Honeymoon

[Lanakov]

Montlaville grinned. Things were headed, at a rapid pace, precisely where she wanted them. Valdez's concern for her spouse was unexpected : she hadn't pegged the Maltese bunch for sentimentalists, and it appeared the girl was consumed with remorse in addition to despair. A valuable commodity to use in the present context, one she hadn't planned to rely on. But a degree of improvisational skills were a nice thing to add in this line of work.

She opened the folder briskly, having no time for games or deliberate teasing. It contained two files : she pushed both towards Valdez, and first gestured to the one on the right.
"This", she started, "is something you'll need to sign". She produced a pen from nowhere and handed it to Valdez. "It's a document certifiying that you've accepted to work for the Kingdom of Gallia as an intelligence operative. You will get a salary, some perks... And an obligation to serve until your unfortunate demise, or until we decide otherwise. You could read it, but I don't have the time. You will sign it, or it's prison."

The beginning of the document read : "I, Eliza Valdez de Loyola, certify that I have accepted employment with the Kingdom of Gallia and swore fealty to His Majesty the King. I understand that my duties will include..." and the rest went on, at length, about details and assorted legalities. And at any rate, Montlaville did not leave Valdez much of a moment to browse it.

She nodded to the second file. "This is your entry ticket back to Malta, as promised. I don't know whether you had told anyone about your plans to bring Enma Loyola back to your people... But if you had, it's an easy sell. You will tell them we intercepted you, brought you to our facilities, interrogated you and secured your prisoner. You will tell them that, being the crafty daredevil that you are, you managed to make a daring escape after having been able to secure some intelligence from one of our data terminals on your way out. And that intelligence you've secured is in this file. It's either outdated or non-critical : Marine Royale patrol paths for the most part, and a list of several Maltese people, of little impotance, under investigation or close watch by the GRI. It can be exploited to undertake a few runs undetected in our borders, and to warn some of your people that they're in danger. It's no Enma Loyola, but I believe it will secure your return on your home planet safely enough."

Ensign Paoli gave a warm, almost apologetic smile to Valdez. "In order for this to look credible, we... we will need to rough you up a little. Nothing permanent or traumatic, rest assured, but you will need to look like you've had to put up a good fight in your escape. Oh, and..." He looked distressingly at Montlaville. She obliged.

"Yes. The first document says you'll be with us. And that's not a ruse. As soon as you leave this place, once per month, you will find a way to contact one of our agents : you'll have several at your disposal, located in various parts of what we know of the Maltese area of operations. And there, you will tell them what you can about Maltese activities : internal power shifts, forays into enemy space, not only Gallic, plans to expand, everything at a strategic level that you can have access to. Should you fail at delivering one of those reports, or should I decide that you're lying, or half-assing it... And that document, where you admit to working with us... We'll make it public. Everywhere." Montlaville did not think it useful to speculate about the rather obvious consequences.

The ensign had decidedly found his courage and went on, in his professional but affable manner : "We need guarantees. You are a person of interest to the Kingdom now because of your ties to Malta, so we cannot possibly let you run off freely into the black. It was either that, or the punishment the Commandant evoked." He stopped short of apologising, which Montlaville was VERY grateful for.
A pause lingered. Coffee cups were dry, the air had been filtered of the smells of tobacco. All was silent, as Montlaville explored how she was to broach the issue of Loyola's... Freedom. Valdez seemed to be too busy to absorb what had just been offered to her.

Well, no point in delaying any further. "And as for Enma Loyola... Your concerns are noted. If you agree to our terms, I will personally ensure that she is freed from her cell. But I can make no promises as to how she'll make use of that freedom." All of that had at least shades of truth, and Montlaville decided it would be enough for the time being. They'd work it out together soon anyway... At which point, if her plan worked, it would all be set in stone already.

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Feedback, insults, marriage proposals and declarations of fealty

If everyone was a bit more like Lanakov, the entire world would be more positive. Including pregnancy tests.