The Bright Black Sea Read Free Page B

that trust, to be loyal to their memory and shipping
line, you rear up and protest. This isn't about me, Litang. Its
about protecting their legacy. And it's about following orders
whether you like them or not,' he said, ending with a fierce
glare.
    'Captain Miccall also taught me how to be a tramp
ship's captain. I know what's required of me and I'm afraid
I must respectfully decline to proceed with this scheme as
proposed.'
    'You're required to follow these orders...' he
flared.
    I shook my head. 'I think not.'
    The “Night Hawk Line” existed only in Captain Hawker
Vinden's mind. As the majority owner of the nine tramp ships, he
operated his ships co-operatively as a “line” though in fact, each
ship was set up as a separate company. (Several, in fact.) The Lost Star and Comet King are two distinct companies.
Min & Co. may “manage” our operations but I'm the operating
officer of the Lost Star and only needed to concern myself
with the Lost Star . Loyalty cuts both ways, they hadn't
consulted me, so blast Jann's cant of loyalty.
    I continued, 'I am responsible to my owner, which, at
this point is the Ministry of Probate. I've received neither
authorization nor instructions from the Ministry, nor from Min
& Co to take on your cargo...'
    'I can show you the radio-packets from Tallith Min
confirming the orders to transfer my cargo to the Lost
Star .'
    'Oh, I believe you. But, I've no orders. Now as a
general rule I'm quite prepared to follow instructions from Min
& Co without such formality, but not in this case. I don't need
your cargo for Min's plan to work. And while I see the clear
advantage of only one of us going on to Calissant, I don't see any
reason why it has to be me.'
    'I'll have Min send you orders to that effect.'
    'I'm afraid I'm rather pressed for time.' And reached
out to touch the communicator field on the desktop, opened a line
to my first mate standing watch on the bridge. 'Illy, please advise
Riv and Eljor that we'll be leaving orbit within the hour.' I
closed the link and looked to Jann, 'I'm going to have to cut this
short, we're behind schedule and need to sail. You're welcome to
travel on to Calissant as my guest, Captain, but I'm sure you'd
rather travel aboard your own ship.'
    'You wouldn't dare, Litang. It'll break you.'
    'Maybe. Likely. No matter. Our crews are old tramp
hands. They know how planets spin and Night Hawk Line operates.
They'd know the Comet King could sail to Calissant just as
readily as the Lost Star . And they'd know you can't force me
to take on your blasted cargo. I'm not certain it's even within the
scope of Min & Co's operating authority. You can only try to
intimidate, but I've so little to lose I can't be intimidated.
You've no lift.'
    'Listen, Litang,' he growled rising to his feet and
leaning over the desk, not that it was any obstacle in free fall.
'I don't give a damn what your shipmates think and neither should
you. I'm the one you don't want to cross. You don't want to cross
me.'
    'Blast away,' I fired back. Then more pleasantly
added, 'Really, Captain, you've tried your line and failed to make
orbit. Roles reversed, I may've tried the same line myself. No hard
feelings. However, I don't need the ghost of Captain Miccall
standing over my shoulder to tell me how you and he would've
settled this. I won't settle for anything less.'
    He stood glaring down at me for several very long
seconds, giving me the impression he was weighing his chances of
getting away with murder.
    Finally he growled, 'Get them out.'
    I let out my breath.
     
     
     

Chapter 03 Pinelea Orbit
     
    Pinelea orbit, 194 days out of Calissant orbit.
    'Have it, Tilli,' I radioed, as I felt the cargo
crane latch on to the shipping container. A green light on the
console confirmed it.
    'It's yours,' replied Tilli, releasing the container
from the lighter's cargo arm and clearing the last red light.
    We were over the night side of Pinelea, its cities
glowing jewels in the velvet darkness beneath us.