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expected some criticism.
    “I’m glad you’re here with me.”
    Smiling, he flashed her a sketchy salute.

    The guests were a quiet, cowed bunch when Meg woke them at dawn. Serving a bare minimum of food for breakfast, she announced the need for a burial detail to inter poor Sharmali, whose body Red had carried into one of the side offices after their late night chat. The Primary sat in a corner of the conference room, away from the others, Callina fetching food for him. Chewing on a feelgood stick, he scowled, but said nothing.  
    “Mr. Thomsill and I believe we need to relocate further inland, to another facility we’ve identified, for our safety,” Meg launched into her agenda for their day after all the passengers had plates and were devouring the food she’d measured out. “We’ll start hiking there today. After breakfast and the service for Sharmali, I’ll need help dividing the supplies into makeshift packs.”
    The expected uproar took place, with people throwing questions and accusations alike at her.
    Oddly enough, Mr. Finchon quelled the discussion before Red had to intervene. The Primary stood and his entourage went quiet as if he’d yelled at them. “I’m taking detailed notes on all of this, for my eventual lawsuit, which I guarantee is going to drive your employer into bankruptcy and ruin the two of you financially for the rest of your lives. You’ll never work again, I assure you both.” He raised one hand as Red opened his mouth. “Let me finish, Mr. Thomsill. I only want to say this once. I agree with your logic about moving to a less visible location, in case our difficulties of the moment are due to hostile action. Speaking on behalf of my guests and my employees, we’ll co-operate with you to the full extent until help arrives.” He sat and there was silence for a moment.
    “All right then,” Meg said, “As soon as breakfast is over, the burial detail goes with Mr. Thomsill and the rest help me pack.”
    “You guys go ahead and I’ll be right out.” Red lingered for a moment, stepping close to Meg. Lowering his voice so only she could hear, he said, “Don’t lose any sleep over that blowhard’s threats. Clearly the situation here falls outside normal cruise conditions and anything he tries to file a lawsuit over will get blown out of court. Force majeure and all the old Terran legalese.”
    Appreciating his concern, she relaxed her tense shoulders and gave him a smile. “Thanks for the reminder. I did know he was blowing smoke, but if thinking about ways to sue us keeps him co-operative, I’m content.”
    “I should’ve known you’d be on top of it.” Red squeezed her elbow and was gone.

    But when she stepped outside with the others later, braced to say a few words over the grave since she was in command, Meg paused on the threshold and scanned the sky.
    “Problem?” Red was at her side.
    She realized she was getting used to him being there when she needed him. The idea was more comforting than she would have believed possible a few days ago. Pointing with her chin, she said, “See those gray clouds, low on the horizon?”  
    He followed her line of sight and whistled. “Big storm coming. We were tracking some nasty cells when we landed, but the prevailing winds were blowing out to sea.”
    “Must have been a shift in the weather then because we’re definitely in for it. My landing party was caught here in a freak storm three years ago. It was so bad we couldn’t launch. We had to sit it out in the ranger station. Blew for twelve of the longest hours of my life.” She didn’t add that storms freaked her out, ever since she was a kid.
    “On the positive side, we know the ranger station can withstand the winds,” he said.
    “But we’ll never survive in the open. We can’t leave today.” Meg was surprised to find how much she wanted to get away from the vulnerable facility.
    “Well, if the weather’s going to be as bad as you’re telling me, no one’s