"Why'd you get sent to the Rock?"
"My officer was a smart-alec lieutenant just out of Space Academy. We got in a fight—" Tom didn't finish the sentence.
"And you were kicked out, eh?"
"No, sir," said Tom. "I hit him so hard—he never woke up again. I had to blast out of there, but they caught me."
"All right," said Coxine. "Report to the gunnery chief. Tell him I said you're second-in-command." The big man turned and walked away from the cadet without another word.
Tom watched him disappear and smiled. He had faced two impossible situations, the fight with Monkey and now this meeting, and he had come out on top in each. Perhaps he had a chance, after all.
CHAPTER 13
"Any report from the search squadrons yet, Steve?" asked Commander Walters.