Reed snorted. "Fine. And if I do find myself punished, must I next forward my request for investigation through the same officer?"
"That is a serious charge, young man."
"I can substantiate it! Look, sir, quite a long time ago I made some scientific studies, and—"
"You're an Operations officer, Mr. Reed?"
"Yes, but—"
"Then you're not trained in science?"
"Let's not go on that rat-race right now," said the junior spaceman testily. "I've heard it before. That's why I'm here!"
"Very well."
Junior Spaceman Howard Reed took a deep breath and plunged into his long explanation. At the end, Commander Hughes nodded, his face in a non-committal mask.
"One moment now," he said. He turned to the working desk behind him and spoke into a telephone. It had neither visual plate nor amplified output; only the user could know what was being communicated, and with whom.