“Request authorization and validation for download, then,” Heathrow instructed her after a moment.

“Transmitting now,” Howard said, and punched a key at her console. She watched her display, listening to her earbug carefully, then grunted in satisfaction. “Receipt code validation confirmed, Sir,” she said. “The crypto files are unlocking now.” She sat for several more seconds, watching the display flicker and dance as her onboard computers communed with those on the planet below in a cyber-speed game of challenge and response. Then a bright green code flashed, and she looked over her shoulder at Heathrow.

“Master encryption unlock confirmed, Sir. The message queue is uploading now. Time for full data dump nine minutes, ten seconds.”

“Excellent, Irene. That was smoothly done.”

“Thank you, Sir!” Howard beamed like a puppy with a new chew toy, and Heathrow made a mental note to speak to her about her mode of address after all. She was a good kid, and he wouldn’t be doing her any favors if he got her into the habit of using recidivist modes of address. At the same time, it wouldn’t do to hammer her hard over it all of a sudden. Better to wait and speak to her off-watch—or better yet, let Bouret talk to her. He was closer to her rank and age, and it wouldn’t sound as threatening coming from him. Besides, if Heathrow spoke to her himself, he’d almost have to sound as if he were reprimanding her for something… or else risk sounding as if he thought the whole “Citizen This” and “Citizen the Other” business was stupid. Which he did, but letting anyone else know that wouldn’t be the very wisest thing he could possibly do.

He frowned and rubbed his chin, letting his mind play with the best way to go about it, then shrugged. He’d find an approach that worked… and he’d have plenty of time to hunt for it, too. They had two more stops after Hades before they returned to Shilo and hoped Shilo State Security would finally release them for their interrupted trip to the Haven System, after all.

Yeah, and we’re not going to get offered any R&R at this stop, he thought. Not that I really want to complain. Voluntarily spend leave time surrounded by an entire island full of SS goons? Uh-uh, not Ms. Heathrow’s little boy Edgar! I’m sure there have to be some perfectly nice people in State Security. It’s just that I’ve never met any of them… and somehow I doubt I’d run into them among the garrison of a top secret, maximum security prison!

He chuckled at the thought, then stirred as Howard spoke again.

“Message dump complete, Sir.”

“Was there any ’reply expected’ code on the message queue?” Heathrow asked.

“Uh, yes, Sir. Sorry, Sir. I should have reported that already. I didn’t—”

“When I think you need chewing out, Irene, I’ll chew you out all on my own,” Heathrow said mildly. “Until that happens, take it a little easy on yourself.”