The Boys of the Lady Lex

War has officially broken out. But can anyone figure out what the Kritons are really up to? And can anyone stop them? We hope you enjoy the chapter.

The Boys of the Lady Lex Chapter 60 "Theory" Written By Douglas DD and Benjamin T. C.

As Captain Hatcher headed for the stairs leading to the suite and press box area, he had to fight the crowd that was heading the opposite way toward the exits. As a result, he almost ran head on into Orin Watson, the captain of the "Bon Homme Richard".

"Whoa, captain. You're going against the grain here. What's the hurry? Did you leave your sunglasses behind or something?"

"Sorry, captain. I have some information I need to relay to Admiral Natter."

The two captains moved out of the way of the surging crowd. "The admiral is a busy man right now. It must be pretty important if it needs to be delivered right at the beginning of a call to war."

"Truthfully, I don't know if it is or not."

"Try it on me," Watson said.

Hatcher trusted Watson and considered him a friend. He gave Watson the information that the gravely injured Zjan-Ren had given him. Watson listened attentively, and then allowed a few moments to mull over what Hatcher had told him.

"Frankly, captain, I don't think what you have is worth the admiral's time."

"Oh? And why not?"

"I've seen the reports on the wormholes. Every scientist reviewing the information agreed they were a natural phenomenon. Extremely rare, but natural. Not only rare, but harmless if given enough distance."

"What about my cadet and his trip to the past? That didn't seem harmless to me."

"You obviously didn't keep your distance," Watson said with his usual friendly grin.

"Some of my cadets reported seeing images of Kriton ships."

"The report stated the wormholes created a lot of mental confusion because of their effects on the time-space continuum. What they saw were hallucinations. There is no evidence that the Kritons have the kind of technology to create wormholes of that nature."

"There was no evidence they had the technology to create a cloaking device, either, until the Capture the Flag war games."

"An interesting point." Watson looked at Hatcher with a serious look. "Steven, I think Admiral Natter has a lot more to deal with at the moment than the delirious rantings of a Kriton. We are, after all, at war with the Kritons, and I have a feeling your Kriton officer knew what was coming. Not to question him, but you know, if he was forced to pick between his home world and your ship, what he would pick? And even if he still had some loyalty to the Lady Lex, who's to say he wasn't given misinformation as a way to spread our ships out and make things easier for them. If I were you, I'd head for your muster area and prepare to follow the next set of orders."

"You're right, Orin. I guess the timing of it all got to me. I still think it should be monitored."

"Send the Admiral an e-mail."

"It will just get lost in the jumble of communications he's receiving."

"Then that's the way it was meant to be," Watson mused.

Hatcher nodded, and headed to the exit with Captain Watson. The crowd had thinned out now. Hatcher and Watson headed for the Skytrain station, with Hatcher going to his hotel and Watson to the space port.

Admiral Gragosh watched as the "Shakala" started creating the wormhole. Kriton technology had advanced by huge leaps in the past ten years. The discovery of how to create wormholes could end up being the one that would have the biggest impact on the war. It was the wormholes that would lead them to Earth, and allow them to cripple the planet so it would never be a factor in the galaxy again.

Scooter kept punching things into his laptop, as the bus sped along the freeway from the hotel to the spaceport. Because he was a senior officer he was able to get a seat on the first bus carrying "Lexington" cadets. Every number he punched in gave him the same results he had gotten the past few months. Only, now it wasn't an exercise he was doing; it was something crucial. He had to see Captain Hatcher as soon as they arrived on the Lady Lex.

He looked up from his laptop and stared out the window. The bus was pulling into the spaceport. Shuttles were lined up on the taxi-way, taking off one after the other, waiting their turn to take off between the landings of returning shuttles.

Admiral Natter had planned well. Even without the benefits of drills, the evacuation of SFA and JFSA personnel to their ships was proceeding efficiently. All civilian flights had been grounded. Only SFA flights were leaving and arriving from the giant spaceport.

