was quiet, though there was still much activity in the shadows. As the transport driver and his assistant popped out of the transport, Short Blade noticed they were dressed in civilian clothing. Both were wearing side arms and had carbines slung over their left shoulder. They nodded to Short Blade, and he directed them to where he wanted the boxes.
Ten minutes later, the boxes were stowed in the Phoenix’s secondary cargo hold. Again, the men nodded and took the ninety-nine units of Flem juice.
“Phoenix, can we test the AIs to ensure they work before we leave?” Short Blade inquired, realizing he could have been cheated.
“I am recognizing thirty-three units. I have the image that was installed on all Fire ships. I can install each one as both a test and as preparation. These units were not made by the Dixians. They came from Gray Panthers shuttles that were shot down on Dixie.”
“Will that be a problem?”
“It will make things easier, as the specifications are identical to those already delivered to the Jacka.” Short Blade let out a sigh of relief. He wanted to depart while everything was looking good. He then groaned when he realized his crew was still out partying.
“Phoenix, do you have locations for Guns and Jimmy?”
“Guns is with Patricia Culpepper in the orange tree orchard across from the plantation. Jimmy is with Gabriella Culpepper beside the plantation house on top of a picnic table. Do you want me to contact them?”
“No, let them have their fun. I don’t know when they’ll be around human females again. When they’re no longer occupied, let them both know that a transport will be at their hotel to pick up their belongings at 0500 and the shuttle will depart at 0630.”
“Sir, a vehicle is coming toward us. It is a standard sedan type, with only a driver.”
“It may be the officer President Davis spoke of.” Short Blade watched as a tiny woman got out of the vehicle and walk toward the shuttle. She’s the same height as me, at best, he thought.
“Hello, … in the shuttle … hello?” Carson was both nervous and alert as she looked around in the dark, waiting for a reply.
Short Blade poked his head out. “Come on inside. It’s a little cold out there for you, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is a little cool out here,” Carson replied.
“Come follow me.” Short Blade led her to the shuttle mess and ordered two hot chocolates. “Here, take this,” he said, handing the colonel the mug and gesturing for her to have a seat at the table.
“Captain Short Blade, I was ordered to give you a list of things we need. At this time, the only thing I can think of is transfer gel. We can make it ourselves, but the product made by the Republic is of higher quality and cheaper to buy than it is for us to produce.”
Short Blade decided to give the Dixian a little test.
“I don’t think that will be a problem. If I could get a down payment of, say, one thousand bottles of the marriage wine, that would be very helpful.”
The colonel was confused at first, but then she realized that Short Blade was testing her. It occurred to her that she could contact a distant cousin of hers who lived in a monastery that produced the ceremonial wine.
“When will you be departing, Captain?” she asked.
“We depart at 0630. I have deliveries I must make.”
“I will see what I can do, Captain. Only a little of the wine is produced at a time, since there’s so little call for it, so I might not be able to get all that you need.”
“I guess we’ll have to see how it plays out then, Colonel Carson.” Short Blade walked her to the hatch and turned to her with a smile. “I would say goodnight, but I see it’s already 0330. So, good morning, then.”
The colonel smiled nervously and made her way out, waving back at Short Blade as she rushed for the sedan.
“Damn, damn, damn. Dixie command, this is Colonel Carson, logistics. I need a shuttle immediately, priority 02. I also need two strong
Ten minutes later, the boxes were stowed in the Phoenix’s secondary cargo hold. Again, the men nodded and took the ninety-nine units of Flem juice.
“Phoenix, can we test the AIs to ensure they work before we leave?” Short Blade inquired, realizing he could have been cheated.
“I am recognizing thirty-three units. I have the image that was installed on all Fire ships. I can install each one as both a test and as preparation. These units were not made by the Dixians. They came from Gray Panthers shuttles that were shot down on Dixie.”
“Will that be a problem?”
“It will make things easier, as the specifications are identical to those already delivered to the Jacka.” Short Blade let out a sigh of relief. He wanted to depart while everything was looking good. He then groaned when he realized his crew was still out partying.
“Phoenix, do you have locations for Guns and Jimmy?”
“Guns is with Patricia Culpepper in the orange tree orchard across from the plantation. Jimmy is with Gabriella Culpepper beside the plantation house on top of a picnic table. Do you want me to contact them?”
“No, let them have their fun. I don’t know when they’ll be around human females again. When they’re no longer occupied, let them both know that a transport will be at their hotel to pick up their belongings at 0500 and the shuttle will depart at 0630.”
“Sir, a vehicle is coming toward us. It is a standard sedan type, with only a driver.”
“It may be the officer President Davis spoke of.” Short Blade watched as a tiny woman got out of the vehicle and walk toward the shuttle. She’s the same height as me, at best, he thought.
“Hello, … in the shuttle … hello?” Carson was both nervous and alert as she looked around in the dark, waiting for a reply.
Short Blade poked his head out. “Come on inside. It’s a little cold out there for you, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is a little cool out here,” Carson replied.
“Come follow me.” Short Blade led her to the shuttle mess and ordered two hot chocolates. “Here, take this,” he said, handing the colonel the mug and gesturing for her to have a seat at the table.
“Captain Short Blade, I was ordered to give you a list of things we need. At this time, the only thing I can think of is transfer gel. We can make it ourselves, but the product made by the Republic is of higher quality and cheaper to buy than it is for us to produce.”
Short Blade decided to give the Dixian a little test.
“I don’t think that will be a problem. If I could get a down payment of, say, one thousand bottles of the marriage wine, that would be very helpful.”
The colonel was confused at first, but then she realized that Short Blade was testing her. It occurred to her that she could contact a distant cousin of hers who lived in a monastery that produced the ceremonial wine.
“When will you be departing, Captain?” she asked.
“We depart at 0630. I have deliveries I must make.”
“I will see what I can do, Captain. Only a little of the wine is produced at a time, since there’s so little call for it, so I might not be able to get all that you need.”
“I guess we’ll have to see how it plays out then, Colonel Carson.” Short Blade walked her to the hatch and turned to her with a smile. “I would say goodnight, but I see it’s already 0330. So, good morning, then.”
The colonel smiled nervously and made her way out, waving back at Short Blade as she rushed for the sedan.
“Damn, damn, damn. Dixie command, this is Colonel Carson, logistics. I need a shuttle immediately, priority 02. I also need two strong
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