the Social
Justice Party did talk a lot about old-line officers who were too
hidebound to carry out modern policies effectively. But it sounded
rather silly to me."

Warburton compressed his lips. "I do not believe it is proper for
service officers to discuss political issues publicly," he said like a
machine gun.

Ellen flushed. "S-sorry, commander."

Blades felt a helpless anger on her account. He wasn't sure why. What
was she to him? He'd probably never see her again. A hell of an
attractive target, to be sure; and after so much celibacy he was
highly vulnerable; but did she really matter?

He turned his back on Warburton and his eyes on her--a five thousand
per cent improvement--and diverted her from her embarrassment by
asking, "Are you from Colorado, then, Miss Ziska?"

"Oh, no. Toronto."

"How'd you happen to join the Navy, if I may make so bold?"

"Gosh, that's hard to say. But I guess mostly I felt so crowded at
home. So, pigeonholed. The world seemed to be nothing but neat little
pigeonholes."

"Uh-huh. Same here. I was also a square pigeon in a round hole." She
laughed. "Luckily," he added, "Space is too big for compartments."

Her agreement lacked vigor. The Navy must have been a disappointment
to her. But she couldn't very well say so in front of her shipmates.

Hm-m-m ... if she could be gotten away from them--"How long will you
be here?" he inquired. His pulse thuttered.

"We haven't been told," she said.

"Some work must be done on the missile launchers," Warburton said.
"That's best carried out here, where extra facilities are available if
we need them. Not that I expect we will." He paused. "I hope we won't
interfere with your own operations."

"Far from it." Blades beamed at Ellen. "Or, more accurately, this kind
of interference I don't mind in the least."

She blushed and her eyelids fluttered. Not that she was a fluffhead,
he realized. But to avoid incidents, Navy regulations enforced an
inhuman correctness between personnel of opposite sexes. After weeks
in the black, meeting a man who could pay a compliment without risking
court-martial must be like a shot of adrenalin. Better and better!

"Are you sure?" Warburton persisted. "For instance, won't we be in the
way when the next ship comes from Jupiter?"

"She'll approach the opposite end of the asteroid," Blades said.
"Won't stay long, either."

"How long?"

"One watch, so the crew can relax a bit among those of us who're o