=== Private conversation between Admiral Baryton, Governor Situra and Fleet Archivist Mezza. Transferred to Fleet Archives by Fleet Archivist ===

Admiral Baryton teased his daughter: “In a few days, Governor Situra, you will take command of the colony and I will have to salute you.” He executed a mock salute, his right hand touching his insignia which, like all Singer officials, was painted on his chest.

Situra’s hologram faithfully depicted her pout. “Oh, Daddy! You know I will never give you orders!”

“Now daughter,” scolded the Fleet Archivist Mezza gently, “You grew up in a military family, you certainly should be more aware of the chain of command.”

Situra leaned back on her tail and rolled her eyes. “I will be Governor of the colony, but Daddy will still be Daddy! I could never give him orders!”

Baryton leaned forward, gesturing with his four-fingered hands. “If you have to, you will, my daughter. And I will obey. The relationship of the Governor of a colony to an Admiral under her command is quite independent of the relationship between a father and his much-loved daughter.”

Mezza sniffed and pushed her mate to one side, claiming the center of the holo-field for herself. “Let’s discuss more interesting matters, dear. How are my grandchildren doing on their new world?”

Baryton yawned, his long muzzle parting to reveal dozens of teeth. “Let’s not and say we didn’t.”

Mezza punched her mate, hard, on the green-scaled shoulder nearest her. “You old fraud! You want to know how they are doing as much as I do!”

Baryton said piously “As Admiral, I am obliged to assist my Archivist in her quest for knowledge, no matter how arcane, how seemingly useless such information might be.” Mezza lifted her fist and Baryton hastily added, “Of course, I would love to hear more about how little What’s-His-Name, Whozis and the unhousebroken one are doing.”

All three Singers broke into the hissing laughter of their kind.

Mezza glanced sideways at her mate while Situra narrated her three-dimensional home movie. She was amused to see that his attention was far more focused on his grandchildren than it had been on most of the staff meetings she had attended with him.