Let's Make a Deal (Bob and Nikki Book 11), стр. 87
“That sounds so easy. I fear that in reality, it will be somewhat more challenging.”
“Good thing we have such a fine specimen as yourself in charge, then, isn’t it?”
“I’m beginning to understand those reports that talk about your people saying you wear contacts to hide your brown eyes, Commodore.”
“We will be willing to do whatever you need us to, to help you in the endeavor. We do have a few ships that need something to do.”
“That would get my people riled up. The Emperor staying on the throne with the help of the infamous monkey? That would cause more trouble than it solved, I’m afraid.”
“Do as you think best. I hope you won’t mind if I keep part of the fleet handy, in case you change your mind?”
“I wouldn’t mind that at all, Commodore. Please, though, if you should elect to have them stage on our side of the border, keep them out of sight?”
“Of course. We wouldn’t want to start the trouble we are trying to prevent.”
“I suppose I should make an announcement, so that the fleet knows I am still alive.”
“I told Captain Dressi, but seeing your face would probably be more convincing.”
He pulled out his comm, and started trying to calm down his officers. Nikki and I backed away, to let him work, as did Natti. He said, “You saved our bacon again, Commodore. I shudder to think what it’s going to cost us, when you need a favor in return.”
Nikki said, “I’ll try and get him to go easy on you, Ambassador.”
Natti replied, “Good luck with that. I’m afraid he’ll send the Grannies to Oak as his Ambassadors.”
I said, “Couldn’t do that, as good as it sounds. One of them is pregnant.”
“I sincerely and fervently hope for the good health of the child. As long as she is busy with her offspring, I may have a chance at this job.”
“There is one thing I suppose we should talk about. I was going to just take care of it myself, having grown tired of asking, but with this latest nonsense, I don’t want to do anything that might be misconstrued.”
“I thought they brought those platforms in. They showed us the platforms as they unloaded them.”
“They put out new ones, as they were picking up the old ones. Not even better ones, just different ones of the same type. The only way all this makes sense to me, is if they think the only way we’re finding them is that one of your team is giving us the coordinates. We both know that isn’t the case, but it would seem someone thinks you are a traitor.”
“That sounds dangerous, at least to me personally, and possibly to the peace. What were you going to do about it?”
“I had planned a nice fireworks display while your fleet was maneuvering to leave the system. I’m having second thoughts about that, now.”
“I can see how you would. Probably best to hold off on that, until we’re actually in FTL.”
The Emperor finished what he was doing. He said, “I think that has them calmed down, at least for now. The officer who recommended my secretary looked more than a little pale, though.”
I asked, “Do you think he is part of the plot?”
“I wouldn’t have thought so, but his reaction is making me think again.”
“I have to say, Your Majesty, I’m glad I only have my little fleet to keep up with. I surely wouldn’t want your job.”
“Obviously not, or you would have conquered yourself an Empire by now. I’ve often wondered why you hadn’t.”
“Just not cut out for the job, I’m afraid. I’m certainly not going to conquer an Empire, just to hand it over to someone else, and I’m not the man to run it. So conquering isn’t on the agenda.”
“You’re not easy for me to understand, Commodore.”
“Likewise, I’m sure. I’m doing the best I can.”
“I look forward to doing business with you in the future.”
“I think it will be profitable for both our organizations, Your Majesty.”
“I’d better be getting back. How do we go about that?”
“I’d be happy to fly you over. If you give us remote access to the ship you came over on, we can take it with us, for your people to examine.”
“That would be fine.” Natti ran to the ship, and came back a little later. He said, “Sorry, Your Majesty, the pilot locked the controls. I’m not able to give them remote access.”
I said, “We have the cure for that, too. Gene, tell Ace to get aboard his recovery ship, and get his tin butt over here, if you would.”
“On it, Boss.”
I looked at Natti. “You should close the hatch, since it’s going to be in vacuum. We better back up, Ace will need room to work.” Hopper was riding the hook when Ace brought the ship in. He set a rescue eye, and hooked the cable to it. Then he scampered back up the cable, before Ace reeled it in. Once he had it snugged against the ship, stabilizers came out from the legs of the ship to keep the Emperor’s ship from swinging as he hauled it to the Emperor’s yacht. As soon as he had it secured, he lifted, and headed out. A saucer came scooting in, and set down right where the Emperor’s ship had been. A bot came to the door, that I recognized as being Ruth’s backup at the helm. I started forward, and she said, “Nope. Sorry Boss, I’m taking the Emperor home.”
“Excuse me?”
“Nanny protocol, Boss. Mr. Topper said I wasn’t to let you get near the Emperor’s yacht, without a squad of Marines and a fighter escort. Do you really want to make the Emperor wait, while I go after a bigger