We arrived at the ship having navigated the distance in an uneasy silence.
"My hero," Marny said when we entered the berth deck where she, Mom and Ada were sitting.
"How's your arm?" Tabby asked.
Marny held it up, sporting a solid medical wrap. "Clean break. I'll be as good as new in a week. Did Cap sweet talk 'em out of holding you?"
"That's not what I'd call it," she answered.
I shook my head but didn't rise to the bait. "I'm going to go up and check on Nick," I said.
***
I was seated in the office next to the captain's quarters researching the trading potential of Tipperary. I already knew there were three habitable planets. They each showed promise, but unlike Vermeer in Bethe Peierls there were substantial negatives to each.
The first, Hipparchus, closest to the system's young star, was named for the ancient Greek astronomer. The planet had a thriving ecosystem which provided an oxygen rich atmosphere. Colonists had found it difficult to set up a permanent location as they struggled against the near constant volcanic activity.
The next planet was Curie. Sixty percent sand, twenty percent ocean and twenty percent tropical rainforest, Curie was by far the most successful and populated planet in the system. Its primary export was precious stones and crystals of all sorts.
The Descartes asteroid belt was located between Curie and Grünholz. It was theorized that the belt was actually formed by two planets or planetoids that had originally shared the solar position and at some point collided, breaking apart into the belt.
Grünholz was the next habitable planet in line. It was larger than earth and boasted a constant cloud cover. It had a thriving biomass, but its primary downfall was the lack of diversity in its terrain. Ninety-five percent of the planet was covered in a shallow sheath of water.
Cool hands slipped down my chest from behind and I smelled the light fragrance that Tabby sometimes wore. We'd been apart for an hour and whatever annoyance I'd felt toward her had dissipated.
"You still mad at me?" she asked with her lips brushing my ear. It was an unfair maneuver on her part, but quite effective.
I reached up, grabbed her hand and swiveled to look at her. "How could I ever be mad at you?"
She threw one leg over the top of mine and sat on my lap, straddling me. "I do appreciate you bailing me out. I just don't think it's fair that I have to apologize to that dick-weed." She slid in closer and looked into my face, interested in my answer. Her physical closeness was starting to make it difficult for me to think clearly.
"I couldn't agree more. I'm always on your side, no matter what, Tabbs. I just need to get us to Tipperary. And I don't think we're done with these jackasses."
She pulled her suit liner off her shoulder and down to her waist and then wrapped her long fingers around my face, pulling me in for a kiss. "I'll take care of it, but maybe we shouldn't talk about this now," she said softly. I think at that moment she could have said anything and I'd have thought it was a good idea.
***
"Cap. Are you two going to come to the banquet tonight?" Marny's voice woke me up. I'd fallen asleep with Tabby snuggled in next to me.
"Oh, right. What time is it?" I asked.
"Jake has watch and the rest of us are headed over. It's almost 1800," she said.
"We're coming. Save us a seat," I said and closed the comm.
"We need to get going." I nudged Tabby. I marveled at how peaceful my fierce little warrior was while she slept naked in bed next to me. I jumped out of bed and into the shower only to be joined by her a few minutes later.
It was hard to leave her in the shower, but I also knew we were only delaying the inevitable. I checked my HUD for information on the banquet's location and saw that they suggested civilian clothing. Apparently, the entire station was double walled and considered L-1 habitation or better. I pulled on my blazer, cream colored shirt, blue jeans and best of all, my cowboy boots.
"Don't you look fancy," Tabby said when she finally got out of the shower. Since I was already dressed, I leaned back on the bed and watched her dry off.
"I wondered when I'd get a chance to wear this," she said, ignoring my lechery and pulling on a thin black dress that made it down to mid-thigh. To say that it was tight was something of an understatement, but I wasn't about to complain.
"Ready?" I asked as I stood up.
Tabby pulled on shiny black high heels and then slipped her arm into my own. We said good bye to Jake who had volunteered to take the watch, and walked out of Hotspur and down the attached gangplank into the station.
