<<Captains Ready Room>>

Commander Epic Terrakian listened carefully to Lt. Alison Donucci's revelations and requests. But, he was also listening to her emotional responses. She was uncomfortable and a little self-conscious, but she had gotten past that and had actually succeeded in charming him.

And that was the thing that had totally taken him aback. No one had ever tried to charm `Commander Dracula'. They usually tried to resist him in some way, or assert an affectation of dominance. Not that either of those things ever worked. But, they tried.

But not this one. She was inwardly nervous, but outwardly cool.

But, he also knew, that cool could be shattered. It had happened before. Aboard the Crazyhorse. But he did not bring that up. That would not be appropriate in the face of her charm.

"Lt. Donucci...", he spoke with a small smile of his own. Epic could be charming also, not that he ever really had the chance to be. "Of course, you have a great deal of freedom to manipulate your department to suit your style and requirements. My only request would be to have you run these changes by me first, for approval, and our Chief

of Operations, Corvette Hunt, for regulation and implementation."

She nodded in acknowledgement, her shy but comely smile showing.

"And, as far as your personal history goes...", he leaned back and smiled almost sinisterly. "... I have a decade or more to learn about you. And I must say, these `indiscretions' you mentioned sound most intriguing."

Epic let her digest his words and then he added.

"And lieutenant. Your position and function here is critical. We are counting on you and your department to get us there and back in one piece."

"Yes, Commander." Alison's smile remained, but her heart sank a little.

"I just want you to keep that in mind when you feel yourself becoming....", he considered the right word for a moment. "...anxious."

`The Crazyhorse.', she thought immediately. `He is referring to the Crazyhorse.'

"If you have no further questions or suggestions....."

"Dismissed."