"General Henderson, may we have a word with you?" Alec Freeman asked as he and Colonel Lake stood in the doorway to Straker's S.H.A.D.O. office.

The General was seated at the Commander's desk and looked up from the paperwork in front of him. "What is it Colonel Freeman?"

Freeman and Lake entered the office and stood in front of the desk opposite Henderson. "Is it true that you have a team taking Mr. Harper to his ship?"

"Yes, it is true. Do you and Colonel Lake object?" Henderson questioned.

Alec put his hands on the desk before leaning forward, staring the general in the eye. "We strongly object since you had previously agreed that Lieutenant Tracy was to handle Mr. Harper, gaining his confidence."

"I know what I agreed to, Colonel. We are running out of time. Lieutenant Tracy had her chance and did not get enough information," the general explained with irritation.

Lake frowned as she coolly looked down at Henderson from across the desk. "She was able to get a look at the inside of the Eureka Maru."

The General leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "I read the report you submitted Colonel Lake."

"Then you know Lieutenant Tracy was making progress," Freeman pointed out with minimal deference in his voice.

Henderson leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. "Yes but I'm making faster progress. The lieutenant's s descriptions of the inside of the ship were rather vague. She should know better than that."

"I've already spoken to Lieutenant Tracy regarding her report," Alec informed. "I chose Gem Tracy for the assignment because I determined that she has an affinity for getting people to trust her. Mr. Harper took her to his ship, proving that the lieutenant had gained his trust."

"Despite that trust, Lieutenant Tracy still provided no useful information on our two men. This conversation has ended."

Alec's jaw tensed. "I'll inform the Lieutenant that her assignment is over."

"I want to speak to Rhade," the general announced as he stood up behind his desk.

"Do you think he'll tell you anything?" Lake calmly questioned.

Henderson gave his head a slight shake. "I doubt it but I may be able to shake him up a little."

An intrigued expression appeared on Lake's face. "Mr. Rhade doesn't seem to be the kind that shakes up easily, Sir."

The general offered a sly smile. "Everybody can be rattled; we just have to find Rhade's weakness."

"I believe I might know Mr. Rhade's weakness," Virginia offered respectfully.

Henderson studied the colonel momentarily before replying," "Go ahead and tell me, Colonel Lake."

"You've undoubtedly read in Dr. Jackson's report that Mr. Rhade has a keen sense of honor and fair play. I think we can use that to our advantage," Lake suggested.

The general arched an eyebrow. "I like your way of thinking Colonel. Are you recommending using Mr. Harper or even Lieutenant Tracy as bate?"

Virginia shook her blonde head. "It wouldn't work to use Rhade's loyalty to Harper or anyone else to our advantage. The Nietzschean's psychological analysis indicates that Rhade first concern would be his own survival."

"Agreed. How would you exploit Mr. Rhade's weakness?" Henderson pressed as he walked around the desk and stood in front of Lake.

Lake drew in a breath before answering, "I would make Mr. Rhade would realize that cooperating with us would give him his best chance of survival."

A wry smile crept across the general's face. "How would you convince him of that?"

"We can show Mr. Rhade some footage and reports of what the aliens have done to earth and tell them what we believe are their intentions. Rhade will want to keep earth from falling into the hands of the aliens so his Nietzschean people can have earth for themselves," Virginia advised confidently.

"Unacceptable," the general quickly shot back. "All information pertaining to the aliens is classified. Nobody outside of authorized S.H.A.D.O. representatives is permitted to see such records."

"With all due respect General; I doubt that Messrs Harper and Rhade are in a position to spill any details of our organization or the aliens," Alec argued as he placed his hands in his pants pockets.

Henderson expression became thoughtful. "A man with bone blades in his forearms like Rhade and a data port in his neck like Harper would not be likely to be believed by authorities."

Freeman's posture relaxed as he replied, "The authorities and even the military would keep those two men under wraps so I doubt they'd cause much trouble for us in that respect."

"Both Harper and Rhade have an idea that we are a paramilitary organization. They've already seen the EDD machine and Mr. Harper has worked on it, and successfully, if I may say so," Lake chimed in.

Henderson waved his right as he replied, "You have a point Colonel. Alright, give Messrs Harper and Rhade just enough detail of our alien foes to convince them."

Colonel Lake allowed a brief hint of a smile before remarking. "They've been cooperative before so I believe the additional information we provide may give them, or rather Harper, some ideas as to how we can more effectively deal with the alien threat."

Alec took a hand from his pocket and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "There is possibility that neither one of our 'guests' will believe us when we tell them about the aliens. They don't seem to have mentioned any alien threat to Earth other than the Drago-Kazov pride of Nietzscheans."

