“Go ahead, we’ll talk later.”
“Later, then.” I was getting up to go back to the bridge, when Gene said, “Captain Branham for you, Boss.”
“Is the lodge still tiled?”
“It is, Boss.”
“Put him through.”
“Hey, Commodore. Good to see you back.”
“Are you sure you don’t mean it was good to see the back of me?”
“Are you kidding? We were all having cats when the Squirrels showed up. You come flying in and save the day.”
“Bone showed me where to look for the good training. No biggie.”
“The way I heard it, you jumped from that to, ‘Gee, I bet the Squirrels did the same thing’, and that was how you were able to stop them so easily.”
“I suppose. How were things while I was gone?”
“Well, we were on our own in FTL, so that wasn’t anything too exciting, except for trying to get as much fixed as we could, without being able to go outside. Our drives haven’t had the full Scotti treatment yet, so we didn’t get here as soon as Dingus and the Gene. Matter of fact, we only came out of FTL this morning, so not much to report, really.”
“I know you have something to say, or you wouldn’t have called. Spit it out.”
“Jane wanted me to thank you for making me take a command and face my fears.”
“I wish I could take credit for that, but circumstances forced my hand. I knew you had problems with the idea, but I didn’t know what. I just needed good leaders, and I knew you could do that.”
“Any way you want to weasel out of the responsibility is fine, Bob, but I still have to thank you for giving me the push I needed.”
“You’re welcome. Just tell me when you’re ready to take over. There’s no need for mutiny.”
“You’re not getting out of the big chair that easily, Bob.”
“Aw, Mom!”
“Eat your peas and carrots, young man.”
“You want me to eat every carrot and pea on my plate?”
“It’s good to have you back, Bob.”
“Good to be back, John. I better go act like I’m in charge. Topper is getting too used to the big chair.”
“Later, Bob.”
“Later, John.” I headed back to the bridge, half expecting Gene to tell me one of the other Captains was calling. Saucy called out, “Commodore on the bridge.” I replied, “As you were. Mr. Topper, how goes our little corner of the galaxy?”
“The Squirrels have behaved themselves so far. No one else has shown up for the party.”
I asked, “Sue, you are scanning to make sure that the Squirrels don’t have any shy friends, aren’t you?”
“I’m scanning for everything I know of to scan, Boss. If you have some new knowledge you would care to share, I’ll add it to what I’m looking for.” I thought a minute, and looked something up on my watch. When I found what I was thinking of, I sent it to her. “Try that.”
“Boss, you’re sneaky. I like working for you.”
She tinkered a minute, and said, “You have the magic touch, Boss. I found one.”
“Just the one?”
“The scan hasn’t finished, but that’s all, so far.”
“Topper, do we have any ships that aren’t actively watching a Squirrel, that also have functional weapons?”
“Yes, Boss. There are a couple of destroyers.”
“Saucy, get me one of those Captains on the screen, please.”
A bot came on screen, saying, “Yes, Commodore?”
“I’m still Boss. I need you to come watch the ship we are guarding. We have some other business to take care of.”
“On it, Boss.” The destroyer jumped in, not far from us. The screen came back on. “On station, Boss.”
“Nicely done. Don’t shoot unless they need it, I’d hate to harm Captain Dressi’s nephew.”
“Understood.” Saucy cut the connection. I said, “Ruth, Tex, give these folks a warm welcome, please. Saucy, tell Andre we have business for him, if you would.” We were already jumping by the time Tex and Ruth got out, “Yes, Boss.” As we came out, Saucy said, “Andre reports ready for boarding operations, Boss.”
Sue said, “All hostiles down, Boss. None of them look resistant.”
I said, “Saucy, tell Andre to launch.”
“Marines away, Boss.”
“Topper, is Black Beauty ready to launch?”
“No, Boss. I got them spaceborne as soon as the Squirrels showed up. They are checking the new ship now.”
“Nicely done, Topper. Remind me to double your pay.”
“Twice nothing still isn’t much, Boss.”
Saucy put Willum on the speaker. “Delicious, this one’s clean. They don’t even have a charge aboard.”
“Thanks. Did you get to talk to Lyla, yet?”
“I did. Thanks for saving her, again.”
“All part of the service. Do you think you can convince her to keep quiet about the Starfoot?”
“After all she did to get them freed from slavery in the Commonwealth, I don’t think that will be a problem.”
“Good deal. Are you finding anything else out there we need to be aware of?”
“Haven’t seen anything so far, but your new girl, Sue, sent us some new things to look for.”
“Keep after it, then. Talk to you later.”
“Later, Bob.” I turned to the sensor station. “Good work, Sue. I should have thought of that.”
“You did say to protect the ship first, Boss.”
“That I did.”
Saucy said, “Ace reports the enemy ship is secure aboard, Boss. Scotti reports this one is a newer model, and she may be able to learn something from it. Captain Dressi would like a word, at your convenience.”
“Put him on, Saucy.”
“Commodore, I was wondering what the excitement was about?”
“You mean you weren’t aware your fleet was being shadowed by a spy ship?”
“No, Commodore, I was not. I would ask our Commodore, but I am afraid he isn’t very responsive.”
“Knife
