“Is that gear signed out for official transport, Commander?”

Captain Samuel Holt stood in the doorway of the readiness room with a gray aluminum clipboard in his hand.

“It’s signed out under active command authority, Captain,” I said.

“Your father’s formal misconduct complaint came over the teleprinter half an hour ago,” Holt said, tapping a finger on the metal edge of his clipboard.

“What’s he claiming?”

“He’s claiming you’re absent without leave and mentally unfit to handle family matters,” Holt said.

I reached down and fixed my watch strap, drawing the leather tongue one notch tighter.