One Way To Mars

Chapter 22

'Commander Storme. I know you andyour toy soldiers back there are itching for action, but you keepasking, isn't going to make us get there any sooner.'

'Just making sure you haven'ttaken your foot off the gas, Captain.'

'See this,' said Captain JackTanner, tapping the consul. 'You might look at it as a simplespeedometer, and in a way, it is. But it's all about ratio's. We cango faster, use more fuel. Never get back to Earth. Or, we can keepthe velocity slash fuel ratio at this level, we not only get to Mars,but whoopee, we get back to Earth.'

Storme bent down to whisper inTanner's ear. 'I don't like you, Tanner. Never have, never will. Ifany of my men used that tone with me, I'd personally throw them outof the damned airlock.'

Tanner smirked. 'Is that right,Storme? Let me just remind you one more time. My lieutenant and I arenot your men, and should you decide to throw either of us out of theairlock, you'll end up floating off into space for eternity. Furthermore, I'm the captain of this ship and as long as I am, you will doas I tell you on my damned ship.'

'Is that right, Tanner? You know?Floating around in space for an eternity would be a small price topay for seeing you float by the damn window, so stop tempting me.'

'And if you don't get off myflight deck in the next five seconds, I'll turn this turkey aroundand let you explain to the brass how the mission was aborted.'

'Tanner...'

'One...'

'One of these days...'

'Two....'

'You haven't heard the last ofthis.'

'Three...'

'Later, Tanner,' growled Storme,as he left the deck.

'Bye, bye,' said Tanner, with aself satisfied smile on his face.

'Unbelievable.'

'You said something, lieutenantMunroe?'

Tracy Munroe had had a belly fullof the griping between the captain and the commander.

'Twenty one twelve and men stillhaven't evolved beyond cavemen. You just got fancier rocks to hurl atone another.'

'Hey. I didn't start all thisanimosity, okay?'

'You were banging his wife. Whythe big ox didn't pull your head off with his bare hands when hecaught you two together, I'll never know.'

'Yeah? Well the fact she's nowshacked up with me, should tell you something. You drive the bus. I'mgoing for forty winks.'

With Tanner out of earshot,Munroe mumbled. 'That's damn well it. The minute we get back toEarth, I wanna transfer.'