WfR26: Not a Request

Kantiru Shen swivelled to face the Commander, satisfied the systems in the unmarked shuttle checked out. The now-retired other pilot reclined on a rear bench, sedated almost as soon as he'd left his craft. Commander D'Iræ glanced at him, then back to Shen.

"I have one other condition," she began.

"Of course you do," Shen growled. "I can't fly unconscious."

D'Iræ ignored the quip. "You won't make any runs into Tapzin space for the next year."

"WHAT?!?"

"None," the Commander said sternly. "Pirates capture ISS vessels all the time. I can't risk it."

"If you're doing your job they wouldn't snag us, would they?" Shen retorted. "Besides, I don't know what you're doing with the kegs."

"You know I took them." D'Iræ shrugged. "Look at it this way - we won't cross paths for another few years, again."

"Small blessings. Fine." Shen turned to the console, and waved her away with a tail flick. "Hope it's worth the trouble."