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"Captain, all this is so very strange," Commander Alddred added. "I'm not sure I understand what's exactly going on..."

"Commander," Valentina interrupted. "At this time I cannot give you any other details than I already have. Other than you even being aware of Y003-GC-UKDF 17, I cannot tell you any more." Off in the distance she could see the first of the sea goose aircraft pulling alongside the tender. Alddred was certainly right. There was definitely something going on. Secret and coded orders. Out of the way locations. And rumors that even Major Ralph Kerman had been recalled from his polar survey and given the same orders.

She could tell that her executive officer and long-time friend wasn't comfortable with their newest assignment. After all, she was introduced to him shortly after her secret meeting with Gene. It was at that meeting she had been asked to give up the pursuit of space flight and to accept the first assignment of the newly formed navy. She had been initially given the command of the URKN Dres, a small patrol craft with a crew of 9. As she completed her first year of service in the navy, she had been given command of a much larger craft, the UKRN Sinaan.

Out of her love for the history of the ancient Kerbin world, she knew that in its past, around the time of the Fifth Great War, the ship she was commanding now was considered small and inadequately under-armed for the warfare experienced so long ago. Now, with the alien threat, she wondered if the seas of Kerbin would again see such large ocean vessels.

"Ma'am, you know I wouldn't ask you to break your orders. But this time... there's something not..." Alddred added, not sure of how Valentia would take his concern.

"Commander - " she added in a soft whisper - "Alddred, you've been a good friend and someone I've come to trust over the time I've been assigned to the navy. This is just something you're going to have to have faith in what I tell you. Right now, I can't do it. But I will soon...

"Ma'am, it's been a while since you've flo..." Alddred continued in protest.

"It's ok. I've spent nearly 500 hours flying those things." She interrupted. "Commander, I hereby transfer temporary command of the Sinaan to you..."

"Yes, Ma'am. We'll be right here until your return..." he added, giving her the salute the new military protocol required a subordinate give to a superior officer.

"Now cut that out," she interrupted as she returned the salute. "Alddred, it will be ok. Trust me." And with that, Valentina kissed him quickly and scurried down the ladder, heading to the Kersplat-o-copter waiting on the stern of her ship. As she climbed on board, one thought kept racing in her mind...

Ok, Gene, tell me what's really going on...

A side-story from Kerny Kerman's Journal: (mission reports from a Kerbal's point of view)