Rachel's eyes darted around at the three other men who faded out of the dim reaches of the airlock tunnel. "Don't suppose this here's a legal seizure?"

The leader shrugged. "Not particularly. Just a few businessmen trying to make it in this cruel 'verse."

"Ain't worried about security? Don't think the rest o' your coworkers here'd appreciate you bringin' the law down on this rock."

"Security's less a problem when your inside man cuts off the cameras."

Before Rachel had time to ask the question, the fifth man stepped out from behind the edge of the cargo bay. "Hwoon dahn!" the captain snarled. Woof just grinned.

"Real sorry, Cap'n. Y'all seem like nice folk, but a man's gotta live."

"Wouldn't put that to a vote just now, I were you."

The older man cut off Woof's response. "Where's your friend?"

The big man's grin faded. "Sent him off. No reason he needs to be here."

Rachel spared a glance to Sir Anderson as the noble pulled himself to his feet. She shook off his curious glance and turned back to the lead gunman. "So you gonna somehow escort us all off, scour the ship t' make sure we ain't left no stowaways, and keep anybody from runnin' off an' tellin' colony security all with five men? That about right?" Two of the men in back exchanged a worried glance.

"Don't you listen to her." The leader fixed his gun on the captain. "You just shut up or I'll give ya a new hole to talk through, dong ma?"

"Oh, yeah, that's real bright. Gunshot brings everybody runnin', you gotta fix the problem with our engine and get outta here before they come. How long Dex say those repairs'd take, Sir Chen?"

The nobleman cleared his throat. He wasn't used to being part of the plan. "About a day, I believe."

"About a day. Which one y'all's the genius mechanic gonna pull that off?"

One of the men closer to the airlock started to twitch. Rachel didn't like the look. "Duke, I don't know about this…"

"Gorramit, Ray, she's bluffing."

"Yeah, course I am…"

"…gorramit, shut your mouth…"

"…Duke, let's just forget it. They won't tel