Virginia glanced over at her coworker with a cool expression on her face. "That may mean that we will be successful in defending Earth. Messrs Rhade and Harper could be the reason for that success."

"You're assuming that the two are telling the truth about the Nietzscheans. For all we know, those Nietzscheans may be our aliens," Henderson countered.

"General might I point out that Dr. Jackson's report made no mention of Mr. Rhade having any kind of enhanced mental powers. Physically he is not similar to any of the aliens we have examined," Lake informed, not backing down.

General Henderson frowned at the blonde colonel. "His people could still be in league with the aliens. Maybe they had a falling out and betrayed the aliens."

Freeman's eyes widened with obvious curiosity. "The is an interesting theory General; the Nietzscheans were allied with the aliens but decided they didn't want to share Earth, so the Nietzscheans neutralized the aliens ability to attack Earth."

"It's one theory anyway," Lake agreed. "However, we should remain open to all possibilities."

The general nodded his head in response. "I agree."

"Lieutenant Tracy may still be of use to us," Freeman suggested. "Harper may still inadvertently reveal important information we can use."

"Fine, keep the lieutenant on her current assignment," Henderson replied before dismissing the S.H.A.D.O. colonels.

***

Harper waited in the Command Center for his ride to Maru. The engineer looked around the room, his gaze landing on one of the numerous monitors. His eyes eventually caught the image of Lieutenant Gay Ellis on one of the monitors. Ellis was wearing her Moon base uniform, complete with purple wig.

A smiled played upon Harper's lips as he watched Ellis talk to Lieutenant Ford. As Colonel Lake and a two S.H.D.O. personnel approached the engineer from behind and stood just behind Harper.

When Andromeda's engineer failed to notice the presence of the small group standing behind him Lake cleared her throat. "Mr. Harper, are you ready to show us the Eureka Maru?"

Harper quickly spun around and assumed a defensive posture, nearly tumbling to the floor under the awkward weight of the cast on his leg. "Oh hey, would you mind not sneaking up on a guy like that Colonel?"

Lake offered a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry if we startled you Mr. Harper. It wasn't our intention to sneak up on you while you were observing our operations."

"Yeah, it's pretty fast paced," Harper remarked with excitement in his voice. "Do many of your people have purple hair?"

"The Female S.H.A.D.O. operatives who work in one of our locations wear purple wigs as part of their uniforms," Virginia explained. "Does the purple wig on Lieutenant Tracy bother you?"

Andromeda's engineer shook his head emphatically. "Not at all. I'm a big fan of purple. Would I be able to talk to the purple-haired lady on the monitor?"

A slight wave of Colonel Lake's right hand started Harper on his way towards the monitor at Lieutenant Ford's station.

The engineer carefully hobbled up beside Ford, who leaned away as Harper leaned towards the monitor. Harper gave Gay Ellis a friendly wave, which drew a polite smile from the purple-haired lieutenant.

"Hiya purple goddess, I am Seamus Harper from Earth of your future," Andromeda's engineer introduced.

The lieutenant allowed herself a brief chuckle at the informality. "I'm pleased to meet you Seamus Harper. I heard we had two visitors from our future and was hoping the both of you."

A frown crept across Harper's face. Oh you don't wanna meet Rhade; he's big and ugly."

Gay Ellis cast a stern look at the camera. "Now Mr. Harper, that's not a very nice thing to say."

"Maybe not but it's the truth," Harper retorted.

Lieutenant Ellis appeared skeptical. "From what I've heard your friend Mr. Rhade is tall, dark and handsome."

Andromeda's engineer remained nonplused. "Don't believe everything you've heard about Telemachus Rhade, I'm much better looking and a lot smarter than he is."

Lieutenant Ellis kept her expression neutral "I'll take your word for it Mr. Harper."

"Uh thanks. Say I don't suppose you're gonna get some time off and be able to come here to Earth before I leave?" Harper eagerly asked."

Gay offered a polite smile. "I am due to return to Earth tomorrow but I am not permitted to fraternize with any of our unexpected guests."

A disappointed look crossed the engineer's face. "Stupid rule, but I wouldn't want you to get in trouble with General Henderson. I don't think he'd cut you any slack."

"You are quite right about General Henderson throwing the proverbial book at me if I were to break any regulation," the lieutenant replied.

Harper's frown was quickly replaced by a grin. "As much as I hate to end this fascinating conversation I better be going now. Your boss lady is lettin me visit my ship. Now. don't let him push you around too much Lieutenant," Andromeda's engineer advised with a wink. Harper made his way from the monitor to where Colonel Lake and her team were waiting.

"Shall we proceed?" Virginia asked of the engineer.

"Yup, ready and rarin' to go, Colonel," Harper enthused.