6

"When I was in Free Lhasa a few weeks ago," you say conversationally, "I saw a lot of the battle damage from years past, when the warlords were in charge. That must have been a brutal time."

"It wasn't that long ago," Zhang says.

"You fought in the civil war, then?"

"There wasn't much choice. Every village and town was under the thumb of some thug or other. We were all forced to fight."

"But surely you received some sort of training," you say. "Otherwise it's just a meat-grinder."

"You've just described my childhood in vivid detail, Sublieutenant," he says, expression going cold.

You back off, realizing this discussion isn't going anywhere.

You examine your tablet, wondering if it's worth trying again to fish for information. Zhang watches you silently, and you decide not to continue.

"Thank you for your time, Major," you say. "I hope you remain comfortable. And I hope that by sundown tomorrow Free Lhasa is in better shape than she is now."

"Sublieutenant," he says suddenly, stepping forward to the bars. "Whatever your masters have planned for Free Lhasa, it doesn't have to end in blood."

The outburst catches you short, and for the first time you see real concern in Zhang's eyes. Not toward you, but toward the Astral Corps and, perhaps, Terra itself. Your organization's reputation for ruthlessly dealing with dissent is no secret, and your exquisitely polite interview was obviously not what Zhang was expecting. Have you truly shaken him without uttering a threat or raising your voice? That, more than anything, reveals the power of the Astral reputation behind you.