Maya's smile is hard to quantify; small, tired, with touches of rue and understanding that this is going to sound bad on the part of the URRS.

"The old stories, fairy tales from before the republics came into being, our government doesn't approve of them. They've been banned for years and years, but I found a book when I was a girl. They were always my favorites." Maya still has that book.

"Yes." Her smile becomes more genuine; she pushes her bangs back with a light hand. "I trained at the academy; everyone who goes into the Army does."