Music greeted us as we approached our destination. At the door, we were met by an official looking woman holding a reading pad.
"Captain Hoffen and Miss Masters," she said. I felt Tabby stiffen slightly. I suspected she was worried the woman would make reference to the trouble we'd had earlier in the day. "If you'll follow me, I'll take you to your table."
The room was filled with people all seated around tables covered with white cloths. It reminded me of the formality we'd experienced on the Kuznetsov when Commander Sterra had hosted a formal dinner. I did a quick estimation. Fifteen tables with an average of six at each table meant there were nearly a hundred people in attendance.
"Here we are," the woman said.
Ada and Celina were seated at the table with a young family. A little girl was seated on Ada's lap.
"Hello, Liam, Tabby," Celina said.
The man, who was in his mid-twenties, stood and held his hand out to be shaken. He wore a welcoming smile.
"Mademoiselle," he said in a thick accent as he shook Tabby's hand. His name was Queletin and he introduced us to his wife, Elsene and daughter, Sevene.
"You'll be our new neighbors," Elsene said with an equally thick accent.
"I suppose that's right. Although the claims are pretty spread out, you could be quite a ways away," I said.
She gave me a quizzical look, which Ada caught. "No, she's right, Liam. Belirand arranged the tables so that people would be seated closest to their neighbors."
"Oh, I apologize. I didn't know," I said looking back to the woman.
She appeared to be older than her husband by a few years. "No apology necessary. You couldn't have known. They announced it once we were seated. Have you much experience as a miner?" she asked.
I smiled, I liked that she didn't mince words. "Roger that. Tabbs and I grew up on Colony 40. My dad," I nodded to an adjacent table where he and Mom were having an animated conversation with another family, "was the miner. But, I suppose he rubbed off on me. How about you?"
"I was also raised in a mining family," Elsene said. "Queletin has never mined before, but he is excited to learn. What kind of equipment do you use?"
For the next hour, as the different courses arrived, Elsene grilled the table, but mostly me, about our mining experience and techniques, how we would be moving ore to Belirand, how we'd be setting up our camp, and just about every aspect of life on the new mining claims. I wasn't sure why, but I didn't share with her that we didn't intend to be full-time residents. She seemed driven to get started.
"We've already been approached by Petar Kiirilov from Oberrhein about using their hauling service," she finally said after I'd shared that Ada would be in charge of our ore hauling runs. "They're asking for twenty percent, but they'll also provide security if we commit before we set sail. Have they approached you?"
The mention of Oberrhein soured my stomach and Tabby shot me an annoyed look. "Not yet, although I don't think we'll be interested in that. I'm sure we'll have open space on the Adela Chen if you want to consider an alternative. I'm sure Captain Chen can work out favorable pricing for you. Twenty percent seems high to me."
"I thought so too, but we have limited alternatives," Elsene said.
"Dear." Queletin caught his wife's attention. "I believe we should retire for the evening." At some point in the conversation Sevene had fallen asleep on Ada's lap.
"I've
been a terrible boor," Elsene said, "I've completely monopolized the conversation."
"Not at all." I stood as Queletin picked up the sleepy Sevene from Ada.
Once they'd left, Celina quipped, "Remind me why I came to a miner's banquet?"
"It wasn't that bad," Ada said. "Sevene is adorable."
"If that woman said mining laser one more time I thought I was going to scream. Let's head back and see if we can get a card game going. I promised Jake I'd bring back dessert," Lena said.
"Tabby, are you and Liam in for some cards?" Ada asked.
"I have something I have to do first, but we'll be back in an hour or less," Tabby answered.
Since we were already standing, Tabby and I walked over to the table where Mom and Dad were chatting with a middle aged couple. A girl, a little older than Sevene, fidgeted in her mother's arms, clearly bored.
