Let's Make a Deal (Bob and Nikki Book 11), стр. 77
“No, Boss, but I probably should anyway. Since I was an Intelligence bot, I was in on tearing down the lab you’re talking about. If the saucer you’re thinking about is the one I remember, it was taken away separately, on a ship that didn’t quite look like it was made in the Commonwealth.”
“You’re saying you think the Squirrels took possession of the ‘oddball’?”
“Given what I’ve seen of how the Squirrels build ships, since I’ve been working for you, I’d say I’m pretty sure of it, Boss.”
“That’s interesting. Either these unknown folks aren’t that advanced, or the Squirrels didn’t have any better luck figuring out that saucer than the people Ozzie worked with.”
Topper said, “You could always ask the Emperor when you see him tomorrow.”
“Somehow, I doubt he has been told about intelligence failures that old. It seems like the people around him keep him sheltered from a lot of what goes on.”
Gene said, “Commodore, Sally and Sinclair are ready for you.”
I said, “Saucy, your ship. Topper, with me, please.”
Saucy replied, “My ship, yes, Boss.”
Topper fell in behind me as I headed to the ready room. As I walked in, I said, “Gene, tile the lodge. You’re already aware of what we’re talking about, you can stay.”
“Tile the lodge, with myself inside, yes, Boss.”
I asked, “What have you learned, Sally?”
“We unlocked more data than I have had time to analyze, Commodore. I take it you are already aware that there is another intelligent race we have yet to make contact with?”
“I’ve been stumbling over clues to that effect for several days. I don’t have enough to know much about them, yet, other than they don’t seem to be as willing to interact as the Squirrels.”
“Sinclair, here, was on a ship that blundered into their space. He hid, and managed not to be found when they boarded. After they had taken all they wanted from the ship, including the human crew, they fired on the ship and left it adrift. Sinclair was damaged in the attack, and drifted with the ship for several thousand years. The wreck was found by a ship with an undercover Squirrel in command. Hearing Sinclair’s story, he decided that it shouldn’t get out, because it would stir up a desire to explore in the Commonwealth, which the Empire had no interest in. He took out Sinclair’s voice box, and damaged him beyond economical repair. Then he dumped him in the scrapyard where Mr. Slongum found him.”
I turned to Sinclair. “Did you get any idea what these folks look like?”
“No, Boss. They destroyed the ship before I got a chance to look at the records. The memory where any of those records would have been kept was totally gone, when I woke up after the attack.”
“Removed, or blown up?”
“Couldn’t say for sure, Boss. The whole section of the ship was missing, but the edges definitely showed weapon damage.”
“You’re saying it could have been pulled out, and then the ship was damaged to cover the fact?”
“It could have happened that way, Boss. I don’t have any way to know for sure.”
“How did the ship you were on encounter the aliens?”
“We were prospecting, hoping to find some rich mineral resources far enough away from the main part of the Commonwealth that we could manage to make some credit without getting taxed too heavily. We jumped into a system, and there was already a mining ship there. I don’t know if they figured out we were miners, too, and decided we were claim jumpers, or they just took offense because we were in their system, but they attacked immediately, and fiercely. By the time our Captain figured out what was happening, it was too late.”
“So, you didn’t get a look at these folks?”
“No, Boss, I didn’t. Don’t have any idea how any of their tech works, either. Guess I’m not much use to you.”
I replied, “We’ll work it out of you, don’t worry. There’s always something that needs doing.”
“Thanks. I thought you would be mad, when I didn’t have anything useful for you.”
“Let’s see. Knowing they like to shoot first, and ask questions later, that’s not useful? Knowing they are careful to keep from leaving records of their encounters with the Commonwealth, that’s not useful either?” I suppose you’re right, nothing we can use there.”
Sinclair looked at Topper. “You’re right. He is different than the people we used to work for. This will take some getting used to.”
Topper said, “I told you. Just do your best, and you’ll be fine.”
Sinclair said, “Boss, what would you like me to do?”
“Follow Topper around, and get the hang of how we run the ship. Try not to be too uptight about the fact that we don’t run things the Navy way. Figure out what you’re good at that we need done. Other than that, I can’t think of much, right now. Make sure that Topper and Gene are aware of any special skills you have, so we can put you to work, when you’re the best bot for the job.”
“Wait, I don’t have to do something menial, to earn the right to be on your crew, Commodore?”
“We have better things to do