Chapter 73

TJ was holding forth; technically he was briefing Shirley on the missiles. They were seated at the Weapon's console on the bridge

"We are able to use the RMN past generation missiles; they are going out of production on Scapa as there isn't the market anymore; the order of battle new builds all have Cunningham's control system with the new missiles. We have a shared small facility with GmBH that is still making them here on 'Pest. To get the new coms and 'puter, Third Space Lord sacrificed bomb load; and RMN still insist on using CounterEW missiles which effectively decreases energy on target per nest. Tradition dies hard. What they haven't realised is they don't need them any more — if they put their Keys into free fliers and send them out just behind the missiles, the 'puter in the Key will detect a target and ignore a decoy...

You heard about 119 at New Liege? That's what they did there. McCock's been declaiming about it for years and RMN only part picked it up. We probably didn't help either. We produced Lone Ranger and instead of using it as a Key, they disarmed it and put in more detection gear — what for defeats me — the thing could read an enemy commander's morning chip as it was...

That guide missile of theirs has no payload and with another two birds heavy with CEW, RMN has only four decreased loads per nest. We have five weapon birds a frame and the frame has a nuclear power source which gives a tidy jolt when it goes...

The Mounties have put FTL into that control missile and their Keys which they still insist upon tractoring. We put FTL into the scouts, our HACs and the missile frames...

Shirley, duh. Of course we've got FTL. You know McCock got his from Navy? Well, guess who holds the patents. Ess. Haich. Oh. Double you. Sorenson, Hobson, Oscar and Windsor. Under Crown prerogative. You've met us all. We invented that just after Recruits. SHOW gave the licence to the Crown in return for royalties on condition that they don't muck about with the mother boards. Aunt ... unh, I'll have to stop calling her that. Gabrielle has been keeping an eye on them for SHOW and just in case you don't know, Gabrielle is LUST. Thought that would raise a laugh. Level Upright and Square, Trustees...

What with the frames we expended at Maureen's Moon and then expanding our magazines during the rebuild means we need replenishing. We'll come in close tonight and load B magazine from SHOW's stock and tomorrow night D. SHOW has missile shuttles we can use. It's going to be an interesting evolution but we had a bit of practice during the rebuild...

Now, here is the holo of that ambush and you can see..."

...

Shirley got her first look at New Harriers and House of Tulip the next morning.

As well as having to prepare the trading area, Trainees were run through the procedures for using 737 in its high velocity role and the Gennies were refreshed as Crew Chiefs. Dusty had detailed two cockpit crews from the Trainees and got four of the Gennies from Dorothy for each day's sorties.

737 was deployed as transport using the SHOW pad where a loading ramp was laid on.

The clients were advised to book seats on the shuttle and were firmly advised to wear old comfortable clothing and flat shoes as the seating was military and the deck uneven. Do not bring any electronics because of possible interference with navigational equipment — not even powered down as most of the devices still had an active circuit — and the shuttle's equipment was very sensitive. (That last was a blatant falsehood - a megawatt electromagnet placed next to the equipment on the shuttle might influence it but nothing less would.) Detectors would be used. Lockers could be hired at the terminal Coms would be provided free of charge, courtesy of House of Tulip, on "Sundowner".

Nobody knew who belonged to the four kids who mingled with the shuttle loads — perhaps nobody wanted to own them. They were ill mannered rowdy brats. The oldest chased his younger sister through the crowd generally getting in everybody's way and the other boys skylarked about the entrance to the ramp obstructing the rest - but they never boarded. What wasn't seen was the hard eyed man in a black hard suit with its helmet slung, who monitored every move. Many of the clients would have recognized the women who sat beside him at the monitors; the women stood shift during the loading times. The kids didn't mind missing school for a week and they were getting paid handsomely for their shenanigans — they wouldn't see much of it as the mothers were not that daft even though they had reluctantly agreed to this exposure in security procedures.

Included in the brief in the terminal was a more precise briefing of the seating and the five point military harnesses fitted. Some of the clientele might be rattle- brained but the ladies were all familiar with safety harnesses from their younger days and, if they weren't, the crew chiefs would assist. Four rows of cramped seating — no outside view — and a very interesting acceleration. But it was only barely get adjusted and the shuttle was locking on.

Nobody had to be removed from the sorties but a few suddenly remembered things that shouldn't have been carried. There was a box provided.

Some flight times were noted — just for interest's sake — and casually mentioned at the office later. Certain researchers scoured real time search coverage of the heavens — the planet's shadow isn't that large for Deity's sake - and a Minnow class assault shuttle can only go so far in that time even with Adama pods.

There was a steady usage of the free coms and any one who was interested sourced the coms to the polar marina.

The shuttle locked on A#3. The procedure was totally different from the usual. Locking bars from the hull held 737 in position. Then the hull irissed and a circular force field formed a cylinder enclosing the opposing hatches. The hatches cycled and the passengers walked down three steps onto A deck. This required an interesting change in orientation as, at this point on the hull, the inclination to the deck was thirty seven degrees. The more agile simply jumped — another talking point concerning this interesting vessel.

There was a cover charge for the Club — collected at the ship's entry portal — but no (specific) charge for the shuttle.

