We took them to the ready room, and made sure Gene had the security set the way they wanted it. Nikki asked, “What now, Caveman?”
“I was thinking of wandering down to Engineering, to see what Tikki here has got up to with the Squirrel tech.”
Tikki said, “We’re really just getting started. There were a few things that I recognized, that I was able to figure out how to make with our printers, but most of it is going to take some study.”
“I noticed you didn’t speak up when we were discussing the ceramic in those knife blades. Is that because you already know how to make it, or because you’ve never seen it before?”
“Never seen it, Boss. Don’t even know where to start to figure it out.”
“So, Jackie doesn’t have a chance at it?”
“I asked Lakki to help, she knows how to get into some secret files that may be able to give Jackie a clue.”
“As long as she doesn’t leave any traces that lead back to us.”
“Boss, she was world-class before she got caught, and the government trained her on what she hadn’t figured out on her own. If she can’t get it, safely, it can’t be gotten.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it under control. Is Frank behaving?”
“Lakki has been checking all the bots’ code, before and after they are around him. She hasn’t found any changes yet.”
“That ought to be enough oversight. You do realize that in your copious free time, you need to be designing your Father a survey ship, don’t you?”
“No, I guess I didn’t. I thought you were planning to give him Midnight?”
“I think we can do better, if we optimize for survey, instead of just a spy ship.”
“You’re probably right. Besides, Midnight is small enough Dad would be wanting to get out and do foot surveys, before he had done enough prep work.”
“That’s one thing we surely don’t need. Rescuing Phonelia was bad enough, I hate to think what kind of a mess your father could get into.”
Rikki said, “I resemble that remark, Boss.”
“Hitting the culture pack, I see.”
“Had to pass the time some way, cooped up with Joshua, all the way back from Oak.”
“Do you see anything I’m missing, negotiating with these guys?”
“You do realize they need peace a lot worse than you do, don’t you?”
“How do you mean, Rikki?”
“With your crew of bots, you could build enough ships to wipe them off the face of the galaxy, without breaking a sweat. They couldn’t produce ships anywhere near that fast, because first, they would have to convince themselves that they needed them.”
“I would have a hard time coming up with enough crews, even if I did build the ships. Besides, I have zero interest in trying to run an Empire, especially one composed of Squirrels.”
Rikki said, “I know that, Boss. I even think the Captains Dressi know it. They have to convince people who have never met you. That’s harder.”
“So, you’re saying I need to act like I want to be Emperor, even if I don’t, just for negotiating position?”
“I’m saying it’s a tactic you could use, if you need to. I don’t think it will work on these two, but if their superiors start butting in, it might be helpful.”
“I’ll keep it in mind, but I have to say I don’t like it. What if they call me on it? Then I have to back it up, and I don’t want to do that.”
Nikki said, “You don’t have to come out and say it, Caveman. Just lead them to believe you might be willing to do it, if they don’t get over their cranio-rectal inversion.”
“I still can’t say I like the idea, but I’ll keep it in mind.”
Tikki said, “Well, I better get back to work.” She headed off to the transit. Rikki said, “You’re serious about building a ship for me to go exploring in, aren’t you?”
“I’d rather go myself, to tell you the truth, but too many people think they need me around.”
Nikki said, “You’re not getting out of feeding these two in the middle of the night that easy, Caveman.”
“See what I mean?”
Rikki replied, “I doubt she got in that condition all by herself, Boss.”
“I suppose you’re right. Responsibilities. Next thing you know, she’ll be wanting me to act like a grown-up, all mature and so forth.”
Rikki said, “She can want. What I’ve seen of you so far, Boss, I don’t think she’ll have much success. I better go act like I have a purpose in life. Later, Boss, Mrs. Wilson.”
Nikki said, “Bye, Rikki.”
I said, “See you around.” Nikki turned to me, and said, “What are you up to now?”
“I thought the Ambassador would get things squared away with his people back home, and want to do some more negotiating, so I was going to hang around here, to be handy. Seems like he’s having more trouble convincing them than I thought he would. I’m not sure what to do now.”
“You’re saying a nap is right out?”
“Well, knowing you, there wouldn’t be much sleep involved, and I’d truly hate to get interrupted in the middle of the other.”
“You might have trouble being diplomatic, you say?”
“Sweetheart, if they pulled me away from you, I’d be likely to be plumb mean.”
“We better not do that, then. Things are just beginning to work, we wouldn’t want to screw them up.”
“I guess we could wander over to the bridge, and see how things are going.”
“You think Topper needs supervision?”
“Nope. But I don’t want him to think I forgot about him, either. If they’re still not off their call when we get done, we may have to hunt down that dog of yours, and play some Frisbee.”
“He’s supposed to be my dog, but
