Downbelow Station by C. J. Cherryh Page B

had stopped meaning anything.
    Mazian’s Fleet—even they, even the likes of Mallory—had surely started differently.
    “I’m not going to challenge,” Tom told him, over a lunch they both drank more than ate.
    And after lunch he went to the small Adjustment facility over in red, and back into the treatment area. He saw Josh Talley. Talley did not see him, although perhaps it would not have mattered. Talley was resting at that hour, having eaten. The tray was still on the table, and he had eaten well. He sat on the bed with a curiously washed expression on his face, all the lines of strain erased.   ii Angelo looked up at the aide, took the report of the ship outbound and scanned the manifest, looked up. “Why Hansford?”
    The aide shifted his weight, distressed. “Sir?”
    “Two dozen ships idle and Hansford has a commission to launch? Unfitted? And with what crew?”
    “I think crew was hired off the inactive list, sir.”
    Angelo leafed through the report. “Lukas Company. Viking-bound with a stripped ship and a dock-bound crew and Dayin Jacoby for a passenger? Get Jon Lukas on the com.”
    “Sir,” the aide said, “the ship has already left dock.”
    “I can see the time. Get me Jon Lukas.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    The aide went out. In moments the screen on the desk went bright and Jon Lukas came on. Angelo took a deep breath, calmed himself, angled the report toward the pickup. “See that?”
    “You have a question?”
    “What’s going on here?”
    “We have holdings at Viking. Business to carry on. Shall we let our interest there sink into panic and disorder? They’re due some reassurance.” “With Hansford?”
    “We had an opportunity to engage a ship at below standard. Economics, Angelo.”
    “Is that all?”
    “I’m not sure I take your meaning.”
    “She carried nothing like full cargo. What kind of commodity do you plan to pick up at Viking?”
    “We carry as much as we can with Hansford in her present condition. She’ll refit there, where facilities are less crowded. Refitting is the hire for which we got her use, if you must know. What she carries will pay the bill; she’ll lade full on return, critical supplies. I’d think you’d be pleased. Dayin is aboard to supervise and to administer some business at our Viking office.” “You’re not minded, are you, that this full lading include Lukas Company personnel… or others? You’re not going to sell passage off Viking. You’re not going to pull that office out.”
    “Ah. That’s your concern.”
    “That has to be my concern when ships go out of here with no sufficient cargo to justify their moving, headed for a population we can’t handle if it panics. I’m telling you, Jon, we can’t take chances on some loose talk or some single company pulling its favored employees out and starting a panic on another station. You hear me?”
    “I did discuss the matter with Dayin. I assure you our mission is supportive.
    Commerce has to continue, doesn’t it, or we strangle. And before us, Viking.   Stations they rely on have collapsed. Let Viking start running into shortages and they may be here in our laps with no invitation. We’re taking them foodstuffs and chemicals; nothing Pell may run short of… and we have the only two usable holds on the ship fully loaded. Is every ship launched subject to this inquisition? I can provide you with the company books if you want to see them. I take this amiss. Whatever our private feelings, Angelo, I think Dayin deserves commendation for being willing to go out there under the circumstances.   It doesn’t deserve a fanfare—we asked for none—but we would have expected something other than accusations. Do you want the books, Angelo?” “Hardly. Thank you, Jon, and my apologies. So long as Dayin and your ship’s master appreciate the hazards. Every ship that launches is going to be scrutinized, yes. Nothing personal.”
    “Any questions you have, Angelo, so long as they’re equally