"Straker to Moonbase, come in please, Moonbase." Nothing. Helen Peters hadn't really expected any response, but it was still a bitter disappointment to hear nothing but static. She had harboured a secret, childish fantasy that this time there would be an answer. Well, maybe the next time, although she knew that there would be just the same response.. the hiss and crackle of broken connections. But, once more wouldn't hurt, would it? "Straker to Moonbase, come in plea…"

Her call was interrupted. She froze, almost in fear as the words echoed through her radio, almost deafening her with their clarity and strength.

"This is Moonbase Orbital Transporter to Straker, Receiving you strength 2. Repeat. Moonbase Transporter to Straker, repeat – "

"Moonbase? Can you hear me?" The carefully rehearsed phrases were forgotten in the sudden thrill of contact and she spun around as if expecting to see another space-suited astronaut approaching her from another direction. What she saw instead was a huge, box-like craft, several hundred yards behind her and slowly descending to the surface of the moon.

The voice sounded again. "Moonbase Transporter to unknown contact. Please identify yourself. Repeat – "

Helen broke into the communication. "You must help me. I need to get an urgent message to Moonbase and to Alec Freeman. It's vital that I contact Alec Freeman. Commander Straker wants all SHADO units to go to Red Alert and prepare for a mass invasion. I have proof of Fitzpatrick's treachery. You must – "

"Ed? Ed's alive. Where? Where is he? Is he with you?"

A man's voice, dark and with a London accent. Alec Freeman. Helen sighed with relief, watching as the huge craft settle onto the dusty surface raising clouds of the fine black powdery dust. "He isn't with me, he stayed behind. I can take you to him, but first we must warn Moonbase, and Earth. The aliens are going to attack. Fitzpatrick has been working with them. We must warn Earth." She was getting desperate now. Too many different emotions fought within her, relief, fear, regret, terror. But the worst emotion was fear. Fear that they would not believe her, that they would have been working with the aliens, that they would leave her here to die alone, and then she realised that if they had been working with the aliens they would simply have ignored her and left her to die anyway. One last chance. "There isn't much time. You have to get a message to SHADO. Please."

"This is Alec Freeman. Where's Straker?"

Helen could see someone heading down the ramp from the Transporter, towards the distant figure that was visible there in the distance, the silver suit clear against the dull rock. Alec Freeman, Ed Straker's second-in-command. She would have set off to meet him half-way but she could do nothing more than stand and watch, gasping for air as he bounded across the terrain. He moved with an elegance and grace that surprised her, faster and smoother than Ed had moved and covering the ground with huge leaps. She was still panting breathlessly when he reached her and landed close to her.

"I'm Freeman. Who are you and where's – " He stopped, looked closer at her. "Stand still."

She found herself obeying without a second thought. His voice had a tone of authority she could not ignore, and she realised just why he was Second-in-Command at SHADO. Alec Freeman was nobody's fool, despite the reputation of being nothing more than a big, noisy counterpoint to Ed Straker's calm control. She saw him fiddle with the controls on her LSU, felt him twist and pull, yank at something and then he hit her on the shoulder, not hard, but firmly. There was a sudden influx of cold, fresh air in her helmet, and she breathed deeply.

"Not too deep. You don't want to hyperventilate," he warned her. "You were on your last few breaths of oxygen. Didn't you hear the alarm? I've connected you to the emergency supply, it'll keep you going for another twenty minutes. Now then, tell me…" His voice became harsher, more concerned. "Just who are you, and where is Ed. Please tell me he's alive." She could hear desperation in his voice.

"Colonel Freeman." Helen's breathing was more measured, the dizziness fading away with each new breath. "You have to contact Moonbase now. The aliens are massing to attack Earth sometime in the next few hours and SHADO will fall if Fitzpatrick has his way. Even if it doesn't, the invading fleet could still be strong enough to overpower your defences. Please." She gripped his arm. "Ed needs you to warn SHADO, to get the defences ready. I have proof that Fitzpatrick was working for the aliens. Please. Contact Moonbase. Contact Earth."

"I will, but first of all, where's Ed? Is he alive?"

"Yes." She heard the huge sigh of relief from Alec Freeman. "Yes, he's alive, at least he was when I left him about twenty minutes ago. He wasn't able to move fast enough not after…" She thought of the aliens in FarSight and the humans and what they had done.

"Alive? You're sure about that? Where?"

