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“I don’t think that’ll make it better” Holden took the pause back off, and Dru back into motion

“The other thing we don’t do is let everyone who captains a ship on our registry make their own policies for the union as a whole What you did on Freehold doesn’t get to set precedent for what I have to do on every other system that decides to break the rules I sent you out there with a otiate Not broker deals You were there because it was i—and everyone’s watching—to see what happens when you break the terms of your contract with the Transport Union”

“So it was theater first, and then an execution,” Holden said to the screen Not that she could hear hiathered herself as if she had

“My problem now,” she said, “is how to fix what you’ve broken with the least a with the board and our legal counsel, and e decide what needs to happen, I’ll tell you And you’ll do it I really hope this is clear enough that it doesn’t confuse you”

“I’ she may not actually like me,” Holden said

“She’s working herself up a little,” Alex said “I wouldn’t take it personally”

“For now,” Dru you to proceed on to Medina with Governor Houston I will have someone ready to meet your ship when you dock At that tiether for you It y It may be a clarification of the Transport Union rules Whatever it is, I’ll deliver it to you before you get there And you’ll recite it word for word

“You don’t get toit, Holden There are other people who live here too Next time, show some respect”

The , slow breath “Well, maybe take it a little personally,” he said as Holden closed thesystem reports Drive output, environ what she did best What she always did The knot in his stoer or disappointether else

Alex cracked his knuckles “You’ve got that look,” he said

“No, I don’t,” Holden said “I don’t look like anything”

“She’s got a point There’s a lot of colonies out there If we’re going to start hauling in bad guys from all of the theh, but it doesn’t change what the Transport Union is, you know?”

“It’s more convenient,” Holden said more sharply than he’d intended “It is No, I see that I understand that it’s easier to run the union if everything’s in ter service and … and give it a few more decades so the colonies are all able to support the off trade will be a slap on the wrist But the fact of the ht now? It’s a death sentence”

“Maybe,” Alex said “What I heard about Bara Gaon Complex and Auberon, they’re already—”

“This isn’t Bara Gaon Complex or Auberon This is Freehold If we cut them off for three years, the colony would collapse, and they’d all starve So right now, yeah, she’s saying we should ki