Page 316 of Commander’s Mate

Thousands of possible prisoners.

Too many for two dreadnoughts.

No transport capacity.

No safe plan yet.

The problem was enormous.

That no longer made me want to run.

It made me want columns.

Names.

Ship berths.

Medical capacity.

Routes.

Food.

Water.

Destination preferences.

Family links.

Skills.

People who could help build the next rescue.

I looked at Zared.

“One condition.”

“Only one?”

“For now.”

He waited.

“If I take this job, I get to tell command no.”

“Command may ignore you.”

“Then I get to document that command ignored me.”

His eyes narrowed.

“That is threatening.”

“It is extremely Earth.”

He considered.

“Accepted.”