"Back there somewhere. I don't know where, but you just have to follow my tracks." She listened as Freeman tried to contact Straker via the radio link, but it was useless. Suit to suit radios had a limited range. It had been a miracle that she had managed to contact the Transporter just as it passed overhead.

"Gay, I'm going to look for the Commander. Take…" Freeman turned to her. "Who the hell are you?"

"Colonel Helen Peters. US Military Intelligence."

Freeman wasted no time. "Gay. Give me ten minutes. Straker will be out of air shortly but if I can find him in time I might be able to save him. Follow my radio signal. If I haven't got him in ten minutes, head back for Moonbase with the Colonel until you manage to contact them, then put everyone on Maximum Security Alert: all Lunar defences, all SHADO land and sea units, Deep Space. Everything. Every last scrap of defence we can muster. But don't speak to Fitzpatrick – get Keith Ford to warn everyone. He's the best person to contact. Get him to contact the heads of government if possible and once you've done that, come back for me on this heading. I'll keep my radio open. Ten minutes." And he was off, without a backward glance, without a farewell, simply moving away from her at a speed she would have found impossible to achieve, towards the point in the distance where he hoped to find his friend.

Helen watched him set off, her mind filled with hope, then she headed for the Transporter and Gay Ellis, waiting there for her.

Gay was too busy getting the Transporter off the ground and following Alec Freeman's radio beacon to say much to Helen, but that didn't matter. Once inside the craft, she unfastened her helmet, and relaxed slightly. They might just do it. They might be in time. They could save the Commander and the world. Two for the price of one. And she gave a wry smile.

xxxx

Time was running out for Ed Straker; despite his exhaustion he had woken as soon as the alarm sounded on his suit – a warning that his oxygen supply was close to depletion. He had about five minutes left before things got really nasty. And then he thought about Helen. She would be running low and she would die, as surely as if he had killed her himself. His head dropped forward, sweat trickling down, itching and stinging, the struggle to breathe. His mind flashed back to those hours alone in the stricken Skydiver, to when he faced death then.

But here he was not confined in a cramped submarine, not trying to cope with claustrophobia. He had kept the faith, he had done his best. Although there would be no-one to record the fact, he knew that he had not betrayed his world and that was all that mattered really, now, here at the end. And in his fevered mind, as he gasped for air, he saw his friends coming to meet him.

Craig Collins, smiling now and no longer haunting him, and behind Craig the others, Roper, Beaver James and more; those who had died in the service of SHADO, protecting Earth. He welcomed them all, knowing that he would join them soon enough. But his heart wrenched as he saw Alec Freeman coming towards him. Alec couldn't be dead.

Then he heard the familiar voice in his radio and, as he felt the fresh oxygen flood into his suit and he saw the huge transporter coming into view, he realised that Earth might, just might, be saved.

xxxx

SHADO HQ was on Red Alert status. Henderson was in the SHADO hypersonic jet on a flight to the States to plead for military assistance in the face of the oncoming assault by the aliens. Fitzpatrick's body was in the Medical Unit undergoing examination for any alien devices and his eight henchmen were in the morgue having collapsed lifelessly at the precise moment Peter Fitzpatrick died at the hands of General Henderson. With no-one from the command staff available in Control, the base was close to spiralling into chaos.

It was at that moment Keith Ford had stepped in and taken over and, despite not being in the chain of command, the Chief Communication Officer was running the show. He read through the latest report, signed it, turned to Lt Johnson. "Get me the US President now."

Before Ayshea could even turn round on her seat the alarm sounded. "SHADO Control this is Moonbase. Maximum Security Alert. All units, all units. I repeat. Maximum security alert. Prepare for full scale attack. All units, prepare for full scale attack." Gay Ellis's voice was clear, strong and determined.

Ford leaned over the console. "Lt Ellis, this is Lt Ford in temporary command of SHADO HQ. Please confirm. Full scale attack? From where?"

"Ford, thank heavens it's you. Where's Fitzpatrick?"

"Fitzpatrick is dead. What the hell's going on, Gay?"

"Listen Keith. We have irrefutable proof that Fitzpatrick was working with the aliens, and they're planning a major assault on Earth shortly. Get all your forces on readiness alert and await instructions."

"Instructions? From who? I'm doing my best, Gay, but there are limits to what I can do. There's no-one left able to think like those bastards. Straker's gone and I have no idea where Alec Freeman is right now."

