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Scores of crewmen were just pleting an FOD walkdown of the flight deck； pacing its length in a line abreast running from port to starboard。 Foreign Object Damage was a thing much to be feared on a carrier； no scrap of debris could be left to be sucked into a jetcraft's air intake。
The weather remained fair； but now a thick odor rose from the sea。 The superheated steam and hard radiation produced by the dimensional fortress's touchdown had resulted in a considerable fish kill； even so far out at sea； the sun was warming the foul…smelling soup that lapped around the hulls of the carriers and the approximate hip level of the SDF…1's 〃torso。〃 Still； the stench came from far below and was easy to endure； mixed as it was with the trade winds that carried Earth's inimitable air to people who had been breathing reprocessed gases for months now。
Gloval was tight…tipped and silent； feeling strange premonitions like the one he'd mentioned to Lisa。 The United Earth Government's replies to his messages had been terse； nonmittal。 It seemed he had another desperate job of convincing to do。
Lisa emulated her captain； saying nothing and betraying nothing by her expression as she followed him up the boarding ladder into the transport。 A crew member closed the hatch； and the transport's turbines increased their howl。
The plane had already been boxed…aligned on the catapult and fitted with an appropriate breakaway holdback link that was color…coded for its particular job。 The transport's downswept wings bobbed minutely as the catapult crew got ready to launch。
When the cat crew had gone through their ritual； the transport shot away； taking lift from the sudden flare at the bow； off the angled flight deck； in a cloud of catapult steam。
Kim stretched； arms behind her head； gazing down at the carrier deck from the SDF…1's bridge。 She sighed。 〃Well； there they go； at least they got a clean launch。〃
She was standing at the vast sweep of the bridge's forward viewport with Sammie； Vanessa； and Claudia； following the transport's climb。
Little Sammie shook her long； straight locks of blond hair back from her face。 〃I wish I were going； too；〃 she said forlornly； resting her chin on the viewport ledge。
Claudia unwillingly told herself that it was time to scold a little； not sympathize； these last few hours or days before the SDF…1 crew was relieved might be the most demanding of all where discipline was concerned。
So she chided； 〃What're you talking about； Sammie？ D' you know how cold Alaska is this time of year？ Or any time of year？ You should be glad you're staying where it's warm。〃
〃Well； I'm not；〃 Sammie said bravely。
〃At least we'd be off the ship；〃 Vanessa pointed out； adjusting her glasses self…consciously。 She and Kim nodded supportively and made low 〃uh huh！〃 sounds。
Claudia was suddenly stern。 〃All right； that's enough of that！ First off； the captain and Lisa are on a classified mission； which means we don't talk about it any more than we have to for duty purposes。 And we don't mention it at all outside this bridge； do you roger that transmission？〃
The Terrible Trio nodded quickly； gulping； in unison。
The hatch slid aside as a voice startled them。 〃Good morning； ladies！ I'd like…〃
The greeting was cut off by a sharp whap！ of impact。 The bridge crew turned in surprise； Sammie letting out a small cry。 Claudia maintained her posure； but it wasn't easy。
〃Oh！ Ouch！ Uhhhh！〃 Colonel Maistroff was in the hatchway； rubbing his forehead； his cap knocked back cockeyed on his head by the impact； holding himself up with one hand against the frame。
Everyone there knew Maistroff； and not for any cordial reason； one didn't make allies of the bridge crew by crossing Captain Gloval。
Claudia fluttered her eyelashes and said disingenuously； 〃Colonel； are you all right？ That hatchway's terribly low！ I remend you duck down when ing onto the bridge； sir。 Captain Gloval always does。〃
There was something in the expressions of the bridge crew that said that they resented Maistroff's taking this liberty； it was his right to act as if he were Gloval； but they were not required to play along with the pretense。
Maistroff rubbed a growing knot over one eye； making a low grating sound so that subordinates wouldn't hear him groan in pain。 〃Thank you for that warning； Lieutenant Grant； you're only about ten seconds too late。〃
He stopped rubbing his forehead and squared his cap's visor away。 The Terrible Trio trooped past him； in step； on their way to their duty stations。 〃I just came up to officially take over mand of this vessel in Captain Gloval's absence。〃
Claudia held all her personal feelings in check； she'd had a taste of what mand was now and was willing to give even Maistroff the benefit of the doubt。 〃Yes； sir； I'd heard that you would。 I'm sure you'll enjoy the experience。〃
He glowered at her。 〃Mmm。 I don't think that ‘enjoy' is quite the appropriate word； miss。 But I do expect to run a tight ship。〃 He moved past her； going to the forward viewport。
Claudia tried to get a grip on herself。 Tight ship！ She'd had the feeling he'd say that。 As though Captain Gloval runs a loose ship！ As if Captain Gloval isn't the best skipper in…
〃No more slipping around the rules；〃 Maistroff was saying。 〃What this bridge needs is a good dose of discipline。〃 Gazing grandly out the forward viewport； he drew a long cigar from the breast pocket of his uniform jacket。
It was plain that he was savoring the moment。 Perhaps he had saved the stogie all this time since the SDF…1's accidental departure so that he could smoke it on the bridge as master。 Maistroff made a production of biting off the end； rolling the cigar between his fingers； and moistening it front and back between his lips。
His indescribable pleasure in the moment was broken by a high…pitched voice。 〃There's no smoking on the bridge； sir！〃
〃What？〃 Maistroff whirled on Sammie； who was out of her chair and didn't look in the least daunted by his scowl。
〃It's on page two of the ship's SOP rule book…standard operating procedure； isn't it； sir？〃
Claudia couldn't for the life of her figure out whether Sammie was serious or was having her little snipe at the colonel。 Apparently； neither could Maistroff。
He turned back to the viewport； holding the cigar as if somebody else had put it in his fingers； not willing to throw it away but unable to do much of anything else with it。 His back was ramrod straight； and his cheeks flushed a bright red。
〃Ah； of course。 I was only holding it。 I had no intention of lighting it。〃 He gritted his teeth but refused to take official recognition when he heard female giggling and tittering behind him。
〃Excuse me； Colonel；〃 Claudia said。 〃Will there be anything else； sir？〃
He turned to her； trying to put down his anger； cold cigar clenched in his teeth； hands clasped behind him。 〃What？ What？〃
She said gently； 〃I was officer on the last watch； sir。 Am I relieved？〃 She saluted。
He was doubly red…faced to have forgotten so simple a thing as relieving her of the mand。 〃Oh！〃 He answered her salute。 〃Sure； you go right along； Lieutenant Grant。 I'm sure we'll be able to operate just fine until you get back。〃 He smi