You don't have to ponder over the two options for very long. Carrying xenos cargo is likely to strain your relationship with Lord Pyrus, who represents the only Imperial organization with the authority to actually revoke your Warrant of Trade. Probably by killing off you and your entire House.

On the other hand, carrying the cargo at least gives you some chance, whereas fighting the orks is almost certainly a death sentence. The Aegis would get torn in two if it was rammed, and that doesn't count damage from being boarded. Or from getting hit by a stray asteroid. Or the thousand and three other things that could go wrong when a mining operation needs an armed escort.

"We'll go with option two, with two modifications: we get the Aegis completely fixed up front, and we get a complete inventory of the cargo. If they have objections, we at least have valid reasons. As to the repairs: without them, we cannot guarantee delivery. The odds of the Aegis simply getting torn apart on any kind of warp transit is simply too high. As to the inventory: we need to know if we are hauling items with any sort of stowage or handling requirements. Potentially explosive or corrosive items, live creatures, passengers, so on."

Zheeves strokes his chin, "that sounds more than reasonable. The other question is whether or not we actually deliver the cargo. Handing it off to Lord Pyrus might prove exceptionally profitable."

You lean back in your chair, "probably not. If we keep our word, then we are in a position to siphon information over a longer period of time. Deliver the stuff, tip off Lord Pyrus or the local authorities, and let them 'find' it on their own. Exception being seriously nasty things like weapons or the like. And we make a profit the whole way down the line."

Zheeves looks thoughtful, "long-term plan with higher risk, but potentially higher profits. Not my typical cup of tea."

You shrug, "If the Tau decide to backstab us, then we hand over everything to Lord Pyrus, come back with a flotilla, and blow the station to scrap for a start. But I don't think they will. So far they have been rather honorable. They could have simply stormed the Aegis, or blown her out of space, any time in the past four days. They haven't."

Zheeves nods, "very well Sir. I'll get right on it then."

You wait for the door to close behind Zheeves before returning to the folders on your desk: the summaries of Adam's and Vir's investigations. The results are both hopeful and depressing. In short, there are no signs of demonic possession or heresy, but Morrigan is no longer fit for duty aboard a void-going vessel. Persistent Night Terrors, possible PTSD, permanent fatigue as a result of never being able to sleep properly, horrific scaring, the list goes on for almost a page and a half. Chief Medicae Berach's notes indicate that a large number of these problems may be alleviated, but probably not solved, by being assigned to a planetside post.

The obvious solution is to assign her to one of House Von Sebastion's ground-bound factors, probably as the head of security. You ponder over where you could do so without displacing an existing competent commander.

Then the answer hits you like a runaway servitor: Dagda. Open a new factor on Dagda, assign Morrigan as the obvious head of security given her demonstrated compliance aboard ship and her familiarity with Dagda. You should probably also assign Vir there as well, to give Morrigan someone familiar to talk with. Plus you are sure the two are engaged, so breaking them up would be a rather dickish move. You scribble the appropriate notes into a dataslate and set it aside. Both Morrigan and Vir will need replacements in the long term. Adam is perfectly satisfactory as a chaplain, but not as a commanding officer. Your thoughts are interrupted by Zheeves pinging your microbead.

"Zheeves here sir. The Tau accepted your modifications without complaint. Repairs are set to commence inside of the hour, and I'm on my way to your office with the cargo manifest."

A short while later you and Zheeves are both pouring over the cargo manifest. It's not long, and you could have fit all of it into two or three cargo bays easily. The bulk of it reads plainly, given its eventual destination of the Outbound system: foodstuffs, prefab structure components, construction equipment, and other things that a new colony would need.The few bits that do stick out to you are the passengers. You cock an eyebrow at Zheeves, " 'Gue'la Earth Caste engineers and technicians plus Gue'vesa escort'?"

Zheeves shrugs, "I asked the same question. Humans familiar enough with Tau technology to make sure all of the technical cargo gets used correctly, plus more humans to make sure they don't get mugged. They felt that sending actual Tau would likely draw too much attention of the wrong sort."

You snort, "damned smart of them. Well, it looks like we can deliver this cargo without worry, drop off an information package for Lord Pyrus, and then start in on another project."

Zheeves looks at you in mock horror, "not rebuilding another ship I hope!"

You shake your head, "nothing so spectacular. I got the reports back on Morrigan and the others."

Zheeves looks serious, "so did I Sir. I take it you will need a replacement?"

You nod, "yes, but also a retirement package for Morrigan. I was wondering if there are enough opportunities on Dagda to open a factor there? Assign Morrigan as head of security and Vir as the resident Astropath as sinecure positions and still make use of their services?"

Zheeves looks thoughtful, "having a local in charge of security would minimize the risk nicely, particularly if the security staff and some of the other positions were also filled by locals. Exports would be Dagda whisky and fine spirits, import medical goods and foodstuffs...? I'll dig through my files, but it just might work. Not a huge profit maker, but a reliable one if personnel losses can be minimized."

You stand up, signaling and end to the meeting, "Do so. I'm going to check on Jace, see how the repairs are coming."

Zheeves gathers up his dataslates and wanders out. You can all but here the tinkle sound of coin-on-coin in his stride. You shake your head and make for the damaged sections of the Aegis.

A long walk later...

Finding a convenient observation blister, you stare out across the mangled underside of the Aegis. The sputtering-sparkles of welders and cutters circle most of the damaged areas were deformed or overstressed metal is being cut away. You stand in solitude for some time, brooding over the cost of doing business at and past the edges of the Imperium.

"Your Fio'shas is quite efficient, Kor'el Von Sebastion. I expect that you will be able to load the cargo inside of the rotaa, and ready for departure in a further three."

You turn, your hand dropping to the hilt of Serpent’s Breath, and stare at the figure standing in the doorway to the blister. Human, female, blond scalp-lock, blue eyes, flowing light-blue dress. Tall, low-grav thin, but with the lean look of an athlete.

She bows, "Facilitator Mu'randa, at your service. Head of the delegation to Outbound.”

You find your voice, "how did you manage to find me and reach me without some overzealous crewman lynching you?

Mu'randa bows, "That is what Facilitators do, find the people they need to talk to and talk to them. I thought you would like an update on when the Aegis would be ready to depart."

You release Serpent’s Breath, "That is useful information, assuming I had any idea what a 'rotaa' is."

Mu'randa blinks, then blinks again, "ah. I had forgotten that not everyone has grown up within the Empire. A rotaa is about one imperial day. Would you like to look over your cargo in person, or do you have other pressing business?"