Then a familiar voice cut into the transmission. "So I think like those bastards do I, Ford? You'd better hope I can out-think them now. I need you to send all logs and data streams from the last seventy-two hours to Moonbase then stand by for further instructions in thirty minutes." And the transmission ended.

"Bloody hell. Was that Straker?" Ford looked down at Lt Johnson, a faint glimmer of hope in his eyes.

xxx

By the time the transporter reached Moonbase the rumour was spreading – Straker was back and all SHADO's forces were at Red Alert and waiting for final instructions. And then he was there, dressed in a crumpled and blood-stained flight suit, stumbling a little as he made his way through the airlock entrance into the main control sphere. He gazed around the room, taking it all in. There was no time for niceties or pleasant welcomes. This was deadly serious. "Nina? Status report."

"No reports of any incursions as yet, Commander. SID is tracking out to Sector 7 and all Deep Space Probes are at maximum sensor range. All stations at ready alert, all Lunar defences at REDCON 1, Earth SHADO defences at Stand By." Her reply was as crisp and precise as he expected.

"Very good. Put me through to SHADO Control." Straker moved to sit at the central console, dropping into the seat with a hiss of discomfort.

There was a moment's pause as contact was made. "Moonbase, this is SHADO Control. Receiving you strength 5."

"Control, this is Straker."

"Lt. Ford here. Good to hear you, Commander. All stations ready and waiting for your orders."

"Ford? What happened to Fitzpatrick? And who's in charge of H.Q?"

There was a moment's silence before Ford answered. "Well, I suppose I am at the moment, Commander. There was no one else available so I took charge. As for Fitzpatrick – our suspicions were correct. He was under the aliens' control as were several of the new staff that he had brought in. He managed to warn General Henderson and the general shot him."

"Where's Henderson right now?"

"In a meeting with POTUS. He's organising extra support from their military in the event we can't hold back the alien force. But we're as ready as we can be, just awaiting your orders, sir."

"Good work, Lieutenant Ford. Let's get things underway. Open communications to all SHADO units."

"Communications open. All units on line."

Straker took a breath. "This is Straker. All units, listen up. Skydiver captains – from this moment on, you are ordered to run silent, no transmissions or active sensors until I give the word. It's imperative you remain hidden. Straker to all ground force units – remain at full alert but keep all communications to a minimum until you hear from me. Do not contact HQ or Moonbase under any circumstances. All pilots and aircraft crews – I want everything that can fly on the runway in the next five minutes and ready for an immediate take-off with thirty seconds notice. SHADO Control – all units, go silent." He shut the connection and looked round the dome. "The same goes for Moonbase. Shut down all unnecessary Life Support and anything that can be picked up by a UFO. We need to be as silent as we can."

"On it, Commander." Nina Barry was already busy, dimming lighting, turning off water recycling units, lowering heating elements, even switching off power to the galley.

Straker turned to Gay Ellis. "Lieutenant, I need the Moonbase satellites moved into a higher position. Get them another fifty thousand miles out. It means we won't have as good a signal, but it'll increase our angle of reception and enable us to contact FarSight. Do it now."

"FarSight, Ed? FarSight's dead. Abandoned."

"We know that, Alec, but the aliens think they still control it. They won't be watching it, won't be monitoring it. And that's where the Interceptors come into play." He leaned forward and activated the internal communications. "All Interceptors – immediate launch. Head for FarSight Base and take up positions above the complex at an altitude of one hundred miles. Make sure you are within radio communication range of the Moonbase satellites, then await further instructions. Once in position, do not – I repeat – do not communicate with Moonbase until I give you authorisation."

Freeman raised an eyebrow. "I like it. Very cunning." Straker turned and gave him a tight smile as Alec continued. "But we'll need to boost the signal to the satellites to be sure of contacting the Interceptors at the precise moment."

"Yes, and that's your job. Get the Deep Space Probes turned round and re-positioned so we can use them to bounce our signals back to the Interceptors at FarSight. If things had worked the way Fitzpatrick anticipated, the probes would be in their control as well, so we can use that to our advantage. You'll need to start now. Get Nina to help."

Straker continued issuing orders, mobilising the ground forces on Earth, moving Skydivers into attack positions, and all the while monitoring transmissions from SID. The tension mounted in the control room as SID remained silent. No radar alert. No fleet. No invasion. Endless minutes ticked away, counting down to the moment when the radar screens would flare with the warning signals of the approaching fleet. Alec finished re-positioning the probes and paced the dome.

