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enough.”
    â€œExcept for competition between companies,” Stella said. “My father could be pretty cutthroat in doing deals, but personally I never saw him as anything but a respectable businessman. Even boring, I thought when I was a youngster, but I had grown out of that.” Her only comfort, after her father’s death, was that she had, after all the turmoil earlier, gained her father’s trust and respect as an adult.
    â€œIt’s odd that such a massive attack was aimed at your corporation,” Johannson said. “I know—at least your cousin said—that she had no idea who had done it, or why; she was convinced it was connected to the attacks on ansibles, but I couldn’t think of a plausible connection.”
    â€œI can’t, either, really. I’m hoping that Osman was behind it somehow—certainly he intended harm to us, and his connections at MilMart suggest a wider-ranging capability—”
    â€œWait—I hadn’t heard about that. What connections at MilMart?”
    â€œHe taunted us—said our defensive suite wouldn’t work against actual missiles—”
    â€œBut we checked it out—our techs said it was fine—”
    â€œWell, it wasn’t,” Stella said. “I don’t understand how it was done, but somehow it showed up fine on scans, but there were bad components. Osman bragged that he had an agent in MilMart, that he’d told them to sell us a compromised system. Ky didn’t tell you this?”
    â€œNo, she didn’t. I suppose it could have slipped her mind—”
    â€œWe fixed it,” Stella said. “Or rather, Quincy and the Engineering crew did. Replaced the defective parts.”
    â€œWe buy from MilMart,” Johannson said; his tone was now grim. “They have a good reputation, but if they’ve got someone in their organization who’s cheating customers, that’s something our headquarters has to know. Fair trade—that pays for our help in screening potential crew for you.”
    â€œThanks,” Stella said, astonished.
    He didn’t explain further, but went on. “Send us a list of the crew you want to find, and we’ll check with hiring agencies.”

_______
    Stella had considered at length what appearance would best suit her needs, studying local broadcasts and newsfeeds. Few visible humods and a human population skewed to the short and dark. Their broadcast entertainment, however, featured one tall blonde after another. For once her beauty might work for her; if she couldn’t be one of them, she could be what they admired.
    â€œAren’t you worried about security?” Quincy asked as Stella prepared to go onto the station and arrange financing options.
    â€œNot a great deal,” Stella said. “I really think the impetus for attacking Vatta came from Osman. I don’t think he was the whole show—he could hardly have managed to damage all those ansibles himself—but I don’t think I’m in that much danger.”
    â€œI hope you’re right,” Quincy said.
    â€œI also,” Stella said. She put on a smoke-blue dress suit, arranged her hair carefully, and went to meet the Customs and Immigration team at dockside. All male, all fairly short and dark. Their eyes widened as she stepped out onto the dock.
    â€œEr…Captain Vatta?”
    â€œI’m Stella Vatta, yes,” Stella said. She could see in their expressions that she was having the desired effect. “I don’t have a uniform,” she said, putting on her most wistful smile. “My cousin was the captain, but when she left, she appointed me.”
    â€œAnd your experience—” That was a stocky older man with a little gray in his dark hair. His name tag read NIMON KNAE .
    Stella looked down and allowed her cheeks to flush. “Actually—I’m more of an accountant than a ship officer. But she left me a very