The coat covered Cal’s hands.
Drake folded one sleeve back, found the other already falling forward and wondered how a garment could object so effectively to a change of command.
“Hold still.”
“Trying, Captain.”
“Not that word out there,” Merrit said.
Drake gave her a look. She held the service sheet where both men could read it.
A short-term exchange registration permitted an ordinary repair offer and external inspection. Ruth had checked the declared capability against the fault observed from outside the transport. The paper would not persuade someone who knew their faces to forget them. It might get qualified workers close enough to do a real job.
Gull’s Luck’s distinctive outer boards had been covered with the proper service display. Her hull had not changed. Neither had the consequences if the deception failed.
