> (Hospital, Ceres Station)

Corwin disliked hospitals. Always had, probably always would. But today he was making an exception. Amazing how floating around for a few days in a half-dead ship could make one really appreciate even the annoyances in life.

"Captain Corwin?"

The young orderly looked expectantly at Corwin, who was trying to recall if there was some question waiting an answer. Oh, right. The insurance forms. He'd been looking through them for any of the common tricky clauses but had gotten distracted. Scrolling to the bottom Corwin applied his thumbprint to authorize the claims, then handed the tablet back to the man.

The orderly thanked Corwin and wandered off, presumably to file the claim and gauge the Company's insurance for the check-up that June could have handled just as well as the hospital's doctors. However they padded it, the medical bill was the least of the Company's worries right now.

Unfortunately, the Company was a long way away, on the other end of a forty-minute time lag to Earth orbit. Speaking of which, the latest volley in the long-distance conversation would be in soon. Corwin sighed, then headed out to collect his crew. Hopefully he'd at least get accommodation sorted before the next round.

They were all in the reception area, along with a thin man in System Navy black.

"Captain Corwin? Lieutenant Mears, S&R."

Corwin shook the proffered hand, genuinely pleased to meet the young lieutenant.

"Pleased to meet you, Lieutenant. We all appreciate your team's swift response."

"It's what we train for, sir. I'll forward your thanks to the traffic controller who pinpointed your location. Now, we have temporary accommodations set up for you all until you get settled. If you'll follow me."

Well, that would give them some breathing room while Corwin worked with the Company on what came next. From the S&R report the Jolene was pretty far gone. Repairs were not going to be either quick or cheap. Fortunately the cargo had been largely untouched, and since they'd actually arrived earlier than expected the inevitable delays in landing the cargo weren't going to be an issue.

More importantly, the passengers had not only reached their destination, but the impromptu testing of their device had been somewhat of a windfall for the research company. They'd at least shown... something. Corwin wasn't clear what, but the fact that the device moved the ship at all was an achievement.

He was still trying to puzzle through the ramifications when they arrived at their temporary accommodations and found the science team already present, apparently deep in discussion of the topic.

Since he wasn't able to understand half of the words they were using, Corwin was almost glad when the Company's message arrived.

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From: Brett Sylla, CEO, Rhonan Logistics

TO: Aaron Corwin, Captain: Roses of Jolene, Rhonan Logistics

Subject: RE: Roses of Jolene

Hi Aaron,

We've received the reports from Ceres, and it's a damned mess. I've spoken with Engineering and they tell me there's not a lot left to salvage. About the only thing that isn't busted is the primary frame, everything else needs to be replaced. Frankly it'd be cheaper to build a brand new ship.

Accounting and Legal are both riding my ass over this. Legal are worried about the insurance ramifications of using the ship to test an experimental drive system, but they think they can swing the emergency contingencies clause to cover that. Accounting are howling about loss of profits having half of our fleet - and the mental gymnastics of calling two ships a 'fleet' boggles the mind - out of commission.

The board called an emergency session to discuss the situation and they decided that even if they can't hang the blame for this on you, they're out for blood. And the shareholders are supporting it.

I've read all the reports, including the one from Charis Research regarding the actions of your passengers. Not one of the reports even hints at a failure on your part or your crew. You did your best in a shitty situation, and I'm working on swaying some opinions on that point. You made it to your destination and it looks like your cargo will be delivered on time, so that's a point in our favor.

You've done good work for the company, all of you. I hope I can get the shareholders to see that.

I've attached a credit note to tide you all over until this is resolved.

Brett Sylla, CEO.

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> (Transient Quarters, Ceres Station)

Ted noticed the ship's crew arrive at the transient quarters common area but was too involved in the discussion to do more than smile and wave.

"Let's go over the power effects again. What have you determined Louis?"

The displays filled with graphs and data sheets pulled from the FTL drive's integrated diagnostics and Louis started highlighting various areas.

