"Kliment Ilyich Konstantinov, of the State Bureau of Espers, Recruitment and Retention."

"And do you know why you are here?"

"I reported two individuals under my direct supervision absent without leave approximately ninety-six hours ago. Subsequent investigation found that they had boarded a civilian boat bound for Korea under false names approximately four hours before my report, and that they subsequently disembarked at their destination. A search of their quarters conducted during this period found that items of sentimental value had been taken with them. Furthermore, a Korean bank recently received 7 separate wire transfers totaling over ten million rubles from one of the missing individuals' Russian accounts, nearly draining it. Intelligence from a compromised clerical account at the Korean bank in question suggest that the funds have been used to secure an apartment, based on money transfers out to one of the largest rental companies in the country. Tracing the payments to a particular unit is ongoing."

"That is a very thorough summary, Kliment Ilyich. Thank you."

"Of course. Now we can turn to why you've brought me to an interrogation cell in the counterintelligence unit: presumably, you have some reason to think—or somebody further up would like to think—that I have had some hand in this chain of events."

"I admire your directness, Kliment Ilyich. I think due diligence is reason enough to ask a few questions."

"'Due diligence' is the kind of thing one does at two in the afternoon, in an office over tea. This is a sub-basement-level interrogation cell at two in the morning. Please do not patronize me."

"Did you know that they were planning to desert?"

"No."

"Did you suspect it?"

"No."

"Clearly not, since you were apparently blindsided by the money transfers out-of-country. Aren't you supposed to monitor for that sort of thing?"

"The counterintelligence department is supposed to monitor 'that sort of thing,' yes. But—and I fear you'll be better positioned to comment on this than I—resources were likely redeployed to other threats a few years ago, after Private Yun completed his trainings and was assigned to a support role, because of how rarely this occurs after boot camp."

"And what of the other esper? Private Nemstov? He was at much higher risk of flight by virtue of his position."

"My last briefing on any news occurred over a day ago; presumably that is when you two began investigating me. As of then, there were no irregularities discovered in Nemtsov's accounts, external communications, movements; I was with him during his last deployment to handle the incident at Alexandrovsk last week, and I saw nothing to indicate anything other than perfect contentment with his work. If there have since been developments to suggest otherwise, I cannot speak to them." 

"Your after-action report mentioned that you took minor disciplinary action to restrain him."

"An ordinary corrective to his backlash symptoms, Officer. This is not a new development, nor has it meaningfully deteriorated. It's nothing beyond indulging certain inappropriate or offensive impulses—"

"—like running off to Korea on a lark?"

"Like making fellatio jokes at victims in the recovery tent or calling the Duma 'the circle-jerk committee' or attempting to wrestle a horse."

"...a horse."

"You can consult the after-action report from Khabarovsk two years ago—June, is my recollection—if you want more details. He was also intent on wrestling a local butcher and a department-store clerk."

"And how do you typically administer that restraint?"

"I take off my gloves and put my hand on his neck. We are highly incompatible, so the sensation is much like hitting your funny bone."

"And you say he is perfectly content with an arrangement in which that happens on many or even most of his assignments."

"It is quite unpleasant for me as well, but the satisfaction of serving our country combined with the significant largesse we are afforded more than makes up for such indignities."