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Rann turned his head toward Blythe. She pressed her lips together, shoulders shaking, and he had to look away before he joined her. Ryke had excellent hearing. No point making himself a target when the captain already had one.

Pulling the ax free, Ryke glanced their way.

Rann gave him a pleasant nod as Blythe took another drink, her lips pressed tightly together, and concentrated on the view.

The colony didn’t look like much yet, but he liked the view.

Maxim had dealt with that draanthic Joe. Apparently violently, which had appeased the goats. Not only that, but he’d offered the woman a trading colony to run, remote enough to give them some space away from their former lives.

Rann hadn’t quite known what to make of the offer at first. The Lady’s Dream had been home for years. Everything he needed had fit aboard her, although sometimes fitting it in had required an argument about whose equipment took priority. Usually several arguments.

Now they could keep stores here and unload the Dream for repairs without having to negotiate storage fees every time they returned.

It was somewhere to come back to.

A second goat joined the first and planted itself in front of Stevie, waiting for attention. Rann watched Stevie scratch its head while continuing her conversation with Maxim. “She looks pleased.”

“She should. She doesn’t have to figure out where to put them anymore.”

He glanced at the goats spreading through the settlement. As soon as they’d made it dirtside, half of them had absconded into the wilds around the settlement, while the rest had claimed a shelter that had been intended for equipment and the woodpile for themselves.

Jex approached from the other side of the clearing, his dark faceplate turning toward Stevie and Maxim. The uneven ground didn’t slow the cyborg at all.

“We need to settle the medical requirements.”

Maxim straightened up and he inclined his head. “Of course. What do you need?”

“Callie’s pregnancy is high risk. We need proper medical facilities here, and the supplies to support them.”

Blythe’s fingers stilled in Rann’s.

Jex stopped beside Stevie, ignoring the goat who sniffed his leg plating. The goats couldn’t seem to work out if the cyborg was human or a machine.

“We can’t depend on what happens to be aboard the ship,” Jex continued. “Or on being able to get something delivered when we need it. The facilities and supplies need to be available here.”

Stevie nodded. “Agreed.”

“Send me the requirements,” Maxim said. “I’ll arrange it.”

“Everything,” Jex said.

Maxim looked up at the dark faceplate. “Everything?”

Maxim rubbed his jaw, considering Jex for a moment. “Okay, give me the list and I’ll get it here.”

Rann let out a breath. He hadn’t doubted Jex would get what he needed, but it was good to hear agreement without the usual negotiation. A remote colony was one thing. A remote colony without adequate medical care was something else. Blythe’s thumb moved against his hand again.

“And,” Tell’s brother carried on. “While we’re on equipment, I’ve got some strange alien stuff sitting in storage. Some kind of bio-mechanical shit. Never been able to shift it. Nobody wants it.”

“What does it do?” Jex asked.

Maxim shrugged. “No idea. I’ll send that along as well.”

Jex paused. “All right. I’ll take it.”

Maxim nodded and turned back to talk to Stevie.

Blythe set her cup on the ground beside her chair and leaned toward Rann.