Your next meeting was with Eager Early, the head of R&D. This meeting could not be done over R&D - even learning Eager's location was need-to-know only, and involved more security than getting into your office. You, after all, could be replaced. Eager and his crew of poindexters, furries, and occultists were the things that would pay for your replacement.

Eager himself is an old NASA guy, and still has some of that astronaut sheen to him. Classically handsome, incredibly fit, piercing stare, square jaw, he overwhelmingly gives the impression of the very best humanity had to offer, from back when a time when that kind of person went into space exploration rather than finance. He's even aged gracefully, with the silver temples and rugged stubble of an adventure serial star. Another ex-Government pick from Everest - so much of Lhotse seemed to be pillaged from the old order.

Immediately, you knew not to trust Early. Authoritarian regimes went as far as fucking possible to avoid putting people like Eager in positions of power. Someone smart, capable, charismatic [i]and [/i]idealistic? If he'd made a serious bid for it he'd be in your chair instead of his. He might still take your job if he set his mind to it. He might do worse. This person is a nexus of power inside the company unto himself, which means the only thing keeping him here is because the company is currently serving his interests.

"Good evening, Ms. Kade," said Eager pleasantly. He didn't volunteer or press anything further, he was secure enough to let you set the pace.