The bus pulled up next to a civilian shuttle. It had a 240 passenger capacity. Scooter knew he would have to wait impatiently until it filled. He also knew that Captain Hatcher had left for the "Lexington" on the "Ladyhawke" over an hour ago. He could only hope that he would be able to give the captain the information in time and that, even if he did, the captain would trust him and his calculations.

Hatcher looked at the face of Admiral Whitaker on the view screen. He was sitting in his office, taking part in the video conference.

"The Earth defense fleet is now at the frontier, ready to intercept the Kriton invasion fleet. All ships orbiting Hawking's Planet will proceed to intercept the ships that left orbit around that planet or to help the admiralty fleet at Griffin to intercept the Kriton fleet that left there this morning with the soon to be given exceptions."

"And just who was asleep at the switch when that fleet left?" Hatcher said out loud to Commander Creevey and Captain Ely Storm. The communications switch was closed so the commentary wouldn't go over the airwaves.

"All JFSA and SFA academy ships orbiting Hawking's planet will warp immediately to Earth to provide defense of our home planet."

"Right. And that's because you sent the entire defense fleet to the frontier," Storm said.

"The Bon Homme Richard' , the Wasp", and the "Hornet" will escort the academy ships and be part of the Earth defense fleet."

"Part of it? They will be the entire fleet thanks to you, you incompetent bastard," Storm went on. "Makes me happy I'm about to retire. That man has almost single handedly left our defenses wide open."

"Maybe. But we know that nearly all of their fleet is bunched at the frontier, except the strays the admiral mentioned, and that strange little fleet we saw heading away from Kriton. So it's not like we can get back-doored."

"Maybe not. But he's only looking good because the Kriton commander looks to be about as dumb as Whitaker," Hatcher said.

"They couldn't have put together a dumber looking set-up if they'd planned it together," Storm said.

Scooter took a seat on the passenger shuttle "Starlifter", a 240 seat shuttle that ran between Hawking's Planet and the incoming passenger cruisers. As soon as it filled up it would be carrying a load of cadets to the "Lexington". At the rate the buses were arriving, Scooter knew that wouldn't be long.

Douglas and Ben sat next to him and buckled their seat belts. Scooter already had his lap top running, punching in more numbers. He knew that as soon as they closed the hatch he would have to put the computer away.

"You've been punching things in since we left the hotel. Some kind of new game?" Douglas asked.

"No. Lots more serious than a game."

"Mind telling is what it is?"

Scooter thought about it briefly. He had told no one about his theory, not even Jeff. Maybe it was now time he did. Douglas and Ben had had more intimate contact with the wormholes than anybody, so maybe they were the ones to tell.

"It's about the wormholes."

"Okay. What about them?"

"I think the Kritons created them."

Ben and Douglas both stared at him. "But every report says they were natural."

"Ben, you thought you saw some Kriton ships."

"Yeah," Ben replied. "And so did some other guys, but it was probably a hallucination."

"Well, look at these figures and tell me what you think," Scooter said. Douglas looked over his shoulder at the screen on the lap top. Scooter told Douglas of his initial research, when he used the ship's mainframe to track the Kritons and the original wormholes. Scooter's enthusiasm level rose as he went on, and Douglas found his initial skepticism waning. Ben was leaning over and listening, and he too was gaining interest.

As the shuttle filled and started taxiing for the runway, Scooter showed them how the two wormholes related to the known location of Kriton ships, and to the relative distances between those ships, Kriton, and Earth itself.

Scooter had to put the explanation of his theory on hold as the shuttle shot down the runway and headed into the upper atmosphere and space. As shuttle entered orbit Scooter continued his explanation of his findings.

"What I think is, they can only make the wormhole so long. So, what they did was make a wormhole, then made another one that was equal in length. Look, if you take two wormholes the same length as the two we saw, and stretch them out, they stretch from where the Kriton ships probably were to Earth, with the half way mark at the spot we found the wormholes."

"So what do you think it means?" Douglas asked.

