"Goootcha." Allenby lifted a finger. "So they can keep just a ship like Stacy as a weapon full of slaves a lot easier than just havin' an empire constantly shoving at their inner defenses." Not always that different from the way Earth had done things.

She watched the tooth-grinder, unable to quite look away, and drummed her fingers on the counter. Allenby had no illusions that they could get some kind of sanctuary or protest going on the behalf of Stacy's crew. The GIA planets were too busy looking after their own interests to pay attention to one ship, comparatively tiny compared to what they wanted to protect. They wouldn't risk it... but what if they broke away first? "What kind of stuff gets 'em to listen?"