Shirley Wood stood back from the Meeters and Greeters, Allie and Cat, who seemed to know nearly every client. None of them was familiar with the layout on A so some pointed questions from the determined were necessary before the first small group headed for the House. The more relaxed and the new clients moved about the Club investigating the side boards and sampling the fare. Most of this lot appeared not to have broken their fast this day.

The Trainees mingled and several were known to a client or two. Some enquiries were made as to the whereabouts of some missing but nothing more than appeared idle curiosity. The Trainees wore the standard grey burrfibre uniform.

The Gennies however wore creations cobbled together during the preparation period — nothing spectacular in design as Morg wasn't going to outshine his commercial efforts but a display of fabrics and colours to stimulate the appetite for designed garments in a choice of fabric and colour. This was the environment for which the Gennies had been created and they were superb — polished and accomplished performances.

The Tulips casually appeared from time to time wearing their selections to show off the wares on the floor and at advertised times on the catwalk which had been designed to extrude from the after bulkhead and retract after the show.

Clare and 'Nita, in their "little black things" (with no obvious mammary support) protruded their way about the Club while Bet and Dell glided about in their gold biologicals, all exchanging pleasantries and answering queries.

Shirley was impressed by the smooth operation of the Club.

The casual attitude of the House amazed her.

Here the clients were treated as so many cattle to the slaughter but it was done with such grace and courtesy that each client was pleased to have been of service to the management. The relaxing area was equipped with comfortable seating and a large selection of personal entertainment was available. Shirley did note that one dressing cubicle was very much in use and should have been very crowded. Eva Porter had noticed Shirley's interest and sauntered over to murmur

"Goes to the lift to the Medical Suite. The other decks are locked out."

Recalling to Shirley's awareness that sideline reminded her of the other. She strolled into the Club and noted the bevy about the showcase discretely displaying the other sideline. Client's enquiries produced a small vid demonstrating a wider range extolling the intricate details of each piece. The menus provided the detail of each piece available. Serious enquires led to small display rooms where the pieces could be closely examined. Bet or Dell conducted the negations. The pieces were presentation packed and handed to the client just before returning dirtside.

Moving to the manufactory, Shirley watched Bert load and unload bolts of fabric from the fabricators and extruders. Tulips in various states of undress would consult / inform and then slip into some creation and return to the House or to the Club for a peregrination or three and then reappear to check on progress or to take a finished product out to the waiting area for approval, packing, marking of the pack and dispatch to the boat bay where the shuttle truck waited until a full load and then dirtside to SHOW where the clients would take delivery.

Four days was sufficient to supply the wants of 'Pest — and not quite exhaust the Sundowners. The Trainees had had several rest periods and when the House closed, they were sent on a four day leave.

After a day's make 'n mend, the remaining crew turned to leisurely preparing "Sundowner" for departure. Day leaves were granted to the remainder of the crew. Elle and Dusty remained on board; Elle, because there was nothing for her dirtside except hassles arising out of the absent Trainees, and Dusty because there was only the Flying Club and there he would more likely get stonkered and blab something he shouldn't as he was out of practice

.

Shirley let Clare know she wanted "to tidy things up" dirtside and found herself in the Medical Suite having a chip inserted in her forearm, then to the clean room where Cedric introduced her to the Soyn and its intricacies and then to the Engine Room where Orville issued an ear bud and logo collar broaches. Back to Cedric who lectured her on the locator system and the spider holders. Whilst not Chosen, Shirley was always accompanied.

Clare decided to go with her friend and requisitioned the flivver. They dropped down to the SHOW pad where a ground car was laid on. A diversion to the light industrial area and Shirley's hard suit was picked up (the holo measuring equipment in the manufactory resolved the need for fittings). Visits to financial institutions to arrange Shirley's finances — Shirley took Clare's advice and utilised Galbraith's. A quick pass to Navy Base Squadron HQ to drop off chips and then onto Harriers for a relaxing meal.

Julie arrived clutching a folder — she had been informed of their presence by her staff — followed by Gabrielle. Everybody transferred to a private room. Julie had assumed that Clare intended to pay a visit to Sloan Square — she had — but wanted to sort this lot and get it to Gabrielle soonest.

Shares. In Sundowner Inc. Or at least the income from the shares.

"Then there's also the matter of Shirley's income," Julie muttered sotto voice.

Julie was so used to her Companion, she gave no thought to its ability; besides which Julie wasn't aware of the change in Clare or of Shirley's status — she might just as well used the PA system.

"What income?" the pair said almost in unison.

Gabrielle shrugged and explained,

"Told you, Julie, you should have made sure they knew. When "Sundowner" and that pirate were condemned as prizes, Julie and I were acting as the Tulips' agents - they had gone swanning off somewhere about the galaxy and we were left to handle it. Clare, you left "Tulip" in Settlement. Julie and I saw how it was a matter of sheer chance that Shirley left immediately before the captures and Clare immediately after. We decided, and I'm not sure if ever we explained it to the Tulips — you were under some pressure, as I recall, at the time the documentation was finalised — that Shirley would have a third of a share and as our fee, Julie and I would get the other two thirds of that share. The documentation covered the then present and any future proceeds from the prizes. When Tulip Inc was formed the other two's shares were compulsorily reacquired and Julie and I shifted our shareholding into the new company..."