"Unexpected, but trés interesting. Field geometry destabilized when we shut the drive down, but why? Nothing in the static testing hints at this." He expanded the final section of the recording alongside a new graph. "Look at the mass distribution."

Ted studied the graphs, but Michaela beat him to the punch.

"We picked up mass along the leading edge, right? Must have swept up all the stray dust along our path. The control algorithms weren't tuned for it, so they overcompensated during field collapse."

"So instead of a controlled field collapse we got these fluctuations?" Ted switched to a 3D model of the field geometry in the last seconds of the flight, having it run through the recorded data at a hundredth real speed. "That certainly explains the gamma burst. And here," he paused the playback and zoomed on the rear section of the field, "it looks like the fluctuating field hit a harmonic on the AM conversion configuration."

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

And that was enough to make the whole group pause.

"That... shouldn't be possible."

Clearly it was more than possible, and the fact of it was startling enough that Louis had even dropped his affected French accent.

"Obviously it was. And I can think of a dozen other research groups that would love to get their hands on a field configuration that can do what this did."

In the decades since controlled AM conversion fields had first been discovered only a few minor developments had been made before Louis had discovered the FTL configuration. And now they had a few more interesting avenues.

"I'm sure they'll all come running as soon as they get a whiff of it." Michaela sat back from the display, apparently running through the ramifications. "A field configuration that reverses the AM conversion? That's big."

Ted chuckled at the severity of the understatement.

"Not just that. Something in the field collapse appears to have shorted out every electrostatic field on the ship. Every single capacitor dumped the bulk of its charge within a few milliseconds."

Ted was hoping that nobody else saw it, but Basil's face blanched.

"Hold up, Ted. AM deconversion and electrostatic disruption? We made a tech killer?"

And there it was. If the effects could be replicated - and Ted had no doubt that they could, with the data in front of him - then they could be weaponized. Almost everything in the system was powered by AM reactors or electrostatic power storage. Apart from a small number of devices using classic electrochemical batteries the only real exception were the solar powered AM converters themselves. And even modern electronics were heavily reliant on electrostatics, including the control systems on the AM converters.

And Ted had the data that could kill every single piece. He just hoped that his team could develop a counter to it before someone else figured out how to weaponize the damned thing.

To his credit he never once considered altering the data.

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> (Station Manager's Office, Ceres Station)

"The Charis representative is here Ma'am."

"Thanks Julie, send them in."

Alice accessed the information on Charis Research through her implant, taking a few seconds to review the basics. Small research group but well-funded, focusing mainly on bleeding edge field research. Leased a section of the station fourteen months ago, installed their own generators and so on. Excellent safety record, no complaints, no incidents. Recently contracted with the shipyard for a custom design.

And of course, employer of record of the passengers on the Jolene.

"Station Master Kittrick, thank you for meeting with me."

Alice cross-checked her visitor against the Charis personnel, while standing and indicating for the man to take a seat.

"Any time Director Simms." Alice waited for the man to sit, taking her seat at the same time. "What can I do for you?"

"Well, it's about the passengers on the Roses for Jolene."

Another quick info dump gave her the gist of the issue and a possible insight into the visit. Passengers and crew of the Jolene were... not being held, but politely discouraged from leaving the temporary accommodations. She presumed that the man was here to expedite the release of his staff and any cargo they might have brought with them.

"Your incoming staff members. Doctors Geitzman, Roche, Eastman and Carter."

Simms nodded and smiled at her. "Precisely. Although they weren't due in for some days the manner of their arrival is quite... important to our research. We need to get started on their data as soon as possible."

Alice was trawling through the available data while Simms spoke, pulling on every thread she could reach. She'd long practiced splitting her attention like this until it was invisible to others. It was certainly helpful to foster a reputation for nigh omniscience.

"Can I assume then that the 'scientific instruments' they were bringing with them were somehow involved in the event?"

