Kriegel poured over the latest report coming in from Paquin. Several ships had scoured the quadrant, but they found no trace of Serenity. Burning without nav sat guidance was a nice trick to keep them from tracking her, but they would be blind to anything beyond radar or visual range. At that speed, it bordered on suicide, which meant that Captain Reynolds was either desperate, insane, or both. No human remains were found among the debris of the blasted shuttle either, though they could have easily been incinerated. He considered his strategy while he waved Representative Chu-yu to give him an update.

“Major General, I hope you have some good news for me,” Chu-yu did not even bother with a greeting. Kriegel squirmed a little behind his screen.

“We’ve been unable to locate Serenity. Without a nav sat trajectory, they could have gone anywhere.”

“You’re telling me you can’t find one lan bao Firefly?”

“There is a lot of space to cover, Representative,” Kriegel defended. “They could be deep between systems by now, or even doubled back into the system from a different point.”

“What about Harder?”

“No human remains were found in the wreckage. He may not have been on board.”

“This is bi bi du mao han bi! You had them, and yet you didn’t get anything!” Kriegel restrained himself. He understood the pressure the representative was under, but he was getting tired of the politician’s exaggerations.

“Sir, I think Harder’s status is a moot point by now.”

“What makes you say that, Major General Kriegel?” Chu-yu mocked his assessment.

“Whatever he knew, he most likely told Reynolds already. It makes no difference if he’s dead or alive, the damage has been done. Reynolds also knows we’re onto him now. What matters, then, is stopping him before he finds an outlet for that information. I think River Tam is the key. We said before, without her, there is no proof.”

“You have a notion of how to do that?” Chu-yu raised an appraising eyebrow.

“Yes.” He explained his idea to the representative