One large wall-mounted flatscreen in Media Center displayed a stored high-res satellite image of the southern reaches of the Indonesian Archipelago. Dan Black knew that because Lieutenant Thieu had explained it when they arrived. He wasn’t quite sure what the hell that all meant, though.

Lieutenant Thieu looked a lot like a Jap to Lieutenant Commander Black’s way of thinking. But he sounded as though he’d spent his whole life on the beaches of California.

“Santa Monica,” Thieu said, when Black asked. “My parents were deep green Earth First types. I surfed a lot to get out of the house. Then when they tried to get me to paddle my board out to hassle some longline tuna boats, I ran away and joined the navy. I don’t think they’ll ever forgive me.”

Black had no idea what he was talking about, but the mystery of Thieu was nothing compared to the two civilian women who were straining at the leash just behind him. Black figured them for civvies because of the complete lack of respect they brought to their dealings with the lieutenant.

“And what’s your job, Lieutenant?” asked Black.

“Right now, I’m just looking after you until you can get back to the Enterprise. But officially, media relations.”

“And we’re the media he’s trying to have a relationship with,” said one of the women.

Thieu exhaled slowly. “Lieutenant Commander Black, Ensign Curtis, this is Julia Duffy, a feature writer for the New York Times, and Rosanna Natoli, a reporter for CNN. You don’t have it yet. It’s a bit like the Movietone newsreels, I guess.”

“So, what, we’re supposed to talk to the press now?” asked Black, who was openly confused.

He’d felt about as useful as tits on a bull up on the flag bridge, and had been happy enough to get out from under Kolhammer’s feet as the search and rescue effort accelerated. With Curtis eager to try out a “computer,” they’d been escorted down to this “Media Center”—although it looked like an aid station to Black, with maybe two dozen civilians laid out on cots.

Thieu explained that they were reporters who’d been “embedded” with various elements of the Multinational Force, but that didn’t make Black feel any more comfortable.

“You don’t have to talk to anyone if you don’t want to,” Thieu added quickly.

“Oh, come now,” said Natoli. “I’m sure these boys wouldn’t be scared of talking to a couple of lady reporters. They were on their way to kick Yamamoto’s butt. They’ll be safe with us, Edgar.”

“And who are you going to file for?” asked Thieu. “Ms. Duffy still might be able to score a gig with the Times, but I don’t know if Ted Turner’s even been born yet. And if he has, he ain’t hiring.”