They were only two jumps away from Selbourne when the Alliance warship Schoneland hailed them in the Phoenix Rises. "Put them on the viewport," Garrick said from his position to Admiral Jansen's right. He had now taken up the role of executive officer. It was a promotion in role, if not rank. Months ago that would have bothered him--position and reputation

"Connection made," Lieutenant Forster said.

A man with balding hair and large, dark bags under his eyes appeared who was instantly recognisable to Garrick. "I don't believe it. Grand Mediator Mayeaux!"

"Commander Karn--you're alive." Mayeaux cracked a rare smile. "And Admiral Jansen, we meet again. This is a fortuitous encounter."

"It's you," Jansen breathed. To Garrick's shock, she looked horrified at Mayeaux's appearance.

"You know him?" He said.

"We go way back," Jansen said through gritted teeth. Her knuckles were white from gripping her chair.

Curious. Why was she reacting like this?

"I'm surprised to see you here, Mayeaux," Jansen continued. "I didn't think you ventured far out of Icheon any more."

"I attend things that require special attention, and this situation counts as one, don't you? Aren't you going to invite me on board? There is much to discuss." He pursed his hands together and touched his lips.

Jansen sighed. "We'll be happy to welcome your hopper."

"Perfect. I will be with you within the hour. Mayeaux out."

"How do you know that man?" She rounded on Garrick.

"He was with the Secretary General." He explained all the events on the Mandrake and how Mayeaux had left them.

Jansen was silent for a moment. "Well, I may not like him, but at least he's brought us reinforcements."

"Why don't you? Like him, I mean?"

"The secession of Caxis," she scowled. "Mayeaux was part of the delegation dispatched by the Alliance to secure Caxis' return--I was the head of it."

"I had no idea." Garrick had heard the details of what had happened from Jansen herself, but even she hadn't mentioned the Grand Mediator.

"He was there all right." She spat on the floor of the bridge and stalked away, leaving Garrick to wonder what had happened on Caxis.

#

Mayeaux maintained the reputation mediators had for promptness by arriving on the Phoenix Rises just under 50 minutes of his message. Garrick and Jansen stayed on the bridge level in the conference room, waiting for his arrival.

There was a knock at the door of the conference room. Lieutenant Forster was outside--"Grand Mediator Mayeaux here to see you, Admiral."

"Send him in." Jansen stood and Garrick followed suit.

Mayeaux strode in, nodded at Garrick and sat down. The atmosphere in the room felt charged. "Admiral, the Alliance is grateful for all you have done in your efforts to apprehend the traitor Allison and stop his conspiracy in its tracks. It welcomes your leadership of the task force that is continuing the hunt." He looked like he had smelt something unpleasant. "Commander Karn, you deserve specific praise given your work with Secretary General Martinez to stop this rebellion in its tracks. Even though that tragic incident led to the Secretary General's death, its significance should not be underestimated. I only wish I had returned sooner.

"I need not tell you both that recent events have shaken the Alliance to its core. The Board of Mediators has agreed that we should postpone the usual elections for the next Secretary General until we resolve this crisis. They have installed an acting Secretary General."

"Who is it?" Jansen asked.

"Klara Stockmeyer, Martinez' deputy."

Jansen sighed. "Your protegee, Mayeaux. No doubt she will take particular guidance from the Board of Mediators?"

"No doubt," Mayeaux said, straight faced. Garrick didn't think that would be an awful thing. They needed the mediators to keep the Alliance in line, but by the look on Jansen's face, she didn't agree.

Mayeaux coughed again. "One of the first acts of Acting Secretary General Stockmeyer was to order that all Alliance warships are to have a permanent mediator stationed on them to prevent any further mutinies."

"I'm not having a damned mediator on my ship Mayeaux," Jansen spat. "That's an insult to all the years of service, all the sacrifices--"

"Admiral, please!" Garrick jumped up

"Commander Karn is right, Keiko." Mayeaux examined his nails nonchalantly. "It's dangerous to speak like that in these troubled times."

Jansen looked ready to punch him, but she held her tongue.

"So does that mean that you are to be stationed here, Grand Mediator?" Garrick glared at Jansen.

"It does--effective immediately, I am the mediator assigned to the Phoenix Rises. Day to day it shouldn't matter much, Admiral, don't you worry. It'll only be larger strategic decisions and oversight, in particular any related to the insurgency. I'm sure the Commander here can attest to how I kept myself on the Mandrake."

Jansen took a deep breath. "Mayeaux..."

"Mediator Mayeaux, if you please Admiral."

Jansen banged her fist on the table. "Let me make one thing clear. I run this ship, not you. I'll have you here, but if you dare try to step in like you did on Caxis, I'll throw you out an airlock."

Garrick was stunned to silence. How could she say something like that? And what happened on Caxis?

"Well Admiral, should anything happen to me I'm sure Commander Karn will act as a witness to the conversation we've just had. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to speak to Lieutenant Forster about having quarters arranged for me." He stood up and left.

"I hate that man," Jansen muttered under her breath. "And before you say anything Commander, I know... I should apologise. I wouldn't normally condone language like that at all on my ship, let alone for a mediator. Mayeaux is a special case."

Garrick swallowed his complaints. "Why?"

"He's arrogant, but more to the point, it's his fault the negotiations collapsed." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "The mediators made me take the blame for it, but I was so close to an agreement."

"I don't understand."

"Tell me Commander, how would you have dealt with a planet like Caxis who wanted independence? The Alliance couldn't grant it, but there is more leeway than you might expect for economically significant planets. Or would you try to make an example of them?"

Garrick considered this for a moment. "Preventing secession is the most important thing, so whatever it takes to do that."

Jansen coughed out a laugh. "Nice try, but you need to be more specific than that."

"I suppose my instinct would be to make an example of them."

Jansen's face fell even more. "You and the Board of Mediators both. I was almost at an agreement with Caxis that would have seen them remain in the Alliance, but conceded more rights to the distribution of caxeal."

Garrick stared at her. "That can't be right."

"Which bit? That I was close to an agreement, or giving a planet more autonomy?"

"Well, both."

"The Board of Mediators also objected to the compromise proposal. Mayeaux stepped in at the eleventh hour, and the negotiations collapsed. I remain convinced that if he hadn't, none of this would have happened."

"Caxis may have been the spark that ignited the rebellion, but it would have happened anyway. Look at Allison, look at the death of the Secretary General. These insurgents need wiping out, an example made, and any hint of dissent crushed. But it's not just Caxis."

Jansen sighed and rubbed her eyes. "You've listened enough to my dreadful memories for one afternoon, Commander." She stood to leave, a frown set upon her face. "Make sure the ship is made ready. It won't be long until we're in the Selbourne system."

She left Garrick to his thoughts. He realised that he had disappointed her, but there wasn't much he could do about that. Still, they had a job to do, and Garrick hoped she wouldn't let any personal feelings get in the way.