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This one was probably my favorite of the short stories as it was most like the main stories rather than a tangentially related not really steampunk story like tanglefoot and Jacaranda. This was high adventure airship battles deadly secrets pirate captains and daring lady detectives.

The two narratives of the pirate airship Captain Croggon Hainey persuing his stolen craft and Maria Boyd’s mission from the Pinkertons to ensure the craft in question reaches its destination worked well the two very different characters using their very different skill sets to good effect.

Boyd the ex confederate spy essentially kicked out by the side she still supports in spirit wrestling with working for the Union via Pinkertons and balancing her personal loyalties with professional requirements and somewhat desperate being unable to make a living anywhere else was nicely handled. Using her skills where appropriate her wiles or deception or violence as the situation required it.

Hainey the rogue and wanted man in the Union and in the Confederacy all that plus being an escaped slave. Owing loyalty to no side and working through the underworld or black markets made for a nice contrast. His approach for the most part more that of a wreaking ball crashing through things.

A fun adventure story set in the same world and theme of the main books in the series.