�This is a disaster, Kollins,� Admiral Potrowski said, spitting in his anger and pounding his clenched fist against the desk in front of him. �This is an unmitigated disaster.�

     �I agree with you, Sir,� I said, wiping away spittle that had landed on my forehead. �When we found the ship, I was bedridden, ill with a nasty virus. My First Officer was in charge�it was his decision to bring the lost ship back to Earth. Had he chosen to consult with me, even in my state, I would have advised him to escort the ship back to Other Side space, as a show of goodwill.�

     The Admiral shook his head slowly, seeming to calm a little with each orbit around his neck. �If only, Captain.� With a tired and wistful sigh, he added, �We really lost an opportunity here. Returning that ship might have helped put an end to this bloody war.�

     �And isn�t that what we all want, Admiral?�

     My words seemed to snap the Admiral out of his pensive mood. Standing up, he said, �You�re Captain of the DeVille, Kollins. You must be held accountable for its actions.�

     �Of course, Sir,� I said, cursing the Admiral silently but colorfully in my head.

     �You and your crew will remain in this system until the Board can think of an appropriate punishment. As you can imagine, we�ve got our hands full doing damage control for this disaster you�ve brought on our heads.�

     �Yes, Sir,� I said. I turned to leave.

     �Captain,� the Admiral said.

     I turned around slowly.

     �Don�t worry about your First Officer,� the Admiral said. �This blunder of his won�t soon be forgotten.�

     �He�s young and inexperienced,� I said, deferentially. �I hope the Board takes that into consideration when deciding his fate, Sir.�

     �You�re a good Captain, Kollins,� the Admiral said, softening a little. �But don�t allow your affection for this Winston to take you down with him.�

     With a nod, I turned once more and walked out of the Admiral�s office.

     My senior officers were waiting for me at the Tiberia, a restaurant in Luna City that catered mostly to officers of the Board.

     Their expectant smiles faded as I walked through the doors, my shoulders drooping and a sour look on my face.

     �Bad news?� Winston said.

     �I don�t know,� I said, suddenly slapping him on the back and smiling as wide as my lips would allow. �Would you consider it bad news that the Board is so thrilled with our capture, they�re rewarding us with some vacation time?�

     With a cheer, the senior officers raised their glasses in my name and I graciously suffered their pats on my back.

     �Listen,� I said, turning very serious. �They�ll need to make a show of disapproval. The Other Side has spies everywhere, and if they thought the Board was happy with this capture�which they are, they are!�that might cause the Other Side to escalate this war before the Board is ready for them. Just be aware that anything you hear is for show only; deep down, the Board is thrilled with us.�

     There was another round of drinks and another cheer in my name.

     When the other officers had left, Winston got a very serious look on his face and said, �I was wrong, Captain.�

     Despite his time with me, Winston had never learned the crucial lesson that one never admitted it when one was wrong. �It takes a big man to say that,� I said. �Good for you and forget about it. I know I have.�

     �Thank you, Captain,� Winston said. �Thank you.�

     �We all make mistakes, Winston,� I said. �The important thing is to learn from them.�

     �Yes, Captain,� Winston said. �I guess I was just anxious for peace��

     �Isn�t that what we�re all anxious for?� I interrupted.

     �It is, Captain,� Winston said. �But you were able to maintain your objectivity, and I allowed my feelings to cloud my thinking.� Winston was becoming very depressed, which usually didn�t happen to him until he�d had a lot more to drink. �May I speak freely, Captain?�

     I nodded graciously.

     �Most captains don�t make decisions all by themselves,� Winston said. �They consult, they listen to their first officers and advisors. They think things through. But you�you seem to know exactly what to do without talking to anyone else, and even when��here he became very sheepish��you�re given very bad advice.�

     �Some may question my management style,� I said, mentally noting that Winston himself had obviously questioned it, yet another sign of his ever-present insubordination. �But I�ve learned an important lesson, a lesson you might learn too if only you read the Good Book.�

     �Oh?�

     �It�s very simple,� I said. �I keep my own counsel; that way, I will always have the wisdom of a solo man.