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.But they couldn't seize or steal it, due to the justice system and the limits they had found out about the dog's hardware.Since it was all encrypted so only the dogs could use it they had hatched a new plan.They'd found out about the loop hole, the company could be driven into bankruptcy or be forced to agree to sell the equipment.When their market manipulations and other ploys failed they were forced to more sterner measures.Mr.Kenny Kennet was implicated in the scandal, but he had kept enough cut outs between him and Dreyfus, Harif, and Mario to keep himself out of trouble.He had pointedly answered no comment when questioned by the media, and when on the stand he'd refused to answer questions due to his Federation Constitutional right not to implicate himself.*.*.*.*.Kennet was forced from the council.He fumed, at ends on what to do.Finally he managed to get a meeting with Yan Fu several days later.A tired looking Yan Fu who worked on his calligraphy and who patiently explained what a fool he had been.Kennet rallied, but Fu interrupted him.“Me.I meant me.You as well of course, but to begin with me.” This stopped Kennet in his tracks.“I was a fool for wanting to get rid of Irons, I realize that error in judgment now.I tried to make amends before the admiral left, and if he should return I will do my best to restore my honor,” he said simply, setting his calligraphy brush down.He stroked his beard with a faraway look for a long moment.Finally he harrumphed and turned back to the painting he had been working on.He studied it for a long moment, judging it imperfect, just like himself and his wayward student.Kennet cleared his throat.Annoyed Fu looked up.Kennet tried to argue that he had been following the master's principles and teachings, but Yan explained that the Yard Dogs couldn't make weapons, and therefore couldn't make warships.“They were never a threat, in fact they were an asset you should have nurtured.” All they can currently do was repair ships and make sublight platforms and craft.Kennet was humiliated, head down, eyes burning in shame.Yan Fu dismissed him with a wave, informing him he needed to meditate on such things in his exile.He left the quarters in a daze, now not sure what to do with his cyber life.One thing was for certain, he had plenty of time to reflect on his many errors.*.*.*.*.The station council backed the Yard dogs in a news conference.Yan Fu and the Berkhearts made a big deal out of their ongoing support and of paying their legal fees and making the guilty corporations and Kenny Kennet pay for the repairs and medical costs.Both corporations go bankrupt.Yard dogs received a settlement as well as controlling interest in the McDougall corporation's space venture.They folded it's assets into the yard dogs in a merger.Many in the corporation were now eager to please, if only to keep their jobs.Then a starship came in and they negotiated a rebuild in exchange for a load of prime material.When the negotiation was agreed upon they eagerly went to work.*.*.*.*.“And that's that,” Mairi said, grinning.She now had a dozen pilots under her now.She still flew of course, but she liked not being the only pilot.With the burden lifted from her shoulders she felt like a new woman, more relaxed and not nearly as pressured.She had a home and was comfortable in her job.Olga had moved out, she had gone ground side to date someone and hadn't returned.At this point Mairi didn't care anymore.Her mother would land on her feet.or she wouldn't.She had more important things on her mind, like rebuilding the future.“Mairi, come on, let's go, we've got a schedule to keep!” Sparks said, waving a tablet.“Let's get this whale peeled and fixed up! We've only got a week!” he called.“Yeah, coming,” Mairi replied cheerfully, waving as she climbed into the Bitch.The Red Rover a Conestoga class freighter was in the slip, already robots and space hands were hard at work tearing into her systems.“Coming!” she called, dropping down into her tug.“It's great to be alive,” she said, grinning as she strapped in and keyed the start up sequence.She patted her arm rests, following tradition.“Come on baby, time to get to work.”The endThe adventures of Nohar Private InvestigatorNote: The events in this story are just prior to Plague planet.Chapter 1Nohar flicked his ears as Jerry rolled his eyes.He smelled a familiar scent as someone bellied up to the bar on his off side [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]