"A very clear, concise and complete report, Spence," Newton applauded when he finished reading.
His father looked at him quizzically. "Have you forgotten about the special mail box for SS men?"
The younger man looked astounded. "You mean, even a thing like this merely goes in there?"
Newton nodded. "However, in this case, since I would have been the one to pick it up, I'll take it to Base and transmit it to the Council. Incidentally, future reports should be marked on the envelope 'Report to Federated Council'."
A couple of hours later Admiral Hawarden called Hanlon at the hotel, where he had just finished making arrangements for Philander's operation and treatments.
"Your father and I want you to come to Base at once, sir."
When he arrived in Hawarden's private office, the admiral handed him a pair of silver bars. "These are yours now, Captain Hanlon."
"You were told promotions were swift in the SS--for those who produce," his father chuckled. "The Council was very gratified with your report, and ordered the promotion."
Hanlon looked at the two insignia, and his fingers stroked them almost tenderly.
"You miss the uniform, don't you, Spence?" sympathetically.
Hanlon gulped and nodded silently, very close to tears.
"Are you sorry you made the choice you did--to give all that up?"
A long, poignant moment of silence, then Hanlon threw back his head in a gesture of pride. "No, Dad. I'm honestly glad I did it. To be able to free those fine Guddus from slavery, and to save the Federation from that horrible plot--it was well worth the little suffering it'll cost me. But," and his smile was pathetic, "I do miss the uniform. I was so proud, wearing it."
A moment, then Hawarden spoke. "Here are the transcripts of the Bohr notes," and soon the two SS men were deep in the study of them. When they had finished some time later, they agreed it was a very comprehensive plan.
"But did you notice," Hanlon's eyes were cloudy, "he doesn't say a thing anywhere about the part his planet or system were to play in the conquest?"
"Yes, I'd noticed that." It was a duet from the two others, and Newton added, "For all there is here, you'd almost feel sure he was playing a lone hand."
"If that's true," Hawarden said thankfully, "none of the other men we've picked up matter--we might as well let them go."