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“Yes, yes, quite right I’o said as he rolled out of his couch and waved on the lights

His quarters were also his office, and the red folder containing his orders fro on his desk He’d been reviewing the them out was a breach of operational security, and one he’d have reprimanded a junior officer for As he returned them to his safe, he told the ship toAt least it would be part of the permanent record, and his superiors could decide later if it required further inquiry He hoped they wouldn’t

He took a moment to wash his face in his private lavatory The cold, biting water was one of the perks of his station He put on a fresh unifor on duty clean and pressed was the minimum level of professionalism he expected from them, and so he was responsible for it in himself When he was presentable, he opened the door that separated his private space froe of the ship

“Captain on the bridge!” the chief of the watch snapped The officers ere not activelystations stood and saluted Even the consoles, polished to a spotless shine, seemed to radiate respect, if not for him as a man then at least for his authority The blue of the wall il of his coles—had been built into the surface Itit His ship His command His duty

“Is Colonel Tanaka here?” Singh asked

“The colonel is in her briefing room with her senior officers, sir”

A twitch of annoyance troubled him, as much with himself as with his chief of security He’dwith Admiral Trejo He’d heard unofficially that Tanaka and Trejo had known each other before, and he’d intended to get her assessment of the man But it was too late for that now

“The con is yours,” said Davenport, his executive officer

“I have the con,” Captain Singh said, and sat in his chair

“The Teht control officer said, pulling up the range map on theapproach in twenty-three minutes”

“Understood,” Singh replied “Comm, please send Admiral Trejo my compliments and request permission to dock with Heart of the Tempest”

“Aye, sir”

“I’d love to get a good look at her,” said Davenport

“All right, let’s take a peek,” Singh agreed with a nod

The truth was, he was just as curious Of course they’d all been briefed on the configuration of the Magnetar-class battle cruisers, of which Tempest was the first The old Proteus class had been retired, and this new generation was only now being deployed He’d seen dozens of concept sketches and photographs of the ships under construction, heard ruies that they would support This would be his first chance to see one of Laconia’sfree and in her element “Sensors, let’s take a close-up look, shall we?”