“We’re sealed up,” Skip said over the ceiling speakers. “I’ve dialed up our sensor jamming, but our two ore modules are obviously visible if that search shuttle gets too close.”
“It’s still out there?” Kori asked. They had landed nearly thirty minutes ago, just before sunrise. She and Steve were sitting at the small two-person dining table. They had brewed a pot of coffee just after landing.
“Yeah,” the Osprey’s SI replied. “We’re not in any immediate danger. This little valley is pretty well protected, and that shuttle is an older Mark Seven transport. Those don’t have the best sensors.”
Steve looked at the ceiling. “Okay, we’ll have to hope that shuttle doesn’t come this way.”
Kori walked over. “If that shuttle does get close enough to see the ore modules, what then?”
Steve shrugged. “I guess we run and hope Jax can afford to refund that Ichiko guy.” When Kori made a face, he added, “Honestly, no clue. Let’s just do our best to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Rudy dropped down the center of the stairwell. “We should get the ore modules covered, just in case. With the sun up, any ship in orbit or a satellite will spot the modules.”
Steve crossed his arms. “By ‘we,’ you mean us and not you?”
Rudy held his slim mechanical arms, then pointed at his roller ball. “Whatever helps you get your ass outside.” He turned and rolled back to the stairwell. As he zipped up the center of the stairs, he added, “Baxter can help.”
Kori looked between Steve and Baxter, who was standing near the staircase. “I guess we should get out there.” She stood and headed for the staircase, coffee cup in hand.
Steve looked at Baxter as he stood. The droid just stared at him, red scatter light swishing back and forth.
* * *
The ore module shifted as the train car lurched to a stop. The sound and vibration of the cars further down the line clanging against the car in front of them echoed.
Jax put his gPhone in his pocket and sat up, straining to press his ear against the hatch.
“Do you—” Naomi started.
“Shh,” Jax rasped. She slapped him on the shoulder. He looked back and nodded. He pressed against the metal hatch, pushing it up. He poked his head out, then lowered it. “Clear.”
“Well, if it wasn’t, you’d be dead already,” Naomi snapped, pushing against him.
“Okay, okay. Jeez.” He crawled up and out and offered her his hand. They stood looking around the dimly lit walkway. Their car or another nearby clanked as a crane similar to the one in Abda began removing modules, handing them off to people in power loaders. “Here’s what I’m thinking. We get out, and get under the car.”
“And then?” Naomi pressed.
Jax made a face. “Do I have to think of everything?” He jumped back just in time to avoid a fist aimed at his shoulder.
Naomi turned to the hatch up train from them. “Let’s go.” She didn’t wait for him.
Getting under the train car was the easy part by far. The Salma stockyard was a hive of activity, a kicked over hive at the moment, due to the theft of several million credits worth of raw ore. Shock troopers were stomping all over the yard, their gray armor covered in the all-too-common Jebidiah mud. Yard workers were scurrying around trying to do their job of unloading the train cars while not getting in the shock troopers’ way. Mixed in with that were several haughty Imperial officers in crisp crimson uniforms barking orders at anyone who looked like they would follow them.
Jax and Naomi were crouched behind one of the massive sets of wheels at the end of the train car they’d been in. As yet, no one had even glanced in their direction.
“Would it be rude to ask, now what , again?” the runaway interface said.
“Rude and unnecessary,” Jax replied without looking over at her, his eyes scanning the scene around the train.
Unlike Adba, where the train pulled along the perimeter of the stockyard, in Salma, the train pulled right into the middle of the much larger yard. The spaceport ring wall was visible in the distance, freighters moving in and out of the port on powerful lift engines.
Jax finally looked at Naomi. “Think they’re looking for signals? We could call the others, have them meet us at the spaceport.”
She shook her head. “No idea. Probably best to wait until we’re at least outside the stockyard.” Jax nodded.