“How are things going? Frank behaving himself?”
“He’s excited about some of the things he has found. He hasn’t been able to get to sleep on his own, so I’ve been using the nighty-nights.”
“He hasn’t found a way to beat those yet?”
“I’ve been checking him, and Sally is backing me up, so I don’t think so.”
“If he’s figured out a way to fool Sally, I wouldn’t want to be him when she figures it out.”
“Me either.”
“Can you give me some idea what has him so wound up?”
“Nope. I’m programmed for Elementary Education. Differential equations make my circuits lock up.”
“I can sympathize. I have the same problem. Any idea how far he is from standing our world on its head again?”
“No, Boss, I don’t have a clue. Usually by now, he would be mumbling about how to build a device to use what he had learned. This time, he’s still diving deeper into the theory.”
“That sounds like he’s on the trail of something big. Thanks for telling me. I didn’t need any sleep this week anyhow.”
“You really think it will make problems for us?”
“Change is always a problem. That doesn’t mean it isn’t a good thing.”
“I don’t understand, Boss.”
“If it weren’t for change, I’d still be working plant maintenance back on Earth, trying to keep myself sane with paintball and side projects. I’m glad to be where I am, but that doesn’t mean it was easy to get from there to here.”
“So, you’re saying that anything worthwhile takes overcoming some difficulties?”
“Yep. Scotti is keeping an eye on what Frank is up to, isn’t she?”
“Yes, but having you check up on us as well is always nice.”
“You have people monitoring you, to make sure he doesn’t break your security again?”
“Yes, Boss. We’re making sure he gets the rest he needs, even when he doesn’t want to.”
“I suppose I’ve annoyed you enough for one day, then. Keep up the good work.”
“See you later, Boss.”
I headed down to Engineering. Scotti saw me and said, “Hi, Boss. You need a miracle today?”
“Nope. Just checking in to see how things were going in the best Engineering Department around.”
Zoom heard that, and said, “Run, Scotti! I don’t know what he wants, but it’s going to be big.”
Scotti asked, “Is she right?”
“I really did just stop in to see how things are going. I’ve got to be off the ship for a few days, and I wanted to make sure that you didn’t need anything before I left.”
Scotti replied, “Mr. Sloan already took an order for the parts we need from the Commonwealth. Where are you headed? Earth?”
“Nope, just Charlie’s Planet. We have to go put on a good show of colonizing, and settling in.”
“Why is that, Boss?”
“The Patrol is sending a mission to see if we are in contact with aliens.”
“You mean like...?”
“Exactly.”
“And you have to give them enough evidence that they can file a report that says we aren’t, even though we are?”
“Yep.”
Zoom asked, “Do you need Diego and me to come to the planet and help?”
“I think his Grandma is gathering enough people. We can make it look good without you. I don’t guess either one of you would be willing to tell me what this project I keep hearing about is?”
Scotti said, “We’d rather have a few more details worked out before we tell you about it, Boss.”
“I understand, but patience isn’t one of my talents. I hope you get it together soon.”
Zoom said, “We will. I hope you haven’t gotten your hopes too high.”
“I’m sure it will be amazing, whatever it is. I better get out of your way, and let you get back to it.”
Together, they said, “Later, Boss.”
I turned to leave, and found Bill Richards waiting to talk to me. “What do you need, Bill?”
“I was wondering if I could stay aboard.”
“Well, I’m afraid there would be conditions, if you were to stay aboard.”
“What sort of conditions, Boss?”
“I’ll need you to report to Sally for a training schedule. She’s the only one aboard qualified to certify you as a captain.”
“Are you retiring, Sir?”
“No, but we have no way of knowing what might happen. I’d rather you were certified and ready to go, just in case.”
“I understand. Is there anything else you need me to do while you are gone?”
“If Sally is doing her job, you won’t have time to scratch your hind end, so no.”
I grabbed a transit and headed to the bridge. Topper announced me, and I said, “As you were.” Sally asked, “Did you need something, Boss?”
“A moment of your time, if you’re not too busy.”
“Mr. Topper, you have the conn.”
Topper replied, “My ship, aye.”
We stepped across to the ready room. Sally asked, “What’s up, Boss?”
“I told Bill Richards to report to you to begin his training to captain a ship.”
“Have you decided to find the Navy yard?”
“Nope, but it will be easier to wake a ship up, if we already have a trained captain to take charge.”
“True, but I sincerely doubt he will be as good at it as you.”
“That’s where the tricky part of your job comes in. That discretionary clause we put into your training program, it could be interpreted more than one way, couldn’t it?”
“You mean I can flunk him if I’m not happy with the way he handles the ship?”
“I’d rather you had some hard facts to back up your opinion, but I will back you up if you decide he isn’t fit.”
“What would you consider a minimum standard?”
“We know it isn’t that hard to exceed the performance of the old Navy captains. I don’t expect him to do as well as I did,
