smallest of the longer range ships is the same mass as the Samson.” She scrolled through the tactical display and found another, larger ship with engine and power system damage. “Then there's this one. Ninety six meters long and perfectly serviceable. I'm sure he'll make it a priority as soon as we get the Triton’s new engines installed.”
Ayan was on edge, he'd known her long enough to see there was trouble right away. “Everything okay?” he asked quietly.
“I'm fine. It's just been a long day and it's only eleven.”
“It just seems that something's up. I've got a handle on things here if you want to grab something to eat or get some coffee.”
Ayan sighed and discreetly pressed a couple of buttons on the arm of her chair, bringing up the sound dampeners around them so the rest of their conversation wouldn't carry across the bridge. “Jake and I had a row.”
“Oh, what happened?”
“I pushed him, kept on him, asking what's wrong. I didn't like the answer.” She shrugged and dropped the dampener field.
Oz raised it again. “What was the answer?”
“I don't want to talk about it.” She cleared her throat and shifted in her seat as she brought up a detailed schematic of the Palamo.
“It might help.”
“Not now, Oz.” She flicked the dampening field off irritably.
“I'm here if you need me,” he whispered.
“Thank you.”
“I'm going to get some coffee, want one?” Oz asked.
“You don't have to do that you know, you're in command.”
“I need to stretch my legs. So what'll it be?”
“Mocha, thanks.”
He put his hand on her arm for a moment and caught her eye. “It'll be all right,” he reassured. “Believe it.”
She smiled at him wanly. “Thanks Oz.”
Ayan watched him leave the bridge. There was a conference room right across the hall that could serve as a galley. The materializer there was particularly quick and well calibrated.
“What? He's not going to ask if anyone else wants something? Rude,” Ashley whispered to Larry.
“Oh, what would you like Ash?” Ayan asked, knowing the younger woman didn't realize she was overheard.
Her look of alarm and immediate blushing made Ayan grin. “Oh, I didn't mean! I mean, I was just kidding!” she whispered in a rush.
Ayan looked up Ashley's last materializer order and nodded to herself. “Oz, can you get Ashley a hazel nut Columbian coffee with two cream?”
“Hazel nut with two cream, gotcha. Anything else?”
“Anyone else want something?”
“Oh, have him get a double cappuccino for me?” Laura called out from her energy field specialist station.
“Oh, that sounds good. One for me too please,” Jason looked to the Cynthia and the other two communications officers. “You guys want anything?”
“Just a regular coffee,” Cynthia added.
The other two shook their heads.
“Did you get that, Oz?” Ayan asked with a broad grin.
“Yes, Crewcast kept track. You'll pay for this, you know.”
“Thaaank you.!” Ayan replied sweetly to the restrained mirth of the bridge staff. “I'll send a security officer to help.”
One of the four guards on bridge duty nodded and started for the door.
“Ayan, the comm unit Chief Vega hooked up is transmitting. It's the station Foreman,” Jason announced from the communications station.
She looked at him, slightly surprised. “That was quick. Make the Captain aware and ensure that he can listen in.”
Cynthia opened the connection to Captain Valance and explained; “The station has made contact sir, Ayan's ready to take the comm. No, she hasn't started speaking to them yet.” Cynthia looked confused for a moment and replied; “Yes sir.” She looked to Ayan then, and glancing at Jason who was listening in passively as he reviewed other information, relayed the Captain's instructions. “He says he trusts you to make the right decisions for the crew and you should handle things with the station for now. He seems busy with the Palamo.”
“Time to put the diplomacy segment of Officer's training into play. Good luck,” Jason grinned.
“You have more training in that area, perhaps-”
“Nope, it's all you. Putting the station through right now, Commander.”
Ayan whipped her head forward to make eye contact with a nondescript blue avatar that was a place holder for a holographic image of who she was speaking with. It was an indication that they could see her, but there was no video or holographic signal from their end. “This is Commander Ayan of the Free Ship Triton.”
“Thank you for your assistance with the raiders! Do you have a Commission ident or Commerce License number for this region?”
Ayan glanced at her main display and saw that Jason had brought up the Triton’s transponder information, which didn't include any kind of sector registration information but still marked it as a Sol Defence Systems Vessel. There were two other registrations beneath, the most current of which was a Core Worlds Commercial Licence number for hauling and freelance law enforcement for the Samson. It was the most up to date Licence they had on file. She highlighted it and sent the information over, trying not to cringe. “We've been in deep space for some time and haven't re-registered this vessel, but we do operate legally through another licence that's more current.”
“Thank you. On behalf of Ossimi Ring Station I'd like to thank you for your assistance with the raiders. After the Eden Fleet disabled our defences and some kind of virus killed our workforce we didn't think it could get any worse. I'm Forewoman Amanda Dimitri.”
“You're welcome. It turns out that the raiders were part of a slave crew and we've managed to subdue the commanding officers. Our people are tending to the slaves and disarming their control devices now.”
“How fortunate for them. I'm wondering if you have adequate personnel to assist us with our power and life support problem. We had to disable most of our own critical systems in the outer sections in order to slow the raider's progress. Now we're down to four contained high gravity suits and it'll take us months to repair even a small section of the station. We have the spare parts and a few portable systems, we just can't get them into place within a reasonable time frame.”
“I can spare two teams and assist personally,” Ayan replied with a reassuring smile.
Oz arrived on the bridge with a security guard carefully balancing a tray filled with spill proof safety cups. He walked to the communications station so Jason could fill him in.
“In return I ask that you provide us safe harbour long enough to affect repairs on our ship. It should only take about two standard days.” Ayan finished.
“Certainly. After the support systems are in place we will be able to assist you. We have some of the best technicians in the sector.”
“Take three teams, Ayan.” Oz added. “We're in good shape.”
“One more thing, Commander.” The Forewoman asked. “I request that you remove any armed personnel you may have on the station. I'm sure you realize that after the ordeal we've had over the last week we're a little wary.”
“All of our ships are armed, and I'm not willing to have my teams drift across in that kind of gravity but I can promise you that they will be unarmed.”
“That's acceptable.”
“All right, I'll be seeing you soon, Forewoman.”
The communication line closed and the blue holographic torso disappeared. “So, you're going unarmed?” Oz
