"Well, Skipper, we'll be in Mercury's com zone in ten hours, plus or minus a half." Captain Evan Grimes eyed his chief engineer sternly. "How'd you know I wouldn't have the recorder turned on, Manson? That could have cost you a week's pay." "Sorry, sir," Bill Manson saluted, still smiling. "I don't mean the salutation, you bonehead. It's been five years since the Service banned the name Mercury for Primus, and I've heard it used at least three times on this trip." "I'll make out a voluntary on i