Locker Room Talk

Month 10 Day 31

2105 Hours

Capt Jane Burke

It wasn’t like Smitty to hang at her side the entire evening, but Jane was beginning to wonder when he would finally peel off and ask some woman to dance. Every time she glanced his way, he seemed to be watching a certain redhead as she... juggled... the attentions of 3 or 4 men and as many female friends. And occasionally, she had turned away men who asked her to dance, had even started to raise her voice to Evans.

It certainly doesn’t seem like Evans is getting the message. A few more days of recordings and I’ll start debriefing members of the A shift bridge crew. I’ll even debrief Evans, but those questions will be different from what I ask the others. I’ll have to debrief MacDowell, too, so I’d better come up with questions for her.

“The redhead’s a lot colder than she looks,” she heard Moor comment, as she passed behind him and another male. “She’s a real tease.”

“Someone should teach her not to,” Winthrop suggested.

“Enough!” Jane said sharply. Thought Moor had more sense than to hang around with Winthrop. She glanced at Smitty to see how he was reacting to the men’s overheard conversation, but the engineer’s gaze was focused across the room. She glared at the two surprised underlings before her. “I don’t care how good she looks, if she’s not interested, leave her alone. Don’t even try to use your rank that way or you won’t have that rank any longer. I thought it was understood that I won’t tolerate that behavior, but apparently two of my highest officers haven’t gotten the message, so have I made myself clear?”

“But, captain, anybody who comes here looking like that must want to stir up interest,” Winthrop replied boldly.

“Doesn’t mean she wants your interest,” Jane returned. She touched Smythe’s arm to get his attention. “What do you think, Smitty?”

He jerked his attention to her. “About what?”

His mind was a parsec away. Or at least across the room. “About Winthrop’s plans to accost Lt MacDowell.”

Smitty’s eyes rounded in surprise, then narrowed as he glared at the older man. He opened his mouth to speak, glanced back across the room, and closed his mouth again. He shook his head and sucked in a lungful of air. “She’s already taken.”

That sounded like he was reminding himself. Who does he think has caught the girl’s attention?

“Then why come looking like that?” Moor asked. “Maybe the man she thought she had caught is beginning to slip away.”

“You’re gossiping,” Smitty told him. “Some women simply like to dress up from time to time. Not everything they do is intended to catch a man!”

“Exactly right,” Jane agreed. “I would have done it myself, except that apparently I need to be in uniform to remind others of the type of behavior I expect on my ship. So, gentlemen, I hope I’ve made my position perfectly clear.”

“Absolutely,” Moor stated. “Perhaps we’re simply jealous that she isn’t interested in us.”

“Thoughts like that could easily lead one to bad behavior,” Jane told him blandly. “A woman doesn’t owe you attention just because you’re a higher rank. Treat them with the respect they are due because of their humanity and intelligence. Or I’ll know the reason why you don’t, and it had better not be jealousy.” She turned to continue her stroll around the edge of the ballroom, and Smitty doggedly tagged along with her.

“Smitty.”

Jane took another step forward and turned, to find Chef Anna Hamara had her hand on the engineer’s sleeve. Unlike most of the senior officers, Hamara wore a blue dress tailored somewhat in an oriental fashion.

“Good evening, Anna,” Smitty greeted her, placing his hand over hers. “You look beautiful.”

The corner of Anna’s mouth twitched. “Well, I tried, but I can’t compete with the younger ladies.”

“I think you’ve got that turned around,” Smitty told her. “None of them have your poise.”

Anna gave him a genuine smile. “Thank you, Smitty. Apparently, I needed a bit of flattery.”

“It’s not flattery when it’s true,” he returned. “Now, have you got the next dance open? I think we should show the youngsters how it’s done.”

“Well, I’m a little rusty. I think I stepped on Ferguson’s feet 3 times, but only twice with MacGregor. If you’re willing to risk it, I have got the next dance open. To be truthful, I was going to ask you.”

“Oh, it’s a case of great minds thinking alike, then,” Smitty said with a smile. The music had ended and people were leaving the dance floor. Smitty led the chef out so they were ready once the music began again.

Good. Now I don’t have to watch how I say things when I bawl people out. But how do I read that? Smitty’s perfectly comfortable and complimentary with Anna, and too often angry and disparaging with MacDowell. Of course, Anna is the same rank as Smitty, and the redhead isn’t. But is that all it is? He was good friends with Anna before Michael got in the way. And didn’t act much differently, back then. Without anything else to go on, I’d have to say he’s still just friends with Anna. As for young ladies of a lower rank, he’s usually courteous and polite, even if he finds it difficult to pull out the skills and knowledge he wants them to have.

So what’s different with MacDowell? I’m left with the same suspicions I had before. And I’m not sure he heard a single word I said to Moor and Winthrop. Even if he did, he probably wouldn’t believe they were meant for him as well. Men never do.

No, that’s probably not being fair to Smitty. She cast a glance around the room, saw the redhead dancing with Drake. What is that, his 3rd or 4th dance with her? No more than Tall Bear or Bugalu, but they aren’t a superior rank to her. Do I need to have a talk with him as well?

In the next moment, Ferguson tapped Drake on the shoulder, obviously asking to cut in. Drake looked to MacDowell for guidance, she gave a slow nod, and then waltzed off with the cook. Well, at least Drake isn’t so besotted he won’t let another man cut in. As long as MacDowell agrees.

