Page 148 (2/2)

Davenport lifted a defiant chin “You have your orders”

“Doesn’t have to go like that,” Bobbie said “You knohere that ends us Your people dead Mine too Probably a lot of civilians if I have to ram this boat into the station to kill it I said, Don’t touch those controls”

The pilot flinched back, shot a look at Davenport He stared hard at her, like he was looking at his death Like he was trying to talk hied it yet There was a chance there in the space betho he was and who he was trying to be Killing these three wouldn’t fix the situation in engineering Wouldn’t save A

up onto the command deck She wished they wouldn’t More pressure on the Laconians was only going to cement their position When she spoke, she tried to

“Here’s the situation All your people die and all mine too, or all of us live Now, you can decide whether this bunch of amateurs and assholes is worth a crew of Laconia’s best”

“Hey!” one of her teanored him

“You expect me to believe you won’t steal the ship?” Davenport said Well, I wasn’t planning to until just now, Bobbie thought But since you mention it …

“I’ about you and yours either put out an airlock with suits and bottles or else killed here”

“I’ve seen the way you people work,” he spat “If we put down arms, you’ll kill us anyway You have no honor”

“Bite your fucking tongue,” Bobbie said “I’o ask your old-timers what that means They’ll tell you how lucky you are I didn’t crack your ass the other way just for saying it If I say you and yours are safe, then you’re fucking safe”

Davenport said nothing, but there was soht be hope She opened a connection to Amos

“Hey, big man”

“Hey, Babs,” he said He sounded winded “I got us into engineering Giht this bastard up May take a bite out of the station e blow, but I figure that’s so up there?”

“Your tearessive action toward the enemy Confirm that”

There was silence on the line