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from Wannstead before thinking. He half rose in his seat then dropped back. "Goddamn it! They're going to put you on that ship!"
    "That's what it looks like, Dad. Kind of a kick, huh? We sent all those men and women out to investigate the missing ships and now when we decide to leave it to someone else I get called on to go. Ironic, huh?"
    Wannstead thought rapidly but ineffectively. "Is ...is there any way to get out of it?"
    "Sure. No problem Dad, I could refuse to go and spend twenty years breaking rocks."
    "No, no. I didn't mean that. I'm just ..."
    "Yeah. Listen, Dad, I'm still getting used to the idea. I haven't even told Emily yet. I'm going home right from here. I'll call a bit later and let you know if we're going to make it tonight." He got up to go.
    "Wait! Listen, son, I've got some friends in Washington. I can talk to some people and maybe -"
    "No. Don't do anything like that, Dad. How do you think I'd feel if you got me out of this after we sent all those men and women on the same kind of mission and they never returned? I'd feel like shit. No one would ever respect a Wannstead again-or least not me."
    "It's better than being dead."
    "We don't know that they're dead. Anyhow, I have to go, so let's not argue about it. Okay?"
    Wannstead took a deep breath. "If that's the way you want it, son, but damn! Had I known this was going to happen I'd have had second thoughts about calling on the Navy for help."
    Brian grinned wryly. "I might've, too, but this is done. Plus, I know a lot of shit about these ships that no one else does-except for you. They could probably use me. If I don't see you tonight, tell Mom I had to leave quickly. It's no lie. I have to report tomorrow and it may take some time to settle Emily down."
    Abruptly, Wannstead came around his desk and clasped his only son in a fierce embrace. When it was over he watched him go. He stared at the door he had gone through and wondered if he would ever see him again.

    ***
    "It's a pleasure to meet you in person, sir," Captain Keane said to Admiral Mullins, commanding officer of the United States military space forces. He had barely made it to the new Virginia Octagon in time for his appointment with the admiral after getting lost twice in the labyrinthine mazes of the building.
    "Same here, Captain."
    "And thanks for the gift."
    "Oh, just passing along a tradition. Received that same plaque right before I commanded the Star Gazer . She was one of the first in space, and as you may recall, and the first in a space battle."
    Keane knew all too well about the classified encounter of the Star Gaz er and the Chinese ship, the Minglong . The Minglong and Star Gazer both reached a newly discovered planet later coined Pecunia Hills. The planet had more gold, silver, diamonds and minerals than anywhere on Earth. It was a heavily volcanic planet that had pumped up the metals to the surface millions of years before. The Star Gazer discovered it first, but somehow the Chinese got wind of the situation and sent in the Minglong . A squabble arose and the two ships wound up in a battle of sorts. The Chinese at first refused to back down. Mullins sent a warning shot across their bow and promised an all-out battle if they didn't accept the American claim on the planet. The incident ended with an exchange of shots that drove the Chinese ship into leaving but the event left a long standing scar between America and the Chinese that hadn't completely healed yet.
    "Yes, admiral, your story is required reading at the academy now. And please thank the Navy Secretary for her gift too."
    "Actually thought about keeping that one for myself," smiled the Admiral. "But knowing about your mission, I figured you might need it more than me. Now on to business. This is Commander John Dunaway. He's going to be your executive officer. John served as logistics officer on the Sea Wolf so you'll almost certainly begin putting his expertise to work getting ready for the first cruise of your new