Dutiful Passage
Colemeno Orbit
It was nothing short of marvelous, Shan yos’Galan thought, surveying his inbox, how much one could accomplish, merely by writing letters.
He had written a number over the last several days, choosing his correspondents with care, and was gratified to see that two had already garnered replies.
The first was from Master Trader Til Den ven’Deelin, who stood as junior partner in the venture to reopen the Redlands system, and in particular Colemeno, to trade.
Master Til Den professed himself honored by Master Trader yos’Galan’s confidence, and pleased to offer a solution to the conundrum put forth that he trusted would benefit all.
It happened that Namid ven’Deelin, Master Til Den’s first tutor in the art of trade, discovered herself unsuited to a quiet retirement upon the homeworld. There was no place for her in clan administration, Ixin being fortunate in its numbers, and her proposal that she open and manage an exchange shop at Solcintra Port had not found favor with her delm.
In fact, she had recently written to Master Til Den, wondering if there was some use to which she might be put, and it struck him that Colemeno might suit her and her considerable talents well.
He trusted Master Trader yos’Galan was familiar with Trader ven’Deelin’s record. Master Til Den, understanding that time was a factor, had made so bold as to bid her board ship at once. She had complied with notable alacrity, calling upon an associate who kept a courier fleet, and expected to reach Colemeno within the next week, Standard.
“Bold indeed,” Shan murmured, leaning back in his chair and taking counsel of the ceiling.
As Master Til Den had supposed, he was familiar with Namid ven’Deelin’s record—and with the trader herself. He knew her to be experienced, of strong character, good understanding, and tied into a contact-net worthy of a master—witness the associate with the courier fleet. Her methods were not his, but she was effective, and perfectly competent to handle either the details of establishing a permanent trade office at Colemenoport, or auditing the Iverson Loop.
He reached for the keyboard and composed a reply to Master Til Den, declaring himself delighted with the dispatch shown in producing so apt a solution.
You will be pleased to learn that the whole port inventory is all but completed. Preliminary reports are encouraging, and I trust that the next time I write to you, it will be with the news that we are opening Colemeno as a hub.
He signed himself as Master Til Den’s partner in profit, sent the letter to the outgoing queue, and tapped up the next.
This was from Janifer Carresens-Denobli, another business partner, though of a different order altogether from Master Til Den.
Denobli was not a master trader. He was a senior commissioner of the Terran Trade Association, and the first of three ranking traders in the Carresens-Denobli Trade Syndicate.
He was clever, devious, honest, very probably dangerous—and Shan liked him extremely.
They had recently written contract together, forming a partnership on certain interesting fronts, which would possibly begin to bear fruit in two Standards. Or three.
Shan had also shared with Denobli the tale of Korval’s acquisition of Tinsori Light. He had hoped this confidence would produce introductions to repair and rehabilitation enterprises that might be hired to undertake the considerable renovations needed to bring the old light station into usefulness. More, he had dared to hope for the Syndicate’s support in the matter of establishing lines of credit with various of the Carresens yards.
What had materialized instead had been Traveler’s Aid, a Terran Looper social artifact designed to provide immediate assistance to an emergency situation. Unstable systems would be stabilized, and the most necessary repairs made, while more comprehensive help was being organized.
It had been…rather startling…to find Korval the recipient of such immediate and decisive action, Korval being…rather unused to being rescued. Shan was still deciding what his feelings were on the matter, aside from a sense of mingled relief and gratitude.
He opened Denobli’s letter.
Good greetings and fair profit to you, Shan yos’Galan.
I am firstly delighted with your report of progress at Colemeno, and expect hourly to hear that the inventory has proved your instincts.
Secondly, I share with you the news that Vanz Carresens-Denobli is apprentice no longer, but fully a trader. The Captains have put him to work reviving a Loop but lately relinquished by the Dust, which may prove to be mutually profitable.
Thirdly, I give you an accounting of the Family’s actions on your behalf at Tinsori Light Station. The first wave of volunteers, experts, and persons of general usefulness have arrived to assist the light keepers in repair and renovation. In addition, the Captains have instructed a team specializing in Old Tech architecture to make Tinsori Light a priority. These experts will be traveling some distance, but should not be many weeks behind the second wave of volunteers, already on its way to the station.
Shan blinked. He had not expected a second wave, nor experts. Delm Korval had connections with Scouts experienced in the treacheries of Old Tech, and had surely already set them in motion.
On the other hand, one could scarcely have too many experts, given Tinsori Light’s history.
So. Matters were in hand for Tinsori Light. That was well. However, there had been something else…
Shan scrolled back. Ah, yes. Denobli’s nephew.
Lately, Shan had gained more information regarding this emerging route young Vanz had been set to rebuild. Interestingly, it had once linked The Redlands and the space near Tinsori Light. As he said, Denobli had his eye on profit, as what trader did not?
