Varkun then looked directly at Serren. “Evans Draker cannot be allowed to mature,” he declared. “If he gains command over other dragon bearers, every Aureldrake soldier sent against him could become his weapon.”Serren’s face tightened. “General, he is now Rovek’s Oligarch,” he warned. “An open attempt on his life could provoke a war between Rovek and Aureldrake.”Varkun gave him a cold look. “He seized an Aureldrake facility with armed soldiers,” he replied. “He placed our citizens under military control and claimed property worth more than one hundred billion dollars. Tell me, Researcher Vale, what would you call that?”Serren lowered his eyes again. “An act of aggression,” he answered carefully. “But there may still be room for negotiation before both countries begin killing each other.”“The killing has already begun,” Varkun said. He opened the military report and pulled a blank sheet toward him. “Rovek has challenged our authority, and its ruler carries the power that almost des

Elric turned and forced a polite expression onto his face. “Director Dorn ordered an inspection of the stabilisation filters,” he answered. His fingers tightened around the handle of the case. “One of the pressure readings has been unstable.”Dorn’s tired smile disappeared. “I gave no such instruction,” he said. He looked from Elric to the equipment case. “And there has been no report concerning unstable pressure.”Elric hesitated, then glanced toward the control station. “Perhaps I misunderstood the supervisor,” he replied. “Everyone is exhausted, sir. I may have heard the wrong name.”Mara moved between him and the stabilisation door. “Open the case,” she ordered. Her eyes remained fixed on his hands. “If you are carrying inspection tools, this will take only a moment.”Elric’s face lost some of its colour. “Do you have the authority to search BioCore personnel?” he asked. He tried to sound offended, but tension had entered his voice. “These instruments are sensitive.”Evans descend