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comfortable with it,” Stonbersa said in an unusually grave tone.
    I looked at the Commodore and Commander, who returned my gaze with the same expression, one that could only come from a deep understanding of the sweeping destruction and loss that resulted from the android rebellion.  “What do the rest of you think? I asked of the others.  I want a show of hands.  How many of you agree with the Commodore and Commander Wabussie?”  I scanned the room as Marranalis, Sokaia and Cantolla raised their hands.  “How many feel, like I do, that it’s alright to allow Andy to come aboard the NEW ORLEANS to meet with me?”  Kerabac, Padaran and A’Lappe raised their hands.  I noted that Captain Felenna and Kala abstained from voting.
    I paused in deliberation for moment before saying, “How about if we allow Andy aboard with limited access to only a secured hangar bay, my study and the corridors between the two areas?  We could post extra armed sentries on the bridge and engine rooms, but I don’t want them visible to Andy.  Would that be acceptable?”
    Commodore Stonbersa and Commander Wabussie looked at each other and then Wabussie nodded.
    “I’m still not comfortable with the idea,” Commodore Stonbersa said, “but I can live with it.”
    “How about you, Marranalis?  You’re head of security; what do you think?”
    “Well, if you don’t mind my equipping the security team with the heaviest personal armament…  and if you can live with the possible heavy damage to whatever part of the ship we may have to blow up if this goes bad, I guess I can agree with it.”  I chuckled at his comment, a gesture that triggered a bout of chest pain and coughing.  Immediately, everyone in the room tensed up.
    Kala asked, “Tib, are you ok?!”
    “Yes, I’m okay.  My ribs are still quite sore and laughing causes a bit of shooting pain.”  Everyone seemed to relax a bit as I brushed aside the episode.  “So unless there are other objections, I would like to see Andy here tomorrow in my study.
    “Commander Wabussie, what’s new in Federation news that I should know about – or, at least, what’s new that you can share with me?”
    “Tibby, you know you’re in the loop on all of the top secret actions in the Federation; you’re cleared on the highest levels, so it’s not like anything is being withheld from you.  Actually, there’s quite a bit I need to discuss with you – some of which I will need to address with you privately in a separate meeting – but most of what I have to say I can relate here.
    “The first thing you should know is our FSO agents have received information that the Brotherhood is amassing a lot of ships near Samalis.  If you recall, Samalis is the system that Senator Euregata represented; Euregata is the man that we think was responsible for the attack on you back at the capital a few months ago, just before Samalis withdrew from the Federation.  We think the Brotherhood is planning to advance an attack on nearby planets from that location.  More so, our last sighting of the mysterious Tottalax ship indicated that it was also heading in that direction.  The Federation has a fleet of a half-dozen starships fully loaded with troopers and Mirage Fighters in route to that sector; but it will be months before they all arrive.”
    “Is there any word as to the location of the Tottalax home system?” I interjected.
    “None at all; but we have every reason to believe that it’s somewhere on this side of the galaxy.”
    “What about Leader Roritat?  What can you tell me about him?”
    “That’s one of the things I would prefer to discuss in a private briefing – at least for right now,” Wabussie said.
    “Very well.  Is there any other news?”
    “Just one more item; you’re aware of the satellites we positioned between your home planet of Earth and Megelleon to gather transmissions and data with the hope of learning as much as we can about the history of Earth