"He wants to meet with you and Colonel Vincenti right away at base ops."

The base op wheezed out a sickly chortle.

The base op's wheezing chuckle blossomed into a mirthful roar, his belly rolling.

"Okay," he said to the base op.

The base op lumbered darkly toward the pile of skis and inspected them.

By the time the base op arrived with his tools, the rack was re-paired.

The base op blinked with surprise.

"Well . . ." After some thought, the base op reached out and took the bills.

The base op held up a pudgy hand.

The old guy's got a natural talent," the base op said, bewildered.