Galaxy's End: Book One by LeRoy Clary (popular ebook readers txt) 📗

with a promise of tipping the war in your favor, which will propel you to the top again.”

The admiral chuckled, then laughed. “Well, after the war is over, a girl must have a job, right? What have you brought me besides information on how to better our detectors, not that such things are minuscule? However, I suspect that the captain of a successful trading ship will not display all her wares at once.”

The conversation had reached what Captain Stone called the crux of any negotiation. The admiral had skillfully taken the meeting in the direction she wished, while seemingly pouring cups of tea. She was good. No wonder she defeated enemies as easily as rumored.

Captain Stone also sensed the woman liked and demanded directness. Any deception or delay would burst the emerging relationship like a pinprick of a soap bubble.

“There is another matter. It may or may not directly concern you—or it may in the future. May I ramble?”

“Please,” the admiral said as she filtered more tea, her eyes hidden by the action.

Captain Stone said, “The captain and com were killed on our ship shortly after we departed Roma. Three ships attempted to intercept us at that point. We escaped by luck, and two followed. We assumed they were after our cargo.”

The admiral looked up. “Cargo is not usually worth that cost.”

“Agreed. My ship, the Guardia, has cargo sent by the same shipper. It was also followed and escaped.”

“What do you think was inside the cargo containers? Weapons?”

“We believed it was technology from a new species just outside the human sphere, because of the tracking inside wormholes. Maybe advanced weapons. But two ships with cargo from the same shipper is no coincidence. We decided to investigate.”

“And found what?” The admiral asked the question easily and it sounded almost like an afterthought. However, Stone noticed the whitening of the admiral’s fingertips as she pinched the handle harder. Her eyes were locked on the captain’s eyes, searching for answers.

Captain Stone kept her tone civil and helpful. “Gel. A glutinous mass of gray matter. We also found a second container from the same shipper which was destined for another world. Same contents. We’d like any help in determining what we’ve accidentally fallen into.”

“I see,” mused the admiral. “You have something that you believe may be important, but don’t know what it is, or if it is important. What sort of arrangement between us do you have in mind? All traders look at profit first, so what is it you want?”

Captain Stone inhaled deeply, and her voice grew slightly louder. “You do not have a high opinion of traders, and that’s fine and deserved. What I want is to take my crew to my ship and be done with this mess. I am successful enough I do not need any return for whatever that gel is. The ship I arrived in belongs to International Transport and should be returned to them intact.”

“However, you believe the cargo is valuable. Yet, you’re willing to simply give it to me.”

“In return for safe passage on one of your ships to where mine is hidden. Yes.”

“If this gel turns out to be worth billions of credits?”

Captain Stone settled back on the sofa her arms crossed over her chest. “My ship is paid for. I have enough banked to operate for a few years without earning a profit, so unlike you, I’m doing what I like and what I’m good at.”

“You might be walking away from owning a fleet of ships.”

“Returning the Dreamer to the rightful owners and claiming salvage rights will give me enough credits to buy a small ship. I’m thinking of taking a small crew and a fast ship outside the human sphere to explore while the Guardia continues to trade and add to my bank account. A fleet of ships does not interest me.”

“Really?” Kat blurted. “Can I go with you?”

Captain Stone ignored her. “Now you know my position. The only thing I ask is to be kept informed as to what the cargo is. And its origin, if known.”

The admiral sipped her tea and seemed to contemplate her next words. She finally said, “As you’ve no doubt already deduced, my people are swarming over the ship you arrived on and have located the cargo containers you’ve spoken of, with the forthright help of the Digger in the com office and the amphibian on the bridge.”

“And?” Captain Stone prompted.

“And it is exactly as you say. To the best of our initial research of the ship’s records, every word is the truth. Of course, there is the matter of the individual locked in a cabin.”

“The killer of the previous captain. He also seems to have been coerced by his family held hostage, but that has not been determined as truth, yet.”

The admiral grunted. “Traders are good at wagging their tongues and spinning their tales, but you seem to have told the truth. More than the truth, you have added your insights, and they are intuitive and profound. If you ever wish to enter the military, I could arrange to have you appointed to my staff with rank and privilege to go with it. By the way, your crew and passengers are being well cared for.”

Captain Stone dismissed the job offer and returned to the subject she suspected the admiral was trying to deflect with it. “Your people. They’ve opened the cargo containers and identified the substance?”

“Not yet.”

Captain Stone scowled. “We were doing so well, Admiral. I answered fully and truthfully, and now you’re evading my only question and I suspect you are lying. That leaves a sour taste in my mouth.”

The admiral was not used to being addressed like that and it showed. She said, “You’re right. I apologize. My people have opened the cargo crates and found what you did. They have not identified