"I think it means they're going to head for Earth through the wormholes, like coming in through the backdoor. Look at this." He showed them the location of the nine Kriton mystery ships on his laptop, and with a bit of graphics magic created two equal length wormholes.

"These are exactly the length I think the ones we saw were. If you lay them end to end they go right from those nine ships to Earth. I figure they make the original, come out of the other end, create a new one, and then they can head to Earth."

"But why?" Douglas asked. "What can they do with nine ships?"

"If the Kritons can invent wormholes and cloaking devices, who knows what else they can create?" Scooter asked. "Maybe some super bomb or something; I don't know. All I know is that I think those wormholes are dangerous, and we need to warn somebody."

"Great. But who? Who will believe a junior cadet, when they all have their plans for going off and fighting a war?"

"I don't know," Ben interjected, "but I think Uncle Steve is the place to start." Douglas smiled at Ben's reference to Captain Hatcher.

The boys could feel the change in the shuttle's momentum as the "Starlifter" slowed to dock against the "Lexington".

"When do we try to go see him?" Douglas asked.

"We don't TRY to go see him, we WILL go see him, now," Ben said.

"I guess you guys believe me," Scooter said.

"Yes we do," Ben and Douglas chorused, as the shuttle docked against one of the airlocks of the Lady Lex.

Jeff had turned his ankle slightly during the championship hockey match. He was brought back to the Lady Lex before most of the other cadets on the "Ladyhawke". Today he was acting as Captain Hatcher's aide, which pretty much consisted of filing papers and telling people who wished to see the captain that he was busy in a conference.

He was starting to get bored, when Scooter entered the captain's ante-room. He smiled on seeing his boyfriend, and smiled even wider when he saw Douglas and Ben enter behind him.

"Hey guys. I'm glad you're back on board. Things are happening fast," Jeff said.

"We need to see the captain," Scooter said with an air of authority that surprised Jeff.

"Sorry, Scooter, but he he's in a conference with the senior officers. He said to tell everybody he wasn't seeing anybody until after sixteen hundred hours."

"If he's with the senior officers then this is the best time to see him," Scooter said.

"Love, you know I can't just go barging in on his meeting."

"Oh yes you can!" Scooter, Ben, and Douglas said in unison.

Captain Hatcher and his senior officers had completed their discussion of Admiral Whitaker's video conference. They had all found it a bit unnerving. There were a lot of holes and inconsistencies in the Admiral's strategy and in his outlook of the situation. Hatcher gave everyone tasks to set in motion so that, by the time all of the cadets had returned from the planet's surface, the Lady Lex would be ready to leave with the other JFSA ships.

"The next issue deals with Zjan-Ren," Hatcher said.

"What about him?" Colonel Strong asked. While he still didn't totally trust the Kriton, especially now with war about to break out, he had still developed a grudging respect for the security officer.

"Admiral Natter wants him sent planet side on the last shuttle dropping off cadets. He is to be arrested, and placed in custody. I want to go on record as saying I disagreed with the admiral. Even though I'm not totally convinced the information he gave me is genuine, in my heart I want to think it is. I want to believe that he is seeing an evil in his system just like we are, that he is loyal to his planet, but not to the horrible plan his leaders have dreamed up."

"You can't run a ship on hunches," Strong said.

"I can, and I have, and I will. All I need is a reason to not send him down without directly disobeying an order from the admiral." He looked at Doctor Daniels.

"Zjan-Ren is too injured to move. A trip to the planet on a shuttle could prove fatal. I have him in the intensive care room, and I will not have him moved from there," the doctor said.

"Exactly what I wanted to hear. Thank you, doctor. Zjan-Ren will remain on board the ship in sick bay. However, to keep the admiral happy, I will have a guard stationed out side the room on twenty-four hour watch." He looked at Colonel Storm. "That is your department, colonel. I want a marine guard."

"Yes, sir."

Hatcher was about to go on when Jeff meekly entered the office.

"What is it cadet?"

"Someone is outside wishing to see you...um...all of you."

