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“My XO says you’d asked to speak to me”
“Yes, and thank her on my behalf for all the help so far,” Holden said “Listen, we burned through an awful lot of our stores in that skirmish We fired fourteen torpedoes and nearly half of our point defense aht maybe you’d have reloads that would fit our racks”
“Sure,” Captain Tseng said without a moment’s hesitation “I’ll have the destroyer Sally Ride pull alongside for munitions transfer”
“Uh,” Holden said, shocked by the instant agreeotiate “Thanks”
“I’ll pass along ht You’ll find it interesting viewing But the short version is that first kill, the one that broke open the UN defense screen and ended the fight? That was yours Guess they shouldn’t have turned their backs on you”
“You guys can take credit for it,” Holden said with a laugh “I had a Martian Marine gunnery sergeant doing the shooting”
There was a pause; then Tseng said, “When this is over, I’d like to buy you a drink and talk about how a dishonorably discharged UN naval officer winds up flying a stolen MCRN torpedo bomber crewed by Martian military personnel and a senior UN politician”
“It’s a da of Martians, I’d like to get one of mine a present Do you carry a Marine detachment on the Cydonia?”
“Yes, why?”
“Got any Force Recon Marines in that group?”
“Yes Again, why?”
“There’s soe”
He told Captain Tseng what he was looking for, and Tseng said, “I’ll have the Ride give you one e do the transfer”
The MCRN Sally Ride looked like she’d coht without a scratch When she pulled up next to the Rocinante, her dark flank looked as smooth and unmarred as a pool of black water After Alex and the Ride’s pilot had perfectly e hatch in her side opened up, dirapples were fired across, connecting the ships with ten irlish voice said “Prepared to begin cargo transfer on your order”
Lieutenant Graves sounded like she should still be in high school, but Holden said, “Go ahead We’re ready on this end”
Switching channels to Nao aboard”
A few e hatch that was norht- syste At the botto ship-to-ship torpedoes