to me. It doesn’t apply to you, of course. Does it, Lt. Hunter?”
Lucas and Andre both stared at Forrester. “What?” said Lucas.
“When Finn checked this patient in as Lt. Reese Hunter,” said Forrester, “they ran the standard records check. Imagine their surprise when they discovered that Lt. Hunter had been reported MIA on an Airborne recon mission in 12th-century England. We all thought he was dead, right? I’m not too clear on it, myself, seems to me I heard a different story. Something about a Lt. Hunter being killed by the Timekeepers in 17th-century Paris. Well, I guess I heard wrong. Anyway, since Delaney was the one who checked him in, they came to him to get the facts. According to Finn, here, Lt. Hunter was marooned in 12th-century England and, as chance had it, he was one of those people recruited into the time pirates. Since then, he’s been working undercover, independently, trying to help neutralize a threat to temporal continuity. The powers that be were properly impressed. Needless to say, since Lt. Hunter was listed MIA and since his actions have been heroically above and beyond the call of duty, no one would think of charging him with anything. In fact, it’s been decided to reward his initiative by promoting him to the rank of captain.”
Andre started to laugh.
“And since he has displayed such outstanding ability in a temporal adjustment situation,” Forrester continued, “it’s also been decided to transfer him from the Airborne Pathfinders into the First Division. So, welcome aboard, soldier. The First has the finest record in the corps. I’m glad to have you. I only take the best. I don’t take people who can’t cut it.
We’ve got spirit in the First. We’ve never had a deserter.”
He turned and walked towards the door, then paused and looked back.
“A man like you should do well in the First… Captain Hunter. We fight the good fight.” He winked, then closed the door.