[Black Fleet Crisis(27)
“he said finally. “I want them to stay, for old times. “
“Why, you old horse trader, you. Who’s been teaching you the art of the finagle? “
“You did, ” Lobot said. He closed his eyes and lowered his chin to his chest. The lights on his interface bar all flashed green, then all flashed red, then went dark. Raising his head, he opened his eyes and looked at Lando. “It’s too quiet. “
“Go ahead and leave a few channels open, then, ” Lando said, standing.
“Bring with you whatever you need to be comfortable. “
A few scattered lights on Lobot’s interface sprang back into activity.
“Better, ” he said. “Let’s go. What is my rank? What problems need solutions? “
“I’ll tell you all about it on the way. “
The Teljkon task force, seven vessels in all, had gathered in orbit around the sixth planet of the Coruscant system, where it would not so readily attract attention. Lady Luck was the last to join them and the smallest ship among them, save for a pilotless Intelligence ferret.
Lando’s yacht
was dwarfed
by Pakkpekatt’s
command ship,
the cruiserGlorious .
“I don’t like the looks of that heavy artillery, ” Lando said, sizing up the situation fromLady Luck’s cockpit. “I thought we were being sent to outsmart our quarry, not outgun it. “
“The fact that the vagabond disabled a frigate with apparent ease may have dictated the choice of a cruiser, ” Lobot said.
“I’m sure it did, ” Lando agreed. “I just don’t like the way things are shaping up. ” He reached for the comm unit. “This is General Lando Calrissian aboard theLady Luck , hailing theGlorious . Request permission to come aboard. “
“General Calrissian, sir, ” said a young-sounding voice. “This is Lieutenant Harona, officer of the day. We’ve been expecting you, sir. Would you like us to send out the captain’s boat? “
“I’m afraid there’s been some misunderstanding, Lieutenant. I’m not looking for a ride in. I’m looking for parking space on your flight deck. “
There was a static-filled pause, which ended when Harona cleared his throat. “General Calrissian, I’m afraid you’re right, there has been some confusion. Our flight decks are filled with mission gear and our own baby birds. There’s no room forLady Luck inboard. “
“Then make room, Lieutenant. Unless you were planning for our best speed to be your convoy speed. “
Lando thumbed the mute switch and added to Lobot, “Now we’ll find out if they know how fast my little ship really is. “
The second pause was longer. “Sir, Colonel Pakkpekatt suggests that you come aboardGlorious and let a relief crew ferry your yacht back to Coruscant. “
“Aha, ” said Lando. “That tells me that they’ve got it in their minds that I’m an observer. ” He released the mute switch. “Lieutenant Harona, we have our own mission gear aboard. Do I understand you to say Colonel Pakkpekatt is willing to hold here for another day or two while you set up secure holdings for file and equipment transfer? If so, put
your quartermaster on, and we’ll start telling him what we’ll need-“
“Uh, no, sir, that would not be the colonel’s first choice. “
Lando winked at Lobot. Now I’ve got them, he thought. “Lieutenant, maybe I should just talk to Colonel Pakkpekatt directly. “
They could almost hear the OD squirming. “Sir, the colonel is very busy at the moment with predeparture matters-“
“I’m sure he is. Tell you what, Lieutenant. I can solve your little problem for you without disturbing the colonel. I see that your Number Five external dock is open. You pull that cap and we’ll hook on there. “
“General Calrissian, I’m very sorry, but I can’t authorize that-“
“Then why are you wasting my time, Lieutenant? ” Lando said sharply. “Go get your senior officer and put him on the line. I want to talk to someone who can make a decision. And when we’re finished with our business-which should take about two minutes-I’m going to ask him to conduct a review of his bridge procedures and staff. I want him to find out why a flag officer and the Fleet Operations delegation to this mission were kept waiting while the officer of the day thumbed through the manual for a regulation to follow. “
The subsequent silence was the longest yet. “Lady Luck, Number Five External Hard Dock will be ready momentarily. Prepare for autodocking. “
“Thank you, Lieutenant, ” said Lando. “Lady Luckout. “