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Although Anelace could not fly a flag like the wet navy ships,
each naval ship still possessed a ship’s flag along with the Republic’s ensign. 
Both flags would stand proudly inside Heskan’s quarters.  The senior chief handed
the ship’s flag to Anelace’s temporary commander, Lieutenant Riedel.  Riedel
gripped the standard and whispered through his smile, “How’d you beat us to the
bridge, Chief?”
    The
old chief winked and then his face became expressionless.  “Bridge, Tench-HUT,”
the chief practically yelled.  Everyone, Heskan included, snapped instantly to
attention.  The three men stood close to each other.  Heskan faced Riedel while
Brown stood next to both slightly off to the side.
    Heskan
quietly cleared his throat, “Ensign Truesworth, One-MC, please.”  Heskan felt a
brief flush of amusement because of the surprised look on the young officer’s
face.  Even though it took me days to do it, that look alone made it completely
worth memorizing my crew’s names and faces .  Okay, Heskan, let’s try to
sound official here.   “In accordance with Brevic regulations, by order of
Brevic Naval Command, dated 0212.995, I hereby assume command of BRS Anelace
until rightfully relieved.”
    Riedel
unbraced from his position of attention, held the ship’s flag out in front of
him and then thrust it to his side toward Chief Brown.  “I am relieved of
command,” he stated simply.  The chief took the flag, paused a moment than then
thrust the flag toward Heskan. 
    Heskan
had a wild thought as the flag, and its responsibility, was pushed toward him.  This is my last chance to run away down the halls screaming like a banshee . 
Instead, he reached out, grasped the pole and then braced back to attention. 
“I assume command.”  Too late now .
    The brief
ceremony over, Heskan said loudly, “As you were, folks.  Don’t let me stop what
you were doing.  I wasn’t planning any fancy speeches because we’ll be getting
to know each other soon enough.  We’re making way for Skathi shortly so let’s
make sure we’re ready.”

Chapter
4
    The
tunnel connecting Narvi and Skathi compressed the four light-year distance in
normal space to just nine and a half light-hours in t-space.  The trip equated
to slightly over four days of travel.  RT-17 was approaching the halfway point
of the trip when Heskan stepped into Anelace’s small gym.  At four and a
half meters long and fourteen meters wide, the room was little more than banks
of weight lifting devices and stationary machines that simulated running,
rowing and swimming.  As was becoming standard, most of the exercise machines
had holographic hemispheres at the front to give the illusion of exercising in
any number of environments.  On his former ship, Archer , he had set his
rowing environment to the primary orbital of his home planet with the intention
of “rowing” from it to Dione’s nearest moon.  Although he had diligently saved
his progress after each session, he had fallen far short of his goal despite
rowing faithfully for four years. 
    This
time, Heskan stepped onto a Pedi-Sim, selected the machine’s generic
“Ocean-side Path” option from the choices and began a slow jog to warm up his
muscles.  The Form-U-Foam padding on the treadmill he ran on softened
considerably to simulate sand and it was not long before his calves began to
ache.  Heskan actually detested running and had unequivocally once stated “the
best thing about running is stopping.”  However, he had to set the example in
staying fit and the specter of the Brevic yearly fitness test always lurked in
the back of his mind.  He was not in any danger of failing it but just the
thought of failing along with the accompanying humiliation was enough to ensure
an adequate physical fitness regimen.  The chronometer indicated only eight minutes
had passed and he was already considering switching to a firmer surface when
Mike Riedel stepped near the Pedi-Sim