Page 83 of Commander’s Mate
“Four percent.”
“Risk?”
“Low to moderate.”
“Survivors?”
“Estimated thirty-two.”
Thirty-two.
A small number compared with Ursaga.
A large number if you were one of them.
Degatu rubbed his jaw.
“We cannot make every rescue free.”
“No.”
“Then?”
I looked at the accepted contracts.
Medical convoy.
Seed shipment.
Farseek reconstruction cargo.
Money.
Fuel.
Medicine.
Then the refinery.
No money.
People.
“We take the paying contracts that keep the fleet alive.”
Degatu nodded.
“And?”
“We use the fleet they pay for to do what money cannot justify.”
Pyrr’s mouth curved.
“That sounds expensive.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