She saw the flicker of surprise, watched it flow through annoyance and on to a more guarded expression. Reading micro-expressions was just another tool in her executive toolkit.

"Ah... possibly, yes. We won't know until we get the doctors debriefed and examine their data."

"Very well. I'll talk to Station Security and see if we can expedite their processing."

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> (Transient Quarters, Ceres Station)

Paul Desmond knew a stonewall when he cracked his head against it. As soft as this one was, it didn't change the fact that the crew were being held. Nobody would come right out and say it, but the fact that there were no alternative accommodations available on the station spoke volumes. Hotels were mysteriously booked out, station housing was either full or undergoing maintenance. They only available accommodation he could find was in the same section they were currently occupying.

"No luck Paul?"

"Sorry Captain. Looks like we're stuck here until the station management decides we can go. We can't even book passage off station since the only ships listed are bulk freight haulers with no passenger space."

Much as it rankled, Paul couldn't really say he was surprised. It was certainly better treatment than they could have received, all things considered. They were at least comfortable. And the station seemed to be happy to foot the bill for their living quarters at least.

"I guess they're waiting on the security report," the Captain replied. "It's nice of them to at least give us the pretense of freedom."

Paul nodded, acknowledging the point that he'd already been thinking.

"We should probably let the crew know." Paul said. "Might want to be gentle about it. You know how Erica gets."

"Yeah, she's a little touchy about things like that. Alright, let's go have a chat. Better they know now than find out themselves. I have to break some bad news of my own."

Paul was curious, but he was pretty sure he could guess what was coming. He followed the Captain to the common area where the crew were gathered.

It had been a few hours already and they were all starting to come down from the high of being unexpectedly alive. There was still some light chatter, but even the normally ebullient Bridgette was subdued. Erica and Seamus were in the corner studying something on their tablets, while the rest were sat on the couches in the middle of the room.

"OK people, gather 'round. We've got a few things to cover."

Paul waited for the group to settle together on the couches and quiet down. Even Erica was listening for once instead of trying to get some early questions in.

"Here's what we know so far. The ship has been towed into dock and is being examined, but apart from the damage we already know about there's nothing much in the reports.

"So far the cargo appears to be intact. Which means that not only did we make it through hell without a single casualty, we get to deliver on time too. Yay us." Paul let a sardonic note creep into that last bit, getting the expected smiles from the crew.

"Now the bad news. While we are not being detained, it is clear that the station management don't want us going anywhere." He held up a hand in Erica's direction to forestall her objection. "No Erica, we're not being held against our will. They're doing this the nice way, and we're not going to go bust heads and get that changed. Clear?"

Erica truly had an impressive mastery of the scowl. Lesser men than Paul had given way in the face of her... well, face.

"Right now we're guests of the management. Don't do anything to screw that up."

"Thanks Paul." The Captain stepped smoothly into the silence. "Unfortunately there is more bad news. I've been in touch with Corporate and the news is not good. An emergency shareholders' meeting was called an hour ago. They voted in favor of scrapping the Jolene."

Somehow Erica managed to crank up her already impressive scowl by another few degrees. Seamus merely looked a little more defeated.

"Given the current situation another vote was called at the request of the board. A clear majority of the shareholders voted to terminate our employment."

Even expecting it didn't really help cushion the blow for Paul. Every now and then the universe just managed to kick you in the teeth, and there wasn't a damned thing you could do about it. The crew obviously hadn't seen it coming however, and they erupted in complaint.

"Settle down please, I'm not done." The Captain waited for the various complaints to cease before continuing. "I'm working with the CEO on getting our severance organised. He's sorry as hell about it but he doesn't control the board.

"I'm looking at some options from our end, but without a ship and with the communications lag there are damned few options with the Company."

Paul hadn't noticed anyone else come into the room so was surprised when Ted Eastman spoke.

"Actually, I think I can help with that."

Everyone turned to look at the scientist, who stood in the doorway with a self-satisfied smile.

"You see," he continued, "I happen to have a ship that needs a crew."