Paid in full

The Razor's Claw, in Kelsy's capable hands, jockeys itself over the larger craft orbiting a small moon, matching courses with precision and finally clamping down on the landing pad.

Gama unstraps herself from the acceleration chair. "Suit up. Let's go."

Kaori Jo, formally clad in a black and aqua tomosode kimono that disguises the pressure suit beneath, latches her helmet and makes sure the gasket's properly fitted. She adds gloves and follows the others.

Kelsy: "I'm hungry. I sure hope they serve food there."

There's no such convenience as a gantry tube available here. Gama vents oxygen, opens the hatch, and their magnetic boots take them to a TP port. A second later, and they're inside the ship Admiral Shae Kim has brought. The Admiral herself is waiting on the command deck.

"Welcome aboard the ISS Homeless Heavy frigate," the admiral says.

Gama salutes. She nudges Kelsy. "Manners."

Kelsy salutes!

"Myeong Mai be with you." Kaori bows respectfully.

Gama looks around with an air of satisfaction. "This is a nice ship. We wanna thank you for this. Admiral."

Kelsy: "Not bad...not bad Oh, where are my manners? I'm sorry, have you met Kaori?"

Kaori bows again. "Aboard Magellan. We were all present to share information about Captain Kahn. Except Kelsy - you brought that attractive majordomo of yours instead, Captain." She doesn't mention her original encounter with then-Commodore Kim in the High Priestess's office.

Kelsy: "Well, I wasn't there. What, you're not gonna introduce me?"

Gama: "I beg your pardon, Admiral. This is my chief tech. Her name is Kelsy. " In a stage whisper, she adds, "She's a bit crude at times, but she doesn't mean any harm."

Shae Kim picks up a small packet and stands at attention. "Attention to orders. For performance above and beyond The ISS Homeless Heavy Frigate is now passed to the ownership of Captain Gama. Use the ship in good health."

Gama and Kelsy salute.

Gama: "Thank you, Admiral. I would just like to thank all the people who Help me achieve my success. My parents who believed in me. My crew who helped me. My finance here is Oh yes and yes, I forgot and Kelsey.."

Kaori steps forward to perform her notarial duty on behalf of the Myeong Gai Order. "Captain Gama, do you regard your contractual debt to be satisfied?"

Gama turns to Kaori. "The debt is considered paid in full. "

"May you use it well, and may it help you find unity in the chaos." Kaori bows.

Gama salutes Kaori.

Kelsy whispers to Gama. "Does this mean I get to take over the old ship?"

Shae Kim hands Captain Gama the packet which contains keys, and information about the 100 volume set of maintenance manuals in the computer memory.

Gama takes the keys and salutes, then nudges Kelsy with her elbow regarding the tech manuals.

Shae Kim: " You take care of the ISS Homeless and she will always get you home."

Gama: "We will use the ship with honor, Admiral."

Shae Kim smiles.

Kelsy mutters, "Hope I get big quarters this time. Instead of, instead of the usual little cubbyhole."

Gama: "Kelsey, you will begin transferring maintenance teams over and get he ship fully operational."

"Aye aye skipper."

Shae Kim says, "This concludes the ceremony. Thank you everybody for showing up."

Gama and Kelsy salute.

Kaori Jo (Kaori Takeda) pulls her padd out of her sleeve and taps it to stop recording. "I'll enter the transaction into the Temple record. It will be secure."

Kelsy whispers to Kaori, "Where's the buffet?"

Kaori whispers back, "I think you had to bring your own...unless Captain Gama negotiated a full pantry into the deal."

Gama rolls her eyes at Kelsy and Kaori. " Don't humor her."

Kaori grins. "Or give her ideas?"

Gama: "Kelsey. You take the Raider back and take Kaori to wherever she needs to go. The Admiral and I will discuss a few things if the Admiral has time."

Shae Kim: " I am ready to talk, Captain."

Kaori's eyebrow rises very slightly.

Gama: "Unless Kaori would prefer to remain."

Kaori bows again. "That would be at the Admiral's discretion."

Shae Kim: " I will talk with the Captain alone."

"Okidoki, I see you later, Cap."

"I look forward to our next meeting," Kaori says formally, and turns to follow Kelsy.

Gama: "Bring back some spare parts when you are done."

"Gotta put on that clunky helmet again Kaori." Kelsy sighs. Kaori already has it on. Each stands on the teleport pad in turn, and a few minutes later Razor's Claw drifts off the upper hull, turns and speeds away.

Gama: "Shall we be seated, Admiral, with where we could be more comfortable?

Shae Kim moves over to the table which currently has the only chairs on the deck.

