“Chief Technician Danilo Jovanović,” the administrator said in his grating, faux-enthusiastic delivery that coupled perfectly with the pasted-on smile. “I can have him join us if you’d like.”

“It wouldn’t be a bad idea to speak with him myself,” Jackson said. “But I have a feeling I know what it is down here that seems to want a chat with me. If I’m right, we’ll probably want to destroy it as quickly as possible.”

“Care to elaborate, Captain?” Pitt asked.

“I hardly think this sort of thing concerns you anymore, does it, Admiral?” Jackson deadpanned. It had the desired result as he saw Admiral Pitt’s jaw clench and his eyes narrowed slightly. “It shouldn’t take me long to determine how dangerous this thing has become.”

“Become?” the administrator asked with what seemed like genuine concern. Jackson and the admiral both ignored him.

****

“This is Danilo Jovanović,” the administrator said as he indicated the man standing near a twisted chuck of alloy. “Danilo, this is Mr. Jackson Wolfe, formerly Senior Captain Wolfe of Seventh Fleet.”

“Hello, sir.” Danilo nodded his head respectfully but didn’t approach closer or offer his hand.

“You were the first one it spoke to?” Jackson asked.

“As far as I know, sir,” Danilo said.

“And everything it said to you was accurately transcribed in your report?” Jackson indicated the hard copy he held of the official incident report he’d been provided with.

“Yes, sir.”

“Okay, thanks, Mr. Jovanović,” Jackson said. “I won’t need to hold you up any further.”

“Sir?” Danilo asked as Jackson turned to walk deeper into the Tomb. “Could you please tell me what this is?” Jackson looked at the charred and twisted metal behind the technician, a puzzled look on his face until he saw the plaque the other man was gesturing to. He approached for a closer look, his interest piqued.

“That, Mr. Jovanović, is what’s left of the portside main boarding hatchway frame from the TCS Blue Jacket,” Jackson said. “The reason I know it’s the port hatchway is because, despite commanding the ship for eight years, the starboard entry was never fitted with a plaque. Is there something specific about this artifact you find interesting?”

“It’s just … many people think that the stories about you, and about the Blue Jacket and the Ares, are just legends,” Danilo said. “Most people that I meet don’t believe that you’re still alive, and some don’t believe you ever actually existed.”