Page 252 of Commander’s Mate

Scarlet, at the back, said, “Can you make an emergency code mean something else?”

The mechanic thought.

“Yes.”

“What?”

He looked at the schematic.

“Green-light cascade.”

Harper’s expression changed.

“Safe route.”

The mechanic nodded.

“We can tell technical workers to follow green maintenance lights without using voice comm.”

The plan changed again.

Not dramatically.

Small changes mattered.

Good missions improved before shooting started.

Recovery added intake constraints.

Nora wanted chemical decontamination separated from ordinary triage.

Harper wanted names recorded after immediate stabilization, not at the shuttle door.

“Why?” Voro asked.

“Because if someone just got pulled out of a mine and the first thing we do is demand identity data, we sound like new owners.”

He looked chastened.

Good.

She continued.

“Give them a temporary rescue band with no ownership number. Medical first. Water. Air. Then ask what they want recorded.”

Tivid added it.

“Family matching?”

“Only after the survivor agrees.”

Voro looked at me.

“You let civilians rewrite operation procedure now?”

“No.”

Harper crossed her arms.