Page 90 of Commander’s Mate

“Records show debt transfer, restricted movement, wage seizure.”

Slavery with arithmetic.

Good.

I understood the enemy.

We docked.

The freighter captain met our boarding team with a pistol.

He did not fire.

Smart.

“You are interfering with lawful labor transport.”

Pyrr looked at me.

“May I?”

“No.”

The captain continued.

“These workers owe contractual debt.”

“Are they free to leave?”

“They signed.”

“That was not my question.”

“They owe—”

“Are they free to leave?”

Silence.

Behind him, a woman coughed so hard she doubled over.

Life support alarm flashed.

I looked at Tivid.

“Medical status?”

“Air contamination rising.”

The captain’s face tightened.

“We need repairs.”

“You need evacuation.”

“No. If they leave, they breach contract.”

The doctrine was no longer theoretical.