Alicia nodded slowly and cocked her head to give Ben Belkassem a long, measuring look.
"I'm tempted-we all are," she said finally, "but there's one little point that bothers me. Once I start working with other people, they're going to figure out I'm talking to someone they can't see. Aren't they likely to think I'm just a teeny bit crazy when I do?"
"Well, of course they are!" Ben Belkassem looked at her in such obvious surprise she blinked. "Surely you didn't think that would be a problem?" Alicia simply stared at him, and he shook his head. "Alley, everyone in O Branch is crazy, or we wouldn't be here."
He grinned and extended the badge once more.
This time she took it.
Characters List
Abernathy, Sergeant Lawrence, Imperial Cadre-leader, Fire Team Bravo, 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 5th Brigade, Imperial Cadre.
Abrams, Jesse-permanent undersecretary, Imperial Foreign Ministry.
Abruzzi, Lloyd-Group Leader, Freedom Alliance Liberation Army.
Adams, Corporal Jake, Imperial Cadre-Tannis Cateau's assigned wingman for Operation Clean Sweep.
Ahearn, Captain Leon, Imperial Marine Corps-CO, Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 3012th Brigade.
Alexsov, Captain Gregor Borissovich-James Howell's chief of staff.
Alves, Lieutenant Akama, Imperial Cadre-CO, 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 5th Brigade, Imperial Cadre (Louvain).
Alwyn, Captain Madison, Imperial Cadre-CO, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 5th Brigade, Imperial Cadre.
Anders, Lieutenant Boyce, Imperial Fleet-a Soissons System Fortress Command tracking officer.
Andersson, Corporal Erik, Imperial Cadre-Fire Team Alpha, 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 5th Brigade, Imperial Cadre. Later lieutenant (see below).
Andersson, Lieutenant Erik, Imperial Cadre-CO, 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 5th Brigade, Imperial Cadre (Louvain).
Androniko, Major Aleka, Imperial Cadre-XO, Camp Cochrane.
Arbatov, General Dugald, Imperial Cadre-CO, Imperial Cadre.
Arun, Sergeant First Class Namrata, Imperial Cadre-squad leader, 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 5th Brigade, Imperial Cadre.
Ashmead, Corporal Jeremy, Imperial Cadre-Fire Team Alpha, 3rd Squad, 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 5th Brigade, Imperial Cadre.
Aubert, Jasper-Crown Governor, Gyangtse.
Barr, Commander Quentin-CO "pirate" destroyer Harpy.
Becker, Captain Adriana, Imperial Marine Corps-CO, Bravo Company, Recon Battalion, 1st Regiment, 517th Brigade.
Beckett, Corporal Digory, Imperial Cadre-Fire Team Bravo, 3rd Squad, 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 5th Brigade, Imperial Cadre. Later master sergeant (see below).
Beckett, Master Sergeant Digory, Imperial Cadre-platoon sergeant, 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 5th Brigade, Imperial Cadre (Louvain).
Ben Belkassem, Inspector Ferhat, Ministry of Justice-an Operations Branch inspector assigned to the Franconian Sector.
Bennett, Major Alexander, Imperial Marine Corps-CO, Marine Detachment, HMS Ctesiphon.
Beregovoi, Lieutenant Boris Adrianovich, Imperial Marine Corps-staff intelligence officer, Recon Battalion, 1st Regiment, 517th Brigade.
Bergerat, Private César, Imperial Marine Corps-rifleman, Fire Team Bravo, 3rd Squad, 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, Recon Battalion, 1st Regiment, 517th Brigade.
Boniface, Captain Sigmund ("Siggy"), Imperial Marine Corps-CO, Bravo Company, Marine Detachment, HMS Ctesiphon.
Bonrepaux, Corporal Édouard, Imperial Cadre-Fire Team Alpha, 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 5th Brigade, Imperial Cadre.
Branigan, Corporal Manfred, Imperial Cadre-Fire Team Bravo, 1st Squad, 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 5th Brigade, Imperial Cadre.
Brinkman, Vice Admiral Amos, Imperial Fleet-Admiral Gomez's second-in-command, Franconia Fleet District.
Brno, Governor Emily-Crown Governor, Mathison's World.
Brookman, Master Sergeant John, Imperial Cadre-platoon sergeant, 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 5th Brigade, Imperial Cadre.
Bruckner, Sergeant Clarissa, Imperial Marine Corps-squad leader, 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, Recon Battalion, 1st Regiment, 517th Brigade.
Burkhart, Cornelius-Group Leader, Freedom Alliance Liberation Army.
Canaris, Jennifer Abigail-Imperial Minister of Justice.
Cateau, Corporal Tannis, Imperial Cadre-rifleman/medic, 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 5th Brigade, Imperial Cadre. Later major (see below).
Cateau, Major Tannis, Imperial Cadre (Medical Branch)-Alicia DeVries's assigned physician.
Chernienko, Corporal Ingrid, Imperial Cadre-Fire Team Alpha, 3rd Squad, 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 5th Brigade, Imperial Cadre.
Chiawa, Captain Karsang Dawa-CO, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Capital Regiment, Gyangtse Planetary Militia.
Chisholm, Lieutenant Andrew ("Andy")-second officer of the free-trader Star Runner.
Choi, The Honorable Karen-Imperial Minister of the Interior.
Chu, Corporal Helena, Imperial Cadre-Fire Team Alpha, 1st Squad, 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 5th Brigade, Imperial Cadre.
Chul, Corporal Byung Cha, Imperial Cadre-Fire Team Alpha, 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 5th Brigade, Imperial Cadre.
Cortez, Sir Donovan-Imperial Minister of Justice.
Cronkite, Master Sergeant Denise, Imperial Cadre-platoon leader, 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 5th Brigade, Imperial Cadre.
Cusherwa, Major Ang Chembal-CO, 3rd Battalion, 1st Capital Regiment, Gyangtse Planetary Militia.
d'Amcourt, Commander Henry-James Howell's logistics officer.
de Nijs, Corporal Karin, Imperial Cadre-Fire Team Bravo, 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 5th Brigade, Imperial Cadre.
de Reibeck, Lieutenant Pablo, Imperial Cadre (Medical Branch)-Alicia DeVries' physical therapist.
DeVries, Captain Alicia Dierdre, Imperial Cadre.
DeVries, Clarissa Sinead-Alicia DeVries's younger sister.
DeVries, Collum-Alicia DeVries's father.
DeVries, Dr. Fiona Eleanora O'Shaughnessy-Alicia DeVries's mother.
DeVries, Steven Sebastian-Alicia DeVries's younger brother.
Diomedes, Captain Kostatina, Imperial Marine Corps-CO, Charlie Company, Recon Battalion, 1st Regiment, 517th Brigade.
Doorn, Corporal Michael, Imperial Cadre-Fire Team Alpha, 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 5th Brigade, Imperial Cadre.