But there was possibly more here than mere profit, and pleasant dealings between business associates.
Vanz and Padi were of an age, of similar experience, and, furthermore, business partners through their own devising. Denobli was audacious, as well as ambitious. The question was whether he was audacious enough to think of a marriage. Vanz was heart-struck, so far as Shan knew, and he had his uncle’s support. Padi—well.
He moved his shoulders in a Terran shrug, and returned to Denobli’s letter.
Lastly, I bring to you news that Reyshel Carresens, second administrator at Tradedesk, is agreeable to meeting you at Tinsori Light for a tour and a consultation. She asks me to inform you that she is soon to retire from her post. Because of this, she is open to a contract, if it is found that having a person experienced in modern station administration in residence would be useful to your purposes.
I append her beam-code to this letter.
It might be that I will join you at Tinsori Station if the timing can be made to work. I have been speaking with others of our traders, who have shared thoughts with me, which I am interested to share with you, in person by preference. Also, I have long been curious regarding that station.
I leave you now to pursue work and happiness. Please present Trader Padi with my sincere good wishes for success in all her endeavors.
Janifer
Shan read the letter again. He leaned back in his chair and tapped his finger against the desk—once…twice…three times.
Administrator aside, there was nothing in Denobli’s letter that required immediate action. Eventually, Traveler’s Aid would come to Balancing, but that was for later. For now, let Vanz reopen the old Loop; let Colemeno be proved; and by all means let matters of the heart take their own course. Denobli was interested in strengthening his Syndicate’s ties with Tree-and-Dragon. That was good. A closer alignment could only benefit both—the very definition of a successful trade.
He reached for the keyboard—and the screen pinged.
He glanced at the queue to see what had just come in, finding two messages from Colemenoport Yard. Third Mate Dil Nem Tiazan, who had for a time, some Standards in the past, been yard master at Lytaxin, had undertaken to inspect Colemenoport’s equipment and give his opinion as to what would be necessary to modernize operations.
Curious to see what Dil Nem had recommended, Shan opened the message.
It was a comprehensive list—equipment and labor, all of which, Shan thought, running his eye down the screen, he could easily broker, and which would provide an influx of much-needed cash.
He smiled, opened the second message from Colemenoport Yard—and laughed aloud.
* * *
“You spoke to Dil Nem, of course,” Priscilla said as he brought her a glass of cold mint tea and settled onto the couch beside her.
“I did. He allows me to know that he is willing to take the contract. Yard Master tineMena is too aware of her inexperience, and has a distrust of outworlders.”
“Dil Nem,” Priscilla pointed out, “is an outworlder.”
“Yes, but he’s a known outworlder,” Shan said earnestly. “They’ve worked together; he has shown her his character and his expertise, and she feels she has his measure. She wants him there to ensure she isn’t cheated, that the work is done to modern-day specifications, and also, to teach her how the new systems operate.”
“I hope he negotiated a good price for all of that,” Priscilla murmured.
“That falls to the master trader,” Shan said, sipping his wine. “Yard Boss tineMena has provided a list and an upper limit. However, before I begin filling in fees, I must consult with you, in your capacity as captain. Dil Nem is third mate on this vessel. While the contract is lucrative and advances the master trader’s plans, the ordering of ship and crew falls to the captain. Can the ship spare its third mate?”
Priscilla tipped her head, eyes slightly narrowed in thought.
“Toria Valdez is on the officer track. Whether she’s ready to step up—I don’t know. I’ll consult with Danae—” She gave him a droll look, “with First Mate Tiazan, that is—and find what she thinks. When does the master trader need the captain’s answer?”
“Tomorrow is soon enough, I think.”
Priscilla nodded. “I’ll talk with Danae. Is there anything else?”
Shan half-laughed.
“You are speaking to a master trader. Of course, there’s ‘else.’ For one, Master Trader ven’Deelin has risen to the challenge cast to him, and is sending the trade mission his mother, Namid, a trader of many talents, who has found retirement to the homeworld to be less enjoyable than she might have supposed.”
“Trader ven’Deelin’s mother,” Priscilla murmured. “Is she Dyoli’s mother, too?”
“She is, yes. In addition to this news, I hear from Denobli that he has found a Tradedesk administrator who will soon be retiring, and is eager to serve at Tinsori Light.” He paused, brows drawn.
“It seems that retirement is not the gift that many suppose it to be, Priscilla. Shall you like to be captain when you see your hundredth Standard?”
“Will you still be a working master trader?”
“Absolutely. Nothing could induce me to retire.”
“Then, yes, I’ll be your captain.”
He smiled, and leaned over to kiss her cheek.
“We have an accord,” he murmured. “Thank you, Priscilla.”