STAR HOUNDS -- OMNIBUS by David Bischoff, Saul Garnell Page A

Some Federation impulse engines are using new power nodes. Still, Shontill will be upset.”
    “Just keep a leash on that ungodly beast,” Silver Zenyo said, her nose turned up disgustedly. “The last time he had a tantrum, he traumatized my poor Bickle!”
    “Shontill would rather
eat
Bickle, I think,” Gemma said, deadpan.
    “Gemma, how could you even suggest such a thing?” She turned long-lashed eyes toward Captain Northern. “Tars, you would never permit such an atrocity, would you?”
    Northern shrugged noncommittally. “It’s an alien-eat-alien universe, Midshipman.”
    Laura slurped the last of her soup, and burped. “Alien, huh? You mean human-type or the real McCoy?” she said, emphasizing on purpose her boorish qualities to annoy Silver.
    Silver Zenyo gave the newcomer a disgusted look. “My goodness, at least Shontill excuses himself when he makes rude noises.”
    “Is there something more coming , or are you all on some strange type of diet?” Laura asked, frowning at Silver Zenyo.
    “Oh yes, of course,” said Dr. Mish, pressing buttons. “My lads are quite prompt, but I neglected to give the proper orders.”
    “The robots’ names,” said Laura, “are awfully familiar.”
    “Yes,” Captain Northern said as the robot called Oliver Cromwell rolled a cart into the room. “A conceit of our dear Michael Mish.”
    Dr. Mish nodded. “I’ve been experimenting with artificial persona overlays in robots, and my latest bunch have been based on famous military leaders of Earth.” Laura smiled as she remembered her history lessons.
    Dinner was an excellent dish of processed algae-beef and soy-noodles, flavored by odd but pleasing spices. Laura ate with zest, occasionally splattering her bib or herself with gravy in the vigor of her appetite.
    “Were you born in a barn, girl?” Silver Zenyo said, alarmed. “Really, Captain, it’s bad enough we have to transport a Feddy agent. Must we tolerate her at supper?”
    “All that fluffy hair clogging your ears?” Laura said, the faint drawl in her accent purposefully pronounced for maximum annoyance. She licked her thumb, popping it out of her mouth with a vaguely obscene sound. “I’m a damned important addition to your comfy little crew. Aren’t I, Northern?”
    She could feel her self-confidence and cockiness returning. This is gonna be okay, she told herself.
    “We’ll see about that, Laura Shemzak,” said the captain, all traces of levity gone from his manner. Laura felt something of the true power of his personality and immediately lost her appetite. “Let’s hope so, for all our sakes.”
    Captain Northern picked up a knife and sliced a piece of pseudo-beef that could have easily been cut with his fork.

Chapter Eleven

    T he foil flashed, neatly riposting the blow. Steel shivered. Chivon Lasster retreated, and the man with whom she dueled advanced, his blade of energy shedding sparks as it touched the metal of her weapon.
    Suddenly her opponent executed a complicated series of movements. Lasster’s foil was torn from her grasp, clattering off to the other side of the room. The fencer lunged, his translucent blade cutting neatly through her chest.
    Chivon looked down. “Does it have to be so realistic?” she asked.
    “If you are to learn the true art of fencing, you must feel the attendant fear, yes,” the figure before her said. In a twinkling, his weapon vanished. He stepped back, his body growing more opaque as it neared the field source. “I trust you enjoyed your lesson today, Friend Lasster?” the Computer Companion said.
    A trifle shaken, Chivon Lasster went to get a drink.
    “I don’t think that’s the correct word, Andrew. Very good exercise, though.”
    “And I don’t think that’s the right after-exercise refreshment,” the CompComp admonished. “Would you care for a discussion of the effects of the C2H5OH molecule upon the human nervous system, to say nothing of—”
    “No!” Chivon Lasster said curtly,