“You did well today, Commander.” Captain Salis said, gingerly settling into his office chair.

Commander Stine was standing in front of the Captain’s desk. Not at attention, but not relaxed either. “Thank you, sir.”

Salis spun the cap off a bottle he’d pulled from his desk drawer. “Drink?”

“Please.” Stine said, relaxing a little. “What’s our next move, Captain?”

Salis looked up at his XO. Silently, he poured the whiskey into two glasses and slid one over to the other side of the desk.

Stine sat in the leather chair in front of him. Both men sipped their whiskey for a moment.

The Captain punched some buttons into his desk console and swiveled the display to face Stine.

“They can’t be serious!” Stine exclaimed after a few moments. “They still want to go with Prince Protocol? We’re missing crew! We’ve lost a whole ship! We’re way outclassed! ... Sir.”

Stine gulped his whiskey angrily and regained his composure.

“That’s the deal, Commander.”

“So, what’s our next move, Captain?” Stine repeated.