“I’ve got good news, and I’ve got bad news.”

They groaned and chuckled.

“We’re boned,” someone said under their breath, and the chuckles increased.

“The captain wants me to tell you that you did a good job and that there’s a shuttle coming home with three of our own on it, alive and kicking,” Steph said. “That’s the good news.”

They laughed, though there was a hint of appreciation in it. “What’s the bad news?”

“His illustrious pampered backside has decided to visit the planet, in person, when we arrive in orbit,” Steph said.

The pilots groaned. Then straightened up. “When do we go out?”

“We don’t,” Steph replied. “I’ll take two volunteers for the escort run. The rest of you will get some rest.”

“I’m in,” Samuels said instantly, though only a few seconds ahead of the rest.

“Good. Cardsharp and Centurion. The rest of you, fall out, shower, and hit your bunks.”

The pilots groaned but started to move.

“Oh, and one more thing,” Steph said as they paused. He surveyed them again and smiled. “In case you hadn’t figured it out, you did good out there. Now get your butts out of my sight.”

“Captain.”

“Commander,” Weston greeted his first as he stepped onto the bridge.

Roberts got up from the central chair, leaving it to Weston as the captain crossed the floor. “We’ll be entering planetary orbit in three minutes.”

“Excellent. Have the rest of Brinks’s reports finished uploading?”

“Aye, sir,” Roberts said, bringing the files up on the captain’s displays. “Looks like they had some rough times down there.”

Weston winced as he noted the casualty report. “I can see that.”

“On the plus side, Brinks has a lot of good to say about the medical facilities made available to our people,” Roberts replied. “Apparently, they’ve got a lot on the ball when it comes to patching people up.”

“Nice to know,” Weston said. “I suppose I should take Rame down with me, if he can break away from our own casualties.”

Roberts shifted uncomfortably. “About this visit, sir…”

“I believe that the hostilities are dying down enough for a diplomatic visit, Commander,” Weston said, his voice cool.

Roberts hesitated. “Aye, sir.”

“Besides, I think I want to speak with this Admiral Tanner—interesting man.”

“Yes, sir. You will be taking an escort?”

“Two Archangels.”

“I meant a personal guard, Captain,” Roberts said firmly. “I’ll assign some men to the job.”

Weston started to object, then let it go. If the commander wasn’t going to give him a hard time about going down, he may as well reciprocate. “As you wish, Commander.”

“Dr. Rame?”

Rame looked up from checking the blood pressure and oxygen levels of a patient. “Yes, Nurse?”

“You have a message from the bridge, sir.”

Rame nodded, setting down his tools, and checked the bank of near-infrared LEDs set over the patient. When he was satisfied that they were all operating at the prescribed pulse pattern, he walked over to his office.