Despite his gruff approach to work and life, Commander Shore had a heart of solid (if stern) gold but it was now worrying him. He had given Marina ten minutes nearly quarter of an hour extra time by stretching out the short brief both to rattle Troy and give her the benefit of the doubt and the mere girl still hadn't appeared. Trouble was he had to do things by the book. It couldn't be one rule for one and one for another, even if Marina was different and came to them though a chain of peculiar circumstances. But still, Shore's gut feeling wasn't a good one.

And it didn't improve when he left the crew to take their seats in the lift and headed to the control room. Shore's daughter and lieutenant, was already at the control desk, having already probably completed the protocols while sat the other side his second, John Fisher was currently monitoring the world radar and writing up his reports in run up to end of his duty. They stopped talking when he entered.

"Stingray ready for launch procedure commander." Atlanta said as he came down the ramp and almost as an afterthought added. "Minus one member."

"Thank you lieutenant, sound launch stations, permission to launch granted. And two if you count that seal pup."

"Yes commander." The red head began the usual work and had the well rehearsed procedure was over in three minutes although Shore found another couple of reasons not to like Troy Tempest for the day.

"Tower from Stingray;" the captain radioed in afterwards, "sea born... any news from Marina?"

"Captain Tempest you will head to position four degrees south west position one sixteen hundred miles as ordered. Let us deal with her if and when she decides to show up while you get on with your job!" Shore barked, Atlanta rolling her eyes.

"Yes sir. Over and out."

"If and when, commander?" Atlanta asked turning in her seat. "It's not like her not come in to work. She follows Troy around like a shadow at times."

"Now's not the time to be catty, lieutenant." the commander snapped "but your right. Now she's got the hang of shift patterns and land time Marina's normally right on the mark. Did either of you two see her yesterday after her skint?"

"Well I didn't really see her yesterday, not after work anyway." Atlanta shrugged. "I saw her heading home. But no not all evening. Actually though now you mention it, she did look a bit I don't know, a bit paler then usual? If that's possible."

"Like something was bothering her you mean?"

"Either that or she isn't feeling so well, sir." Fisher chipped.

"Do you think there could be something wrong?" Atlanta asked.

"My gut feeling is that's something's outta place. You don't think she could have I don't know, slipped off do you?" Shore mused. "That girl's got the darnest habit of disappearing."

Fisher shook his head. "It's a ten mile trek if she did."

"But she has done it before-"

"When Troy was in danger. Might I have your permission to try something, sir?" Atlanta asked. "Before we start jumping to conclusions? I can call her in her quarters from the radio phones."

"Now what good will that do?" Shore asked. "She can't answer a radio because she doesn't speak and I refuse to start using Wasp equipment as personalised alarm clocks. In fact you'll probably just waken every one off duty in that sector."

"But she'll activate it at least if she's there sir." Fisher said. "Once I called Stingray for a routine patrol and all I heard was a snuffling noise. I kept calling back and ten minutes later I heard troy and phones laughing. They'd gone out to check the Hull and found Marina holding the mic up to Oink."

Atlanta was glad to see her father crack a brief small smirk at this and with his permission turned the video phone on the wall to radio overdrive. "Tower to station quarter number nine eight. Marina, do you copy? Over."

"Tower to station quarter number nine eight. Marina?" The commander you are now nearly twenty minutes late for duty. Activate and tap the microphone if all is well then get on over to the tower ASAP!" No response. "Try again luteniant."

"Tower to station quarter number nine eight. Marina, are you there? Activate and let us know your there please."

Again, the radio went dead.

"So either she isn't there or she's there and for some reason won't or can't answer." The commander lent back in his hover chair thoughtful for a minute. "Atlanta, I want you radio the security gates and see if that girls gone off on a wander again. Fisher!" The somewhat knackered looking Lieutenant nearly fell out of his seat.

"You're clocking off soon aren't you?"

"Yes sir." John replied, biting back the comment that half the people currently in the tower at this time would as always be clocking off at eight thirty.

"Good, you've my permission do early but," The commander added before Fisher could bolt. "I want you to swing by Marina's quarters and radio call in with what ever you find, whether she's there, gone, in bed asleep or dashing half dressed out the door, you got that? And if you meet her on the way send her straight up here so I can deal with her."

"Yes sir, but isn't that a job for security?"

"I don't want to scare her them meat headed taser swingers, ya smart alec." The commander said banging his fist against the chair "She could have just slept it or just running late. Now get moving before I change my mind and dock you pay!"

The hapless Lieutenant fled with a PeeWOhR. the commander snorted and settled in his chair sulking somewhat until his daughter placed a hand on his shoulder. "Try not to worry father. I'm sure she's fine..."