Chapter Six
“By the seven moons of Myrios, that’s a big bloody ship,” breathed Giles.
The image of an enormous pleasure liner dominated the main screen of the command deck. Long and sleek, like a great stellar whale, the cruise liner dwarfed the size of theMaracaibo, or indeed of anything in space, except for military capital ships.
“TheStella Maris,” said Jack with deep satisfaction. “Worth an absolute bloody fortune. Losing it will cost our enemies deeply.”
“And how is that going to fill our coffers, Captain?” asked Quinn skeptically. “Scuttling a ship may cost someone else, but how does it make us money?”
“First, that whale of a ship is filled with enough supplies to keep the crew of theMaracaibogoing for the rest of the year and then some,” said Jack, counting on his fingers. “Second, we’re not going to scuttle it. I have some buyers lined up.”
“Buyers?” snorted Giles. “Who the hell is going to buy a stolen luxury liner? Anyone who tries to sail that thing will be picked up and thrown in prison. Not to mention it takes a small army to crew a monster like that, and we don’t have the people to do it.”
“That’s why I get paid the big bucks, Giles,” said Jack, laughing. “I’ve got a plan, and it doesn’t involve sailing that thing.”
“What happened to cards on the table,” grumbled Giles.
“Fine,” said Jack. “This time it actually was Felipesegundo’s idea; I just put a bow on it.”
The diminutive Treb blushed and coughed. “This one knows that the captain is too kind,” he said.
Quinn smiled warmly at the Treb, a smile she rarely bestowed on anyone. “Please, Felipsegundo, share your idea with us.”
The alien cleared his throat once more. “My fellow shipmates know that this one was once enslaved. Many of this one’s people have been, and we find ourselves without a home. Returning to Trebizond is effectively impossible for many of us, for many, many reasons. TheStella Mariscould be a new home for displaced Trebs.”
“It’s an intriguing idea,” said Giles. “But how?”
“Well,” said Felipesegundo, “if you were to take the luxury liner and land it on a planet, then it could be a home for thousands of this one’s people.”
“Wait,” said Quinn, frowning. “That’s an interplanetary starship. You land it on a planet, it’s never taking off again.”
“Precisely,” replied the Treb with a nod. “Instead, it becomes a small city, with its own power source, plumbing, sanitation, and means of food processing and distribution, as well as comfortable habitation. This would take a certain amount of work, but this one’s people are not afraid of hard work.”
“Hmm,” said Giles, rubbing his chin. “Similar things have been done with colony ships on distant worlds. Theoretically, it’s quite possible.”
“As you say, Master Giles,” said Felipesegundo enthusiastically. “This one’s fellow Trebs have developed a very workable plan for how this can be done. As well as the resources required to pay for both the planetary retrofitting of theStella Marisand a modest commission to theMaracaibofor the crew’s assistance.”
“What sort of commission?” asked Quinn. The Treb typed out a figure on a tablet and showed it to them.
“Great Balthasar’s Ghost!” exclaimed Giles. “Felipesegundo, you’ve been holding out on us!” Quinn’s eyebrows rose up high on her forehead.
The alien blushed again. “This represents much of the savings of this one’s displaced people. It has been a dream of ours for a long time, and many have contributed to making the dream a reality.”
Giles regarded the Treb in a new light. “There’s an awful lot going on beneath the surface of you, isn’t there?”
Felipesegundo gave him a cheeky grin.
“So there you have it,” said Jack. “We take theStella Maris, put its crew on lifeboats, and Felipesegundo’s colleagues sail it off to some hidden planet and start their new lives. We strike a nasty blow to the pocketbook of my sister’s enemies and collect a substantial paycheck into the bargain.”
“It’s a hell of a plan,” admitted Quinn. “Wait,” she said, turning back to the Treb. “Felipesegundo, are you staying with us, or going with your fellow Trebs?”
The alien lowered his eyes for a moment then looked back up and said quietly, “This one will be going with this one’s people. They have honored me by choosing me to be the first leader of our new community.”
“Mayor Felipesegundo,” said Giles, shaking his head. “Well, I’m sure no one deserves it more. But we’ll miss you, my dear fellow.”
“This one will miss you—all of you,” replied the Treb. He said solemnly, “The goodbye party you must throw this one will be terribly expensive.”
Everyone on the command deck burst into laughter.
