There were no docking fees due and as soon as the Clever Dream landed a crew attached refuelling hoses. Sadly, Aucharia wasn't willing to pay Alice's fuel bill, but Jake had loaned her the credits for a full refill. She'd pay him back even though he insisted it was only fair. He expected she'd be using the Clever Dream for the Triton's purposes fairly often.
“Do you think you'll stay on?” Asked Stephanie, speaking for the first time since the refugees had been offloaded..
Alice looked at the white stone archway marking the edge of Hubert Burough. The homes were nearly piled atop each other, alleys were covered by walkways and hanging laundry. “I like Jacob. I wouldn't admit to myself before but I wasn't sure I would. I like the Triton and everyone from the Samson too,” she smiled at Stephanie, who smirked back.
“Sounds like a yes to me,” Frost concluded, elbowing her gently.
“Well, I come with my own share of trouble. I'll have to see what Jake says about it when he knows my whole story.”
“You haven't seen trouble. Captain may be well respected in this sector, but he's given some people a lot of reasons to gun for him,” Stephanie reassured. “I'm sure he'll understand, and hope he doesn't return the favour and give you his whole story.”
“Aye, that could take a bit,” Frost agreed. “I heard you're looking to serve on the bridge.”
“So have I. Word is spreading around the ship,” Stephanie added.
“Jacob actually asked after I said something about the Triton not having a first officer. I didn't think about it before then, but the more I picture it, the more I want the post.”
“You don't find it intimidating?”
“No, the systems are pretty easy to operate and I like the Chiefs he's chosen. I think everyone will know what they're doing before long if they don't already. It should be relatively easy.”
“'Easy' she says as she talks about takin' command of a combat carrier for twelve hours at a time,” Frost said with a chuckle. “You're more of your father than you look.”
Alice didn't say anything, just looked at the crowded streets as she tried to let the awkward moment pass. It didn't. The silence was more stifling than anything. “I'm not actually his daughter. It's complicated, but Jonas is actually more responsible for both of us being here.”
“Ah, Jonas is your father,” Frost concluded.
“No, um,” Alice hesitated a moment. “I used to be his artificial intelligence until I found a way to transfer myself into this body,” she blurted out.
They both looked at her for a moment before focusing their attention on the dusty street ahead. They had come into a walkway surrounded by three and four storey buildings. There were a reasonable number of people about, and it was a busy space but it wasn't crowded. “Good choice,” Stephanie said with a quick appraising look.
“I'll say,” Frost agreed, only he seemed a little more serious.
Alice laughed. “Thanks I guess. There really wasn't much choice to it, this one's memories had been cleared out. Like I said, long story.”
“Sounds like,” Frost nodded.
“This friend of yours, is he anywhere nearby?” Stephanie asked Frost.
“A few city blocks. We should be there in twenty minutes or so.”
“How reliable is he for this kind of intel?”
“It's part of his business. Smugglin', piracy, dock raidin' and the like.”
“Dock raiding?” Alice asked.
“Aye, it's when you wait for a warehouse to load up with a shipment and come in a few hours before the transport gets there. Some are real pro's and have fake IDs that'll get them a big shipment for nothin' while others aren't.”
“What do they do to get the cargo?”
“They break in, kill who they have to and make off with what they can before law comes after 'em. My connection here doesn't like that kind of business.”
“I could imagine.”
“My point is, he'll be happy to give us info on some big convoys that most of his people don't have the firepower to hit for a deposit. There's some other info he's offerin', like locations of transmitter nodes an' such.”
“He'll want a deposit?” Stephanie asked.
“Aye. We can get it back when we give him his cut of the take.”
“And if we don't give him his cut?”
“He keeps our deposit. No hard feelings. Good way to do business.”
“Sounds a little off to me,” Stephanie concluded.
“Well, he isn't exactly a law abidin' citizen, that's why you're here.”
“Oh, so you think I'm here to protect you?” Stephanie asked, showing a little irritation.
“I don't need your protection, lass. More likely you'll need mine 'round this place.” Frost shot back. “Besides, why else would Captain send you down?”
“I have to sign off on some recruits from the municipality. If we're lucky you'll have a gunnery crew by the end of the day. The first of them are already being transported to the Triton. ”
“I was plannin' on hittin' a few pubs, pullin' crew from there.”
“Oh, I see that turning out well.” Stephanie commented sarcastically.
“Better than a bunch of jobbers. I'd rather hire desperate folk from the edge who'll do anythin' than a bunch who're just usin' the post ta get to the next port.”
“Captain's well known here and they don't get on this list unless they have qualifications. He's paying two hundred credits a head for the port to clear them, so we know we'll be getting people who can at least learn to work for you. It beats bringing a bunch of random thugs aboard.”
“They're supposed to be my gunnery crew, why didn't Captain say anythin'?”
“Maybe he thought you'd cancel the whole deal to hire out of a pub somewhere,” Stephanie said with a sigh.
Alice burst out laughing and put her arms across both of their shoulders. “This is why I rather travel with friends. The entertainment,” she gave them a squeeze, barely reaching across Frost's shoulders, fully reaching around Stephanie's, then let them go.
Stephanie smiled at her and nodded. “The galaxy's better in good company.”
“Well, if you're going to the port authority buildin', this is where we part ways,” Frost said coolly. “Just head down Chara street and you'll see it after five or so minutes. I'll see you back at the ship in half an hour.”
“Aye,” Stephanie acknowledged.
“See you later Frost.” Alice smiled.
He walked off into an alley and before he could get out of earshot Stephanie called after him. “Be careful!”
Stephanie and Alice followed the walkway for a while until it rejoined the main street. The many commercial and government spaces were lined up all along the lower level of the old colony ship. It had been lowered into the ground so the widest point, several kilometres across from what they could see, was at street level. The buildings around the colony ship were taller, more expensive in appearance as they got closer. The four and five storey buildings made of brick and old hulls were replaced with ten and fifteen storey buildings sculpted from metal and heavy concrete.
“So he's really using a head hunter service?” Alice asked.
“It was my idea, actually. I knew Frost was hurting to get a gunnery crew up and running. I could use a few mercenaries, and we need a lot of maintenance and repair staff.”
“So you were thinking of Frost first.”
“No. Well, sure I was. But what is a ship like that without gunnery crews? I mean, we don't even have a fighter wing set up.”
“Uh-huh. All for the good of the ship,” Alice teased with a smile.
“You're as bad as Ashley.”
“So how well crewed will we be once they've loaded up?”
“Let's just say we'll be running a good rotation. We still need pilots if we start manufacturing fighters, a few more mechanics to maintain them, but for the time being we'll have the crew we need to run the ship and not put everyone on double shifts. It's hard trying to keep everyone on eight and twelve hour duty shifts when we really need everyone sixteen hours on, eight off.”