<strong>Alex Macauley</strong><br/><br/>"Our lives."  His voice was level, completely serious.  "This boat is going into harm's way, Miss Prescott.  Exactly where I can't tell you, but what matters is that we're going to be gathering information about Soviet submarines in waters very near their coast.  Technically we have the right to be there, but the Soviet Navy is a very, very trigger happy bunch and if we're picked up I guarantee they're going to do their level best to sink us.  If all of you- all of us- can't get you worked into our operational routines and keep the ship running smoothly, you're never going to get the call Captain Hawke to account, because all of us are going to be fish food."<br/><br/>God, that sounded corny.  Macauley sighed, shifting a bit on his feet to try to hide the stiffening erection between his legs.  God, this girl was gorgeous, bright red hair, pert and rounded curves, and God, he couldn't afford to think like that.  Focus, mister.<br/><br/>"This is going to be the only time I'll say this, and if you repeat it I'll deny it, but I wish to hell the Captain had just left you girls on your yacht and called it in to base.  They could probably have gotten somebody to you in a week or so, and none of us would be in this mess.  But it didn't happen that way, we're all here, and job one is getting back to port.<br/><br/>"So if you go running to the Captain's cabin, I'll tell you what'll happen.  He'll punish you too, because he can't allow his authority to be challenged.  Maybe directly, maybe by making things worse for your friend, but either way it won't help her.  And all of you will be that much further from learning what you've got to if we're going to survive out here."<br/><br/>He held his hands up.  "Still want me to open the door?"