ords that survived the Final War
don't give you much. Still, what I've seen in those don't scare me at
all--truth to tell, I think it's reassuring. You know they ended a
ten-year-long war about three years ago?"

"Vaguely. Some sort of non-humans surrendered, didn't they?"

"Not exactly. The Traiti were losing badly, but if I'm reading the
intercepts right, they have a psychological block against surrender.
Instead, they took a Ranger prisoner, and a couple of months later,
their leaders petitioned for membership in the Empire."

"Huh?" Cortin looked at him in astonishment. "They petitioned to join
their enemy?"

"That's how I read it," Odeon confirmed. "My point, though, is that
the Empire accepted them and is in the process of integrating their
worlds and military--to the point where the Traiti leaders are now
Imperial nobles, and quite a few of their fighters have transferred to
the Navy and Marines. They kept their previous ranks--hard to believe,
but since a couple are now in command of Imperial warships, that part
has to be true."

"One of them's the non-human Ranger I heard about?" Cortin asked.

Odeon shook his head. "No. You're thinking of the felinoid--I can't
remember the race's name, though hers is Losinj--who reported a
rebellion and was found to have the abilities one of those needs. I
can't tell you what the abilities are, unfortunately; I'm not sure
they've ever been mentioned."

Cortin started to say something, but the familiar sounds of a
prisoner-escort team interrupted; seconds later, the team brought half
a dozen handcuffed men and women in Imperial Navy working khaki into
her office. "The first group of prisoners, Excellency," the officer in
charge said. "Would you like us to stay?"

"That's not necessary," Cortin told him. "Just ask Matthew to have the
rest of my team report, and wait till they arrive. In the meantime, I
assume the one with what looks like major's leaves is in charge?"

"Yes, Excellency. He says his rank is Lieutenant Commander, but since
his position is Captain of the IAS Columbus, he goes by that rank as
well."

"Odd." Cortin turned her attention to the Lieutenant Commander/Captain
while the trooper left to speak to her butler. "Which should I call
you, Imperial?"

The man shrugged. "Whichever you want, Colonel. Either one's correct."

"And your name?"

"Ivan DeLayne, Lieutenant Commander, Imperial Terran Navy, ident code
HERIE-1935-8586. Yo