Admiral Harriman Nelson leaned back in the seat of the rented car and closed his eyes. He was bone weary. After an incredibly harrowing adventure that had resulted in the loss of four crewmen, he and his command staff had been subjected to the most annoying, disgraceful excuse for a debriefing that he had ever faced in a career full of annoying debriefings. The senator from Wyoming had been belligerent and insulting. That his Captain and XO were also exhausted was patently evident by the lack of chatter as they headed to one last stop before going home to Santa Barbara. Admiral Starke had insisted on the three men attending a short seminar in Pennsylvania over Nelson's vehement objections. "It's only one evening, Harry. And you and your boys look like you can use some diversion." That was all the man would say, and here he was traveling to some bedroom community outside of Philly. Oleo? Okay? He couldn't remember. Didn't matter. As junior officer in the car, it was Morton's responsibility to drive the car and get them where they needed to be. After a period of dozing, Harry woke up as the car came to a halt. Looking around, he saw they were double- parked in front of what looked to be a residence. In the front seat, Lee said, "This can't be right, Chip" "It's the right address. I'll go up and check."

Stifling annoyance, Nelson watched as Morton trotted up and knocked on the door. After a moment, the door opened, and Morton stepped back startled. As Harry watched, several hands grabbed the hapless officer and pulled him through the door, which slammed shut behind him. In unison, Lee and Harry exclaimed "Chip!!" They jumped out of the car, and ran to the house, determined to rescue their friend. As they reached the door, it was flung open and the two men skidded to a halt as they found themselves the focus of several dozen sets of eyes. Beautiful eyes, of all shapes and colors. One particularly lovely woman grinned widely, and just before the two men were snatched bodily into the house, said "You have our permission to come aboard."

IIIII

Harry Nelson woke to the light gray of pre-dawn. Looking over across the wide bed he saw the sleeping forms of several of his playmates from the night before. He shook his head in wonder. Late yesterday he had arrived at this house expecting a conference, only to be overwhelmed by a bevy of adoring women. Women who seemed to know him in intimate detail. At first he was angered by the apparent security breach, but then one of the women cooed in a soft Virginia drawl, "Don't you worry, Hon, we're just here to help you." She followed up her statement with her tongue and fingertips, 'helping' him considerably. The other women had joined in, and Harry found that even with very little sleep, he felt stronger and better than he had in days. Carefully untangling himself from the sheets, he dressed quietly and left the room. He followed the smell of coffee to the kitchen where he found Lee Crane dressed, shaved and looking like the cat that swallowed the tarantula, or was that canary? With a smug smile, Lee said, "Good morning, Sir! Sleep well?" About as well as you, I imagine." Harry returned his Captain's grin. "These people are incredible!" "Can't deny that, Sir!" Lee laughed. "I'd also call them, uh, energetic. They kept me up all night long, if you know what I mean Sir." The two men sat at the table sipping coffee, quite content with themselves and the world. Harry heard a door open behind him. He turned in his chair to see Chip Morton enter the room from down the hall, looking very distracted. Lee said, "Why, Mr. Morton, you look positively...mussed."

"Huh? Uh, Lee, I think I left the car double-parked, and I, uh, can't seem to find the keys." Lee rolled his eyes. "Don't worry about the car, Chip." "But we'll miss our plane." Harry was amused to see the normally quiet, responsible officer in what amounted to a dither. He sighed, "Chip's right, Lee, we have to get to the airport." Morton finally seemed to be focusing. He glanced at the Admiral, and then at the door, through which he had come, and said, "Uh, Sir, I've been thinking about that. I'd, uh, like...that is...I want...I mean..." "Spit it out, man." "Sir, I think I need to take a few days off...no, a week...no, two weeks." Lee, whose face had fallen at the mention of leaving, joined in. "Yes, Admiral, I think that's an excellent idea! I need some time off, too!" Harry looked at the two younger men in amazement. A night's idyll was one thing, but...to...spend...time.

