Kris Longknife: Tenacious (Kris Longknife novellas Book 12) by Mike Shepherd Read Free Book Online

find space for them as well?” Kris asked.
    “Kris, you get me more factory ships, and I’ll find room for them anywhere and everywhere. I love more factory ships.”
    “Great, Pipra, because I’m going to leave welcoming these fine folks in your warm and capable hands.”
    “You’re going to what?” didn’t quite rise to the level of a scream. Not quite.
    “I’ll talk to the Navy types and let them in on the situation. You talk to the business types.”
    “You don’t pay me enough for this, woman.”
    “In case you haven’t noticed, none of us are getting paid very much of anything,” Kris pointed out.
    “I got to change that.”
    “You do that and we’ll all celebrate with you.”
    “Good-bye, Your Highness,” Pipra said.
    “Good-bye, my right-hand gal of business,” Kris said. “I have yet another group coming through,” she said as she rang off. This time four ships appeared.
    “Kris, this is a division from the Esperanto League,” Nelly reported. “They’re non-U.S. Their flagship is the
Miela
, that translates as ‘honey-sweet.’ The next three are
Karesinda
,
Dezirinda
, and
Spirita
, meaning ‘caressable,’ ‘desirable,’ and ‘witty.’”
    “Strange names for warships,” Jack said.
    “After the Iteeche War, the League passed a law that no warship could have a ‘distressingly combative name,’” Nelly said.
    “So they managed to pass a bill authorizing warship construction,” Kris said, trying not to chortle at the political implications, “but not a bill to change the naming law.”
    “The next should be the last,” Nelly announced, and the jump promptly gave up six more. “These are from Hispania, a U.S. member. The
Libertad
is the flag, followed by the
Federaciaon
,
Independencia
, and
Union
. They have two supply ships,
Minnow
and
Koralo
. That’s it, Kris. Forty new warships, twenty-four with those strange lasers, two new yards, three repair ships, twelve supply ships, and two very nice factory ships.”
    “Not a bad haul,” Captain Drago said. “Especially considering what we’re down to after that last dustup.”
    Kris nodded as she thought through her presents . . . and the challenges inherent in her good fortune. She turned to Captain Drago. “I think we’ll be using your Forward Lounge for another meeting. Have Mother MacCreedy lay in a goodly supply of that hooch the Alwans drink.”
    Captain Drago made a face. “That stuff is almost undrinkable. Its only virtue is the alcoholic content is so high that after a few sips, you don’t care.”
    “That’s all she’ll serve for our extended staff meeting. Let’s introduce our new arrivals to the vagaries of Far Station duty sooner rather than later.”
    “You’re a hard taskmaster, Viceroy,” Captain Drago said, “but very likely a smart one.”
    “Also, Drago, please send this message to the arriving fleet. ‘Thank you for coming. You’re more than welcome. We won a fleet action three weeks ago, but, no doubt, there is another one coming. If any of your merchant ships are carrying mining supplies, please divert them to one of the mining stations along your route for unloading. Detach a warship to escort them there and down here immediately after. Commander, Alwa Defense Sector sends.’”
    “I’ll have it dispatched immediately,” Captain Drago said, then he paused. “Why have the merchants escorted? There are no hostiles anywhere near us.”
    “No, but if the merchants get to talking with the locals, they may find out that those that come here stay here and decide to make a run for it. The escort is to shoot their engines out if they try to run, but we won’t tell them that unless we have to, now will we?”
    “No, ma’am, we won’t. There are times I forget I’m serving with one of those damn Longknifes. Then you remind me.”
    “Yeah, ain’t it the pits,” Kris said, and turned back to her desk. Damn Longknife or nice one, she had three hats to wear and a lot of work that