Bechimo
Minot Station
In which Theo has a plan.
If this were a movie, the latter part of this chapter would be the lock-and-load montage showing each member of the team preparing for the big action. And if this were a movie, I suspect it wouldn’t include Theo’s conversation with Bechimo; it’s good writing to show that the bonding takes time and effort and doesn’t just automatically go well, just as it’s good writing to show that gaining the trust of the pathfinders takes time and effort and doesn’t just automatically go well, but unlike the pathfinders it lacks the spice of imminent danger if it goes wrong.
It’s a nice touch that, after showing Theo’s earlier exercise session from Bechimo’s point of view and showing him wondering how much Theo notices of the little adjustments he makes, this one is from Theo’s point of view and shows that she does notice and appreciate them.
A contract specifying that they’re removing the pod at the express request of the station, who agrees to hold them harmless, will help somewhat if there’s trouble from that. I think there’s more to it, too — the specification that the people to be held harmless includes not only crew but also “staff, contractors and administration” might be just habitual caution but I suspect it portends that Theo is planning to acquire Rig as staff or contractor and thereby get him coverage, too.
I think there’s more to the “incidental alterations or entry” bit, as well. It sounds like Theo’s planning to go inside the ship, maybe just because she’s thought of a way to safely unlock the pod, but she might be planning to do some other stuff while she’s in there. Could be she intends to bring Rig’s music and personal stuff off with her, which she could claim as an “incidental alteration”. Could be she’s thought of a way to make off with the whole ship and give it back to Rig, although I don’t that’s likely myself.
Accrediting the pathfinders as ambassadorial staff has a perfectly good in-story explanation — it gives them extra protection if anybody decides to take offence to them — but given the other ambassador we’ve seen in this novel it might additionally be foreshadowing that they’re going to end up really joining an ambassadorial mission.
There have been several mentions of the station Admin and the shipyard committees not seeing eye-to-eye, but I’m not sure if that plays directly into the situation or is just background colour.
I have the e-arc. When Theo and her crew discuss why Tranza still wants to wait till the next mail, thinking there’s a message, my kindel says: Theo’s reply to Clarence: “So, he sent to the top, but the boss never saw the letter. Tever screened it – and sent it on to Mayko, since she’s coordinating the expansion in this sector. …”
Is this a mistake that got taken out in the final version? Or do you all have “Tever” in this sentence? Who is Theo really meaning to have screened Tranzas mail? (It can’t be Tever, since he would have left long before Tranza would have written to Hugglelans.)
The release version of the ebook also has “Tever” in that sentence. It’s been long enough since I read the book that I can’t recall what I thought about it.
PA: Accrediting the pathfinders as ambassadorial staff . . . might additionally be foreshadowing that they’re going to end up really joining an ambassadorial mission.
That was my thought, especially with the Pathfinders identified specifically as security personnel. Can’t wait for the fifth of five!
Othin, good catch. Just went right by me!