Straker caught his eye. "Alec? You're making me nervous; go and get yourself a coffee. And bring me one while you're at it."

It was as if the comment had been the pivotal moment that the aliens had been waiting for, the one thing that they had needed to hear before finally launching their assault.

A distinctive voice interrupted the quietude of the Moonbase Control sphere. "This is SID. I have Positive Track. Estimated fifty plus UFOs entering Solar System. Heading Green 194.43. SOL 8. Eta Earth orbit four minutes 31 seconds.''

Straker flicked the comms switch. "Straker to all units. Here we go, everyone. Listen out for instructions. Lt Ellis, mobilise all lunar defences. Rocket launchers to stations. Put me through to the Interceptors. Maximum strength." Straker sounded calm, as if he had been planning for this for years. Which, Alec thought, was quite possible, considering Ed Straker's cunning intellect.

"Interceptors, prepare to engage at my command." He waited until the invading fleet's course allowed them no leeway to manoeuvre and defend themselves against the Interceptors that had appeared, seemingly from nowhere. "Interceptors. Attack formation. Computer references as follows…"

xxxx

Hours later, looking back at the reports and details of the conflict, Alec Freeman was amazed at how easily the entire engagement had gone. At least from SHADO's viewpoint.

The aliens had not been so fortunate. From the moment the Interceptors appeared out of the radio blackness of the far side to mercilessly cut a swathe through the alien fleet, to the sudden appearance of the supposedly defenceless and disorganised Skydivers – led by Paul Foster – from out of the silent seas, the UFOs had no chance.

Straker had watched with grim satisfaction as the alien fleet's attempt to overpower Earth's defences failed, as the SHADO craft obliterated the invaders, as the UFOs fell, streaming smoke and debris and bodies into the sea, and the ever vigilant mobiles and ground forces mopped up any few remaining remnants. And then without warning, it was over. Nothing left to do. Nothing left to fight. All finished.

Straker sighed with relief, and leaned back in his seat closing his eyes for a few brief moments as if he was about to fall asleep. "SHADO Control, this is Moonbase. Well done Keith. Can your teams cope with the clear up operation?"

"Sure thing, Commander. Good to have you back with us."

"Don't get too enthusiastic Keith. I resigned from SHADO and as far as the IAC is concerned, nothing's changed. I'll probably be called to explain my actions to the new President later. But, whatever happens, you did a good job, an excellent job. I hope the next SHADO Commander appreciates your worth."

"Ed? You are coming back aren't you? You can't really be serious about resigning?" Alec Freeman stepped forward.

Straker looked at him. "Alec, I resigned. It doesn't matter what happened afterwards, or the reasons for my actions. I was no longer in the chain of command. And there are people who will use that fact as an excuse to get rid of me once and for all." He stood up and looked around, taking in all the operatives there. "Thank you everyone. A very successful result. Now, if you'll excuse me I think I'll go and lie down before I fall asleep right here. Goodnight." He stepped out from behind the console to a quiet chorus of 'goodnight, sir.'

"Commander?" Helen's voice was hesitant, as if unsure how he would respond to her.

"Colonel Peters?" He turned around and smiled. "My apologies; you must be even more tired than I am. Lieutenant Ellis will find you a room."

"I'm fine Ed, but your arm's bleeding again."

The arm of his flight suit was crimson with fresh blood. He had no other option than to allow Alec to escort him down to the small sick bay where he sat on the edge of the bed in one of the small examination rooms and let the medic do his work.

It took longer than expected, stripping off the suit, having the makeshift bandages removed and several neat and rather painful stitches inserted, and he was exhausted and only too glad to lie down by the time his fingers had been bandaged and this other injuries treated. It had been a hellish few days, though he had no real idea how long it had been since Helen and he had been abducted in Sorrento. But the room was warm and his fingers no longer ached and – more vital than anything else – Earth was safe. At least until the aliens tried again.

He was aware of Helen coming into the room as the medic finished tidying up the litter of needles and bandages and so on. He was going to talk to her, but the bed was comfortable and he suspected the medic had given him something to make him drowsy and he closed his eyes and let sleep embrace him.

xxx

Alec Freeman looked down at the sleeping man, the tousled hair, face lined with worry, eyes still puffy with exhaustion. Straker had been asleep for less than three hours. He reached out and touched the man's shoulder. "Sorry Ed, there's a message for you. It's important, otherwise I wouldn't have disturbed you."

