und. OK, that's
said, let's get back to my crew. I'll not pry where
I've no business to, but who are they?"

"Their psychological profiles are available to
you," said Ram. "I agree, you'll know all you need
to know about them to get the job done. I can give
you a quick rundown on each now, if you wish."

"I do."

"Myra is a logistician and a Medic certified to
Level 4 in space-related trauma, physical and
psychological. She was Med-Exec to a research
team in a mini-tank town off Venus. Somehow,
she got involved with the leader of a gang running
controlled substances around the Inner Region. When
the net was pulled in, there she was. Tried as an
accessory and judged guilty. Nowhere near criminal
in my judgment. She's quite bitter because she was
used, and then convicted and sentenced on what
she feels are false charges."

"I understand her bitterness."

"Nothing we can do. Your engineer, Hodak, is a
damned good heavy-duty spacecraft maintenance
engineer. Also lots of experience on a broad range
of space support equipment used in surface ops.
He's been all over the Inner Region, and worked
on Ceres where he was the spaceport's Chief of
Maintenance for about ten years. Got into a fight
off Mars while on R & R and killed a guy. Convicted
of manslaughter. He's an expert in the martial arts
and in using exotic weapons. Space-wise."

"Understood. Next?"

"Zolan. As he said, a communicator and, I might
add, from way back. As a child, he was classified
'gifted' and treated accordingly by the system.
At the age of twelve, he came up with design
refinements for spunnel cracking and transmission
that raised eyebrows among the top pros in
the field. His skill caused his downfall: he was
convicted of illegally penetrating and modifying a
database that was integrating a highly sensitive
project. Just enjoying the challenge, he claimed.
The project engineer didn't get wise until too
late. During the trial he told off his former
bosses; called them incompetent and not qualified
to pass judgment on him or his work. Anyhow,
he got a couple of years to cool off."

"Does this job call for his kind of communications
expertise?"

"Yes, and more. Zolan is an extremely important
asset for your mission. You'll agree, I think, when
we get to your orders and the operation. I should
add that, when your training is over, you will all
be good communicators. But Zolan is at the hub."

"That leaves Adari and Kumiko. What's the