Gama says, "This is a magnificent ship. You are very generous. Admiral."

"I am glad you approve, I was told it was a fair price for your services."

"Yes, it was some small service I performed. It looks like I'm gonna have to get some robots to help man the ship. I don't have enough crew. Or automate it."

Shae Kim looks around. "With a ship like this you will need to have all of the stations covered."

"Yes, I imagine so. I did want to discuss something a little more close to home. What about the other Admiral?"

Shae Kim looks surprised that Gama's mentioned her. "Mercedes Verne? Well she is not to be talked about."

"May I speak freely, Admiral?"

Shae Kim nods. "Yes indeed."

"Thank you. This week I gained a ship and a very nice one. It needs some work, but that's to be expected. Last week I lost a ship. One of my Raiders. It was Khan. And she was protected by the one who should remain nameless."

Shae Kim listens, motions to continue.

Gama plunges in. "If I'm going to be of service to you and your forces, then I will have to know more about what she has under her command. Details such as ship types and ship numbers. What her military capability is and what is your standing? In other words, how are you going to deal with her?"

Shae Kim strokes her chin. "That is information privy only to the admiralty. I will have to get clearance from them to share it. You do realize I can not declassify by thinking about it."

"Yes. We all have our mistresses. I just wanna be of service. And there is another thing that I should mention. A request of sorts. I've been monitoring the news from my home system's capital planet. Gama 5. As you know, there are revolts and so forth. Some of the immigrants from Gamma 3 are being forced to leave Gamma 5. They're hoping to relocate. About 600 of them. In other words, they are refugees. Now for my intelligence, I understand they're gonna be traveling through this system. At least they will if they have your permission. I should warn you that it could be dangerous. The leader of Gamma 5 Is opposed to anyone being seen as allowed to leave. But because they are from Gamma 3, they are considered to be of a different race, In other words, they are being racially persecuted. May we have your permission to escort them through this star system?"

"The refugees do know the dangers?"

"Yes, they do know the danger, but they have no choice. I feel obligated because I too am from Gamma 3. It is very likely that the leader of Gamma 5 will send assassins. He might even approach Admiral Merc as a means of gaining allies here."

Shae Kim: "You have permission along with safe passage through the system. if you need any escorts let me know."

"Admiral Kim you are a blessing!" Gama leans forward, sliding smoothly into military planning mode. "Most of the refugees will be encrypted and asleep, and the ships will be piloted by robots. My job is to get them from point A, the entry point of the star system, to point Z, the exit point where they will make another jump to their final destination. There will be approximately 12 ships. I hope I don't lose any, but I certainly could use any ships that you could spare. And if the other Admiral gets involved, it could be doubly dangerous. Or even worse, if Kahn gets involved since she has some dealings in slaves. I wanted this to be top secret because if anyone knows about it, it could be dangerous, and the fewer people that know, the better. "

Shae Kim: "We will work together to ensure safe passage through the system. Will provide lookouts for unauthorized ships in the area. I do want all of the refugees to make it though."

"As do I. As the ships get nearer, I will have more intelligence data to share with you. In the meantime, I would like to ask you. Where does the Empire stand in regard to Admiral Merc? I did get Kaori's word on the matter. And I trust her. But she is young and inexperienced in some matters of politics."

"As of now Admiral Merc is being pursued."

"She is? I do not want to tell you your job, Admiral, but it seems to me that it would be better to lay a trap for her. She seems to be quite dangerous, but then again, you know best."

"I assure you it is being done."

"Then your assurance is good enough for me. But tell me, the Myeong Gai Order, are they neutral?"

"For now it is neutral." If Shae Kim's puzzled by the question, she doesn't show it.

"Then my little friend, Kaori, Is as good as her word. Excellent. It will take me a few days to get this ship operational. However, I will use this ship to spearhead the escort operation. The refugee ships may begin coming as soon as next weekend. I'm not sure yet."

"Understood."

Gama sits back. "Excellent. I have nothing more at this time unless you have. Something that you would like me to do?"

"As things become available, you will be informed. " Admiral Kim stands to exit. "Safe journey."

"Thank you Admiral. Is Your private shuttle docked here? Or would you like to have me deliver you to someplace?"

"I have a ship here to get me."

Gama: "Safe journey to you as well, Admiral, and may we both be smiled upon by the fates. "

After the Admiral disappears from the teleport pad, Gama radios her crew aboard her primary ship which is hovering at the moon's lagrange point. "Get those engineers over here as soon as possible. I want this ship fully operational. And we're probably going to have to recruit from the refugee ships when they pass through here. What do you mean you don't have enough people? Get the maintenance robots then. Program them for ship operations. Double time."