Read Online Engaging the Enemy by Elizabeth Moon - Free Book Online

instructions with him by accident? Or what would I look for?”
    â€œIf you can find the original crate, there’s a readable version…”
    Stella listened without comment. Surely anyone listening in would immediately recognize what was being talked about.
    Quincy and Ky went on, until Quincy gave a little grunt of satisfaction. “Ah. Now I see it. Thanks, Captain—I’ve got it and it’s clear that none of the…uh…canisters has leaked. The contents appear stable.”
    â€œThen if the container is still in one piece, just repack them.” Ky looked as calm as if they’d been discussing tubes of sealant. “Stella, I’d suggest you put that crate and the other items that were on consignment into one of the holds and move items you might want to trade to another—”
    â€œI already thought of that,” Stella said.
    â€œGood,” Ky said. “Now is there anything else?”
    There was, but not something Stella wanted to get into over an open channel. “I would like to know where you’re headed next,” Stella said. “So I can rejoin you later.”
    â€œOh. Of course.” But Ky said nothing more for a moment, instead staring at nothing, with the slightly blank expression of someone accessing complicated implant information. Then she focused on Stella again. “Stella, do you have Vatta route information in your implant?”
    â€œOnly the main routes,” Stella said. “Maybe Quincy has it in hers.”
    â€œI do,” Quincy said.
    â€œGood, then. Section six, standard route, alternate three’s second stop alternate. Don’t say it.”
    â€œI have it,” Quincy said. “Not recommended, right?”
    â€œRight. The Vatta code should begin with VXR—”
    â€œThat’s it,” Quincy said.
    â€œLet Stella know, but no one should reveal it here,” Ky said.
    Stella wanted to say
ridiculous,
but maybe it wasn’t. “I am authorized to hire crew here, am I not?” she asked instead.
    â€œOf course,” Ky said. “You’re the CFO; you know what we can afford and can’t.”
    â€œSee you in a few weeks,” Stella said, hoping that would be true.
    â€œYou’ll be fine,” Ky said, and signed off.
    Stella glared at the blank screen for a few seconds before putting in a call to the Mackensee ship. She would have sent a string of curses after Ky if she’d had a way to do it. Here she was, stuck without a real captain or a pilot, short-crewed otherwise, and Ky was off somewhere doing something—probably getting herself in trouble, as she usually did. How was she supposed to hire reliable crew in this situation?
    She fell back on older experiences and tried her best smile on Lieutenant Colonel Johannson. Men in authority usually liked being asked for advice. “How can I find reliable crew?” she asked. “My cousin’s left me in a difficult situation…”
    His answering smile was a bit grim. “You Vattas have a talent for getting in difficult situations. I’d be tempted to do a subsidiary contract with you, except for my experience with your cousin. However, for a fee I can lend the services of our intelligence unit to check out candidates for employment, if you wish.”
    â€œThat would be most helpful,” Stella said. “I’m sorry Ky was such a problem to you.”
    â€œShe didn’t intend to be,” Johannson admitted. “But I suspect she’s one of those drawn to trouble—or trouble’s drawn to her. You may be one of the peaceful Vattas—if there are any.”
    â€œWe thought we were,” Stella said. “Most of my family are—were—ordinary business people. Wore suits, went to the office, came home and in their off hours followed individual hobbies. Or, for those on ship duty, did whatever duty they were assigned.”
    â€œHmmm. Sounds peaceful