I really wanted to run some experiments.
"No, this crew is still getting used to me and to us. We aren't going to reward overwhelming success with imprisonment. Whatever she is now, we'll work with her."
I was disappointed, but it wasn't illogical. The complexities of crew morale were... well, complicated. In an ideal universe all would be resolved by the correct provision of cookies, but I'd already seen reality could be more difficult. I really would need to discover more cookie recipes, or perhaps the original theory needed refinement.
"I'll keep watch on her. It can't be any more unpleasant than keeping my sensors on you," I said.
"Good. Can you configure a proper hanger for the Graven?" Anna asked.
I couldn't create space out of nothing. Still, between the original Mist attack and battles since, the Wolves were down in some numbers. Downsizing their cabin space and equipment stores gave me some room on that deck.
"I can. Although it will mean decreasing the maximum number of Wolves we can support," I said. "Hardly a sacrifice. They pee on the floor nearly as much as you do."
"I don't do that anymore," Anna said primly. "And only ever did, because someone failed to build the proper facilities. Speaking of which, how are things on the backend? Can we support an increase in crew size?"
"We can. Due to some past choices I made, we actually have a surplus of food in spite of your appetite. Our limiting factor is cabin space, but with existing capacity we could hold another forty crew," I said.
"I'll give the departments leave to recruit when we get back to port," Anna said.
More humans, or some variation thereof. I'd never thought I would have quite so many of them to put up with.
On the plus side, with the capture of the Graven there were lots of new systems to research. The cannons on Scholar ships were massive, they had to be, but with those on the Graven being considerably more compact I had hopes they could shed light on some sort of portable beam weaponry. The acid guns were functional, but little use against something like energy shields.
We had a slow journey back to Reevesport. While the engines hadn't taken much damage pretty much every other system was barely functional. I didn't feel the need to mask our damage this time, we weren't defenseless.
18
"I thought you'd be competent enough not to destroy your ship with a simple job."
That was Cutout and he wasn't happy. We'd docked without incident, but upon receiving our updated list of supplies needed for repairs Anna was busy getting chewed out.
"With all these well-connected targets you want to shake up, what do you expect? We shook things up," Anna said. She had gone along with a Wolf and my human drone Candice to meet with Cutout at a local bar. The place looked as seedy as he did.
"Yes. Thank you for giving a Righteous warship to the Descari Cartel, that helps my position out considerably," Cutout said, dripping with sarcasm.
"It isn't usable. At best they’re getting salvage out of it and for that, instead of losing one ship, they've lost three. You should be giving us a bonus," Anna said.
Cutout grunted at that. "They got a good look at you, if as you carrying around the Graven wasn't clue enough. They'll be coming for you."
"Then I guess you'd better give us our supplies so you can still get some use out of us while you can," Anna said.
"Screw up again, little Queen, and I'll show you I'm a man to be feared," Cutout said, and he flickered out of existence.
Anna stared at his empty chair for several moments before saying. "Make sure we have a testing cell arranged for him."
At the ship we were starting to receive supplies. They weren't what I hoped for. There was enough for us to get the hull back in good order and repair the thrusters, but some of the specialized compounds to repair our main guns were lacking. So were the requested compounds so we could fix the dimensional drive.
"He's shorting us on our supplies again. It looks like he wants to keep us here and relatively helpless," I said.
Anna drummed her fingers on the tabletop. "He mentioned the Descari Cartel. I don't know them. Have you picked up anything about them from any broadcasts?"
"They're important locally. For a leadership structure, they've oddly enough chosen not to go with the beggar Queen model. The city is run by the head of five powerful interests. They're one of them," I said.
"I may come from nothing, but I don't beg," Anna said, folding her arms. "What do you think the odds are our other two targets have links to seats on this council?"
It would make sense if Cutout were trying to rile them up. Humans were always looking for an excuse to turn on each other.
"I'd say that is likely. Why?" I asked.
"Change of plans. We don't need three powerful enemies, and if Cutout is looking like he is going to betray us we need to betray him first. Have Mechos and Ophelia look into the Descari Cartel, especially their resources. We need to get the rest of your systems operational," Anna said.
"You want to rob them blind. You're right, you're a thief, not a beggar," I said.
"I never claimed to be anything else," Anna said with a thin smile.
"While we're being larcenous, I've identified a few Powered individuals in the city."
"Abduction or murder isn't actually larceny," Anna said.
Technical accuracy was the best sort. How very infuriating.
"Oh, look. The girl who never had a date studied the dictionary during all her lonely nights. Being a grammarian will surely drive the boys wild.” I changed the subject. We'd been focusing quite enough on the things the humans needed and not enough on me. If I wasn't going to get to study Ophelia, I needed something else. “I want test subjects."
"Fine. Find us some targets. We need to make sure you can actually, successfully hold targets in the airship anyways," Anna said.
"I've got one in mind. Goes by the name of Lotus."
"Sounds like a stripper. Don't tell me she goes around naked and covered in vines?"
"This isn't your fantasy life. Lotus makes plants grow exceptionally quickly and far healthier than usual," I said.
Anna said wryly, "Take away the plants and it sounds like a fantasy life to me. Really, that has to be the lamest ability ever. You're hoping to use it with the plants you've gotten from the jungle?"
That was exactly what I had in mind. With my defenses and systems increasingly integrating biological components, and with some of those botanical, it made sense to be able to enhance them.
"Exactly. I didn't think we'd be able to get at Lotus, but if your endless bloodlust and bestial savagery wants to go to war with the Descari Cartel anyways, then for once your flaws can work to our advantage," I said.
"Wait? They have Lotus? Why?" Anna asked.
"Drugs. They have a rather extensive operation for growing and refining them. Unlike you, thievery is actually something of a sideline for them. Their major income comes from pharmaceuticals," I said.
Anna gave a smile that looked suddenly feral. "Perfect. You'll get her. If we can hit them where it hurts, it won't just weaken their ability to strike at us. It’s going to force them to divert their security to those assets."
Anna did have something of a gift when it came to crime. I wasn't certain this was entirely Queenly but then, I was her partner and not her subject. It suited my ends well.
"The others are recruiting. I hope you don't mind, but I enhanced Hot Stuff a bit so she'll be a bit less fatal to her partners," I said.
Anna frowned. "What kind of percentages was she running?"
"Around fifteen percent survived," I said.
"Worst lay ever," Anna said. Hot Stuff's particular ability was passed on via sexual contact.