She saluted crisply. "Captain Susan Tanner, reporting as ordered, sir."

"At ease, Captain," Renford said, returning her salute.

"Sorry I'm late, Admiral, but it was unavoidable. I was attacked this morning in my quarters."

The Admiral nodded. "I just got off the phone with Staff Sergeant Evans." He motioned Susan to a chair before his desk. "Tell me what happened."

As she sat, she looked to Hyatt, then back to Renford. "Is it all right to talk in front of him, sir?"

"He should hear anything you have to say." Renford turned to the civilian. "Fred, this is Captain Susan Tanner."

"Mr. Hyatt," Susan acknowledged, extending her hand. Hyatt made no move to take it, but gave her a close once-over, not unlike the look the dark man had given her before launching his attack.

"You're sure I should talk with a civilian present?" she asked, withdrawing her hand.

"I'm sure," Renford said. "Let's have it, Captain."

Hyatt's sharp and calculating gaze never left her as she told her story.

"…So I told Staff Sergeant Evans what I've just told you, then came straight here."

That wasn't entirely true. This time around, she had left out the part about her attacker vanishing into thin air. She told Renford simply that he had escaped; she had learned from Evans's reaction.

But had Evans said anything about it to the Admiral?

If so, Renford gave no indication. He scratched along his jaw line and opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it again. Finally, he simply shook his head.

"This is the ship's pilot you told me about?" Hyatt asked, speaking for the first time since Susan had entered the room. His voice was extremely high pitched- much higher than it had seemed during his holo-vid broadcasts. It must be electronically altered during those broadcasts, she thought.

"Uh, yes," Renford said, abandoning his own thoughts with obvious reluctance.