"You were ordered not to disturb us unless it was an emergency, and even then, to call on the intercom."

"I apologize, sir. But I think it is an emergency, and I think all of you need to hear it. And if I'm wrong, I will take my punishment."

Hatcher sighed. As much as he loved his cadets, they were a stubborn lot.

"Alright, cadet, who wishes to see us?"

"Cadets Ben Collins, Daniels, and Starr, sir."

Hatcher could feel his blood pressure starting to rise. "You interrupted my senior staff meeting for three cadets?"

"Yes, sir. It's very important you hear what they have to say. Now, sir. All of you."

"Cadet, I don't see how something three cadets have to say could be that important." However, the thought also went through his mind that the three cadets were three of the most solid and reliable cadets on the ship. "Tell them to come back after sixteen hundred."

"Sir, they told me to tell you that, if you refused to see them, I was to tell you that what they had to tell you was about the wormholes."

The entire room fell silent. Hatcher could see a silent, barely detectable nod from Ely Storm. The others in the room, Commander Creevey, Doctor Daniels, Colonel Strong, and Commander McDowell awaited his response. After revealing what Zjan-Ren had told him, Hatcher knew that the word wormhole and tweaked all of their interest.

"Very well, cadet. Show them in. But if this turns out to be a waste of our time, I will put all four of you on report."

"Yes, sir."

Jeff opened the door and nodded. Scooter, Ben, and Douglas entered the room.

Hatcher put on his sternest look. "Well, cadets. This interruption had better be an emergency."

Scooter could feel his heart pounding. Confrontation with authority was frightening for him. He almost wished he had turned everything over to Ben or Douglas, who were much better at dealing with pressure situations. But this was his baby, and he was going to see it through. He sat his laptop on the captain's desk and handed the chord to Ben, who plugged it in. He opened his folder and spread his charts, graphs, and diagrams on the desk.

"I don't know if this is exactly an emergency. But I think you probably should look at this now, and not later."

"I can't believe the Kritons are actually going to attack us," Rich said as he sat behind his desk.

"Oh, really?" Todd replied. "Did you sign a personal peace treaty with them or something?"

"No. It's just that we are obviously so much stronger. I mean no matter how they try, what direction they go in, they can't get past our defense."

"You realize that our entire rear has been left open, and in outer space terms, that's a lot of rear."

"Admiral Whitaker would never come up with a strategy that would jeopardize Earth. We have every Kriton ship accounted for. There is no way the Kritons can touch Earth."

"Richie, I used to love you back in the days when you would take a crap and realize that your shit really did stink. I have a feeling Whitaker's ass is the wrong one to kiss right now."

"I'm not kissing ass. He is our commanding officer, after all." He paused and glared at Todd. "When we get back to Earth, and this is all over, I am going to be so glad to be away from you. I've had more than enough of your sarcasm and cynicism. I am too tired of listening to you."

"I'm just saving you from yourself, Richie. You were a bit full of yourself and arrogant before you became a big time CO. But at least then you could admit to making mistakes."

"Oh? Like you don't think you're perfect?"

"I could show you my daily journal. I have my mistakes underlined in red. So I can see them easier, and keep learning from them. How many of your mistakes have you logged?"

Rich sat silently at his desk, refusing to make eye contact with Todd.

"I thought so," Todd continued. "Richie, I know this whole set-up looks good to you, but I can't believe the Kriton commander is so dumb that he's just going to run his fleet right into the teeth of ours. There is more here than meets the eye."

"Maybe he is that dumb," Rich said. "He wouldn't be the first dumb commander in history."

"Quite true. Tell me something, Richie. If, in fact, there is more going on than we're aware of, and we end up seeing some real action, are you ready for it? Are you ready to be a CO under fire?" Todd was asking the question to prod Rich, to make his one time lover think, to make him realize that some day he might need to be an actual commander as opposed to posing as a commander. He knew that if the action got real, the actual SFA command crew would take over. He also knew that the JFSA crew was what made an academy ship function. If the action got real, each cadet would be a part of that action. At that point, no amount of ass kissing would be able to replace real competence.

