Explain to me again why I took this job?

There are times when "it's been quiet" is the last thing I want to be in a position to say. My role in Intel comes in bursts, which is probably for the best given my personal feelings about asset management and playing political games up the food chain. Both roles I'm good at, but don't especially enjoy. I'm much happier as a tactical lead or, better, a tactical asset. I would much rather Do than order others to do for me.

It's probably a kindness that I'm positioned where I am, out in the boondocks of the Kalidasa system. Much of the Intel comes in through more or less regular channels. Mission reports from the normal Alliance Military units. Local feeds from the colonies. A few active organic assets doing what they do. All of it very interesting to someone, somewhere, who can glean useful intelligence from the minutia of day to day operations.

My specialty was always covert, clandestine, operations, usually involving Hard-Site penetration. Get in, deal with the target however required, get out. Either gathering information or removing a threat, I was a Sneak specialist. I still am a Sneak specialist. It's just that now I'm doing more managing than sneaking, and don't especially enjoy it.

With the colony still under Martial Law and Alliance control, there was very little Mayoring to do either. The town Elders were still serving as 'advisers' to the Alliance security/occupation/peacekeeping operation. Which meant someone, sometimes, sent me a wave asking my opinion as to whether we should extend or restrict the curfew by half an hour, or whether we should bother since no one seemed to be paying much attention to it, or something else of equally world shattering proportions. I'd been rendered more or less superfluous to the colony.

The folks over in the Destiny compound were still keeping on their "We're independent!" face, for what it was worth. They were independent because their presence didn't disturb the situation too much, even if some of their business was affecting the colony's coin. The deals that kept the colony fed and in medicine were still in place, and the mines were doing OK, so the loss of a bit of coin didn't hurt all that much.

I suppose I could spend more time on the surface. I'd been spending more time on the Orbital even before the Alliance made their presence felt. Since Martial Law, I've barely been to the surface except to talk to some of the Elders and assure them I haven't abandoned them.

I wouldn't, of course. Appearances aside, I was still keeping my hand in. It was just that so few people out here on the Rim actually knew what it was I did. Another kindness. Given the sentiment most folk had out here about the Alliance, it was probably for the best that they didn't know what I'd actually done during my time in service.

With luck, none of them ever would. I'd built a reputation out here on the Rim. Earned the trust and respect of the other folk that called Hale's Moon home. Who I'd been before didn't matter now so much, and I think most of the folk I knew would agree.