The Black Guard: Book II: Evolution (Black Guard Series 2) by C. R. Daems

Prakash planned to kill you and blame
it on the Jax. It could just be a jealous Omom wanting your position, but I
suspect it has something to do with Outpost wanting to create a Helix Alliance.
A greedy Omom and a power hungry leader." I collapsed into a meditating
posture, seeing Nastya close her eyes and sensing she would need time to digest
what I had conjectured. She knew the Omoms and had been at Outpost for the
meeting of the planet leaders.
      "I
agree, which means the threat is not over; however, I believe having the Black
Guard accompany me to see the clans my serve the Omom's cause and be more
dangerous than a potential assassination. Give me a few days to consider the
situation. Thank you, Dragon Sapir, for your honesty."
    My detail and I boarded the Crouching Tiger three days
later, having negotiated a new contract.
    * * *
    "Is part of the Black Guard's evolution negotiating
contracts?" Colonel Berger took a sip of his wine. He seemed amused.
    "Dragons have no trouble with duty, Berger, but I
hear some have trouble with tradition." Captain Blatt looked serious.
"And this is not the first time for Sapir. I think she's safe this time
since it's what the Jax wanted, an alliance."
    "How? I'd imagine the Black Guard is hated on
Blackwood," Berger said, frowning.
    "We are, and that is the reason Nastya terminated
the prior contract. She thought having the Guard accompany her on her visit to
the clan would be taken negatively and play into her opponent's agenda. She
decided to confront the threat directly and called a meeting of the senior
Omoms. There, she informed them of my suspicions about the collusion with the Gurk
to have her killed. And then said if further attempts on her life occurred, she
would hire the Black Guard to investigate."
    Berger choked on his wine. "That has got to be the
threat of the century: you either cease
your plot or I'll send the most blood-thirsty Black Guard on Jax after
you." He held up his hand. "Sorry, Sapir. I know you are anything
but blood-thirsty, but you have to agree that from their perspective, you just
slaughtered fifty elite security guards and are reported to have killed a lot
of people at Lanzhou, New Kief, and Halo." He looked to Blatt, who nodded
agreement.
    Even I had to agree. After each assignment it had taken
weeks and sometimes months—not to absolve myself, but to convince myself
that my opponents had given me little choice and my actions were not made out
of hate or for glory and gave me no pleasure.
    "I agree, Colonel Berger. She then used that to justify
contracting a Jax cruiser in Blackwood space as necessary to protect Blackwood
from further Outpost interference. Of course, that also reinforced her threat
to call me back if necessary."
    "I think the JCC will be pleased with the outcome.
It not only blocks Outpost from forming an alliance, but also may lead to
systems like Safort, Haven, Kaycia, and Chancel contracting with us. I imagine
the JCC will give Blackwood and any others a very favorable rate," Blatt
said.
* * *
    When I arrived back at Sasser Mountain, Hada was—to
my disappointment—on another assignment. We had discussed my feeling
uncomfortable around civilians, and she had agreed to help me on our next after-action
leave. This last assignment hadn't helped. It had reinforced my detachment from
everything except duty. When not working with the third phase candidates or
teaching the whip, I spent my free time in meditation. That kept me from
obsessing over what couldn't be changed, what couldn't have been avoided
without worse consequences.
    Commander Wexler waited two weeks before calling me to
his office to discuss my after-action report. He might have been very
traditional, but he was also very perceptive and realized that at first, I
wasn't ready to discuss it.
    "Sit, Sapir," Wexler said after I had
performed the ritual bow. "I imagine you are the only one not happy with
the outcome. The JCC got what they hoped for, I'm pleased you had no