A base lieutenant's face illuminated it. He yawned and looked questioningly at Don Mathers. Don said, allowing a touch of excitement in his voice, "Mathers, Scout V-102, Sector A22-K223." "Yeah, yeah ..." the other began, still yawning. "I've spotted a Kraden cruiser. Miro class, I think." * * * * * The lieutenant flashed into movement. He slapped a button before him, the screen blinked, to be lit immediately again. A gray-haired Fleet Admiral looked up from papers on his desk. "Yes?" Don Mathers rapped, "Miro class Kraden in sector A22-K223, sir. I'm lying about fifty miles off. Undetected thus far--I think. He hasn't fired on me yet, at least." The Admiral was already doing things with his hands. Two subalterns came within range of the screen, took orders, dashed off. The Admiral was rapidly firing orders into two other screens. After a moment, he looked up at Don Mathers again. "Hang on, Lieutenant. Keep him under observation as long as you can. What're your exact coordinates?" Don gave them to him and waited. A few minutes later the Admiral returned to him. "Let's take a look at it, Lieutenant." Don Mathers adjusted the screen to relay the Kraden cruiser. His palms were moist now, but everything was going to plan. He wished that he could take another drink. The Admiral said, "Miro class, all right. Don't get too close, Lieutenant. They'll blast you to hell and gone. We've got a task force within an hour of you. Just hang on." "Yes, sir," Don said. An hour. He was glad to know that. He didn't have much time in which to operate. He let it go another five minutes, then he said, "Sir, they're increasing speed." "Damn," the Admiral said, then rapid fired some more into his other screens, barking one order after another. Don said, letting his voice go very flat, "I'm going in, sir. They're putting on speed. In another five minutes they'll be underway to the point where I won't be able to follow. They'll get completely clear." The Admiral looked up, startled. "Don't be a fool." "They'll get away, sir." Knowing that the other could see his every motion, Don Mathers hit the cocking lever of his flakflak gun with the heel of his right hand. The Admiral snapped, "Let it go, you fool. You won't last a second." Then, his voice higher, "That's an order, Lieutenant!" Don Mathers flicked off his screen. He grimaced sourly and then descended on the Kraden ship, his flakflak gun beaming it. He was going to have to expend every erg of energy in his Scout to burn the other ship up to the point where his attack would look authentic, and to eliminate all signs of previous action. * * * * * The awarding of the Galactic Medal of Honor, as always, was done in the simplest of ceremonies. Only the President and Captain Donal Mathers himself were present in the former's office in the Presidential Palace.