Chapter 6

Heavy footsteps rattled down the empty halls of the Thraxas 8 security station.

The station was manned by 700 highly trained security officers all in the service of the universe,

all hail the universe, but it was mid-peak, which meant that all

shifts were on duty, which meant the halls were supposed to be empty. It wasn't necessarily

a rule, but it was proper procedure, and proper procedure is what made Thraxas eight the only

security station in the quadrant that had a nine-star efficiency rating six quarters running,

of which the commandant was justifiably proud,

all of which made the wearer of the boots that stomped through the otherwise empty halls

more than a little nervous.

Nothing that he had to say was, strictly speaking, by the book,

and the person that he had to say it to was the commandant himself.

The door hissed open, and everyone on the command deck turned and looked at Corporal Elders, Porknaine, in surprise.

He stepped forward and saluted, as the door hissed shut behind him.

"'Didn't think it was shift change just yet, Porknaine,' the commandant said, as the rest of the crew returned to its duties.

"'No, sir,' Alders said, keeping at attention, even though the commandant seemed very casual.

"'This was an old trick, and he was not going to fall for it.'

The commandant snorted his pleasure at the formality.

"'A'ight, Porknain, that'll do,' he said.

Aldous stood at ease.

"'Yes, sir,' he said.

The Commandant seemed to be waiting for something, but he did not speak.

...