Page 244 of Commander’s Mate

I distrusted it.

“Security flow.”

“No.”

“You didn’t even hear it.”

“I know you.”

“She found a problem,” Harper said.

I looked at her.

“Explain.”

Scarlet brought up the intake-bay plan.

“You have three shuttle unload points feeding into one medical corridor. If anyone panics, if a survivor attacks a guard, or if one shuttle comes in hot with enemy pursuit, you bottleneck the entire bay.”

A ground captain frowned.

“She is correct.”

Scarlet looked smug.

I disliked that too.

“What do you recommend?”

“Separate medical red cases from ambulatory intake before they hit the main corridor. Keep armed soldiers visible but back from the first contact line. Survivors see weapons first, they may assume recapture.”

Nora added, “And no helmets in intake unless there is an active threat.”

The room went quiet.

Farseek officers did not enjoy being told when to remove armor.

I looked at Degatu.

He shrugged.

“Your mate’s people.”

Harper crossed her arms.

“They are becoming your people too.”

That landed.

I looked around the room.

At Farseek officers.

Earth women.

Haloran med-techs.

Rescued engineers.