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vulnerability that would appeal to men.  Glen suspected, just looking at the picture, that they would not get on.  There was something inherently dishonest in modifying one’s face for political purposes.
     
    “She's a Liberal-Progressive,” he noted, with some surprise.  “I would have expected a Federalist.”
     
    “The Federalists would raise hackles,” David said.  Beside him, Theodore looked unhappy, even mutinous.  “And besides, Wu is known for being power-hungry.  She will not betray us.”
     
    Glen nodded.  In his experience, all politicians were power-hungry – and none of them would willingly bite the hand that fed them.  But he could understand Theodore’s concerns, even if a Liberal-Progressive would seem be more accommodating to the colonials than a Federalist.  A politician whose ideology clashed too much with that of her patrons could never be trusted, not entirely.  He skimmed through the file and noted that Wu was actually on the outskirts of the Liberal-Progressive Faction.  They probably didn't trust her either.
     
    “She was responsible for feeding the refugees outside the Occupied Zone,” he said.  “But the file doesn't go into many details.”
     
    He gritted his teeth, remembering some of his post-war duties.  Millions of refugees had fled their homeworlds as the Dragons advanced, mostly ending up in makeshift refugee camps on unoccupied worlds.  Many of them had gone into the military, but the remainder had been a major problem.  Families had been broken up; there were kids who might never see their parents again, assuming that their parents had also escaped.  Getting them all back where they belonged was a nightmare that would take years to resolve.
     
    “It wouldn't,” David said.  “There are aspects of the whole operation that remain classified.”
     
    Glen looked at David, then switched his attention to Theodore.  “There were ... disputes over how best to proceed,” Theodore explained, crossly.  “Wu was one of those who ended up being moved to another department.  It didn't damage her career.”
     
    But it did have some effect on her , Glen guessed.  No wonder she was tempted to take whatever Theodore offered in exchange for her service .
     
    “Brilliant,” he said, out loud.  He would need to try to obtain the information, even if it was classified.  Somehow, he doubted that Wu’s involvement in the whole affair was unknown outside the government.  “Can you find me a complete file?”
     
    Theodore and David exchanged glances.  “We can try,” Theodore said, finally.  “But we expect you to work with her, whatever happens.”
     
    “I can try,” Glen said.  Dealing with his brothers always brought out the worst in him.  Still, he would have bet good money that they knew the full story – and were refusing to share it with him, for whatever reason made sense to them.  “But you do realise that the entire political situation is unstable?”
     
    “Of course,” Theodore said.  “That is, I believe, why you are being assigned to the Fairfax Cluster.”
     
    “Admiral Webster would have been a far better bet for Governor,” Glen pointed out.  The Admiral hadn't always been liked , but just about everyone respected him.  “I believe the colonials would have preferred him.”
     
    “What they might prefer is not important,” Theodore said.  His voice was very cold.  He would happily ride roughshod over the colonies as long as he got what he wanted out of the whole affair.  “Our priority is ensuring that Knight Corporation comes out of the post-war chaos in a position to capitalise on the end of the war.  Whatever it takes, we have to survive.”
     
    Glen took a bite of his food, thinking hard.  There were political undercurrents at work, he was sure.  He’d spent long enough in the military to sense them, even if he couldn't quite see them yet.  He would have to watch his back – and that of his crew.  No doubt