"I've not had any finger in the pie of your little interstellar fire-department, son."
"No? Then explain why and how a rookie out of training school gets an appointment to District One Control Base?"
"You were an honor student, were you not?"
"Not that high. Base One is staffed with men of experience, not raw trainees."
"Never?"
"Not in twenty years, at least. And the last rookie that did it came from school to Base One because he was Marshall Craig's son."
"You should be gratified."
"I'm mad as hell. I want no interference nor help from you—or the likes of you."
"That's not a nice thing to say about a foster father."
"Do I owe you allegiance because I was taken into your clutches at the age of three?" demanded Hagen angrily.