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""But it feels as if it's just gotten harder."

"What do you mean?"

"With the Dawntreader and the two destroyers we're just at the bottom threshold of the really good contracts, which is why most of the ones we've gotten in the time you've been here have been so hard. They're too hard it seems, and they cost us too much..."

"Not too much," Kirika interrupted. "As you said, we always have enough."

"Throwing my words back at me Kir?"

"Of course."

Tevvin stared out the window at hyperspace for a moment more then reached around and hauled Kirika in front of him so he could look at her face. She stared up at him with a soft smile and he studied her for a minute before giving her a fierce hug and then resting his forehead against hers.

"What was that for?"

"For being so much more than I deserve," He replied.

"I could say the same about you," Kirika said, "But you'd just deny it."

"Yes," Tevvin said with a chuckle. Then he was silent for several minutes. ::Father, please...::

"Still thinking about money?" Kirika asked.

"No," Tevvin replied, "Praying."

"About?" she asked.

"About my failings," he answered. "I was asking God for eyes to see the wonderful treasures he has given me."

"Oh," Kirika said. "Care to name some?"

Tevvin chuckled. "Well, there's Jesus..." he paused, "Hmm, I think that really about does it."

Kirika huffed and punched him lightly in the side. "Jerk," she said with a smile.

Tevvin was about to reply when a chime sounded in his head and the voice of one of his female lieutenants said, //Captain to the bridge.\\

"Argh," Tevvin said.

"I wonder what's wrong?" Kirika said, stepping away from him at the same time.

"I have no clue," Tevvin replied as he turned to go. "Come with and we'll find out."

Kirika nodded and followed him out of the room.

On the bridge Tevvin was met by a uniformed ensign, one so new he hadn't learned the man's name yet. He glanced at the tag on the chest of the uniform jacket. Bernard Dover.

"What's the problem, Ensign Dover?" Tevvin asked.

"Sir, sensors are picking up an anomaly nearby," the ensign reported, "Looks like a clear spot in the nebula, but with some heavy radiation inside it matching the telltales for a major battle. Lieutenant Fenn ordered a probe launched and we're expecting data back from it in fourteen minutes."

"Has the lieutenant notified the freighters?" Tevvin asked.

"She has, sir," ensign Dover replied. Tevvin noticed the formality and remembered that ensign Dover was a graduate of a naval academy back on Earth. He thanked the ensign, glanced at Kirika to see what her reaction was, and then walked over to where Lieutenant Fenn sat in the captain's chair. She immediately got up and stepped aside for Tevvin and he heard Kirika chuckle behind him. Instead of sitting down right away he asked the Lieutenant if she had any more details than what the Ensign had given him.

"Sorry Captain, but Ensign Dover gave you all we have right now." Lieutenant Fenn replied.