"Ah, Liam, Tabitha, meet our soon-to-be neighbors, Frimunt and Annalise Licht. They have quite a tribe. Let's see if I can remember – there's Wilma lying on Annalise. She has twin older brothers, Merley and Ulran. Then there's Ortel and finally, Selig?" Dad said, looking to Annalise for approval.
"Excellent memory, Peter," Annalise said.
"Frimunt and Annalise mined over on Terrence for a time," Dad said.
"Oh? Did you know Celina and Jenny then?" I asked.
"Terrible thing that happened to those two. I'm so happy to see they've made it through. I wasn't completely sure how all that worked out," she said. I felt uncomfortable in the conversation. Lena and Jenny's story wasn't mine to tell and I wasn't about to start now.
"Anna," Frimunt said in a stern voice. "It'd be none of our business."
"Oh, Frimunt. I'm just being friendly," she said.
"It looks like they're all getting along pretty well," I said. Jack, Jenny and what I presumed were the Licht boys were playing a card game at the adjacent table.
From the corner of my eye I caught a Belirand security officer approaching our table.
"Miss Masters?" The man had strong Asian features.
"Yes. That's me," Tabby answered.
"I'm Ryon Sung. Lieutenant Minso asked that I accompany you on your task. Will you comply?" I could tell the conversation made him uncomfortable.
"Of course, Mr. Sung. We were headed there just now. Are you able to help me locate them?" Tabby asked.
Adrenaline soured my stomach. In my mind I could see this going poorly in so many ways.
"Yes. This way, please," he said.
"What's this about?" Dad asked. The appearance of the security officer had perked him up.
"We need to clear up a misunderstanding," I said. "We'll see you back on the ship."
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"We're good, Dad. Thanks," I said.
We followed Officer Sung through the banquet hall which was more than half empty at this point. I searched out and located the full table where Mihael sat. I recognized many of the occupants, but there were a couple we hadn't yet met.
"Tabitha Masters," Petar said as we approached. I noticed that the conversation at the table had stopped entirely as we approached.
"Do I know you?" she asked.
"No, but I'd enjoy getting to know you," he said raising his eyebrows suggestively.
"Right," she said and turned to Mihael. "I'm here to fulfill my part of our agreement."
"Are you so much of a manx that you required a security escort? Hoffen, I might have underestimated your predicament. Perhaps this bitch is too much for you," Petar said. He sounded like he might have been drinking.
"Keep it civil," Officer Sung said, placing a hand on his sidearm.
"Apologies," Petar said, spreading his hands as if he were being gracious.
"Miss Masters?" Officer Sung prompted.
"Mihael Ivov. I sincerely apologize for removing your hand from my shoulder and forcibly driving you to your knees, causing you to scream in pain and for breaking your wrist. I was completely out of line, overpowering you in this way and embarrassing you in front of the entire viewing gallery. I sincerely hope I haven't caused you irreparable emotional distress. I hope you will accept my apology, which I freely give."
"You frakking … "
Officer Sung stepped between Tabby and the lunging Mihael.
"Mihael," Petar said, raising his voice.
"This isn't done," Mihael said.
I looked to Officer Sung, who shrugged. "That was sufficient. Lieutenant Minso wanted me to tell you that we've revoked your pod-ball privileges for the duration of this expedition, Miss Masters. And, Mr. Ivov, Mr. Kiirilov, Mr. Hoffen and Miss Masters, you are to keep your distance from each other."
I saw the flush starting to rise on Tabby's cheeks.
"Thank you, Officer." I led Tabby away before she could say anything I would regret.
FRIENDLY ADVICE
Marny broke the watch into two hour shifts. With nine of us available, it wasn't a hardship. My first shift came at 0200 the next day. I was used to early morning shifts and decided to stay awake, playing cards on the bridge. By the time my watch started, all but Tabby and Nick had turned in. Actually, Tabby had passed out on the couch, so she didn't really count. I pulled her legs straight and covered her with a blanket. Her shift followed mine and I didn't want to wake her.
I walked forward to the cockpit and relieved Celina. "Do you want an escort back to Sterra's Gift?" I asked.
