The stars were bright outside our window; and the Project Mako alarm bell was ringing General Quarters. Semyon snored, sputtered, choked and sat up. I jumped out of my own bed, slammed down the shades, slapped on the light. It was the first GQ I had heard since I left Spruance, but the old habits didn't die. General Quarters meant get to your combat stations now. I was in my pants and on my way out the door before the springs on my bed stopped vibrating, and Semyon was only a yard behind me. The only thing was, what combat stations? But we did what came naturally, and I suppose it was the right thing to do. We found ourselves out in the corridor, along with every other officer in the BOQ, Semyon, buttoning his shirt, bawled over the noise: "What is, Logan? Can it be that the Orientals have attacked?" There was a rattle from the loud-hailer before I could answer, and Kedrick's tinny voice came over it, blaring: "All officers to the wardroom, on the double! All officers to the wardroom! On the double!" We swept into the wardroom like the Golden Horde through Russia—and just about as unkempt.
