"So Deveron-8," Sarah comnted as she sipped her drink. "I know there's a few other reasons why you avoid that world, above and beyond what you told Jace."
Rebecca grimaced, "It's been thirty years. I ought to be over that by now."
I didn't comnt because it really wasn't my area of expertise, but I had a feeling those mories were still painful for our tough stoic girlfriend because she'd never really taken ti to process them. Burying those thoughts and feelings ant she didn't have to deal with them in the mont, but they never really faded or went away.
It was evening and the four of us were sitting around the table in the ship's ss, but we hadn't bothered with food. We were still full from the big al this afternoon over at Gilly's, so instead of dinner we'd opted for drinks and conversation.
"I got the feeling you're familiar with the outpost Mr. Wheeler ntioned," Jenny observed. "Have you been to Ganvis before, captain?"
The boss grimaced again, "Just once, and only briefly."
She paused for a gulp of her whiskey, before elaborating. "Like Jace said, it's on the opposite side of the planet from the capital and spaceport. Literally on the ass end of the world."
After another brief hesitation she sighed, "It's the closest settlent to the rendezvous-point where Ellery died, where I was all but killed. Ganvis is where Gabe parked the Deter, before and El set out in the shuttle. Neither of us actually set foot in the place though, Gabe's the only one who spent any ti there."
"Ah," Jenny frowned. "I hope this trip won't be too stressful for you."
Rebecca drained her glass then shrugged, "I'll manage. It's just another freight job, and one that shouldn't carry any risk. We'll be taking the paynt in advance too, so we won't have any unhappy surprises when we get there."
There were a few quiet nodds around the table, but none of us comnted on that.
Eventually Sarah spoke up again with another question, "Do you think we'll find another cargo for the trip back?"
"Hard to say," the boss shrugged as she poured herself another drink. "Even if things are as bad in the outposts as Jace said, they might be doing better off around the city. And if it really is that hard to find a ship willing to head to the Deveron system then anyone there looking to ship stuff off-world won't have a lot of choices. So it might balance out? Fewer potential custors but less competition ans the odds of finding a cargo might be about the sa."
I had a gulp of my soda then asked, "So what's our next step? What are we doing tomorrow?"
"Supplies, fuel, and port fees," Rebecca replied. After another sip of her drink she added, "And I think I might check in at the spaceport to see if they have anything to say about Deveron-8. Not saying I don't trust our new custor, but it's always a good idea to get another opinion. It's been long enough since I've been over that way, I'd like to find out if my information on that world's out of date. Stuff like approaches, fees, port rules, cost of fuel, any new pirate activity in the area. The usual."
Most of that was fairly standard, but the last thing she ntioned left worried. "Pirates? For real?"
"Yeah," the boss didn't sound that concerned. "They used to hang around Marshal's World and the Garrett Cluster. Both those systems are between here and the Deveron system. As long as we don't stop there it shouldn't be an issue. Even if we do stop we'll be fine as long as we stay on our toes."
Sarah stated, "Well we won't have to stop for any kind of chanical reason. The Deter's engines are in top shape."
"Glad to hear it," Rebecca smiled. "Anyways I'm sure we'll be fine. It's going to be a long boring trip, and I'm not too happy where we're going, but the actual job itself should be a milk run."
I had no idea what that ant, and my confusion must have been obvious on my face since my cute blonde girlfriend volunteered an explanation.
"A milk run is an easy mission," our engineer explained. "Don't ask where the expression ca from, it's another one of those ancient sayings that's stuck around. But yeah, it just ans we can expect a quiet easy mission."
Our amazonian girlfriend nodded, then drained her glass again. She comnted, "If anyone else has last-minute stuff to do before we ship out, plan on doing it tomorrow or the day after. If we stick to jump-0 it's going to be quite a while before we're back on this world."
"I should touch base with Gwen tomorrow too I suppose," she added with a sigh. "Find out if she's sent word ho yet, and let her know we'll be busy for so ti."
"I'd like to send my sister another ssage before we go," I decided. "With all the excitent between Tamsin, Lebeau, and Gwen, I completely forgot to respond to her last ssage."
I looked at Sarah to see if she wanted to write her granddaughter, but she shook her head.
