Padur's Victory."
"Blast them if they're in on this!"
"Could be coincidence. They were coming this way, for probably honest reasons. But I'd sure like to know who was at Hoas while we were at Urtur."
"What about the Sun?" Hallan asked.
"I wish I could tell you not." But there it was, in evidence between two other hani ships, Nai's Splendor, and Doran 's Golden Hope. Sahern 's Sun Ascendant, plain to see. "Lslillyest, a good clutch of stsho ships, none of which I know, none of which library knows, which indicates they're not traders, they're from deep inside stsho space… do I guess, the capital at Llyene, if they've set No'shto-shti-stlen aside?"
"Politics," Tiar said. "Gods, there's something three days dead here."
"We could get out of here," Chihin said. "We could tell the kif we've had our closer look, goodbye, good luck."
"They'll outlaw us. They'll have their evidence, a cargo not delivered, right on the books. Chanur will lose this ship, Chanur will lose Momentum with the mahendo'sat."
"Better free-running than clipped at dock."
"It's one thing to say, cousin."
"We're not giving up!"
"Oh, no, no, no, Chihin."
"What are we going to do?" Tiar asked.
"I don't exactly know. Neither do they. They can try their writs and their papers. Those don't make many holes in the hull. And they'll talk to us. Talk is what they're here for. They're here to prove a case against us."
"It's a trap," Hallan said. "If the Sun's with them, it's a trap — they're going to file some complaint, captain."
"Good lad, good thinking. Gods-be right they are."
"I don't want to get you in trouble."
She had to laugh. Probably to Hallan Meras it wasn't funny.
"They're not getting him back," Chihin said.
"Just run the calc," she said. "First thing is not to hit the station. Then we'll worry about Sahern clan.
They're a minor problem."
"It's not a minor problem," Chihin said.
"Say he's not going to Sahern. It's one thing for me to throw him off. No gods-be Sahern is taking him.
Two plus two, cousin, let me handle the legal work, you have your hands full and I don't want to make a mistake here. Fala, you want to make another run belowdecks?"
"Aye, captain, I will."
"I'd say we have another half hour. Get down there, there's some shifting about I want done. You mayhave to do take-hold down there. Have something in mind."
"Aye, captain."
Nervy kid. It was a dangerous thing, moving about in approach. Things could happen. But the stray cargo pusher that happened into the Legacy's path was going to be out of luck.
"Captain," Tarras said, "I'm still holding that missile live."
"That's where you're to hold it."
"Just confirming," Tarras said. "Thank you."
Calc was shaping up. Fala called up for instructions. Station called to protest they were out of calibration, check their computers.
"Oh, we're not using your feed," Hilfy delighted to say. "Since you can't prove you're authorized. We'll just guess our way in."
"You damn fool!" Meetpoint Control screamed.
"How are we doing, Tiar?"
"Oh, maybe five, ten percent one way or the other. Who knows?"
"You lose your license!"
"Hope we're good, Meetpoint. Or give us No'shto-shti-stlen."
"Not can do! Not can do! Brake!"
"Have Paehisna-ma-to's adherents so little nerve?" Vikktakkht cut in over com. "We, on the other hand, are braking. And our weapons remain live.''
Credit to the hakkikt, not one word about the missile they had armed, which with his systems he most probably knew about.
"Thank you, hakkikt."
"You stop, you stop, I call superior!"
"Like give us access to No'shto-shti-stlen?"
"You stop, I try!"
"Are we calc'ed, Tiar?"
"We're steady on."
"Sorry, Meetpoint. Not in the mood now. Maybe we'll take that missile off-line. Maybe not."
"You bluff!"
"Oh, yes, sometimes. Not all the time." She shut off that corn-link. "Shut it down, Tarras."
"Gray hairs," Chihin muttered, "forty of ‘em."
"Just put us in soft," she said.
Hallan's mouth was moving. Reading numbers or committing himself to the gods, Hilfy thought. And punched in the take-hold.
"You damn fool break Jive hundred law!"
"He's hysterical," Hilfy said, accidentally into a live mike. "Take care of that, Tiar." And cut the contact.
"Your excellency, I report a safe dock. You may move about now. Felicitations on your excellency's return to Meetpoint. We are now attempting to make contact with gtst excellency the governor, but mahendo'sat have occupied station offices…"
"Wai!"
"We believe by the number of stsho ships here at dock who are not traders that some treachery is contemplated. There are han officials who have historical antipathy toward Chanur; there are mahendo'sat including Ana-kehnandian; but the ship of his excellency the hakkikt Vikktakkht is holding position off the station with the threat of weapons and of the Treaty and of the displeasure of the mekt-hakkikt. As to gtst excellency No'shto-shti-stlen, these outrageous persons are withholding contact with gtst excellency. We are in fear for gtst safety at this moment, or wonder if your excellency might have a word with these individuals."
"I shall execrate them. "
"Please prepare to do so. I am putting your intercom in direct radio contact with Meetpoint communications. For obvious reasons we are not accepting the umbilicals, most particularly the com lines."
"We are prepared. "
"You are in contact," she said, and pushed the button and eavesdropped, chin on fist.
“ Outrageous and shameless behavior,'' was the opener, at a pitch that made the indicators spike.
While on a wavelength belonging to hani official business: ", put me in contact with Hilfy Chanur."
"You are there," Hilfy answered. "Good day. Is this Ehrran clan?"
"Insolence will not improve your case with thehan.' You are personally and as a crew charged with piracy, kidnapping, rape, and murder; you are as a head of clan charged with treason, sedition, violation of Treaty law,
"Speeding. You forgot speeding and irregular docking procedure, Ehrran. This is a political show and we both know it. Gods, is there a dirty business this side of Ajir you don't have your hand in?"
'' I demand to speak to Hallan Meras. On behalf of Meras clan and Sahern.''
That was bound to come. Hallan threw her a desperate look, Chihin looked like thunder.
Hilfy punched the transmit again. "Demand what you like, Ehrran. Chanur doesn't permit it."
Captain, Hallan was saying soundlessly. She shook her head.
"Do I have that for the record, Chanur?"
"Absolutely you do, Ehrran."
"Captain," Hallan said distressedly.
"You're married. Shut up."
"I'm—" — married, the jaw said.
"As of about half an hour ago. Signed by a stsho official, a stsho holiness, an impartial witness and me as captain of this ship. Congratulations and don't disgrace us."
"Who—?" Hallan shut up again. The Eyes of the Ban was reading more charges on com.
"Better be me," Chihin said darkly.
"First listed," Hilfy said. "Excuse us we didn't ask preferences. You were calculating approach and I thought they'd pull this."
"But," Hallan said. Before Chihin shut him up. Ehrran was repeating some question. She just transmitted the document in facsimile. And the one charging Sahern with desertion, abandonment, public insult, public indecency, malicious suit, and nine infractions of the common law of Compact space.