Midshipman Henry Gallant in Space

  * * *

  An hour later, Gallant and Red were returning to Midshipmen’s quarters. As they walked through the corridor, Red said, “You saw the images with your own eyes. There were hundreds of ships around Saturn and we can’t even guess how many there are near the outer planets.”

  “I don’t know what I saw. Kelsey classified most of those ships as cargo ships or transports, only a hundred or so were possible warships.”

  “A hundred or so? Do you hear yourself? You say that like it’s a good thing.”

  “What’s your opinion of Captain Caine?” asked Gallant abruptly, lost in thought.

  "He's a great CO. Why?”

  “I think that before too long, we’re going to be glad he’s in command of the Jupiter frontier,” Gallant spoke with a faraway look in his eyes.