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You can explain it the same way you do that Order of the Wounded Lion.”
    â€œI don’t explain it,” Kris said sourly.
    â€œJust so.”
    Kris pocketed the award; one more thing to add to her growing collection of stuff she rarely wore because of the problem of explaining it all. It was time to get down to business.
    â€œAdmirals Channing and Kōta are already waiting in the Forward Lounge with their command teams. I see you brought yours.” Kris eyed the large collection of Greenfeld Navy and Marine officers who followed behind Vicky and the admiral as they went through the ceremony of crossing the Wasp ’s quarterdeck.
    Most looked familiar.
    â€œYou bringing everyone who was with you at Port Royal?” Kris asked.
    â€œIn truth, we have orders to make ourselves scarce,” the admiral said. “After the slaughter at Port Royal, there was never any doubt my battle squadron was to be exiled with you. While the Greenfeld Navy, er, I mean Imperial Navy is happy to have Port Royal as a Navy colony, no one wants me running into any stockholders of N. S. Holding Group. The only question was whether or not the young grand duchess here got to come along for the ride.”
    â€œDad took some persuading.”
    â€œI can imagine. Grampa Ray is making noises like he doesn’t want me doing this either.”
    â€œI thought your gramps considered you so totally expendable,” Vicky said.
    â€œI sure did,” Kris agreed.
    â€œOne would think so after perusing your file,” the admiral said.
    â€œGrampa Ray had me to dinner last night,” Kris said. “He spent half the meal trying to convince me that my different assignments had been intended for my development.”
    â€œDevelopment!” Vicky said. “Did he read the same file I did?”
    â€œSelfsame,” Kris said. “The other half of the meal he tried to talk me out of leading this scouting mission.”
    â€œDid he?” the admiral asked.
    â€œNot bleeding likely,” Kris said.
    They reached the Forward Lounge. A Marine guard held the door open for them, then closed it behind them.
    â€œYou’re keeping this meeting quite secure,” the admiral observed.
    â€œYes,” Kris said. “I didn’t invite Crossie. There will be no leaks from my meeting.”
    â€œDid King Raymond’s Chief of Intelligence admit to being the source of the leaks?” the admiral asked.
    â€œYes, and no, and maybe. The man is pathologically incapable of telling the truth. At least Grampa Ray is no longer holding me responsible for the leaks.”
    No one announced “Attention on Deck” when Admiral Krätz entered. The Forward Lounge already had two other admirals present. Adding complications to the etiquette challenge were the princess and grand duchess. A consensus had apparently formed that the Forward Lounge was a private restaurant, owned and operated by its own contractor, even if the containers were presently attached to the USS Wasp . When Kris introduced Krätz to Channing and Kōta, they all kept it informal although Kōta did give both Kris and Vicky a very stiff bow from the waist.
    NELLY, DOES MUSASHI HAVE AN EMPEROR? I FORGOT.
    YES AND NO, KRIS. MUSASHI PROFESSES TO OWE AFFECTION TO THE EMPEROR ON YAMATO. HOWEVER, FOR THE LAST TWO HUNDRED YEARS SINCE ITS FOUNDING, THEY HAVE KIND OF GROWN THEIR OWN EMPEROR. A PRINCE OF THE IMPERIAL BLOOD, THE EMPEROR’S KID BROTHER, STARTED OUT BEING A KIND OF VICEROY BUT AFTER TWO OR THREE GENERATIONS, THE BIRD IN THE HAND WAS A LOT MORE REVERED THAN THE BIRD FIFTY LIGHT-YEARS AWAY.
    ISN’T THAT CONFUSING?
    ONLY TO OUR WAY OF THINKING, KRIS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE JAPANESE ARE MUCH BETTER THAN YOU AT HOLDING TWO CONTRADICTORY OPINIONS AT THE SAME TIME AND NOT BEING BOTHERED BY IT.
    Kris did her best to not let her internal discussion with Nelly reach her face as she returned a half bow to the admiral. The