” “Look at me Michael,” she said. I glanced up at her obediently. “Did you like what you saw?” she whispered. “I guess,” I replied... “Like what guy wouldn’t to be honest Rachel?” I wondered if a plate was headed my way. “Do you have a girlfriend?” she asked, seemingly changing the subject and coming over to the breakfast nook where she sat down opposite me. Now I was forced to avert my eyes from her very noticeable cleavage. “I’m fifteen in case you’ve forgotten Rachel,” I. "Oh. Hi Lee. How's the cruise?" she asked cheerily."Not so hot," I said with a snarl."What's the problem?" I have a steering problem and I'm going to have to bring the boat back using my hands on the motor. There's a broken pulley and I'm going to need help docking when I get back." I was beginning to lighten up. Pattie wasn't the cause of this problem."Yeah, sure, I can do that. I'll get Chuck and you can tell him what the problem is. When do you figure you'll be back?" she asked, still. I looked around and tried to put the pegs into the proper holes, but I was never sure about them. Some were the waitress who had finished cleaning the restaurants nearby they were usually pretty easy to spot. But only if they wore their uniforms. Some of them probably stopped at bars for a last call drink. More than a few mixed with crowd of the all night restaurants. Some of the customer were probably bar patrons. Those were usually the groups of two or more of the same sex sitting at a table.. As I enter the Ground Control Center the readouts tell me all I need to know. There are more than one thousand ships up there against our 8 stations and 7 ships. As the battle wages I can see that some 200 Skree ships have broken off from the others and are heading for landing sites all around our small city. I detail three of my Space Marine companies to concentrate their defense in the area of the port as it appears the majority of the Skree will land there. The other company of Marines and.