Chapter 10 Pilot
I savored my appointment even if it seemed mostly due to Min's inability to find a plausible excuse to sack me. It was a compliment, really. You serve at the whim of the owner, give them a reason to send you down and they will. I hadn't given her one.
With our fate seemingly settled, I'd want to re-sign the gang and if we landed the charter, we'd need a third pilot as well, since the contract would certainly require a full Guild-standard staffing level and that meant three full duty pilots.
'I say, Min,' I began, intending to ask her when I could re-sign the gang when it struck me that I'd my third pilot in the chart room.
'Yes?' she asked glancing my way.
I gave it only a second's thought. Neb may care, it felt like fate. 'Rockets Away,' I muttered to myself, 'How'd you like to follow your dream and run off to space as a tramp ship pilot? I'm a pilot short.'
She glared, darkly. 'No, and I don't find it funny.'
There was indeed, no humor in her glare, but I wasn't about to be intimidated.
'I'm serious. We'll need a third pilot, assuming Molaye gets her ticket and you're the ideal choice – a born pilot, excellent navigator and an old shipmate who'd fit right in.'
And to emphasize my point, I called the Guild contract form to the surface of the chart room table. 'I have the form right here...'
'I'm not free.' she said, sharply. 'I've a business to run, part of which involves keeping you employed. You may not consider it much of a job, but you'd be on the beach if I shared that attitude.'
'Oh, I know it's essential, it's just not for you. Not now. Someday, maybe, but not now. You've faced your terrible losses and haven't flinched. You've stepped up to your responsibilities, but...' I paused to consider what I wanted to say next.
She just watched me, nothing I'd said had softened her sharp, angry glare.
'But it would be a shame to compound that price by sacrificing your youth to the tragedy as well.'
'That price has already been paid. My course is set. I'm no longer a young girl dreaming. I'll not run off and abandon my parents' work of fifty years, especially in these times. We're done here.'
I'm not more superstitious than the next spaceer and I've never seen a ghost aboard the Lost Star, but I'd a feeling in my bones that if I ever did meet the ghosts of Captain Vinden or the Mins I'd want to say to them that I tried to get Tallith Min to follow her old dream. She was glaring plasma knives at me, but since she'd all but admitted that she couldn't fire me, I was undeterred.
'The Nine Stars have aligned to put you in a position to follow your dreams – and aboard your parents' fabled ship. You're too young to find yourself in a downside office. I'm certain even your parents would've wanted you to see something of the Nebula before you settled into a downside office. Why you'll not even be able to see the rockets go up once you move to your new office.'
'The die is cast. It is too late to change it.'
'It's not too late. Kardea is extremely competent. She's been running the operation for decades, so you needn't worry how Min & Co will fare without you...'
'Thank you for that candid appreciation of the value of my work...'
'Damn it, Min, you're a spaceer not a ship broker. Let Kardea run it. She's a shipbroker. If it makes you feel guilty, take her on as a partner in the firm. She's earned it. But sail with us.'
'I'll not shirk my responsibilities, whether you think me capable or not.' She rose from the stool and turned to go. 'It's getting late.'
'Tallith, wait.' I'd found my true course. 'Please?'
She glanced sharply back, as did the dogs, who'd risen from their nap when she started to leave.
'We've been talking at cross purposes,' I began slowly, giving the germ of an idea time to grow. 'You don't have to choose between Min & Co and the Lost Star.'
'Really?' A word like a spoken knife edge.
'Yes. It's my understanding Kardea ran the operational side of the business, finding the cargoes, drawing up the contracts, looking after all the details of the business. Your parents brought in, dealt with, and kept the firm's clients happy. That's your role. You're the new face of Min & Co and you need to get out and meet Min & Co.'s clients – all the ship captains, agents, partners and shippers across the whole system. They'll certainly want to meet you. They'll want to take your measure and tell you what they think. There's only so much you can learn in that office. You need to get out and meet your clients on their home planets.
'So you see, I'm offering a chance to learn two trades, shipbroker and tramp ship pilot. You can be Min & Co in port and a pilot in passage, both without compromise. How can you lose?' I added with a smile, not returned, but her eyes were thoughtful.
I'd probably said enough, so I just added, 'Sorry, I'm not normally given to speech making but, well, this opportunity just seems so right Tallith... for you and the Lost Star.'
That brought a mirthless laugh. 'You certainly didn't seem to know when to stop...'
'I was taught negotiations end when one party says No and means it. You haven't said No. You've merely given me objections to overcome, which, I must say, I have...'
She looked away. I left her to her thoughts for a few moments before adding, 'We've a spare davit on the boat deck for the Ghost, so you can bring her along. And I'd not dock your wages for the extra rocket fuel that hauling it entails...'
'You seem pretty free with ship's accounts, Captain,' she said quietly.
'Just goes to show how close an eye you're going to have to keep on me. You're going to need to be on board.'
'I'm beginning to think so,' she said with a glance back that gave nothing away.
'Right. I'll sign you on right now, if you like. Think about it – talk it over with Kardea. I'll not fill the berth until we have to sail, so you've time to decide.'
'I'm too tired to think tonight. We'll see...'
'Fair enough,' I said and looking down to dismiss the Guild form the words “Tallith Ocila Min” on the form caught my eye. “Owner, Tallith Ocila Min”.