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“I think we’ve got a proble about the former colonial administrative offices reen walls, the cluster of cubicles in the central workspace, the lack of s or architectural flourishes The Mor to run the human race’s first extrasolar colony from a place that would have been equally at ho office It felt anticlie to build a human settlement around another star! Here’s your cubicle

The space had been repurposed in a way that at least gave it a lived-in feel A cobbled-together radio occupied one entire closet, just off themore about the slapdash construction than about the broadcasting power The current fleet was in a sh space to pick up a decent handheld set A touch screen on one wall acted as a whiteboard for the office, lists of potential interviews and news stories listed along with contact names and potential public interest Holden was oddly flattered to see his naet this

Now the roo in a few at a tis full of weapons or aht tools in formed plastic cases heels on the botto to armor the forainst an unused desk and tried to stay out of everyone’s way

“Hey,” Monica said, appearing at his side out of nowhere She nodded her head at the board “When I heard you were back froet an interview froh”

“Why?”

“Next to this end-of-the-world shit, you’ve slipped a couple notches in the broadcast schedule”

Holden nodded, then shrugged “I’ve been fareat”

Monica sat on the desk next to hi bulb When Holden tasted it, it turned out to be excellent coffee He closed his eyes for awith pleasure “Okay, now I’irl,” she replied “Will this work? This plan of Bull’s?”

“A a sheet oftheht The air smelled like sulfur and hot steel

“Always,” Monica said “Will it?”

“Maybe There’s a reason ineering If you don’t own that ground, you don’t own the ship”

Monica smiled as if that all made sense to her Holden wondered how much actually did She wasn’t a wartime reporter She was a docuht tiret and waited to see if she had anything else to ask If he was nice, maybe she’d find him a refill

“And this Sa the Roci in the air for alhtest Yeah, if she’s got your engine room and she doesn’t like you, you’re screwed”