Page 333 of Commander’s Mate

Pyrr looked at me.

“She has ruined piracy.”

“Recovery Director,” I said.

Harper’s eyes narrowed.

I enjoyed the title more than she did.

Degatu gestured to the transport.

“Solutions.”

This was different from the early days.

Then officers would have solved the military problem first.

Take the ship.

Secure the route.

Plan the rescue.

Now recovery sat at the table before anyone fired.

Harper brought up capacity requirements.

“Julconi estimates are unreliable, but even the low end is thousands.”

“We cannot extract everyone in one operation,” I said.

“I know.”

She hated it.

So did I.

“But if we take Hekara and convert it properly, we can move a thousand-plus people per wave without turning our dreadnoughts into refugee camps.”

“Assuming we control Julconi long enough for multiple waves,” Degatu said.

“Assuming,” she agreed.

Tivid added another screen.

“I found something useful in the repair-yard traffic.”

“Define useful,” I said.

“Two decommissioned passenger modules are attached to the complex for resale.”

Harper looked at him.

“Independent water?”

“Yes.”

“Medical spaces?”