Chapter Fifteen: To the Surprise of Everyone

B.J., with Captain Stehter's permission, endeavors to go to work on the prickly colony commander Luigi Cadorna.  She has one objective in mind, and it's soon to be discovered that the lonely fellow has no intention of passing up the golden opportunity to make her his mistress.  Can she keep him distracted long enough for the colonists and crew to finish the colony?  For that matter, can she manage to keep up with the man in bed?  He is Italian, after all.

Despite the reaction from crew and colonists alike, the majority of whom are aware she'd once been sleeping with Captain Stehter, Ensign Ariel must convince Luigi of her sincerity.  If he suspects even for a second that it's all a ruse, things could get much worse.  Succeed and within a few months she and Steinhart will be together again, making the journey back to Earth, the colony established and their mission complete.