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While the Warriors
consider, Greenbean sets the octagonal disc on edge and secures it with the
fingers of his left hand.
On his side of the table, Jolley holds his hands before him
about a hand-span apart with the extended thumbs and forefingers outlining an
approxiate triangle.
Greenbean then uses the forefinger from his right hand to flick
the disc right through the center of Jolley's rough triangle.
"Triad," Greenbean states with much satisfaction.
"That makes for eight octagons and five triads for
you," Jolley growls, "And seven octagons and three triads for
me."
"That makes the score LXXIX to LXIV," Greenbean points
out.
"Go figure," Morgan remarks with disinterest.
And then Jolley remarks, "You know, Starbuck once told me
about a version of this game where the paperstock was folded into the shape
of a triangle instead of an octagon."
Boomer's remark gets the attention of the others in the Ready
Room.
"Really?" Morgan asks in the middle of a page turn.
Jolley nods the affirmative.
Greenbean frowns, "Interesting concept, but it'll never go
over."
The others are conceding Greenbean's point when they realize
someone else has entered the Ready Room. A Voice speaks, "Greetings,
Gentleman."
Greenbean stands up immediately. Jolley swipes the octagon off
of the table before he stands.
Morgan straightens awkwardly in his chair before standing. The
publication falls clumsily to the deck. A center page unscrolls.
Colonel Tigh shows his disapproval as he strides into the Ready
Room, "And so this is how my duty pilots retain their vigilance."
"We've been on alternate rotaitons for who knows how
long," Jolley starts.
One glance from Tigh silences Jolley.
Then Tigh notices something lying open on the deck. He walks
slowly over to it and stops. Morgan scoops up the publication and hands it
over to the Colonel.
The Colonel holds the publication firmly and looks with vehement
disapproval at the unscrolled page, but then stops abruptly, "A
Viper?"
Jolley comes forward, "Morgan here was telling Greenbean
and I about the new innovations that might show up on future marks of the
Viper."
Greenbean joins in, "Yes, Morgan was telling us about a new
navigational system that will give you your coordinates by speaking to
you."
Tigh looks to Morgan.
Morgan scuffs the deck trying to produce a bright answer.
But by now, Tigh is smiling and has turned to Jolley and
Greenbean, "Well, I'm glad to hear that my volunteer crew keeps so well
informed on our technologies, now report to the landing deck, there you will
find a shuttle awaiting your studied-skill."
Jolley and Greenbean shrug, acknowlegdge and exit.
"You really want to turn those two loose in their own
shuttle?" Morgan asks.
Tigh smiles and shoves the publication back to Morgan, "Not
to worry, supervision will be provided.
Just then another person enters the Ready Room, "Rigel,
reporting as requested."
"Rigel?" Morgan asks.
Rigel looks to Morgan and sees the publication, "Be sure to
take a look at that Viper they have in there," she says, "It's
really futuristic."
Tigh looks to Morgan and without being asked, Morgan nods
affirmatively, "She'll do."
"Gee thanks Morgan," Rigel says to Morgan.
Colonel Tigh nods to the passage, "You'll need to brief
Greenbean and Jolley on the Commander's errand, I'd prefer to have you all on
the same page."
Rigel nods and follow the Colonel out through the passage.
Morgan watches the others depart. He looks about the now empty
Ready Room.
He sits back down into the seat he had been flying to wait for
the replacements to come in.
Morgan shrugs his shoulders and returns to thumbing through the
publication.
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