Straker rolled over onto his back and stared up at him, trying to focus bleary eyes and mind in an effort to reorganise his thoughts. "A message? From?" He couldn't imagine who would want to be calling him here, now. There was nothing more that needed to be said, nothing more that needed to be done. Earth was safe. The threat had been overcome and now that he was no longer SHADO Commander he had no responsibilities, no duties to perform.

"The president's office. Insisted on speaking to you now. Personally." Freeman's tone made it clear what he thought of the order.

"Tell the president to get stuffed." Straker turned back onto his side and closed his eyes. "I don't work for the IAC any more."

"Ed?"

"What." The tone was definitely getting more belligerent.

"It's the US President."

There was silence. Straker lay still, eyes closed, hands relaxed on the pillow.

"Ed?"

"Ask Helen to speak to her."

"Colonel Peters was recalled to Earth on the first available flight. She left about thirty minutes ago."

A longer silence. Straker held his breath for a long moment before releasing it in a deep sigh of regret, or relief. It was hard to tell. "Tell the president I'll speak to her later."

"You can't do that. She's… She's the president."

"So what, Alec? I'm tired, my fingers hurt like hell, I ache all over and I don't work for her. I don't work for anyone now. So go away and leave me alone. Please?" The voice was no longer belligerent, but there was an undercurrent of bitterness there, behind the fatigue and pain.

Alec hesitated for a moment, then came to a decision. He reached out as if he would shake the man awake, but instead pulled the covers up and tucked them around Straker's shoulders. "I'll make sure you aren't disturbed again." There was silence. Alec opened the door and looked back at his friend, once more asleep.

xxx

There was someone outside the room when Straker woke much later. He could hear muffled voices outside – too quiet for him to catch their words so he stretched his stiff limbs, reluctant to sit up after being asleep for so long. It didn't help much; he was still bone-tired and sore and old. But, much as he wanted to hide away from everything, it was pointless. They wouldn't let him stay in here for long; he had to get out there, face the world, face the staff in Moonbase. He had no place here now – he was retired, and it was unlikely he would be welcomed by the president, not after ignoring her like that.

Sod it. He didn't need their pity. He'd done his job, more than his job, and now he was finished. Now he just had to get back to Earth and plan the rest of his life. And for a heart-wrenching moment he wondered who would end up sitting in his chair, behind the desk in his office, dictating messages to Miss Ealand.

The door opened and Alec looked in, his movements quiet so as not to disturb anyone sleeping. "Good, you're awake at last. How are you feeling?"

Straker thought. It would be so easy to simply curl up, close his eyes and stay there. To let everything flow on around him, and ignore it all. To let someone else deal with the problems and the stress. But he owed Alec more than that. "Better, thanks. How long have I been asleep?"

"Nearly six hours now. I'll bring you some breakfast if you feel up to eating anything."

"Just coffee." The thought of food made his stomach churn even though he was hungry. "Thanks, Alec. I suppose I'd better get up and call the president."

Alec shrugged. "She wasn't that bothered by the fact you refused to get out of bed. It was her chief of staff who made the biggest fuss. Says you deliberately insulted the president and is demanding your head on a platter from all accounts. Complaining to anyone who will listen to him, including General Henderson. But I think it would be diplomatic to put a call through as soon as you are ready."

Straker sat up , stiff muscles aching, his mind still dizzy. "I'd better do as I'm told. Just let me have a coffee and then a shower. Alright?" He raised an eyebrow at Freeman who twitched his lips as if to protest, then thought better of it.

"Right, I'll get that drink for you. The doc will be in shortly to look at those stitches and redress them, so stay there until he's been." Freeman closed the door behind him, but not before Straker had seen a security guard posted outside the entrance to the room.

So that was it. They had him under guard now. Probably didn't want him escaping or running off. Most likely orders from the IAC. Or Martin. Although where the hell he could run to, he had no idea. FarSight maybe?

He lay still while the medic checked him over, and another wait until Alec brought his coffee. He took it without speaking and sipped it, grateful for the caffeine then, once alone, with no-one to see his hesitant movements, he headed for the bathroom, to shower away the sweat and fear and memories as best he could.

