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recaptured, so to speak. If we returned, we would be entitled to that pay whether the company salvaged the pirate again or not. Considering that we had been gone so long, it wouldn't have made much sense for the company not to salvage and refit the former Theodore to take our place.

Chapter 4

    Evidently a lot can happen in five months as we were to learn. Aside from the Blues, our Navy discovered another alien race, not so human and not so friendly. We were unaware of it as we lifted off. We also didn't know that we would have to cross a battle zone to get back home. We were only one week away from the planet that we made repairs on when we picked up coded messages from our Navy's ships. We couldn't understand what was happening since we weren't privy to the codes they used. The only thing we did know is that when we tried to send them a message, in case they were looking for us, they replied for us to shut up and get the hell off the combat channel.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â We weren't immediately alarmed since the Navy was known for having frequent war games, much as our company had regular practice each time we lifted off from a planet or mock-battles when a new ship was added and personnel changes had to be made. For that reason, we continued on our course back to Beulah right straight into the combat zone. All the while, coded messages continued to be overheard with regularity.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â While we were on the planet making our repairs, I finished the class work from the textdisks. I had the material ready to mail to the Sarge when we returned to Beulah. Without anything else to take up some of my slack time, the messages represented a challenge. Because of my own background, I worked on the messages for the hell of it and sheer curiosity using one of the recreational computers. I didn't think that I had a chance of breaking the codes, but as luck would have it, I did manage to figure out a few of the words in the messages. That was enough to worry me. I took my findings to Captain Marble as soon as I had something.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â "Yes, Dave. You said it was important."
    Â Â Â Â Â Â I said, "Yes, Captain. I've been playing around with some of the Navy messages on the computer just to fill my time. I don't think they're involved in war games. I think they're in a real shooting war with someone."
    Â Â Â Â Â Â She looked at me carefully to see if, perhaps, I was trying to pull a joke on her for the amusement of the crew. It wouldn't have been the first time. Once, the crew hid her clothes while she showered. She threatened to have them all naked if her clothing wasn't returned. However, she seemed to pick up my sense of urgency or danger. She replied, "Okay. I'll keep it in mind. Keep me informed if you manage to learn anything more from the messages."
    Â Â Â Â Â Â I replied, "Yes, Captain, I will."
    Â Â Â Â Â Â It was a very short and to the point conversation. I continued to work on the messages during my spare time. Evidently, she kept my warning in mind, putting us on "man your battle stations" when she spotted the signs of firing weapons in the area in front of us the following day.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â As we headed into that area, thinking or hoping that it was only a war game, we were all at our gun stations. The ship was secured against breaches in the bulkheads, should it turn out to be for the worst. It was practically the worst as we entered almost directly between the two forces. Our Navy wasn't getting the best of that particular battle. I later had my own suspicions about why our forces were doing so poorly. I only know that the bridge suddenly announced battle stations, adding, "Fire only at nonNavy ships!" as if they needed to. For the second time during that mission, I was glad that Frank was at the controls. From what I understand, others were glad that I was at the controls of one of the two Mark III quads. We were closer to the