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“We shall report to you later,” Dr. Kerr assured him and the four of them left the room.

They were replaced by three others, though none as cute as Chili. Davies, Thammah and Matzen entered. Jace liked how easily Davies and Thammah interacted, already ribbing one another though Davies’ eyes were alert for danger and the man practically bristled with weaponry.

He’ll never be caught flat-footed again, Jace thought.

Flat-footedness is the last thing that the Lieutenant-Commander suffers from, the Osiris remarked.

Yes, yes, I know. We really are going to have to work on your understanding of colloquialisms or I’m going to start calling you Khoth, Jace retorted.

Matzen came in with that peculiar Thaf’ell grace behind the other two, hands clasped behind his back, and expression smooth and unruffled. He stood at attention while Thammah came right over and hugged Jace. Davies smiled at him almost paternally.

“What? I don’t get a hug from you, Davies? I’m hurt!” Jace joked.

“If he hugged you something might go off and we’d be blown to bits,” Thammah stated, gesturing towards all the weapons attached to Davies’ hard suit, and that was only what showed.

“I do understand the desire to be prepared.” Jace gave a weak smile.

“Speaking of which, soft suits and hard suit chips will be delivered shortly for both of you. Also, weapons will be in that shipment. Everything you need. I would request that both of you have your soft suits on at all times and the chips with you,” Davies suggested. “Unless you have other thoughts, Commander Voor.”

“That is well thought out, Lieutenant-Commander Davies,” Khoth stated. He then turned to Matzen. Jace expected them to shake hands at least, but they stood several feet apart and didn’t touch one another or make a move to. “Commander Matzen, I hear you did well in the battle.”

“I only did my duty,” Matzen answered.

Jace smiled. “My father says it was a bit more than that. You agreed to some pretty unorthodox things. Things that the High Commander would not have.”

“And the battle would have been lost if we had followed that course,” Matzen said evenly.

“My, my, speaking ill of the High Commander? You better be accepted as a crew member on the Osiris, because I can’t imagine that kind of honesty will be good for your career,” Thammah remarked dryly.

Matzen cocked his head to the side. “I am merely reporting the likely outcome, Flight-Commander Pyrrhus. That should not be considered disrespectful.”

“I notice that you use the word should there,” Davies pointed out, chuckling.

Matzen stood with legs shoulder length apart, chest out, and hands tightly clasped behind him as if he were being questioned by a tribunal. “I believe that the facts show that our current methods of defense and offense are inadequate. Quelling dissent under the auspices of showing respect to higher officers keeps us in this dangerous position. Under Commander Khoth Voor, we were encouraged to speak our minds.”

Khoth nodded. “And I found great value in such open communications.”

I highly doubt that Staed thought the same way. But Dad found Matzen excellent and so does Khoth. More hands to help…

“Would you like to serve under Commander Khoth again?” Jace asked.

“That is my current goal,” Matzen admitted.

“He would be a useful addition to the crew,” Khoth told him.

“Then I am happy to offer you a position, Matzen, but it does require you to swear allegiance to me and not the Alliance,” Jace said.

A brief nod. “Understood. I have already submitted my resignation.”

Thammah’s eyebrows rose. “You were certain!”

“Of what I want? Yes,” Matzen answered simply. “Are there some formal words or processes I must go through to pledge my allegiance?”

“It’s a little bit more practical than that,” Jace admitted. “I will need people to travel into the labyrinth underground for me.” He could not do it himself. He felt the Osiris wrapping its electronic arms around him. No, he couldn’t. Not even for her. “We have a crewmate who will need rescuing. As soon as I find her.”

“You’ve located Gehenna?” Khoth asked, his voice quickening.

“Almost. My little AI buddies are helping, but she’s deep,” Jace admitted. “And I fear trapped down there.”