"She's not the commander."
"No, I suppose you're the one who gives the orders."
Bai shook her head and went to inspect the batteries.
The power system was one of the most important parts of the caravan. It
had to support the lights, filtration equipment, refrigeration,
communication devices, and the small appliances they would need while
stopped. Bai had designed a set of backup options so the vehicle would
not become useless if one source of power failed. Some of those options
depended on equipment she could explain. Others relied on capabilities
she kept private, stored within her personal space and system. She did
not intend to reveal that part of her preparation until she had a clear
reason. The caravan was ready to serve its purpose, and the source of
every advantage did not need to be part of the public discussion.
Yan noticed that a few items on the equipment list were described in
unusually general terms. She could have asked what they were for, but
