(no subject)
The hotel concierge had hastily arranged a private conference room for him, at least, but he's under no illusion that his own influence had anything to do with it. It's the fact that he's there as a special courier with an urgent message for Senator Gabriel Tam.
Cecil Andresson has just drawn one of the most unpleasant duties of his short career as an Alliance officer, and he knows it.
As the senator walks into the room, Cecil snaps immediately to attention, and tries to tell himself that Tam probably isn't the sort of person to blame the bearer of bad news.
He hopes.
"You're mistaken." Gabriel Tam's expression is set in hard lines, and Cecil feels his hopes sink.
"No, sir," he says, very respectfully. "I'm -- I wish I was, sir, you have no idea how much, but there's no doubt. The Shé Xuán hasn't responded to any signal whatsoever in the last two cycles. There's not even any other signal traffic in the area; none at all."
"Allow me to be perfectly clear on this point, Lieutenant: are you seriously telling me that the Bentley Aeronautics flagship has simply disappeared, along with its entire crew, including Andronicus Ji Crowley?"
Cecil straightens his shoulders, swallows the lump in his throat, and gives a single nod that manages somehow to be more miserable than crisply official.
"Yes, sir. I am."
A tense silence hangs in the air for several long seconds, long enough for Cecil to wonder dismally what it'll be like to be posted to the Outer Rim, before Gabriel nods.
"I see." He's already turning away as he adds, "Xièxie nĭ, Lieutenant Andresson. I appreciate you having brought word so quickly."
Cecil gulps in a breath. "It was no problem at all, sir... um, Senator? I hate to ask, particularly at such a time, but we don't seem to have a record of any official family contact for Mr. Crowley-- would you know if--"
The words break off in his throat as Gabriel Tam pins him with a look.
"I'll handle it myself, Lieutenant. Now if you'll excuse me, there are things I need to see to."
"Dāngrán. Of course, Senator." Cecil salutes and makes his way out of the room, breathing a sigh of relief as the door closes behind him.
Gabriel doesn't pay any attention to the young lieutenant's rapid departure, save only to take automatic note of the soft 'click' as the room's privacy lock seals itself.
He doesn't believe it. It's ridiculous; it simply can't be possible. Not him, not Crowley; certainly not.
There has to be some logical explanation, and even though he may not know what it is yet, Gabriel Tam knows exactly how to find out.
It's a simple matter to get the contact information, and almost as simple to initiate the coded signal over his private link. Unfortunately, making contact turns out to be much more difficult.
All in all, it's the next morning before the wave finally goes through.
Cecil Andresson has just drawn one of the most unpleasant duties of his short career as an Alliance officer, and he knows it.
As the senator walks into the room, Cecil snaps immediately to attention, and tries to tell himself that Tam probably isn't the sort of person to blame the bearer of bad news.
He hopes.
"You're mistaken." Gabriel Tam's expression is set in hard lines, and Cecil feels his hopes sink.
"No, sir," he says, very respectfully. "I'm -- I wish I was, sir, you have no idea how much, but there's no doubt. The Shé Xuán hasn't responded to any signal whatsoever in the last two cycles. There's not even any other signal traffic in the area; none at all."
"Allow me to be perfectly clear on this point, Lieutenant: are you seriously telling me that the Bentley Aeronautics flagship has simply disappeared, along with its entire crew, including Andronicus Ji Crowley?"
Cecil straightens his shoulders, swallows the lump in his throat, and gives a single nod that manages somehow to be more miserable than crisply official.
"Yes, sir. I am."
A tense silence hangs in the air for several long seconds, long enough for Cecil to wonder dismally what it'll be like to be posted to the Outer Rim, before Gabriel nods.
"I see." He's already turning away as he adds, "Xièxie nĭ, Lieutenant Andresson. I appreciate you having brought word so quickly."
Cecil gulps in a breath. "It was no problem at all, sir... um, Senator? I hate to ask, particularly at such a time, but we don't seem to have a record of any official family contact for Mr. Crowley-- would you know if--"
The words break off in his throat as Gabriel Tam pins him with a look.
"I'll handle it myself, Lieutenant. Now if you'll excuse me, there are things I need to see to."
"Dāngrán. Of course, Senator." Cecil salutes and makes his way out of the room, breathing a sigh of relief as the door closes behind him.
Gabriel doesn't pay any attention to the young lieutenant's rapid departure, save only to take automatic note of the soft 'click' as the room's privacy lock seals itself.
He doesn't believe it. It's ridiculous; it simply can't be possible. Not him, not Crowley; certainly not.
There has to be some logical explanation, and even though he may not know what it is yet, Gabriel Tam knows exactly how to find out.
It's a simple matter to get the contact information, and almost as simple to initiate the coded signal over his private link. Unfortunately, making contact turns out to be much more difficult.
All in all, it's the next morning before the wave finally goes through.