Salvage Right by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller

Author:Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science Fiction, General, Space Opera, Action & Adventure, Fiction
ISBN: 9781625799197
Publisher: Baen Books
Published: 2023-07-04T04:00:00+00:00

Seignur Veeoni’s Private Suite

Four stasis boxes!

Four!

She dared not open them—not quite yet. She could, however, check her assumptions.

“I will be in my quarters, meditating. Allow nothing to disturb me.”

“For how long?” M Traven asked, practically.

“You may inquire of me via intercom in six hours, if I have not emerged, or filed alternate orders.”

M Traven inclined her head.

“Yes, Researcher.”

Bechimo

Dock A

“Joyita and Researcher Veeoni have been discussing architecture,” Bechimo said.

“That’s correct. She and I agreed that it’s more satisfactory to design for sentience than have sentience arise. The question of whether this station ought to be sentient has been remanded to Delm Korval.

“In the course of our discussions, Seignur Veeoni said that the breach in the station was caused when Tinsori Light, which had been wakened by the Great Enemy, destroyed the former core, which was not sentient.”

Joyita paused, brows drawn, as if he’d been caught by a sudden thought. Tolly gave him an encouraging nod.

“Yes. In the interests of complete accuracy, she stated that the original station had not been designed for sentience.”

“Which takes us just exactly as far as it goes,” Tolly said, sighing.

“The former station could have woken in response to the threat,” Bechimo said, “but surely Tinsori Light had access to—and utilized—existing systems.”

“We don’t have a timeline,” Joyita said. “After the Light was captured, before the Enemy’s intelligence was brought on line—was there time to build and power an under-system, completely independent, and hidden from, the intended framework?”

“You’re right,” Tolly said. “We don’t know the timing. I can say that it’d be a lot for a newborn to process. Not sayin’ it’s impossible, but to wake up, unnerstan’ the threat, build and outfit a ghost army…”

“That assumes that the hallway bot and the avian are part of the stealth system. If there is a stealth system,” Bechimo objected.

“Robots don’t build themselves,” Joyita said, a little snappish, so Tolly thought.

“Can’t argue with that,” he said, soothingly. “So, it’s looking like the consensus is we need more data.”

There was a longish moment of silence, given present company, then Bechimo spoke, sounding thoughtful.

“We may be able to modify one of the backup scans to allow a deep search of the breach hall.”

“That’s an interesting idea,” Joyita said. “Let’s work together on that.”

And that quick, good relations were restored. Tolly reached for his mug.

“What’s in the boxes you retrieved for Seignur Veeoni?” Joyita asked.

Tolly looked at him.

“Dunno. Hope to find out, ’cause my curiosity spot’s itching. That doesn’t mean Seignur Veeoni’ll feel compelled to share.”

“I’ll ask her,” Joyita said.

“You do that,” Tolly said cordially.

In the screen, Joyita turned his head, as if looking to a readout, then looked back. “Captain Theo is approaching the galley,” he said.

Tolly nodded and stood up. “I’m thinking I’ve about worn out my welcome. Glad to have met you, Bechimo—Joyita. Let’s keep in touch about the ghosts.”

“Absolutely. I’ll brief Tocohl. We should all collaborate on that project,” Joyita said.

“It was good to meet you, Mentor,” Bechimo said. “Thank you for your insights.”

“Pleased to be of help.”

The sound of bootheels against decking warned him and he turned with a sheepish grin.

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