When last we left our boldly, self righteous hero, he had given orders to enter Wyzenhymer space territory in an effort to rescue Lt. Scott from imminent doom...

Sgt. Stauch gaped open mouthed at his commander.  Had he just been given an order to dispatch a senior officer?  His eyes searched Reed's for the answer.  Reed, noting the concern in Stauch's young features, placed a hand on the sergeant's shoulder, leaning in close.

"Do you have a problem with that order, son?", Reed probed. "Because if you do, I can have you transferred to the Space Commando division and demoted to, say... sergeant."

"But I'm already a sergeant in the Space Commando's, sir", Stauch replied, somewhat perplexed.

"Precisely."  Reed said, his mouth twisted in a sinister mockery of a smile, as he turned and moved to his Command console.

"Yes Commander, I'll watch Mr. Schultz", Stauch thought to himself.  "I'll watch his back."

Reed began issuing orders to his crew and soon the USS Escort was entering Wyzenhymer territory.

"Signal strength, Mr. Schultz?", He queried.

"Getting stronger Commander.", Schultz replied, the previous disagreement seemingly forgotten.  "We should get a visual in approximately thirty septons."

Reed toggled the communication device on his chair.  "Engineering, what is the status on the reactors?"

"Engineering here, Commander", came Mr. Jeffy's voice, "reactors currently at optimum, no discrepancies.  And Commander..."

"Yes, Mr. Jeffy."

"If Lt. Scott is dead when we find him", he paused, "can I be Number Two?"

Reed smiled to himself, "Lt. Scott is not dead, Mr. Jeffy, but if he were I'd rig up his cadaver so it could sit in his assistant commander chair, and pretend he was still alive..." Reed stopped as he noticed the stares he was receiving from his crew, "...well, at least until he started to stink real bad", he added with a chuckle.

Mr. Schultz was still staring at him when Reed summoned the flight doctor to the bridge.  Dr. Egan arrived somewhat out of breath and a bit disheveled.

"I hope I didn't interrupt your exercise routine, Doctor.", Reed said.

Egan smiled, "Oh no, sir, not at all.  I was just spelunking in the pharmacy and thought I'd been caught on the security camera again."

"It's nothing like that doctor", Reed continued, "I need you stand by the docking bay when we retrieve Lt. Scott's landing pod, in the event that he's injured."

Egan looked a bit confused, "Well, why me?"

Reed took a moment before replying, "Because...you're a doctor."

"Ah yes", Egan acknowledged, "I see your point.  I'll be standing by."

"We have the pod on visual, Commander", Mr. Schultz claimed calmly, minutes later, "initiating Suck Beam sequence at this time."

Reed could see dark carbon blast marks on the small ships frame as it was drawn closer by the gravity beam.  The pod looked to be intact, but the clear polymeric of the cockpit was cracked in several places.  He lost sight of the ship as it passed beneath the bridge to the open cargo bay.  Reed stood and moved toward the doorway.  "You have the conn, Mr. Schuuu...er...never mind,  just call me if you guys need anything."

He then turned and began walking toward the cargo bay.