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Colemenoport

Offices of the

Tree-and-Dragon Trade Mission


So far, Padi thought cautiously, trade mission matters were going well, despite the absence of the master trader.

Of course, they had only just met for nuncheon—Padi, Jes, and Dyoli, that was. Dil Nem and Grad had set off early for the yards. Mar Tyn, Karna at his back, was delivering solicitation packets to the list of accountants who had written wishing to know more of Tree-and-Dragon’s accounting necessities.

Padi had initially lent herself to the task of bringing the qe’andra’s suite into usefulness, until it became plain that she was superfluous, and left Jes and Dyoli to it, after gaining their agreement to join her for nuncheon in the trade office.

She had been happy to hear Bell’s voice when she called the Skywise to order the meal.

“Is everything well?” she asked.

“Everything’s well, Trader, thank you for asking,” Bell said.

“Did they find who was responsible?” Padi asked, which was perhaps too familiar of her.

“Security couldn’t find anything to identify those responsible,” Bell said calmly. “As it was only mischief, they’ve retired the complaint.”

Padi bit her lip, remembering the overturned display cases and sweets ground into the floor.

Mischief.

“How may I serve you?” Bell asked after a moment, and Padi shook herself into order.

“I need a working nuncheon for three, boxed meals for four, fresh fruits, and cake. Credit the trade mission’s account, if you will.”

“Very good, Trader. I can have that sent ’round inside the hour. Is that convenient?”

“That will do well for us,” Padi said. “Thank you.”

“It’s a pleasure to do business with you, Trader. Take care, now.”

“Take care, Bell,” Padi said, and closed the connection.

She sat for a moment, wrestling with the urge to call Majel ziaGorn and demand that he speak to Port Security and inspire them to do better—but surely, it was none of her concern, outworld as she was.

A deep breath, then another, before she reviewed a piloting exercise meant to impart calmness.

Opening her eyes, she leaned forward to tap up the screen and review the morning’s correspondence.

* * *

“The office suite is entirely functional for three,” Jes said, as they finished their meal. “My hope is that Mar Tyn will return to us with six letters of interest in hand. I would like to start the initial phase of regularizing data no later than tomorrow evening.”

Padi glanced at Dyoli, who seemed perfectly calm, and back to Jes.

“You hope to have your six possibles by this evening, teach the module tomorrow, and have everyone at their desks by tomorrow evening,” she said. “That seems . . . ambitious.”

“Surely you understand that the master trader’s timetable has been ambitious from the first,” Jes said. “It is my part to match him.”

She raised a hand, as though Padi had been about to speak.

“You perhaps do not realize how well the traders have performed the preliminaries. Colemenoport is generally inclined toward the mission; we have the goodwill of the portmaster, the market master, and many of the vendors. While I understand from the master trader’s briefing that there are those who see opening to trade as a risky business, even they would rather see it handled by Tree-and-Dragon, with their knowledgeable and personable traders, than some other, unknown quantity.”

Padi raised her eyebrows.

“It’s perfectly true,” Dyoli told her. “The comm only came online this morning, and we’re already getting calls from port vendors, wanting to know how much and what kind of data they should send. For the moment, we’re asking them to be patient—”

“But I should send a memo,” Jes said, and cocked a speculative eye in Padi’s direction. “In fact, you might assist with this, Trader. You of course have a contact list—”

“I do,” Padi agreed, “but if you want to reach everyone, you’ll want the market master’s list, and permission, I think, to send through the official port network.”

“Yes—that is well thought,” Jes said. “I would rather not waste time with people debating whether we are legitimate.”

“I am on good terms with the assistant market manager,” Padi said. “After we’re done here, I’ll see if she has time for me. The port market is extremely interested in opening trade, and well disposed toward the mission. If Saru can’t provide what we need, I’m confident she will be able to send me to the proper source.”

“I will then leave that piece with you. After we are done here, Dyoli, I want you to review the compilation kit. We will go over any questions. Our goal is to have you fully conversant with the methods involved, as you will be interfacing with the contractors here on port.”

Dyoli inclined her head. “I understand,” she said.

“So. I will put together the port memo, and also the solicitation letter to the city firms, for Trader yos’Galan’s review.”

Jes leaned back in her chair, and smiled at the two of them.

“Do you know?” she said with what seemed to Padi to be simple happiness. “I’ve missed this.”


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