Rich's reaction to Todd's question was to once again stare at his desk and avoid eye contact with Todd. Once again, Todd was calling his bluff.

Scooter finished his presentation. He waited nervously through the silence, as the ship's senior commanders pondered on what they had just heard.

Finally, Captain Hatcher broke the silence. "A very interesting theory, Cadet Starr. But , nevertheless, still a theory."

Scooter's heart was fluttering, but he maintained his poise and reiterated his position. "Captain, we have to go to where the new wormhole will open and stop the new one from being created."

"I am supposed to convince Admiral Natter to send ships-of-the-line to go on a probably wild goose chase based on the theory of a JFSA freshman?"

"Yes, sir."

"Isn't that your job, unc...I mean captain?" Ben asked, wishing he could eat the words as soon as they came out.

Hatcher gave his nephew a quick, silencing glare, then looked back at Scooter. "I appreciate your bringing this to me, cadet. I can see how you could believe how serious this was and that you needed to see me immediately. There will be no consequences for the interruption of the staff meeting. That is all."

"We're being dismissed?" Douglas asked.

"Yes you are, Cadet Daniels. I still have a meeting to run."

"You aren't going to do anything about it?"

"I said that is all, cadet. The four of you are dismissed." The tone of Hatcher's voice indicated he was not going to tolerate another word. In spite of the captain's tone, Douglas was ready to open his mouth again, but a quick look from Ben convinced him otherwise.

Scooter started to pick up his papers.

"Leave those here please, cadet."

Scooter, surprised by the command, put the papers back down and left, carrying only his laptop.

The boys shut the door and stood in the anteroom. "That makes me so mad," Douglas said. "He totally didn't believe you. It was like we're just freshman and couldn't possibly have any kind of a clue about..."

"Douglas, put a sock in it. I think he did believe us," Ben said. "I think he knows more than he's letting on. I know my uncle, and he was keyed in to every word Scooter said. He wasn't brushing us off. I think he wants to discuss things without us there."

"I sure hope you're right," Douglas said. "Because if Scooter is right, and we don't do anything about it, we're in for some big trouble."

"I should have done a better job of explaining my theory," Scooter said despondently.

Ben surprised himself by putting his arm around Scooter's shoulder. "You did a great job, Scooter. You have nothing to feel bad about. Now, we just have to wait to see what decision comes from my uncle and the officers in there. Whatever they decide might affect how this whole war ends up."

Once again Hatcher looked at each of his senior officers. "Well, what do you think?"

"His theory certainly meshes with Zjan-Ren's story," Commander Creevey said. "It has to make you wonder if there is some truth to it."

"I have no doubt there is some truth to it," Ely Storm said. "The only question is, how much truth is there?"

"Enough to bring the issue to Admiral Natter," Doctor Daniels said. "I think he needs to know."

"I agree," Colonel Strong said. "Truth be told, I don't put much stock in either Scooter's theory, or Zjan-Ren's story. I think it's all coincidence. But I've been around long enough to know that ignoring coincidence has been fatal to many commanders."

"I feel the way you do," Hatcher said. "I am going to proceed to contact Admiral Natter."

"May I ask why you were so abrupt with the cadets?" Doctor Daniels asked. Hatcher knew he was asking the question, in part, because his son was involved, and he understood. He would to the same in the doctor's shoes.

"Because I didn't want to get them thinking they had the answers. If Natter approves of somebody checking out that sector of space, they will find out soon enough. And if he doesn't, I will be sure to let them know they did a good job."

Hatcher, like so many captains, was willing to give credit where credit was due. However, he also didn't like dishing out the compliments until he had to, always fearful of the swelled head syndrome.

"I need to talk to the admiral, and I feel I should do it alone."

"Understood, captain," Creevey said. The officers got up and left the office together, passing up the four boys, who were still in the anteroom talking about their visit with the senior officers. The officers greeted the boys, but said little else. It seemed to be understood that an important decision had just been made, and the true opinion of Scooter's theory would soon be coming out of the captain's office.

