Page 190 of Commander’s Mate

My decision ended there.

Not because Earth mattered more than Farseek.

Because the same mechanism threatened both.

Control the data.

Control the routes.

Control the people.

“No.”

Degatu looked at me.

I repeated it.

“No deal.”

Pyrr exhaled.

Harper did not.

She still looked at the reconstruction numbers.

“Zared.”

“What?”

“Don’t do this because of Earth.”

“I am not.”

“Be sure.”

Anger sparked.

“I know my own reasons.”

“Good. Then say them.”

The room held still.

She had challenged me in front of command.

Again.

My instincts disliked it.

My respect did not.

I turned to Tivid.

“Record formal response.”

He opened the channel.

I spoke slowly.