Free The Kassa Gambit by M. C. Planck Page A

They’ll impound your ship, strip search it for clues, and lock your crew in a holding cell for a month. I don’t think you want that.”
    It wasn’t about what she wanted. It was about what she feared. Jorgun would be putty in their hands, manipulated to whatever ends they needed, broken and discarded when they were done. And none of her crew were citizens of Altair. Fleet wouldn’t be particularly concerned about their legal rights.
    If they started asking questions about the Ulysses, what would she tell them? That a dying old man had given a young girl a starship, charmed by nothing more than the romance of her quest to seek out her mother’s world?
    She had survived this long by going unnoticed. She was certain her future depended on it. But why would Kyle know that? Why would he care?
    “Let me get this straight. You want me to lie to Altair Fleet?”
    “Not lie, exactly. Just don’t tell them everything. There’s nothing in it for you, Prudence. Direct them to the signal. Let them find it themselves.”
    She stared at him. He was as close to unnerved as she could imagine him being.
    Flicking on the comm, she answered Fleet’s call. “This is the Ulysses, responding to the Phoenix . How can we help you?”
    There was a pause, as if that simple response had confused them.
    A different voice on the speaker. More nasal, and laden with the expectation of obedience. “You can start by explaining what’s going on down there.” Not a spacer’s voice. Apparently, commandeering ships was in season.
    Prudence flicked a glance at Kyle and was startled to see his anger. He obviously recognized that voice, and he didn’t like it.
    “There’s been some kind of attack, Phoenix . A week ago. We’ve been in-system for about thirty-six hours, and running relief operations for most of that. Any assistance you can render would be greatly appreciated.” She shouldn’t have said that, shouldn’t have baited the unknown authority on the other end of the line with her dry sarcasm. But the look on Kyle’s face paid for it. He almost smiled.
    Subconsciously, she’d known he would. That’s why she’d done it. In the sixteen hours they had spent together, he had been scrupulous about not flirting with her. She’d never been around a man, single, married, or homosexual, that hadn’t risked at least one bantering comment for her approval. And now she was performing for his.
    Deeply annoyed at herself, she returned to business.
    “You didn’t get a message from the Launceston ?” But of course not. The timing was wrong. They would have passed in node-space, silenced by the inflexible laws of relativity.
    The voice changed direction, avoiding the question. “ Ulysses, put your captain on the line.”
    Prudence had dealt with this a thousand times, but it never got any easier.
    “This is Captain Prudence Falling, owner and operator of the Ulysses. ” Straining to keep the annoyance out of her voice, all she achieved was to drive the irony deeper.
    But the voice didn’t care. It was immune to subtleties. “Captain, we are on an important diplomatic mission to Bierze, and we can’t be diverted. Give us some GPS coordinates to rendezvous and we’ll transfer our medical supplies and staff.”
    She answered without thinking. “ Phoenix, this planet is in shambles. There’s nothing left standing but hungry, scared people. Whatever stuffed-suit meeting you’re rushing to can wait.”
    Too tired. Making mistakes, losing control of her feelings. Kyle was part of the problem. She wanted to hate him as much as she hated his armband, but he wouldn’t let her.
    Now he stepped up to save her. The voice had just begun squawking, working itself up to a fine outrage, when he walked over to her console and put his finger on the transmit button.
    “This is Police Lieutenant Kyle Daspar, command leader of the League. I have the honor of addressing District Leader Rassinger, do I not?”
    Miraculous silence from the comm. Then