Alien Diplomacy

but how do we know we can trust them?”
    “Gladys will be on site,” Mom replied. “Along with a number of agent teams.”
    “Works for me. So, who’s driving us over there? I ask because we’ve been infiltrated and no one seems to be concerned about it.”
    Jerry, Walker, and Hughes came in, wearing their Navy Whites. They looked awesome. “We are,” Jerry said. “We figure we can take everyone in four limos.”
    “There are three of you.”
    Len and Kyle walked in, both dressed in tuxedos—Armani, of course. Pierre had been keeping the Elves busy.
    Jerry grinned. “Your boys’ll drive you, Jeff, Paul, and James. We’ll take everyone else.”
    “We get to carry,” Walker added.
    “How so?”
    Hughes shrugged. “We’re military.”
    Mom nodded. “They’re still considered part of the U.S. Navy even though they report directly to Centaurion Division. So I was able to have an exception made.”
    Irving and Tito came in, sporting the team Sharply Dressed Man look. Irving was also sporting the Worried and Nervous look. “Are you sure Doreen and I should go?”
    “We’re going,” Doreen said firmly. “I’m the only one of us who has any continuity with the former Diplomatic Corps. I realize we’re all worried about saving people, but I’m also worried about our actual reason for being here. We haven’t really done well diplomatically these past few months. This is an important event, and we have to show and show well.”
    “But no pressure!” I said cheerfully. I got a lot of dirty looks.
    Tito just laughed. “I’ll be there. And I promise to stay right with Doreen,” he added to Irving, as he raised the medical bag he was carrying.
    Michael, Naomi, and Abigail Gower arrived, all looking breathtakingly beautiful. I examined the girls’ dresses. I was fairly sure Pierre had arranged their gowns, too. Michael zipped right over to Caroline, his “you so hot babe” smile already turned up to eleven.
    Abigail joined Tim. She grinned at me. “Alicia’s wisely sitting this one out. So I’m Tim’s ‘date.’ ”
    “He’s actually yours,” Naomi corrected as she joined Chuckie. “Our friend the international playboy got us invited, remember?”
    White, Kevin, and Dad joined us as the com activated. “Chief of Security is on premises and with the children. Commander Dyer is at Main Imageering at East Base. All other personnel are being directed to the fourth floor, per your request, Missus Katt.”
    “Thank you, Walter,” Mom said. She looked at Ishmael. “I want you and your people, and pets, there as well.” I opened my mouth, but Mom beat me to it. “Yes, Kitty, our cats and dogs are there, too. As are the Poofs, which all need to stay put.”
    I checked again. I had no Poofs in my purse. But Poofikins and Harlie were in my clutch. “Right, Mom, I’ll deal with not having them along,” I said as I quickly closed the clutch and tucked it under my arm.
    Mom gave me a long look. I knew contriving to look innocent would let Mom know I was up to something, so I went for looking sulky. It seemed to work. She nodded slowly. “Good. Now, let’s get going. I want us in place early, so we have a chance of stopping this operation before it starts.”
    While who was riding in what car was being discussed, Chuckie pulled me and Jeff aside. “I didn’t want to say anything earlier, but I think we’ve found the point of infiltration at Centaurion Division.”
    “Good,” Jeff said. “What are the details?”
    “On the plus side, it looks as though it was only a handful of human operatives. Two were the drivers from the other day, who are still at large. The others were rounded up this morning. They were all bribed.”
    “How is that possible? We pay really, really well, and everyone goes through a screening process like the one you put Pierre through.”
    “There are more kinds of payment than money.” Chuckie shook his head. “They joined because they wanted to kill superbeings. The superbeing problem is close to completely gone, and instead of getting to do something they considered exciting, they were put on straight driver duty.”
    “So, they got offered, what? The excitement of being traitors?”
    Chuckie shook his head. “I’m still getting the intel, but it sounds like they’d been turned well before they were relegated to the motor pool.”
    “They’d all driven for the former Diplomatic Corps,” Jeff said, sounding annoyed. He jerked. “Oh. That’s who