"Captain Hatcher, do you truly except me to believe this?" Admiral Natter said disapprovingly.

"Yes, sir, I do."

"Well, I am extremely skeptical. It's coincidence, pure coincidence. The story comes from a Kriton officer and the theory from a freshman cadet."

Hatcher thought about what Colonel Storm had said about commanders ignoring coincidence, but decided to save that line for when he really needed it.

"I think the coordinates Scooter gave us need to be looked at. Those nine ships are where they are for a reason."

"I don't have the manpower for that. I don't have the ships. I can't afford to stretch out what few resources I have in this sector."

"Then let us look. We aren't a part of anybody's defensive plan."

"You, captain? In a JFSA ship crewed by adolescents? I don't think so. I can't put you or your young crew at risk."

"We would only be observing. At least you would have some warning."

"Absolutely not! I will not allow it."

Hatcher took a deep breath. He was in the same mood had been in when he stood up to Admiral Whitaker and presented the proposal that led to the creation of the Lady Lex. "Admiral, I respectfully ask permission to..."

"Denied."

"Admiral..."

"Don't push your luck captain. I like you and respect you more than I can say. But don't push your luck."

It was only because of Hatcher's respect for Natter that he backed down. "Yes, sir."

"Thank you. But I do appreciate your sharing your concerns with me. I simply don't believe that it's an issue that we need to deal with. Now, as long as I have you, I want to go over the plans to get our little flotilla under way." He proceeded to go through his plans to have the seven JFSA ships return under the escort of the "Bon Homme Richard", "Wasp", and "Hornet".

"Did you get that navigation computer fixed while you were in orbit?" Natter asked.

"Navigation computer?"

"Yes. It would be a shame for it to suddenly fail on the way to Earth. I would have to leave some of my ships behind to protect you and insure your safety."

Hatcher smiled inwardly, seeing where Natter was going. "Oh, yes, I did get it checked. The tech said it needed parts. He jury rigged something, but said the new parts were available Earth side. He didn't know if it would hold up."

"Very well. I guess you can't do much more."

"I did what I could, sir."

Hatcher signed off. He signaled the communications console on the bridge. Carson Brothers was already stationed there. "Cadet Brothers, please patch me into Captains Watson of the Bon Homme Richard', Hunter of the Orion, Linyu-Wang of the `Monitor", and Winters of the "Gettysburg'.

"Yes, sir."

Captain Hatcher sat back as he waited for the connections to be made. These were the captains he knew and trusted the most. These were the ones he would need if he had read between Natter's verbal lines properly.

They were soon all connected. Hatcher, not wanting to broadcast his plans on a video conference asked the captains if they could meet him on his ship. He knew that even an encrypted conference could be decoded by the SFA code breakers. The captains were a bit confused at first, but Hatcher threw dinner into the mix and assured them he was not wasting their time. The flotilla wouldn't be leaving until the morning, so time wasn't an issue.

As the captains arrived, Ben, Douglas, Scooter, and Jeff all conferred.

"I told you Hatcher thought more of your theory than he was letting on," Douglas told Scooter.

"They're just coming for dinner," Scooter said, not wanting to get his own hopes up.

"Dinner, and more. I have the feeling we're going to be right in the middle of things real soon," Douglas said.

"Maybe. Maybe not. I guess we'll find out more soon," Ben said. "Whatever happens, I'm more than ready for it."

Hatcher concluded his presentation. Captain Watson had already heard part of it, and agreed that Scooter's theory seemed to confirm Zjan-Ren's story. Hunter, Lin Wan, and Winters were more skeptical, but Hatcher, using Scooter's charts and graphs won them over.

"Remember, I saw those wormholes. A star ship can fit through one easily. And more than one of my cadets probably saw the tail end of a Kriton ship that had just entered one."

"You have a remarkable group of cadets, Steven," Chase Hunter said. "I only wish that the so called privileged boys on my ship could have done as well." Hatcher knew that one of those "privileged" boys was his son, Mark.

