Station Day 48
Administrative Tower
Ships continued to arrive.
A Scout remediation team, sent on the word of Scout Commander yos’Phelium. Experts from the Carresens Yard. Two hopeful small traders, who declared themselves willing to await the arrival of Trader Arbuthnot aboard Generous Passage, who had serendipitously only just written with an updated arrival time. Eltoro, in need of a safe docking while repairs were made by crew. A full-service caf with its own team of tenders, cooks, and chef, courtesy of Master Trader yos’Galan.
In addition to Generous Passage, the history of which ship Ren Zel had been forced to look up, Tinsori Light Station had been honored with the information that Vivulonj Prosperu, the Uncle’s very ship, expected to dock within ten Standard Days.
That might have been enough for a temporary light keeper’s fraying nerve, but one more bit of news had arrived in his queue only moments ago.
Dragon’s Way expected to dock within the next ten Standard Days.
Korval’s Own Ship, Ren Zel thought, sharing a dock with the Uncle’s own ship.
He rose and went over to the tea maker—one of the small items they had brought for Jen Sin’s comfort—dialed for a cup of heavily caffeinated working tea. While it brewed, he stood, eyes closed, reviewing a pilot’s centering technique.
Ping! stated the tea maker.
He collected the cup and went back to his desk.
In truth, the Uncle and Korval must meet at some point, given the awakening of Catalinc Station, and the projected residence of Seignur Veeoni, once the breach hall was repaired to her specifications.
Ren Zel sipped tea.
Considering the matter even further, he would be surprised to learn that there was not paperwork to be done—between Korval and Catalinc Station, certainly, and possibly with Crystal Energy Systems.
All of which shone a light of positivity on the announced arrivals.
And it were better that the delm arrive sooner, rather than later, given Anthora’s lofty plans of a Healer Hall on-station. Korval was so thin that it seemed to him unlikely that such a scheme could win favor. The clan naturally held Anthora’s twins in its care, but would the delm wish for a child of the clan to be born far and away on Tinsori Light?
For himself—he greatly feared that he was finding his stride as an administrator, but station administrators could, after all, be hired. And that left aside whatever was the delm’s intention for Jen Sin. Would he be required to remain here, where he had been prisoned for two hundred Standards, or might he be allowed to stretch his wings again? He had been a courier pilot. Surely, after such a time, he chafed to have a ship in his hands.
Well, none of that was for him to decide.
He glanced at the time. Nearly to shift-end. He was to meet Anthora at the Sereneco Hall residences when duty was done with him for the day. She had shown him the plans she and Catie had made for gardens. They were ambitious enough that he had expressed his hope that Gordy had not stinted on the matter of seeds and cuttings, which had earned him a haughty look.
And that had relieved him, a little. She had been as distressed as he had ever seen her at finding the lad on Ren Stryker gone before ever she had been told of his case.
One could not save everyone. He knew that, and she did. Still, he was glad for the diversion of the gardens, and the grand plans for flowers.
And he supposed that it would be very pleasant, after one’s duty was over, to go home to a small suite tucked within the garden, and—
The comm chimed.
“Carresens tradeship Disian, out of Margate, arriving on the suggestion of Master Trader Shan yos’Galan and Trader Janifer Carresens-Denobli, to visit Tocohl, if she is available.”
Ren Zel blinked, and touched the switch.
“Light Keeper Ren Zel dea’Judan. Welcome, Disian. I will inform Tocohl. Do you have trade or other business to pursue?”
“Just a visit,” Disian assured him. “Though my crew will be glad of leave, and are happy to assist as needed.”
“That is well, then. Thank you. Cleared for C level, direct access, docking three.”