`Haven’t developed a form to gobble up their garbage, that’s all,’ Metrios replied.
`Vegetarians get their iron and minerals from their food,’ Anis remarked with an overly innocent expression on her face. `Which reminds me, Eri, we could use some new tri-ds. There’s nothing I haven’t seen a zillion times.
Eri and Anis both looked queryingly at Rojer who held his arms wide, mimicking Anis’ expression. `Look, I’m just transport. I have nothing to do with loading.’ `Which reminds me why I’m here,’ Eri said, turning to Rojer. `I’ve four to ship back this week.’ He raised his eyebrows queryingly.
`No problem. My `Dinis told me that there’re two `Dini pairs to go as well.’ Anis heaved an exaggerated sigh. `I’m always glad to know they are not as pa-faced and stiff-upperlipped as Prtglm pretends they are.
`The `Dinis are going to hibernate,’ Rqj’er said, and grinned to defuse any criticism as he added, `that’s not considered a weakness in `Dims.
`At least you save them from going on the line,’ Metrios said, nodding his head approvingly.
Anis gave a convulsive shudder. `I don’t care what euphemism they apply to the process, it’s still cannibalism.’ `Term it exigency during long space hauls and accept that interpretation,’ Mrkovic said, but his expression indicated he was in complete agreement with the astrogator.
`At least we have Rojer here. Man and Mrdini’s best friend is the local FT&T Talent.’ Rojer grinned back, relieved that the subject of `Dini traditions was not pursued. On the bridge, at least, he wasn’t quizzed to the point of aggravation by pruriently curious crewmen and women. He had had to make the point that he might have lived closely with `immature `Dini, but he didn’t know much about the adults.
`So what’s to be done today. Commander?’ he asked Metrios.
`Close watch on the shipyard and those pod elements.
We’ve got a little self-destruct package in the new ones I ordered up in case we need to put more in action.’ `Don’t I just wish we did have some action,’ said Yngocelen as he stared glumly at the static scene on the screen. `Aren’t they putting the cart before the horse?
I mean, assembling escape pods when they haven’t repaired the hole they put in the refugee ship? Never did understand why they plugged it. Especially after they had already conned the queens into leaving in their escape pods.’ `Puzzling indeed, Metrios admitted, `since it damaged a perfectly space-worthy craft which would have nicely increased their existing fleet.’ Because he now knew these officers well enough, Rojer decided to voice his thoughts.
`Commander, I don’t think that torpedo hit a cargo or docking area,’ he said.
`You don’t?’ Metrios’ expression encouraged him.
`No, sir, I think they holed the lifesupport systems.
Because it was a hole, not a shattering blast.’ `Show me.’ Metrios was not the only one who perked up with interest.
Rojer `ported one of the monitors into the appropriate position.
Unfortunately, the entrance point was in deep shadow. What was visible were the clean edges of the torpedo’s entrance. The damage would be easily repaired. At least it would on any of the Alliance ships.
`Maybe there was something in that torpedo they sent up,’ Rojer added quietly, steeling himself for dispute.
`Yeah, but what and why?’ Yngocelen asked in a caustic tone. `We know from even the partial reconstruction of the Great Sphere which A Squadron discovered that they can seal off decks and areas just as we can.
`Yes, but the queens were evacuating and there’d be no-one to issue orders to the workers to close anything.
I think,’ and Rojer paused so as not to sound as sure as he was of his theory, `this lot wouldn’t want the workers spawned by other queens. They’d want to get rid of them before they filled the ship with their personal workers.’ `So the torpedo delivered a gas or something noxious to fumigate it, huh?’ Yngocelen asked, mulling over that theory.
`Boy’s got a good point,’ Metrios said over Rojer’s head but his tone was approving.
`I could send a probe inside the ship to find out, Rojer volunteered since no-one had discredited his theory. Although Captain Osullivan had not taken part in the conversation, he had been listening.