Kobayashi Maru - Michael A. Martin [37]
Stiles shrugged. “I dont see why not. Assuming we can get there in time to make the rendezvous, that is. He rapped his knuckles against the bulkhead, and the sound made hollow echoes throughout the somewhat squalid crew lounge. The earlier curtain of glumness abruptly descended once again over the first mates demeanor.
Once again at a loss for a satisfactory reply, Mayweather felt relieved when Captain Archer, Captain Vance, Lieutenant Burch, and Jacqueline Searles chose that moment to step into the room, followed by Lieutenant Reed and the two MACOs.
Burch wasted no time handing Stiles a small padd, which the first mate studied with a steadily lengthening face.
“Heres a copy of my report, Mister Stiles, Burch said as he pushed a pair of old-style reading glasses onto the thatch of graying blond hair at the top of his head. “As Ive already explained to Captain Vance, this vessel is going to need some serious repairs before shes back up to UESPA code. Burch shook his head. “Dont ask me whats been holding your life-support system together.
“Clean living and noble intentions, for the most part, Vance said, looking vaguely dyspeptic. “The repairs will be expensive ones, no doubt.
“No doubt, Burch said. “Youve either just flown this ship through the flames of hell and back, or else youve been deferring your major maintenance problems and ignoring component-replacement issues for years.
Vance responded with a noncommittal smile. “Lets just say that the vicissitudes of interstellar trade have lately placed some severe limitations on my ability to keep this vessel in factory condition. And all the uncertainty and confusion surrounding the formation of the new Coalition hasnt helped matters any.
Archers brow furrowed. “Uncertainty and confusion, Captain? Its funny how law and order can make everything look uncertain and confusing. Particularly when youve gotten used to making a living in the absence of law and order, that is.
Vances smile grew ironic. “A pity you werent here to explain the newly lawful and orderly status quo to the Orions and the Nausicaans. Particularly the last few times they decided to deprive me of my cargo.
Vances earlier reference to the pleasure worlds he favored when his vessel was at liberty sprang abruptly into Mayweathers mind. Having lived in space all his life, he understood better than most that the interstellar hauling trade favored neither the lazy nor the libertine, though he also knew that brains counted for at least as much as hard work did. And he could see that this self-styled pirate was certainly not lacking in brains. Maybe if he spent more time working and less time partying, he thought, hed be able to afford to keep his ship from falling apart around his ears.
“We can tow you back to one of the drydock facilities at Altair VI in just a few hours, Captain, Burch said.
“And Im to pay for their services with what, Lieutenant? Vance said, sounding angry now that his embarrassing state of financial disarray had at last been laid totally bare. “My credit with the Altair VI port authority is, shall we say, less than sterling at the moment. My cargo is already spoken for, so I cant simply trade it away. Besides, the fine, upstanding citizens of Darro-Miller will want hard currency, and I wont be flush again until after the Maru s current voyage concludes.
“In the state shes in right now, Captain, the Maru s voyage is already over, Burch said. “Im sorry.
Though Vance looked deflated, his tendency toward bravado hadnt deserted him entirely. Addressing Archer, he said, “You wouldnt be interested in floating us a temporary loan, would you?
Except for the faint clatter of metal forks against lightweight aerogel plates, a sudden hush blanketed the room. The crewmen and technicians who were eating at the tables along the opposite wall made a show of ignoring the tableau, though they had to have heard every word. Stiles looked like he wanted nothing more than simply to crawl away somewhere and die with whatever slender shreds of dignity remained to him. Mayweather