“You mean Young didn’t even—?” Honor shut her mouth with a click before she said something even more revealing, and the commissioner coughed into her hand to hide a laugh.

“Very well, Commissioner, I think we can handle that. Give me a day or two to work out the details, and I’ll have a pair of cutters on permanent standby for shuttle inspection. If you can spare me whoever you’ve had managing the situation from your end, I’d like a chance to pick their brains before we set it up.”

“Done,” Dame Estelle said promptly.

“I’d also like to set up some sort of permanent liaison officer,” Honor went on thoughtfully. “I had to detach almost ten percent of my naval personnel to provide customs parties and security personnel for Basilisk Control—” she ignored the commissioner’s raised eyebrows “—and that leaves me more understrength than I’d like. I imagine it’s going to get worse when we start controlling and inspecting shuttle traffic, too. Do you have someone you could assign to me to coordinate with your office?”

“I not only can provide you a liaison officer, Commander, but I will be delighted to do so. And I think I have just the man for you. Major Barney Isvarian is my senior NPA field man, but he was a Marine sergeant before he retired and moved over to my side of the street. I wouldn’t want him off-planet on any long-term basis, but I could certainly lend him to you for a few days. He’s a good man and an old Medusa hand, and he’s been involved in our own shuttle inspection efforts. How does that sound?”

“It sounds just fine, Commissioner,” Honor said with a smile. She rose, extending her hand once more while Nimitz flowed back up to her shoulder. “Thank you. And thank you for the background, as well. I won’t tie up any more of your time, but please feel free to screen me if there’s anything I can do for you or if there’s anything you feel should be called to my attention.”

“I certainly will, Commander.” Dame Estelle stood to grasp her hand once more, and her eyes were warm. “And thank you.” She didn’t specify exactly what she was thanking her for, and Honor suppressed a wry snort of amusement.

The commissioner walked around her desk to escort her to the door and paused for another handshake before she left. The door slid shut, and Dame Estelle returned to her chair with a bemused expression. She sat and pressed a button on her communications panel.

“George, get hold of Barney Isvarian, would you? I’ve got a new job for him.”

“Right,” her executive assistant said laconically, then paused. “How’d it go, boss?” he asked after a moment.

“It went well, George. In fact, I think it went very well,” Dame Estelle said, and released the button with a smile.

Chapter Ten

“—NO help at all. So since the Navy wasn’t available, we’ve just done the best we could on our own, Commander.” Major Barney Isvarian, Medusan Native Protection Agency, was a short, sturdy man. He sat almost painfully erect in the comfortable chair, his Marine background showing in his discomfort at sitting in the presence of a warship’s captain, but there was no apology in his face or voice.