Page 66 of Commander’s Mate

“It is inefficient.”

I smiled.

“Now who has postal-worker face?”

He did not know what that meant.

Scarlet nearly fell over.

I added the field.

PREFERRED MEAL PATTERN.

Then another.

SAFE PACKAGING.

Then another.

DO NOT SUBSTITUTE WITHOUT ASKING.

The clerk looked at that one.

“Operationally inconvenient.”

“Yes.”

“Potentially useful.”

“Yes.”

He nodded.

“Keep it.”

That was how the system started changing—not through a declaration.

Not through a commander.

One irritating field at a time.

Chapter Thirteen

Zared

I stood in the observation alcove outside the bridge and watched FTL light crawl over the reinforced shield.

By any tactical measure, Ursaga had been a success. Kyanna Guryon was alive. Ninety-six other captives were alive because we had refused to leave them behind. We had a lead on at least two hundred Farseek citizens sold to Breskaa.

And Harper Avery had cried in my arms because I could not find her world.

The shame was not that I had comforted her.

It was the flash of relief beneath the sorrow.

No coordinates. No route. No immediate way to send her home.

For one treacherous breath, some part of me had been grateful.