Water use on Moonbase was restricted – a shower of any longer than forty seconds was considered wasteful – but the tiny cubicle was warm and the water hot and he soaped himself down and then rinsed clean with the last thirty seconds of fiercely hot water. Then he turned off the water and stepped out into the steamy warmth of the small room. Someone, probably Alec, had been in and left clean clothes on the bed. Standard issue underwear and his spare navy suit and paler jumper for when he stayed overnight in the base. Well, it was better than what he had been wearing; Alec's overlarge flight suit, now ruined beyond repair. He dressed slowly. There was nothing to hurry for now. The president could damn well wait. He opened the door, expecting to be blocked by the guard, and escorted to the Control Room.

"Good to see you up, Commander." A respectful nod, almost a salute, and a step back as if Straker was still a person of importance, still in charge, before the guard walked away. Straker stared after him, perplexed. It made no sense to have him under guard and then not follow him, but he was only a civilian now. He shook his head at the vagaries of command and made his way to the Control Room to make his long-delayed call. Alec was in the Control room looking through the schedule when Straker arrived. For a moment he thought about turning round and going back to the small sick bay, but there was no way to avoid the forthcoming confrontation, so he stepped through the airlock doors, bending his head to avoid bumping it on the low clearance. The last thing he needed was a concussion on top of everything else.

"Commander Straker. Come in, sir, and have a seat." Gay Ellis beamed at him, and Straker stood still.

"Lt Ellis, I'd like to request a – "

He was interrupted by Colonel Freeman. "Sure thing. The president? Gay, get her on the line will you? Sit down. Do you want us to give you some privacy while you talk?"

"What the hell's going on, Alec?" Straker shook his head as if trying to clear his mind. "I wake up to find there's a guard outside the room, then I come in here to be greeted as if I'm still in charge. I don't understand."

Freeman gaped at him. "You didn't think we had you under guard did you?"

"What was I supposed to think? Demands from the chief of staff, security while I sleep, it all adds up you know." He stood there, defying Freeman to say more.

"You can be a bloody idiot at times." Alec grinned to take the sting from his words. "A guard, yes. But only to stop anyone coming into sick bay and disturbing you, as well as keeping an eye out for when you woke up. And how did you expect us to greet you? Just because you resigned doesn't mean you aren't Straker. You were the one who took control here and got SHADO operating again, who worked out the strategies to send the aliens running scared. Commander." And there was definite and unmistakable approval in the last word.

He sat down, embarrassed and somewhat ashamed of his outburst."What else was I to think?" A quick glance up at his friend. "I'm sorry, I should have trusted you; I'd like ot put it down to still being tired and not thinking straight."

"Forget it, Ed. We all make mistakes." Alec flushed as he recalled his treacherous thoughts on the journey to FarSight. "Gay, would you and everyone else leave us alone for a few minutes?"

The Control room emptied quickly and Freeman turned to face the man sitting there. "Stop worrying. So the president wants to talk to you. Big deal. She probably wants to give you a medal. Call her now while Control is empty. I'll wait outside." He walked out, locking the door behind him.

Straker moved to the centre seat, flicking switches on the communications console with the ease of years of practice. It seemed to take only moments before he was put through to her private line. "Madam President."

"Straker." She nodded.

So that was how it was going to be, he thought. Not even the courtesy of his military rank, all proper and correct considering his resignation. "You wanted to speak to me?"

"I need to see you as a matter of some urgency. How soon can you get to Washington?"

He ran over the schedules in his mind: logistics, flight times, practicalities. "I can be back in London on the next Lunar Module flight; say five hours to Earth and then Washington three hours after that."

"Eight hours then. I'll be expecting you." The call ended.

It would be a rush to get back to Earth. There would be no time to go home before he had to head out to The White House, and there would be no chance for a last look around Moonbase, no chance to walk on the surface again. And he had so much wanted the chance to say a personal farewell to this world, this barren place that had so enthralled him over the years. But it was not to be, and he went to tell Alec what had transpired.

It was Alec who piloted the Lunar Module back, but he might have been a complete stranger sitting there in the command seat. Straker remained silent during the flight, seemingly dozing most of the way, still trying to catch up on lost sleep or so he tried to convince himself, but in reality for much of the time he lay there in the deeply padded co-pilot's seat, hoping that Alec would not try to engage him in futile conversation about his future plans, or lack of them. He just wanted to get this meeting over and done with, and then he could get home. And then…

Well, then he would see.