Tentacles of Love by MomsDarkSecret

Author:MomsDarkSecret [MomsDarkSecret]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Amazon
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11: Hidden Agendas

The discussion at lunch the next day was lively. Everyone had forwarded their reports to Murl via secure email before breakfast and Murl had reviewed them all in detail by the time the group got together. Shaun had read the reports as well and he was impressed by how much the others had observed. It was easy to understand why Murl valued them so highly.

“So I think Governor Burkett is the key,” Brett concluded, waggling his fork at Murl. “His absence is conspicuous.”

“I agree,” Sobi said with a firm nod. “The Cyrillans blame the Seaholders for preventing him from leaving and the Seaholders blame him for preventing them from leaving. I can understand the Cyrillans not wanting the Seaholders on Cyrilla, but what could the Seaholders possibly gain by not allowing him to leave?”

“Opportunity,” Shaun said, “because without him on the planet to issue travel passes, they could never get off Moonfarm.”

“But didn’t the Seaholders say he was refusing to issue the passes?” Jarrod snapped.

“They did say that,” Shaun replied. “They also said he couldn’t leave Moonfarm without returning to Seahold One, which houses the spaceport. So it sounds like an old-fashioned standoff to me.”

“Precisely,” Brett said. “But Murl forced the Cyrillans to allow the Seaholders to travel, so why didn’t Burkett follow them down? If travel passes were all they were after, why would they continue to prevent him from leaving? Who doesn’t want us to talk to him? The Cyrillans or the Seaholders?”

“That is the salient question.” Murl said. “But should we press either side for an answer?”

“No.” Sobi shook her head. “The Cyrillans have purposely downplayed his importance in all this and the Seaholders have presented him as nothing but an impediment. But he has been the governor of Moonfarm for fifteen years. He has to know more about the Seaholders’ grievances than anyone.”

“Perhaps that is the problem,” Civita interjected calmly. “Perhaps he understands the issues better than the Cyrillans would like.”

Murl sat up straighter. “That is an interesting point, Civita. Governor Burkett has held his office for a long time. What do we know about his personal life?”

Jarrod pulled his computer closer and typed quickly. “Burkett’s biography says he became governor when he was fifty-two. Prior to that, he served as Director and then Vice President of Moonfarm Operations. He was forty-six when they promoted him to VP. It says he was the youngest person to ever fill the position.”

“Did he live on Moonfarm when he was VP?” Sobi asked intently.

Jarrod read silently for a moment. “Yes. In fact, he moved there when he was first promoted to Director, at age forty-two.”

“But wouldn’t that mean he’s been living on Moonfarm for twenty-five years, not just for the fifteen that he’s been governor?” Sobi looked from Jarrod to Murl. “That’s a very long time.”

“It is, indeed” Murl agreed. “Long enough for his ties to Moonfarm to be as strong or stronger than his ties to Cyrilla.”

“Does Burkett have a family?” Shaun asked.

Jarrod frowned as he skimmed through the document he was reading.

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