Our man Darius took Pieter's place in medical, so that's one less new person on board.  My three new deck hands are Christian, Abbas, and Stim, good strong young men who will be able to work the sails and move the cargo without too much trouble.  My new engineer is a mechanic named Grasso, and Navarre is a young graduate from Sardic College, apprenticing in navigation.

  There is one more roster change.  The security officer Walt didn't show for this run.  I wish he'd told me he wasn't coming; I can understand that a man who's been shot would be reluctant to try it again, but there's no reason not to let us know in advance.

  Fortunately, there was a fellow working security in the company payroll office who was interested in a tour at sea, and he's signed on at the last minute.  He won't know too much about being on the ship, but Balcon says he's got a broad collection of weapon skills and some decent innate ability, and could be a potent member of the team by the end of the trip, if all goes well.  Anyway, I don't see as we've much choice.  His name is Roger.

  So we are once again fully loaded and bound for New Tempest.