Vatta's War 02 - Marque and Reprisal by Elizabeth Moon

Author:Elizabeth Moon
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2012-04-14T02:37:51+00:00

On the bridge, Lee had a dazed expression and Jim was scowling. Rafe, in Ky’s seat, lounged as if he owned the ship.

“Excuse me,” Ky said, with an edge to it. “That’s my seat.”

“Sorry,” Rafe said. “Where do you want me?”

Under control,but that wasn’t something she could say. “There’s a fold-down seat over there.” She pointed. “Lee, anybody offship?”

“No.”

“Good. Nobody goes off until tradeshift tomorrow. Division reports?”

“At your station, Captain. Nothing much; we’re down to the dregs for trade, though. MilMart’s holding that advanced suite for us, but they’ll require a deposit to hold it past the end of tradeshift tomorrow.”

“By then I’ll have an answer for them.” Ky looked at the division reports. Quincy’s had the most data. She had listed all the suitable ships for sale or lease, with costs including provisioning.

“Who’s doing your dockside security?” Rafe asked, breaking her concentration.

“We are,” Ky said. “Remotely.”

“What system?” he asked. “I’m not just being nosy; I’m remembering that a Vatta ship in dock at Allray was blown.”

“You know how it was done?”

“No. Outsiders, is what I heard, but I’m not entirely sure—it’s one reason I wanted to leave. But remote systems can be . . . confused.”

“Co-opted, you mean,” Ky said. “We have mil-grade systems, installed by my own crew, as of two days ago. Does that satisfy you?”

“Almost,” Rafe said. “Perimeter design?”

“Adequate,” Ky said, “according to what I was taught. Do you have suggestions, Ser . . . Dunbarger?”

“Please don’t use that name. Not even here. I’m sure your crew are all perfectly loyal—” Rafe shot a sidelong look at Lee, who looked studiously blank. “—but it would be a great embarrassment to me. Besides, it’s not euphonious.”

“Vattais not exactly music of the spheres,” Ky said.

“It has a certain earthy rhythmicity,” Rafe said. “Dunbarger,on the other hand, sounds like something you’d remove during plastic surgery. Call me by the name Stella knows, or Murchison, which I used last. Or you could just call me Rafe.”

“And you could,” suggested Ky, “just answer my question. Have you suggestions for perimeter design?”

“Three independent systems, optical spider hooks set at one-meter intervals, each system capable of alarming the others, but not of damping an alarm. Broadband scanning, full chem and bio suites, a watch officer who knows how to interpret the output. Independent power sources, of course, and secure lines . . .”

“I think you would find my perimeter design adequate,” Ky said. “That’s pretty much what I’ve got. Anything else?”

“Anti-tamper?”

“Of course.”

“I didn’t see it when we came in,” Rafe said.

“You weren’t supposed to,” Ky said. “But it’s there. And we also have hull-based systems active. Our shields stink, but at least we’ll know what hits us.”

“I begin to hope you will offer me a partnership, Captain Vatta.”

“I begin to think I might. But we have business to discuss. Perhaps you will return with me to the rec area?”

“Of course,” he said.

“Jim, check with Sera Vatta in my cabin and see if she needs you for anything. Consider yourself at her disposal.”

“Is that wise?” murmured Rafe, following Ky down the passage.

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