Chapter 5: Director Vreth Introduces Himself

The summons came at 1100 hours on the eighth day, delivered through the Bureau's internal routing system as a single-line notation on Kael's terminal queue: Director Vreth, Office 9-C, 1115. Integration review, standard format. Acknowledge receipt.

Kael acknowledged receipt. He saved his active case file, logged the interruption in his work notation as procedure required, and stood.

Tael was at her terminal and did not look up. This was not unusual.