It did not take the mercenaries long to flip.

They still might have had a case, Pirra thought. Just because they knew it was Union people there didn't mean that there wasn't a right of self-defense, and some might even accept that an armed unit of espatiers was threatening.

But within the Union, it was a very slim chance. They'd taken the better chance, of turning on their peers.

It was going to be close to see who flipped first, Pirra thought as she watched the recordings. The legal AI gave its presentation of the evidence to the men at the same time, and some agreed to turn on their fellows before the recording was even finished.

Richard Amin was one of them.

"I'll tell you everything," he said. "As long as the death penalty is off the table."

Jaya had a chance to consider the offer. "I'm going to accept it," she told Pirra. "Do you have any objection?"

Pirra was surprised that her opinion had been asked. It seemed like something Captain Brooks might do.

She did want to see this man executed. She knew she could be bloodthirsty that way.

But he'd still likely get a sentence of fifteen consecutive years for each death.

"It's fine," she said, thinking of Lal, Mac Mordha, and Zivai.

Jaya dialed in to Amin's cell, still sitting in her large administrative chair that contained various equipment.

"We are willing to accept your plea," Jaya said. "You will tell us everything you know, and we will remove the possibility of the death penalty."

"That's all I ask," Amin replied. He still seemed controlled and calm.

A man who knew he was facing a long sentence, Pirra thought. But someone who had always known it was a real possibility.

"You do understand," Jaya said, "That you have not ruled out a mind-scanner."

"I have," Amin said. "I knew you'd never accept me just on my word."

"If I find what you say doubtful, I will be using the scanner," Jaya promised. "I may anyway, simply to confirm it."

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The man paled a little, but nodded. Mind-scanners did exactly as advertised. When combined with certain chemicals, a person's mind and thoughts could be read.

It was almost completely harmless; there was no pain with the process. There were no lasting changes to the person.

Yet faced with the reality of it, most people quailed. No one liked the thought of having any thought in their mind exposed; any deed they might have done. There was no lying, no twisting the facts. And because of centuries of study on the technology, what answers it came to were legally accepted.

It was such a violation that its use was highly restricted. No civilian could ever have it used on them. For a criminal to use it on someone else carried some of the harshest penalties in the Union. It was reserved for only the worst crimes and criminals, even banned in use during war among all known governments.

But this situation did fall within the requirements.

"Who was your employer?" Jaya demanded.

"I don't know who we were working for," Amin said. "That's pretty common in contracts. Only the commander might have known, but in some cases only Centauri knows."

"We'll accept that answer for now," Jaya said. "What else?"

"Initially there was a lot of equipment at our site, but most of it was ferried out after two months. I'd say the last of it was gone only a few days before the first Union ship arrived."

"What was it for?"

"I don't know," he admitted. "We had some technicians with us for awhile, but we had very little contact with them directly. We just provided security."

Jaya sat back. "Did your people harm any of the natives?"

The man swallowed. "On several occasions we were required to demonstrate to the nearby alien settlements that they should not give us cause for harming them."

Jaya frowned. "I do not like the sound of this answer."

The man hesitated, then said; "We executed some operations against the local population. Whenever they got too curious, or in one case attempted to damage some equipment." He added after a moment; "But we were only operating under orders."

"And do you think that helps?" Jaya asked. "I am going to send you a report. You will fill it out, and we will compare the notes against all the others who have also filled the reports. We will do every bit of investigation we can of your logs, everyone's logs. So I hope you will realize that honesty is a . . ." Jaya paused. "Requirement." Her eyes narrowed. "How many were killed?"

The man stared at her, meeting her eyes. There was no mercy on Jaya's face, Pirra thought. And in it a seriousness that demanded an answer. Or she would bring out the mind scanner.

"At least two dozen," he admitted quietly.

Jaya's face tightened slightly, and the coldness in her eyes turned to heat. "I see. This is, as you may expect, an important matter."

The man nodded, his composure breaking and the weight on him heavily now. Attacking the Sapient Union was one whole level of stupid; but at least they could fight back. The crimes against the locals was another that he knew would get him no mercy.

"I have something else," he said. "If I can get immunity for-"

"You cannot get immunity for that," Jaya said. "But your cooperation will be noted."

"That's not enough!"

"I can get the scanner," Jaya said. "And spend time thoroughly questioning you."

"You need an in," the man replied, a spark of defiance showing. "Something to start with - the right question. You won't guess it. Give me a concession."

Jaya regarded him for a long time. The man waited, but the quiet got to him.

"No heavy labor," he begged.

"If your information proves relevant," Jaya said slowly, "Then I will consider it."

The man looked ready to protest, but his eyes went downwards, and he was thinking. Jaya wanted this information, yes. But he had to weigh that against the possibility that she was equally willing to let it go - or try her luck with the mind scanner, which would involve quite a lot of questions that might bring up things he did not want to share - like previous crimes.

"If you promise, on your honor, to give the information a fair consideration for its value," he said softly.

Jaya nodded. "I so swear. What is your information?"

"There was another team," he said. "Up on the moon."

Jaya let her curiosity show. "What were they doing there?"

The man shrugged. "I don't know. But . . . that team was still there more recently. I doubt that they could have fully evacuated before the first Union ships got here. If that was the case . . . well, I bet they buggered off as soon as they could when your ships were on the far side of the planet."

Jaya did not seem very impressed. "I see," she said. "To be honest, Richard Amin, that seems rather trivial."

The man's eyes widened, and his mouth opened, but Jaya terminated the connection.

She looked up to Pirra. "This is interesting."

"If true," Pirra replied.

"We will go and see," Jaya promised. She looked at the man, who was muted now, but frantically talking.

"If he gives up anything else, let me know. Otherwise, we shall let him stew until we see how much his information is worth."