“And the Gamble? Is the situation up there stable?” Ohm asked.

“Now it is, Captain. There were… complications. And I must warn you that our vessel has undergone some changes.”

“Changes,” I repeated.

“Changes?” Ohm’s query took on a somewhat shrill edge.

“Changes,” Nuts nodded. She and Guts were clearly eager to go on up, and see.

“It’s all in my report.” And Talon offered each of us small, stretchy swatches of cloth. Info-hoodies that we could throw over our heads to get a full, Six-D download, in sense-around and smell-o-vision. And how I was tempted! Clearly, there was one helluva story here.

I never saw Captain Ohm exert as much self-control as he did at that moment, overcoming his impetuous impulses and forcing himself to stuff the hoodie into a pocket.

“Well, if the ship is safe and stable—”

“—for now, sir.”

“—the situation down here on the planet most definitely isn’t! First order of business, then. We’ll need to defend this valley and our landing beachhead tonight against a variety of highly unusual and dangerously hostile life forms.”

“We’ve grown accustomed to doing that a fair amount lately, sir,” commented Lieutenant Commander Taken. And I noticed something about her – similar to the security team. A much-lessened sense of formality, but what seemed a greater ability to concentrate than I was used to, from demmies.

“I’ll get right on it, sir,” she concluded, tossing off a casual salute before heading over to consult the security detail. Captain Fu Tichi and Cuspitui accompanied her. Soon they could be seen making lavish hand motions, describing – amid much miming of fangs – the variety of local predatory forms, living and undead. Except for a brief glint of demmie wonder, her reaction to tales of vampires and such seemed admirably calm, even insouciant.

I admit that my gaze spent some seconds following Nota Taken, while Ohm gave a rapid rundown to Talon and the others. She was no longer the flighty, smitten junior officer I had known. Not at all. Moreover, despite a flaming curiosity to know what had befallen our ship and comrades, I took consolation in one fact. That tonight I just might sleep well, for a change.

There would be no fear of Nomort attacks.

The Spertins in our custody complained bitterly, howling that they would not accept being taken up, as prisoners, to our ship. Not if it entailed being dissolved and transported by slurry tube.

“It’s against the rules of war!” declared Earl Dragonlord. “A clear violation of the Outer Slobovian Convention!” They demanded conveyance sensibly, in an orbital shuttle.