Nikki said, “That they do. I’ve yet to understand why some of my people thought it would be a good idea to use them for slave labor.”
Snappi asked, “Slave labor? Your Government allows that?”
Nikki replied, “No, they don’t, but the slavers had enough friends in high places that they got away with it.”
The Ambassador asked, “I notice you said ‘had’. Have things changed?”
“They have. Bob helped the Patrol figure out where the slavers’ base was. They went in and cleaned it out. Of course, the fact that the planet now has a constant fighter patrol helps, too.”
“Do you supply that?”
I said, “We supplied the fighters, and the training, but Morning Flower and her people fly all the patrols.”
Snappi asked, “You mean you trained the locals to be pilots?”
Nikki said, “Morning Flower asked, after she saw me fly. Turns out, she’s one of the best organic pilots we know.”
Snappi asked. “You mean, as good as a human?”
“Better than most. Ruth and Ace are better than anybody made out of meat is ever going to be. Even me, as much as it hurts to admit it.”
I said, “I think you’re still smoother at catching tumbling ships than Ruth, hon.”
“That would be about the only thing.”
Snappi said, “You not only let the bots fly, but you admit they are better than you?”
I said, “It isn’t a matter of admitting it, it’s just the plain fact, Snappi. I’ve seen Ace do things with a ship I would have sworn were impossible.”
“Your fleet is so different. It’s hard for me to get used to.”
The Ambassador said, “You have to believe what you see, not what you were taught at the Academy.”
“You make it sound so simple, Uncle.”
“You forget, Snappi, that I traded with these people for years. I’ve had an opportunity to come to understand them better.”
“They are all like the Commodore?”
“Not at all. The Commodore is one of a kind. He is, however, a product of a culture I have come to understand. He cares more about skill than he does about what sort of person you are.” Snappi still looked like he had bitten into an unripe persimmon, but he didn’t ask any more questions. We were saved from any more deep conversation when my comm rang. “Commodore Wilson.”
Dixie said, “Boss, we have the course Captain Dressi wanted, set up on his ship, whenever he is ready.”
“I’ll bring him right down. Thanks, Dixie.”
“See you in a few minutes.”
“Later.” I turned to Snappi. “Your course is ready, whenever you are.”
“Already?”
The Ambassador said, “Nephew, you need to get your mind around your circumstances. You’re not on Oak anymore.”
We headed down to the bay where Snappi’s ship was. Tikki was there waiting. She said, “Haffi and Dixie are inside, ready to monitor you, in case you have a reaction to taking a human course. Lakki said the probability of that was very low, but not zero.” She led Snappi on to the ship. I turned to Natti. “Ambassador, it’s beginning to look like your crew is out of luck where she is concerned.”
“I do believe you’re right, Commodore. Not like I’m going to have time to do any trading any time soon, anyhow.”
“You ever get tired of being an Ambassador, you could always come to work for Bob’s, running walnuts into Squirrel space.”
“I can’t even think that way, Commodore. Conflict of interest, don’t you know.”
“Didn’t mean to put you in a bind. Do you think you’ll be able to get the fleet back, and continue the negotiations?”
“I’m not positive, but I think it’s the other way around. The folks back home aren’t going to back me, unless I can get control of the fleet.”
“And accepting help from the infamous monkey isn’t going to help your case a bit, is it?”
“I’m afraid not, but thanks for the offer.”
Nikki asked, “Could you accept help from another race, not human?”
The Ambassador replied, “I’m afraid the bots are associated with Bob, as far as the folks back home are concerned.”
Nikki said, “That wasn’t who I had in mind.”
I asked, “How do you plan to get Bugling Elk aboard one of their ships?”
“Don’t they have cargo hatches?”
Natti said, “Yes, they do, but what is it you have in mind, Ma’am?”
“I’m not sure. Something along the lines of having Bugling Elk come and explain the joys of shoveling outhouses, and how that will be their future, until you and Bob decide they have discovered the error in their ways.”
I said, “I doubt it will do much for the enlisted, they seem to be used to being treated like crap. The officers seem to resent being assigned manual labor, though.”
The Ambassador said, “I bet they do. Most of them haven’t done a lick of hard work, their whole lives. I’m still amazed they let Snappi into the officer corps.”
I asked, “Are you saying it is the privileged twits in the officer corps, who are giving us trouble?”
“I think you could play back the recording of our conversation, and never catch me saying that, out loud.”
“I think I might be beginning to understand, Ambassador.”
Charlie came out to get aboard the saucer he had come in, and head back. He came up and shook my hand. He said, “Please don’t forget what we talked about, Uncle. It’s important.”
“I won’t. I’ll handle that, as soon as we get the Ambassador squared away. Gene, please tell Jeeves to remind me, if it slips my mind.”
“On it, Boss.”
I looked Charlie in the eye. “Satisfied?”
“Yes, Uncle Commodore, I’m satisfied. Good luck.”
“Fly safe, Charlie.” He got aboard and eased the saucer out of the bay. The