"One of my motives for the Lady Lex project was that I knew what kind of untapped potential a lot of these boys have. But that is neither here nor there. What I want to know is, if my navigation computer should happen to fail', are you willing to stay behind and protect' my ship? We all know how a ship can't stay on course without one."

"What about your backup?" Winters asked.

"Oh, like most backups on the Lady Lex, it failed long ago," Hatcher said with a sly smile.

"I'm in," Watson said. "But I don't have a ship load of kids."

"Count me in," Winters said. "From what you said, we will be observing."

"That's the hope," Hatcher said, "not a promise."

Linyu-Wang said he would be in, too.

Chase Hunter of the "Orion" sat quietly, obviously thinking. "I'm not sure I want to put my cadets at risk like that. But I also know there is a lot of stake here. If the fears of the wormholes are justified, and we fail to act, we will regret it the rest of our lives. And," he added with a chuckle, "my boys will be the first to tell you they can do anything a Triple L can do, and then some."

"Then we have a plan. When we reach these coordinates," Hatcher pointed to a spot on one of Scooter's maps, "my navigation computer will suddenly fail. And you will all volunteer to stay behind and protect me."

"That's the plan," Watson said with a wide grin.

The captains then ordered their dinner. After they ate, the visiting captains left and Hatcher sat back in his seat. He remembered the scene after Stan had committed suicide. He remembered his not wanting to put his cadets at risk, and how Johnny Cooper and others had talked him into letting them stay in the war games. That danger was nothing compared to what he was committing them to now. He was probably taking them into the heart of a war. They were kids, ranging from eleven to eighteen. They were tough kids; good kids, cocky, at times arrogant, kids. But, they were kids.

He knew his risk wasn't as big as the other three captains. Most of their kids were from good families. So many of his kids were from broken homes, or from homes where the parents didn't care. But there were kids from great families who had strayed in some way. In fact his own son was on the ship, not to mention his daughter and three nephews. The son of one of his best friends was on the ship. And his other son was on the "Orion".

Was he going to be asking too much of them? Was he being hypocritical by expecting them to go to the wormholes and face the Kritons, when he almost wouldn't let them capture an inconsequential flag? He honestly didn't know the answer, but he did know whose opinion he could ask. He turned on his intercom, and wasn't surprised that Jeff was still at the desk in the anteroom.

"Could you ask Cadet Cooper to report to my office, please."

Ten minutes later Johnny Cooper was sitting on the couch in the captain's office. He listened to what Hatcher had to say.

"So that's what Scooter was doing. We all knew he was doing something that had to do with the Kritons. He is so fucking smart," Cooper said.

"Johnny, you know the boys of this ship as well as anybody. How do you think they will respond?"

"Well, I know this; if you'd pulled them out of the games they would have told you to go straight to hell, and I'd be the one yelling it the loudest. But now, after what's gone down since then, they know how fucking good they are. They won't back down to anybody, not even a Kriton warship. Tell them to do it, and they'll blast the fuckers right out of space."

Hatcher knew Johnny was exaggerating some, but he also knew Johnny had just given his stamp of approval to the plan; a very important stamp of approval.

Johnny might have been stripped of his command, but the boys still looked up to him.

"So, tell me captain. Why are you asking me this? Donkey Mike is your CO. I'm just a cadet who was fired from his job."

"Because I trust you to tell me exactly what you think. Because you know the crew. And because you have guts."

"And because I will be a nobody when we get back to Earth," Johnny said with a bit of an edge to his voice.

"Cadet Cooper, I thought you wanted to be a Marine."

"I do."

"Marines aren't nobodies."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means I'm asking you to trust me for a while longer."

"It finally worked for Jesse," Johnny said. "Maybe it will work for me, too."

Johnny got up and left the office. Hatcher looked at the door, thinking of the eventful day that was about over. Yep, he thought, they're just kids. But they're my kids and, damn it they are the best in the fleet.

To be continued...