Harry looked thoughtfully toward the bedroom where the sleeping women waited. That one with the short, light brown hair, and the strong fingers.... Maybe some time off wouldn't hurt. The door behind him opened again and a silky voice cooed "Oh, Chip?" Chip stood stalk still, eyes widened. Harry saw two lovely ladies lounging against the doorframe. In a little boy voice full of wonder and delight, Chip said, "One teaches English, the other teaches French!"

As he turned to the hall, two petite elfin women came out, and giggling, led the compliant man away. As he disappeared through the doorway, he looked back and gave his comrades what could only be described as a dopey grin. Lee and Harry looked at each other and burst out laughing. Suddenly a beauty came in and sat on Lee's lap, and whispered in his ear. Lee turned pink, and enthusiastically nodded. He grinned an apology at Nelson, then he too was led away. Harry sat laughing quietly to himself, when someone came up behind him and with lightly tickling fingertips running through his hair and down his chest, whispered in his ear, "Harry, do I need your permission to come aboard?"

IIIII

"Okay, Chief, I need a volunteer to go up and knock on the door" "Sure thing, Mr. O'Brien. Ski, go up and knock on the front door." Seaman Kowalski didn't even hesitate. He would face any danger if it meant getting Admiral Nelson, Captain Crane and Mr. Morton back safely. Mr. O'Brien had ordered a strike force when the three senior officers had failed to return from a supposed conference in some jerkwater town in Pennsylvania. O'Brien's efforts to locate the men had turned up the fact that the address for the conference was actually a residence. Kowalski, Riley, and Patterson, along with Chief Sharkey and Lt. Jimmy "Sparks" Smith had immediately volunteered to act as a rescue team. Now as the rest of the team crouched behind bushes with guns drawn, Ski cautiously approached the front door. He swallowed hard. Nelson, Crane, and Morton had disappeared into this house almost three days ago. Glancing around to make sure the team was well hidden, Kowalski rapped on the door. He was about to knock a second time, when he heard noises within. The door slowly opened to reveal a lovely petite woman yawning sleepily. Ski's eyes widened as he realized the woman was wearing Mr. Morton's uniform blouse, and apparently nothing else. The woman, who had looked Ski up and down, slowly began to grin, and called back over her shoulder, "Diane, your date's here." With a sexy smile, the woman disappeared back into the house, but before Ski could puzzle out what she had meant, another woman ran out and threw herself into his arms, kissing him passionately. When she finally let him breathe again, he looked around to find the rest of the team, standing with slack jaws, staring at him. Dazed by the ferocity of the attack, all Ski could do was stand there unsteadily, holding the woman tightly, and grin. When the woman caught sight of the others, she grinned, gestured to the front door, and said, "What? You guys need permission to come aboard?"

IIIII

Admiral Harriman Nelson looked with some bemusement at his friend and subordinate, Captain Lee Crane. The Captain, a man of tidy habits was sitting next to Nelson in the back seat of a rental car. Harry noticed that Lee's shirt collar was missing its insignia. Lee's hat was nowhere to be found; his tie was gone. Harry shook his head in amazement. The Captain had been stripped of anything that could remotely be considered a souvenir, as had Harry himself. The past weekend had been an incredible romp. A glance at the back of the blond head of the car's driver reminded Harry that he and Lee weren't alone in having had to give up reminders to the amazing group of women who had taken the weary men in last Friday. It seemed impossible that it had only been four days ago. Lee seemed to take it all in stride, perhaps as his due. Harry had relaxed after a while, and really enjoyed himself. Lt. Cmdr. Chip Morton, the driver of the car, had never before experienced the kind of adulation that was expressed that weekend. A quiet, reserved man, both Harry and Lee were surprised when they literally had to drag him to the car, and pry the grasping hands of at least four clinging women from his body. When Harry looked up in the rearview, he could see the dreamy look in the XO's eyes. Lee was looking like the cat that ate the canary, and Harry himself could not seem to wipe the contented smile from his face. "Well, gentlemen, shall we come back next year?" "YES, Sir!!!" Came the response, in perfect chorus. Harry smiled, and leaned back in the seat, and dozing, dreamed of once more receiving permission to come aboard in Oley.