station, where they met the fugitive Hamasa, otherwise known as the Whisper.

"After this meeting the Whisper attacked an Alliance convoy. Only, my theory is that this convoy didn't just contain caxeal. It contained further information on how to construct a bomb, which Hamasa then passed on to be delivered to Caxis.

"I can't verify this without the flight log of the Ezekiel, though I have recorded statements from Hamasa explaining her part. The conclusion that it was to steal further plans is the only one that makes sense."

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Jansen swore and slammed her fist on the table. "Isn't it enough that your actions led to the death of Captain Peterborough, but now you're trying to drag the name of every officer on the Ezekiel through the dirt. How dare you." She got to her feet and moved towards him.

"Admiral." Silas raised his hand again. "Sit down."

Jansen did as she was told, but her nostrils flared and she was almost quivering with rage.

"Commander Karn." Silas turned back to face him. "Thank you for raising this with me. I'll take what you've said and myself and other political officers will check through your claims.

"Admiral, this is not the time to prove or otherwise the Commander's claims. We agreed that he could make accusations without impunity, and that is what will happen. Once I have established the veracity of the Commander's claims, we will take action. Until then, not a word of this with anyone outside this room. We're finished here." Silas stood up, and with a nod he left the briefing room with his aide.

The power returned, and the main lights snapped back on to fill the room. Garrick stood up to leave, and took one last look at Jansen. She was almost waiting for him.

"First chance I get, you are off my ship. I didn't spend years earning the rank of admiral to put up with officers like you." She stalked towards him. "You're a blight on the uniform. You're out of control, Karn."

"Admiral." Garrick he turned around and left her spluttering in the room.

Garrick figured Silas would work out once and for all whether she was involved in the conspiracy, but that no longer mattered anymore. Even if she isn't a traitor, I hope she burns in hell.

#

Garrick heard nothing from Silas or Jansen for two days. He kept himself away from the bridge, where, according to the word amongst the crew, Jansen was in a foul mood, snapping at the slightest thing, even reducing a young ensign to tears. Garrick didn't mind though. If it worried her, Silas was doing his job.

After his first meeting, two of Silas' grey-clad aides arrived at Garrick's cabin to take transcripts of his interviews with Hamasa, along with any other relevant information. Garrick hadn't seen her since before the Ezekiel. Whenever he passed the detention centre, more of grey-clad aides stood guarding the entrance, so he didn't go in--he didn't want to ruin his relationship with Silas.

Eventually, Silas summoned Garrick to another meeting, but instead of being in the Admiral's briefing room off the bridge, it was in Silas' private quarters. Despite his outward confidence, his stomach twisted in knots. If Peterborough or Jansen weren't the traitors, then his position on the ship would be compromised. Before he left, he checked how far Admiral Allison and the Mandrake were from them, but their last diffusion transmission placed them a decent step away in the Candover system, a backwater outpost in the middle of nowhere.

Garrick arrived at Silas' door. He took a deep breath and pressed the panel to announce his arrival.

"Enter," Silas' voice came through the speakers. The door opened. He stepped over the threshold and saw Silas sitting at a desk facing the door, flanked by two of his aides standing two steps behind him. "Please sit down Commander." Silas took a minute to deal with something on his tablet to keep him waiting. "Commander Karn, we've searched the Ezekiel and gone through the information you provided us. There is evidence of Hamasa being in contact with Hennessey, and that they exchanged some information. Captain Peterborough coordinated the Ezekiel's movements--he arranged the meeting between Hamasa and Hennessey."

"So I was right." He failed to suppress a grin.

"Don't celebrate just yet, Commander. When I searched through Hennessey's records, I found what appeared to be information on the construction of the gravity bomb. However, on closer inspection, it's faked."

Garrick's mouth fell open.

"Whilst I'm impressed with the thoroughness and persistence involved in your investigation, I don't have enough evidence to prove the Ezekiel, or Jansen was involved in a plot to leak information on the gravity bomb."

The news hit Garrick like a punch to the gut. "Sir, I--I'm not sure what to say. Faked? Why would she have fake information?"

"Don't take it personally, Commander. The insurgents have gone to great lengths to make us believe this was about the construction of a gravity bomb."

"So Hamasa lied about the package for Caxis coming from the Ezekiel." Saying it out loud only rammed home the betrayal. "This was always about stealing caxeal."

"I'm not done yet. I believe Hennessey met Hamasa on Hope station to get the details of the caxeal convoy, which Hamasa later attacked. But we are dealing with an enemy who deals in bluff and double bluff. I am convinced the enemy wishes to build a gravity bomb.

Garrick frowned. "But I thought you said they faked the information?"

"Before arriving here, my most recent stop was on the Mandrake."

Interesting.

Silas continued. "I left them guarding the Candover system. I've since had a message saying the Mandrake responded to an assault by unknown forces on a secret Alliance weapons research station--the Sorrel Repository. The only reason the insurgents could want to attack this station is to get information on the construction of the bombs."

Garrick reeled. Somehow, despite going down the wrong track with his investigation, he had been right. He'd underestimated the insurgents, and the lengths they would go to. One thing made little sense to him though. "How did the insurgents know where this Sorrel Repository was?"

"You were right after all--there is a leak somewhere. The location, even the existence of that station, is top secret."

"Was it Peterborough then?"

Silas shook his head. "Peterborough's crime appears to be one of conscious--he wanted people to have caxeal. There is nothing to suggest he was working to bring down the Alliance."

Garrick lent back and blew out his cheeks. He was at a loss.

"Don't be disheartened, Commander." Silas actually smiled. "I'm impressed by what you've pulled together. It didn't get the result we wanted--this time. I want you to continue what you're doing and report to me on this."

"Thank you, Mediator, but I've exhausted my leads. I'm not sure where to look next." The praise was welcome, but it didn't make up for his failure. He knew he could have done better--he should have done better.

"I will also instruct Admiral Jansen to take us to Candover to allow our own investigation of Sorrel Bank. With luck, the Mandrake will also still be in the system so we can pool resources. "We will sort this out, Commander."

"Thank you, sir," he said through gritted teeth.

"See that you do. You're dismissed." Silas looked back down to his tablet.

Garrick nodded at the Mediator and walked out. He made it around the corner before the rage that had been building burst out, and he punched a wall. Pain seared through his hand and up his arm, but it felt good.

Of all Silas' revelations, the one that he couldn't shake was Hamasa's actions. She had at best misled him, and at worst deliberately lied to him. He couldn't forgive that. And even though Jansen wasn't a traitor, it didn't change the way he felt about her. She had hindered him every step of the way. Maybe he wouldn't have made such a mess of the investigation if she'd supported him.

Embarrassment, not to mention pain, replaced the rage. Garrick swallowed his pride and headed to the medical wing to get his hand looked at.