Rebecca suggested, "We'll take care port fees, fuel, and arranging supplies first thing tomorrow morning. Then in the afternoon I'll swing by the port facilities and maybe a few places I know independent pilots hang out, to make so enquiries about the conditions in that part of the sector. The day after we'll visit Vesfar Urox so you can send your ssage Amanda. And if there's anything else we need, we'll take care of it then. How's that sound?"
We all agreed that worked, and that was about it for the conversation.
When it ca ti to turn in, it didn't take any convincing to get Rebecca to join Sarah and I for the night. I had a feeling she'd be spending the next couple nights with us, since once we had our passenger on board she'd want to be more professional and act like a proper ship's captain.
Sarah seed to know that too, and without either of us having to say anything we both decided to make sure Rebecca's next few nights with us were morable, to get her through the eighteen or so nights she'd probably be alone during the transit to Deveron-8.
In fact we did such a good job making sure it was a fun night that we were still at it the following morning. Not that we didn't get any sleep, but when we were right back at it as soon as we woke up.
Eventually hunger and thirst got the better of us, and we all finally erged from the cabin. Nobody bothered getting dressed yet, I was in a nightshirt while Sarah and Rebecca only got as far as panties and bras.
Jenny t the three of us in the ss, and everyone exchanged quiet good-mornings as we got ourselves coffee. Then I pulled out so of the left-over BBQ and started warming that up for breakfast while Sarah got out so plates.
"We received a ssage from Lady Magniveen a little while ago," Jenny announced, after the rest of us had a few sips of coffee in us and we were all looking a little more awake.
The AI had a faint smirk on her face as she continued, "She asked to inform you Princess Rebecca, that she has composed and sent a ssage to her family on Vysalis-4. She also wanted you to know that she has not revealed any secrets yet, but instead this first ssage is to establish the line of communications and test the waters to determine that her family are willing and able to cooperate. She expects to hear back within four days."
The boss rolled her eyes, "Just because she keeps calling princess doesn't an the rest of you get to do that too."
"I don't know your highness," Sarah grinned. "I sure don't want to accidentally disrespect you by forgetting to use the correct honorific. And I really don't want to get on the bad side of soone who commands an entire planetary defence force."
The princess's reply to that was grumbled under her breath just a little too quietly for the rest of us to hear. Then as I set out the reheated food she looked to and said, "After breakfast I want to go over the navigation data with you Amanda. We'll be heading into a new part of the sector for you, and I was thinking it'd be a good idea for you to have a look at the chart ahead of ti."
"Ok," I agreed as we all started to eat. "Is it difficult, or anything specific to worry about? Apart from pirates I guess."
Rebecca shook her head, "Not really. But unless you've been doing more studying on your own, you probably aren't familiar with anything outside the three or four systems you've been to."
The food was good as usual, even ward-up day-old BBQ was nicer than the stuff that ca out of the autochef. Then when we were done the boss asked Sarah to handle the tidying up so I was free to look at the star charts.
We still hadn't bothered with clothes yet as I followed the gorgeous redhead forward into the cockpit and slipped into my seat. A minute later we were both staring at a 2d representation of the Gorath Sector on my nav screen.
"This is one of the reasons why nobody likes going to Deveron-8," Rebecca said as she gestured at the screen. "There's nothing else out there."
I nodded slowly as I stared at the chart in front of , "Yeah. I see what you an."
Ecclestone's World was practically in the middle of the sector, which helped make it the Gorath Sector's main shipping hub. In stark contrast, the Deveron system was way off in a far-flung corner. It wasn't completely isolated, but none of its neighbouring systems had much to offer.
"So if we can't pick up another cargo on that world we probably won't find anything nearby either," I sighed. "Which ans flying back empty."
"Correct," the boss nodded. "Fuel's going to be another concern. I'm sure we can get so at the spaceport, but it might be expensive. If we head out there at jump-1 we're going to be running low. On the other hand going out that way at jump-0 isn't a fun trip either."
I checked the distance on the chart and did the math in my head, "Eighteen days. That'll be our longest trip yet, at least since and Sarah ca aboard."
"Eighteen days wouldn't be too bad if it was just the four of us. I'm sure we could all find ways to keep each other entertained. Unfortunately we won't be alone," Rebecca frowned. "That ans eighteen days properly dressed, with everyone on good behaviour."
"Yeah," I sighed. It probably wouldn't be a fun trip, for any of us.
