The captain squinted as he considered. “We’re going to start a massive data dump to Turalon’s computers as soon as they’re in orbit. Everything we’ve recorded since Ashanti spaced. After that, I’ve got about a third of my people saying they’ll opt to go home. Even knowing that the Solar System they knew is gone, they’re ready for people, excitement, and the rush and buzz of Transluna, Earth, or Mars. A few are thinking about calling it quits for a while, want to go dirtside at PA and warm the benches at Inga’s. Others want to prospect. And then I’ve got a core few who figure to make Vixen their home for the foreseeable future.”

He paused, started to say something, and winced.

“Go ahead, Captain. We’re long past any need to mince words.”

Torgussen nodded, took a breath. “I want your permission to ship Dortmund Weisbacher back to Solar System on a medical discharge. I don’t know the psychiatric term, but he’s creep-freaking batshit crazy. Just hides in his room for the most part. I want him off my ship, but he’s under your supervision.”

“Done.” Kalico nodded. “What else?”

He fixed her with serious eyes. “Supervisor, I’m going to need more crew to replace the losses. What are my chances of recruiting them from Abibi?”

Kalico ran a finger along the scar on her jaw. “We’ll have a better idea of that after this call. For all I know, Turalon is carrying orders that relieve me of my authority and demand my arrest. With thirty marines on board to back it up, I could be apprehended and locked away in an instant. The game of Corporate Board politics is not played by those of faint heart and timid spirit.”

“Seems to me that would be cutting their own throats. Not even those cherry-assed Boardmembers would be stupid enough to recall you after first Turalon and then Ashanti arrived with their holds bursting with rhodium, beryllium, platinum, and all those freaking big gem stones.”

“Captain, you’re a good man. Smart. Competent. And you probably think everyone is just like you. Well, you’re wrong. Never bet against either human or Corporate stupidity. These VIPs Turalon is carrying could be a new governing body for Donovan.”

Torgussen grunted. “How’s that going to go down? Even with thirty marines?”

“About as well as last time,” Kalico told him dryly as they walked out on Crew Deck and headed down the hall. “Even with thirty marines.”

Torgussen hit the hatch, and Kalico strode into Vixen’s Astrogation Control. The room wasn’t all that big, mostly consisting of the command staff’s workstations, the walls covered with monitors and holo projectors. This was the ship’s central nervous system, where Vixen’s AI interfaced with humans, decisions were made, and commands implemented.