"The magistrate? What does the magistrate have to do with it?" Alaric said. He was starting to think that he really needed to pay more attention to intra-ship communications, because while he was aware that there had been some form of skullduggery with the disgraced magistrate, he really didn't see where a pet fit into things. That, or the people who actually specialized in the secret infiltration part of the mission were being a bit too secretive.

Yes, that seemed more likely than Alaric making a mistake.

He stepped a little closer and tried to keep his voice down, knowing it might not help if they were being actively watched but at least a passing medic might not overhear. "I meant that baby versions of the big critter we have on the ship? Has anyone actually brought you up to date on that situation?"