ON THE EARTH of the Alliance there were only two means of communications more widespread or efficient than the omni. One was the ageless tradition of gossip, and the other the enlisted men’s grapevine. Both had rattled for over a week that all was not what it seemed with the Fleet admission of the loss of Halley’s comet. For weeks, the Fleet was trapped into defending its own incompetence. Daily, the discomforted brass sent urgent directives to Port demanding something be done to restore their prestige. These in turn, gave rise to some very questionable missions. Surprisingly, one paid off.