"I'll be okay. We're the next slip over and the station's security feed has been clear for quite a while," she said.
"Roger that. Ping me when you're on the ship?"
This earned me a smile from the once pirate. "You make me feel bad for trying to bash your head in back on the outpost."
"Who'd have thought we'd end up friends?" I asked.
Celina chuckled. "Not me, that's for sure."
"You're good people, Lena. You deserved better."
"Are you angling for free coffee at the diner?" she asked.
"It sounds like owning a restaurant will be right up your alley," I said.
"Jenny and I used to run Magee's Diner on Terrence."
I knew she was planning to open a diner but didn't know details. "How did you manage the lease, were you able convert Mars Credits into something local?"
She sat back on the arm of the chair. "No. Well, sort of. They're holding an abandoned diner. We have two months to take occupancy. I submitted a business plan, along with the equipment and supplies we're bringing. The lease is free for the first year and they'll ramp up to normal, commercial rates over the second year."
"That's an incredible deal," I said.
"It's risky. If the population of Léger Nuage isn't interested in what we have to offer, we'll be out of luck."
"How many other eating places do they have?"
"Three and they're all bars. We're gambling that people will want a different type of dining experience."
"I hope it works out for you," I said.
Celina stood up. "Thanks, have a good night."
I watched as she walked down the gangplank, through the secure airlock and over to Sterra's Gift. As promised, she pinged me once she'd entered the ship.
On forward holo, show Descartes Asteroid Belt and color code the different claims.
I'd done enough security watches to know that I needed something to keep my mind busy as I waited for absolutely nothing to happen. You'd have to be nuts to cross Belirand at their most prestigious terminal. A shoot first, ask questions later approach to EVAs (extra vehicular activity) by Belirand Station Security had pretty much eliminated most of our concerns.
The belt's configuration was becoming more familiar and the highly saturated, colorized asteroids looked like they were straight from a cartoon vid.
Make all of our claims close shades of blue and everyone I've seen associated with Oberrhein close shades of light gray.
Our claims were centrally located in the occupied portion of the belt. The Oberrhein claims spread out starting at one edge and
working their way in, past our claims. While we were clumped together, Oberrhein had eight claims that were evenly spaced, with a single non-Oberrhein claim between each of them. Notably, Ada's claim was between Teodorov Tsankov and Vasil Stanislavov.
The arrangement of claims was hardly a problem, but given the interaction we'd had with Petar and Mihael, watching them was in our best interest.
Highlight Carré and Licht family claims.
I was curious about the two families we'd met and was surprised to see two Licht claims. As expected, Frimunt & Annalise, the parents of the large tribe, had a claim, but unexpectedly their eldest son, Selig, had an adjacent claim.
How old is Selig?
"Selig Licht is eighteen stans, four months," the AI responded.
Show proposed site for Loose Nuts Co-Op. Limit field of view to just Loose Nuts related claims.
The display in front of me shrunk so that on one side was Ada's claim and on the other was Nick and Marny's. Big Pete's and my own claim were sandwiched between them. On the border between Nick's claim and mine, an empty spot was highlighted. This was where Nick had proposed we put the co-op. I hadn't spent enough time looking at the layout of the various rocks in our claims, but didn't really think a completely open spot was the best choice for the co-op. I also knew that Nick and Dad would have thought pretty hard about this and I was missing necessary information.
Are there plans to fill this location? If Nick had worked up a plan, he would have used an AI to construct it and I doubted he would keep it secret from me.
"There are three proposed plans for Co-Op construction," the AI responded.
Show end result of each.
The AI cycled through three different completed structures. The first was completely constructed from steel. It was a gorgeous structure, showing housing for dozens of families, a pier with enclosed docking bays and a spacious ore storage and refining platform. I loved it, but there was no way we'd be able to manufacture anything that elaborate, even if we had twenty years.
Buccaneers (Privateer Tales Book 8) Page 7
