Carnifex

UEPF Spirit of Peace

"Yes, I can find them, Captain," answered the intelligence officer. "What's in it for me?"

Like the Captain, the IO was a Class Two, almost—but not quite—the highest caste. Like most other Class Twos he lived for the chance of that rare rise in caste, a rise in caste almost unobtainable outside of the Peace Force and the Clergy.

"A rise in class, of course," Wallenstein answered.

"You can't give me that."

"I can if the High Admiral never comes back and I take his place and become a Class One myself."

"What proof do I have you won't just raise yourself and tell me to screw off?"

"The best of all possible reasons; I have no vested interest in keeping Class One so aloof and elite, not being one myself, and I will need friends at the same level."

The IO considered this for a moment. "Give me a couple of hours, then."