Let's Make a Deal (Bob and Nikki Book 11)
“All we can do is wait for the next Squirrel ship to come out of FTL, and see how it acts.”Rikki said, “Supposedly, the Ambassador is already on his way.”
I said, “I’m sure he’ll arrive at the most inconvenient time possible. I wonder what they want to negotiate for?”
Joshua said, “I would think a non-aggression pact would probably be the top of the list. They seem to be scared of this fleet you have.”
“Did you see a fleet when you flew in?”
“No, I didn’t. I presume that means you have them hidden somewhere while your crew brings them back to good condition.” I looked at Nikki. “I think he’s been around me enough to know how I work, don’t you?”
“So it would seem, Caveman.” I looked back at Joshua. “Besides, they’re not all being repaired. Some of them have already been brought up to operating condition, and are on a mission.” Shock, on a Squirrel’s face, is a hard thing to see, and not laugh. I nearly did it, but Nikki giggled, and I was done for. Joshua tried hard to look offended, but soon he was laughing, too. Rikki sat and waited, not understanding. Joshua said, when he was moving air again, “Rikki, you have to understand. Our relatives on their planet are small nut-eaters, and are commonly the subject of internet humor. When I looked shocked, it looked just like one of those jokes. I would still like to know about this mission you were talking about, though, Bob.”
“Nothing much, just relocating some colonists who had chosen their home poorly.”
“I guess I’m missing something. You’ve had plenty of freighters to do as big of a move as you wanted for quite some time now. Why move them now, just because you have the fleet?”
“First, the planet they were on made them mean, and they weren’t going to go peacefully, so we had to wait until we had enough Marines to round them up without hurting them. Second, until I talked to one of the ships we salvaged, I had no idea where to put them. Third, it’s a good opportunity for one of my new Captains to get some experience.” Joshua turned to Nikki. “He always makes it sound so simple, doesn’t he?”
She replied, “Just because it is simple, doesn’t mean it is easily accomplished. I think maybe you are confusing simple with straightforward. Just because there aren’t many steps to accomplish, doesn’t mean that the individual steps are easy.”
“Maybe. But it just flows when he does it.”
“He’s been worrying about what to do for those people for a few weeks, now. He knew what he needed to have to fix their problem, but not how to get it. Suddenly, everything he needed to make his plan work fell into his lap. He just set the plan in motion. From the outside, it looks really quick, but when you’ve seen him sweat the details for weeks, it just looks like it happened the way he planned it.”
“You mean he worked out all the problems in his head, beforehand, and then just worked the plan?”
“Yep. He usually works that way.”
I said, “You two talking about me like a lab rat isn’t really my favorite thing, you know?”
Nikki said, “Sorry, Hon. You just do things differently than most people, that’s all.”
“I’m supposed to wait till the crap hits the fan to figure out what to do, when it does? All that does is make me make bad decisions in a hurry, and mess up. I don’t like to mess up.” We talked for a while after that, enjoying the company and the downtime. I should have known it wouldn’t last. My comm rang. “Commodore Wilson.”
Topper said, “Boss, we have company. Biggest Squirrel ship I’ve seen. They aren’t attacking, but I would feel a lot better with you in the big chair.”
“Keep them occupied, I’ll be there ass-ape.” Ozzie’s Toy lit up, as Ace got her ready to fly. The four Marines of my protective detail appeared out of the night. Suddenly, Nikki was growing out of my hip, saying, “You’re not leaving me behind again, Caveman. Let’s go! Snitz saw what was happening, and beat us all to the ship. I called over my shoulder, “See you guys later.” We were barely through the hatch when Ace lifted, shouting, “Get that hatch secured. Vacuum in thirty seconds.” Ace pushed the limits a bit, because we could feel some acceleration, over the compensators. Nikki and I grabbed seats, and the Marines braced. Snitz jumped in my lap. Ace put Morning Flower on the speaker when she called and said, “Fly safe, Bawb.”
“You, too, Morning Flower.” Right after that, I felt us go into FTL. Good thing there were no Patrol regulations in this system. The next thing I felt was the ship docking aboard the Gene. The hatch started to open, and I ran for it, Nikki and Snitz right behind. I recognized Launch Bay 2, and ran for the passage to the bridge. Nikki and Snitz were right behind me. I blew through the door of the bridge, and Saucy hollered, “Commodore on the bridge!”
I responded, “As you were. Report!”
Topper said, “They jumped in, and they have just been waiting. No threats, they haven’t charged any weapons.”
Sue said, “Transponder code, Boss. It’s the one you gave Captain Dressi, the Elder.”
“Saucy, see if you can raise him. My ship, Topper.”
“I stand relieved, Boss.” Natti came on the screen, in fancier clothes than I had seen him wear before. He said, “Sorry to disturb your downtime, Commodore. It is good to see you again, though.”
“Good to see you, as well. Do you have a new title, to go with your new clothes?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. I am the Ambassador from the Oak Empire to Bob’s Saucer Repair.”
“Nice to meet you, Ambassador.