Still, I couldn't help feeling bad for the farrs who needed this shipnt. And even eighteen days on duty with my two girlfriends and my AI friend was still better than what I did for three quarters of a year on the Hamrsmith. It might not be as much fun as usual, but it wouldn't be awful. And it was for a good cause, too.
After another minute or so staring at the chart Rebecca said, "Like I said, I'm going to do so howork this afternoon. Find out what conditions are like in that part of the sector, see if anyone else has been there recently. I might even shoot off an FTL to the Deveron port facilities, to ask them about their current fees and what fuel costs. If the rates are favourable, maybe we'll do this trip at jump-1 whether or not Jace can afford the extra fees. Just to get it over with."
I gave her a look and half-teased, "I thought you said we didn't do charity work?"
"We don't," she replied. Then she grimaced, "The additional costs of a level-one jump are legit but I'm also weighing that against our ti. And as a good captain I also have to consider my crew's morale, right? Eight thousand ecks versus an unhappy crew..."
She shook her head, "Not an easy call."
"Especially not when two thirds of that crew are your girlfriends," I teased. "And we're still hoping to get Jenny on board too at so point, right?"
Rebecca rolled her eyes but didn't comnt.
I quickly got serious again as I asked, "Considering your past experience on that world along with all the logistical issues, I'm actually surprised you took the job in the first place. Not only that but when you and Jace were haggling yesterday I got the feeling you were going easy on him?"
She grimaced slightly as she leaned back in her chair and stretched. And as distracting as seeing her flex her strong beautiful body was, it didn't actually make forget what I was asking.
The boss could see it on my expression too, as she rolled her eyes. "Ok fine, you're right. I guess I got a little sucked-in by his sob story. You rember I told you I grew up on an agri-world though, right? You probably know as well as I do how devastating a prolonged drought is to that kind of place. At least in the Imperium they'd actually get so support from off-world."
"Don't get wrong," she added, "I'm no fan of the Imperium. But this is one situation where they're actually helpful. Out here, without any off-world support? Those people could well be starving. And the planet's economy is probably on the verge of collapse. They depend on their produce for everything. Food, money, dical supplies, tech."
I nodded, "I know Rebecca. That's the first thing I thought of yesterday when Jace ntioned it. I never experienced anything like that myself, but I heard the stories growing up. And Kaitor-7 hasn't been part of the Imperium all that long. So those stories were as bad as what you're saying for Deveron-8."
We were both quiet for a few monts after that, and I was sure she was thinking the sa thing as . We were worrying how bad it might be, while hoping Jace was maybe exaggerating to play up the sympathy.
"So what about finding cargo for the return trip?" I asked, trying to change the subject slightly. "I guess we don't have high hopes for that? What else can we do instead?"
Rebecca gestured at the chart, "If we're looking at flying back here empty then maybe we'll set out at jump-0 and make a point of looking at the Garrett Cluster and around Marshal's world. It's a gamble, but we might co across sothing worth salvaging."
I frowned, "That's where you said the pirates were right? Wait, you're thinking we might co across so wrecked ships pirates have left behind?"
"Pretty much," she replied. "It's a bit of a long-shot. If Deveron-8 has fallen off the shipping lanes, there's no juicy freighters coming and going. Nothing for pirates to prey on."
I frowned at her, "Except we'd be a juicy freighter wandering through their territory. So if there's any pirates still hanging around we'll be an appealing target. It wasn't that long ago you and I were talking about you not taking unnecessary risks, you know? I hope you haven't forgotten about that so soon."
"I haven't forgotten," she grumbled, though the blush creeping across her cheeks made wonder.
After a few seconds I turned my attention back to the navigation chart and asked, "Speaking of shipwrecks, where did you find Jenny's old ship? I know you said it was way out of your usual route. Are we going to be anywhere near there?"
"Not really," Rebecca sighed. She pointed at a spot on the screen, "It was in this area here, down on this side of the Gorath field."
I checked the distance from there back to the Deveron system then sighed, "That's almost as far from Deveron-8 as we are now. over a dozen days at jump-0."
"Yeah," she nodded. "Not a bad idea though Amanda, good thinking. The problem is even though both locations are remote, they're not the sa remote."
"So I see," I sighed.
After a quiet half minute or so the boss got to her feet, "That's enough for now. Let's get dressed, it's ti we got on with our day."
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