Free Trident's Forge by Patrick S Tomlinson Page A

of the cabin. “Walk with me.”
    Benson stopped once they were out of earshot of the rest of the security detail. “Would you really make him stand a shift naked?”
    â€œDamn straight I would. Lessons need to be memorable if they’re going to stick.”
    â€œDon’t judge him too harshly. Pavel’s a good kid, dependable. He’s just young and full of testosterone.”
    Atwood nodded. “Why do you think I want to see him naked?”
    Benson chuckled. “You’re an attractive lady. I’m sure you could just ask nicely.”
    Atwood put a hand on her chest, feigning shock. “Fraternize with a subordinate under my chain of command? That’s unethical. I’m sure you agree.”
    â€œI’m not sure I do, considering I married someone from my chain of command. Then again, I’d never considered simply ordering her to get naked on the clock.”
    â€œI find it streamlines the process.”
    â€œIt’s certainly cheaper than dating, I’ll give you that.” Benson stopped and leaned against a seatback. “He’s not wrong, you know.”
    â€œAbout what, exactly?”
    â€œGunfights. I’m the only person in more than two centuries who’s been in one. No amount of training or practice will prepare you for it, not even an honest-to-goodness fist fight. Your hands sweat and shake, your heart pounds out of your chest, your body does everything it can to fuck up your aim. And no one was throwing things back at me.”
    â€œNot unless you count nuclear bombs.”
    â€œPoint,” Benson admitted.
    â€œI hear you,” Atwood conceded. “Any advice you can offer?”
    â€œYeah, don’t get cornered into a fight.”
    â€œAnd if it can’t be avoided?”
    â€œDistance is your best friend.”
    Atwood digested this. “Hey, listen, we picked the P-120 blueprints out of the archives because it’s ambidextrous and dead simple to operate. We packed backups. If you download the drivers, I could link one to your plant and train you up in half an hour.”
    â€œWhy would you want to do that?”
    Atwood shrugged. “You’ve already said it. You’re the only person with real experience. I only have four people against lord knows how many hundreds or thousands of potentially hostile natives. Boosting my combat strength by twenty-five percent is a no-brainer.”
    Benson rubbed the back of his neck. “I see where you’re coming from, and I appreciate the offer. But I’m here as a diplomat. Giving me a gun sends entirely the wrong message.”
    â€œI understand. I’d at least like to add you to the plant link my detail uses for coordination, if that’s all right?”
    â€œThat’s fine.”
    â€œOK, just keep it clear except for emergencies. The training offer is open if you change your mind.”
    â€œThank you, but to be honest with you, sergeant, I hope I never have to fire one of those damned things again.”

Six
    B y the time Kexx brought Mei back to the temple, the infighting had already broken out with a vengeance. Long-simmering divisions and arguments had been given new life when Mei and her people landed six Varrs before. The arrival of the humans’ giant metal bird boiled them over. The elders and their attendants quickly split to opposing sides of the temple while the rover sat in the middle and impassively observed the two bickering camps.
    Tuko’s voice was the loudest, as usual, but even ze was having trouble being heard above the din as Kuul, Chak, and the rest tried to outshout and flash one another. Eventually, Tuko’s patience reached its end. Tuko spun zer ceremonial spear once, then brought it crashing down on the outside of the rover hard enough to crack the shaft. That spear was over three hundred years old. It had been held by an unbroken succession of chiefs for that entire time. The sound of the ancient