This was a closed meeting, convened in the commander’s cabin, and was, in all probability, the final session before Tullie and his team left the ship at its last stop prior to the final leg of the journey to Lorelei.
After the last Legionnaire was reviewed, Phule tossed his pencil onto his notepad and leaned back, stretching cramped muscles he hadn’t noticed until just now.
“Thank you, Tullie,” he said. “I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say the job you’ve done has been most impressive-both with the lessons and with keeping us informed of the company’s progress.”
He paused to glance at his two lieutenants, who nodded and mumbled their agreement, still a little dazed at the volume of data which had just been dumped on them.
“You paid top dollar. You get my best shot,” Tullie responded with a shrug of dismissal.
“I can’t think of any questions on individuals that you haven’t already covered in depth,” the commander continued, “but if it’s not asking too much, can you give us your impressions of the force as a whole?”
“They’re some of the best I’ve ever trained, though I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell them I said that until after I’ve left,” the instructor admitted easily. “Of course, it’s not often that I get students who can attend multiple sessions, one right after the other, day after day, like we’ve been doing on this trip. Usually, I’m training folks who have to work their lessons in around their paying jobs, at least until they get certified.”
“Do you think they’re ready to hold down a casino on their own?” Phule pressed.