“How do you mean?”
“He’s been looking at all the sensor data he can get, ever since we went to FTL, trying to see what he can tell about normal space from here.”
“Do you know if he’s having any luck?”
“I haven’t bothered him, he’s pretty engrossed.”
“One of the fun parts of sitting in the big chair, bothering people who don’t want to be bothered.”
“And you’re good at your job, Boss.”
“You say you’d rather be hauling pigs out from Earth to Charlie’s?
“See what I mean? You’re good at it.”
“Call me if anything happens. I’ll go see about Shorty.”
“Later, Boss.” I went to the cargo bay, and found Shorty in a corner, plugged into the ship. I went up to him and asked, “Mind if I ask a few questions?”
He came out of his trance, and said, “Go ahead, Boss.”
“Are you finding much?”
“I’m looking back over old records, too, and I think I know what a drive trace looks like. Beyond that, I can tell when we go by something massive, like a star or a planet.”
“Do you have any idea why the old-time Navy didn’t look into things like this?”
“All their Captains thought they could handle anything in space, and weren’t looking for a competitive advantage, is about all the answer I can come up with. It sounds as weak to me as I’m sure it does to you.”
“Do you have any ideas for how to change the sensors so that they can pick up on these traces better?”
“Not yet. I don’t have a good enough idea of just what it is that I am looking at.”
“Make sure you ship all your data to Scotti, as soon as you’re able.”
“Sure thing, Boss. You really think she hasn’t looked at this before?”
“I think if she had, I would have fully qualified sensors in every ship, that would keep normal space wired like a pinball machine, whenever we were in FTL.”
Shorty thought that over for a second. “She wouldn’t keep something like that a secret, would she?”
“Nope. Looks like you’re the first.”
“Do you really think it will turn out to be useful?”
“We could search for lost vessels a lot faster, if we could look for their drive trails from FTL. That’s one good use right there.”
“I suppose so. I’ll keep working on it.” I headed to the cockpit. I had forgotten to ask about the Squirrel courses. Ace said, “Hi, Boss, back so soon?”
“I realized I forgot to get an update on those Squirrel files you were working on for me.”
“We found three. Julie has them cued up for you as soon as you finish the Commonwealth ones.”
“I only have one more of those, so I should be able to start soon. Maybe that will give me some understanding of how the Squirrels think.”
“Good luck, Boss. I can’t even figure out you humans, most of the time.”
“Heck, Ace, we’re doing good to figure one another out.”
“Good to know it’s not just me, I guess.” I went to the cargo bay. Ozzie had finished Lyla’s saucer, so we got a Frisbee game stirred up, until Julie said, “Time to train, Boss.” I went and took a course that actually made sense of the way the Squirrels handled their ships. I woke up alone and went to find Julie. She was in medbay, checking on Lyla. I asked, “How is she doing?”
“She’ll be ready to wake up tomorrow afternoon, before we get to Charlie’s.”
“I should be happier about that.”
“You afraid she is going to see too much that you won’t be able to explain away?”
“I’m afraid she already has, and it’s only her good nature and our friendship that is keeping her from telling the whole Commonwealth way more than we want them to know.”
“She’s kept your secrets so far. Why would things change now?”
“That’s a good point. Thanks for keeping me on the right path.”
“Did you come find me for a reason, Boss?”
“Yes. I need you to wake me every four hours, until those Squirrel courses are finished, or we make Charlie’s.”
“You’re expecting trouble when we get back?”
“I don’t think I can afford to expect there won’t be trouble when we get back.”
“You sound like you think we’re going to jump into the middle of a battle, when we get there.”
“That’s a possibility that I want to be prepared for. I hope that’s not what happens, but I need to be as ready as I can, just in case.”
“Well, there are only three of the Squirrel courses, just like the Commonwealth ones, so you should have plenty of time, even if I don’t get you up in the middle of the night.”
“I know, but I’d rather give them time to sink in, before I try to use them.”
“You are worried, Boss.”
“My wife, my pregnant wife, is in that system. The Squirrels will not get to her, if I have to kamikaze them. Are we clear?”
“Crystal, Boss.” I went and caught a nap, before my next training session. The next thing I knew, Julie was saying, “Wake up, Boss. It’s party time.” I did my training, and grabbed a ration bar. Then I went to bed. I wouldn’t recommend it, after taking a Squirrel course. Dreaming that you are a Squirrel is not the best experience. Luckily, Julie woke me before the lady Squirrel had her way with me. Another course, another ration bar, back to bed. At least, this time all my dreams were about tactics. Julie woke me with a cheery, “C’mon, Boss. This is the last one. Let’s get it over with.” Once more around the mulberry bush, and I was home free. I was worn out from the training, but I didn’t feel like sleeping anymore, so I went to the galley.