Judging a Book / You Dance Divinely / Another Dance

Judging a Book

Month 10 Day 31

2023 Hours

Capt Jane Burke

Drat. Smitty’s back was to the door and he didn’t see MacDowell when she came in. Would have loved to see how he reacted. Would he have forgotten to breathe, like most every man in this room? If he had, at least nobody would have noticed. Except me. If he sees her now and has that strong a reaction, everybody will notice. Jane caught a glimpse of Adams and Evans conferring in another corner. And some of them won’t believe his reaction would be just because she looks fabulous tonight.

Of course, he has seen her in that dress before. She broke into whatever he was saying with a quiet question. “Do you remember the first night of our last shore leave?”

He gave her a confused look. “What about it?”

“I ran into one of your people on the hotel restaurant’s dining patio.” Smitty didn’t answer, but his face turned red. “I swear she’s wearing the same dress tonight.” And now he’s pale. Hopefully not too many people will notice in this dim lighting. Or they’ll attribute his coloring to something I said, which is true, but they won’t know what I said. In any case, he’s forewarned and hopefully won’t react too strongly when he does see her.

“At least I won’t confuse her for... someone else,” he finally choked out.

Yes, there is that.

  

You Dance Divinely

Month 10 Day 31

2026 Hours

Dr Drake MacGregor

Drake was surprised at how well Mac followed his lead across the dance floor. She did give him a questioning look a time or two, and seemed to want to pull him closer, but he firmly resisted her pull.

“Mac,” she finally started, “I hear it’s customary for partners to converse while dancing.”

“I thought - with your upbringing - that you might not know how to dance and would need to concentrate.”

“Bugs taught me,” she answered. “This beat isn’t that difficult.”

“Did he teach you any other dances?”

“One or 2, but this is the easiest one.”

“This will be played the most,” he assured her. “I mean, the music will change, but most of them will be waltzes.”

“Those will be the ones I dance to, then,” she decided, and then added, “If I dance anymore.” They continued quietly for another minute.

“Mac, is there a reason why you keep trying to pull me forward?” he finally asked.

She tilted her head to one side. “Whenever Bugs and I practiced, dancing eventually became hugging while shuffling our feet. I thought that was the way of the dance.”

No, he isn’t immune to her. “That is not the way of the dance,” he told her. “This dance continues exactly as we’ve been doing, especially at a formal party like this one. The captain expects the dancers to keep 6 inches between them from start to finish.” Immediately, the pressure he’d been resisting disappeared, and she was a chaste young girl in his arms. “The only thing we might do in addition is at the end, it’s acceptable for me to twirl you.”

“Uh oh.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Bugs didn’t teach me about twirling.”

“Then we won’t do it,” he told her.

After another moment, she said, “I do know how to pirouette. It’s been a long time, but I remember how it’s done.”

“It’s not the same,” he told her. “You really should practice before you try it in public. I wouldn’t want to do anything that makes you any less relaxed than you are right now.”

She smiled. “I am relaxed. Now that I know this dance isn’t intended to end in a shuffling hug.” She considered that. “I may dance more than I thought I would.”

“You don’t have to do anything that would make you uncomfortable.”

She gave him a full smile. “Thanks, MacG. You make a good uncle.”

“MacG? I was almost getting used to being called ‘Mac’. Even though that’s your name.”

“Only because ma stopped having babies. If she’s had another, that one would have been ‘Little Mac’, and I would have become Colleen. Or more likely ‘Collie’.”

“That would be a dreadful moniker for you.”

“That’s why I stuck with ‘Mac’.”

The music stopped, and they came to a quiet stop. Drake offered his arm to escort her back to Bugalu. “Do you know if Yellow Dog was planning to attend tonight’s dance?” he asked as they walked.

“Yes,” Mac answered. “Yes, I do know; yes, she was, and yes, she just arrived. I’m not surprised you didn’t see her. She does tend to blend in with all the other white dress uniforms.”

They reached Bugalu and Tall Bear. “Thank you for a delightful dance, Ms MacDowell,” Drake stated formally. “I hope you enjoy your evening.”

“I’m tolerably sure I will,” she responded. “Thank you for explaining so much. And YD is approaching the punch bowl.”

“Excuse me,” he requested, and turned to seek out the NAmerind.

  

Another Dance

Month 10 Day 31

2033 Hours

Tall Bear

Tall Bear was amazed that the girl who was so nervous when she walked off to dance with MacGregor came back poised and relaxed. I used to think Bugs could make a woman comfortable, but he sure hasn’t done it this evening. I wonder what MacGregor said? I mean, their tension was obvious, and suddenly they both relaxed.

“Did you enjoy your dance?” Bugalu asked Mac, his eyes focused elsewhere.

“Yes. It was different from our practice dances,” she replied.

“What practice dances?” He turned her way. “We haven’t dance since... your first shore leave.”

“And before that was at the Academy.” She turned to face Tall Bear and with a sweet smile, she asked, “Won’t you ask me to dance, TB?”

“I would be delighted if you would dance with me, Mac,” Bear promptly said, and led her out onto the dance floor. When he took her in his arms - something he had thought about more than once - something about the actual experience felt... odd. “How did you get so tall?”

“Heels,” she answered.

“Your uniform boots have heels,” he pointed out.

“Not like these. I am virtually perched on my toes. And despite the heels, my legs are no longer than they ever are, so I would appreciate a slightly smaller step, please.”

He immediately adjusted his steps, gave her a moment to adjust to his new gait. “After this,” he stated, “I suspect many men will want to dance with you.”

“What a dreadful thought,” she murmured, her brow slightly furrowed.

“You don’t have to dance with anybody you don’t want to dance with,” he told her. “Simply say no. I don’t think anybody will persist if you start to get loud, not with the Captain here.”

“Good to know I won’t need to punch them to get the message across,” she stated with a smile.

“I hope that was a joke.”

“I hope so, too.”

“I also hope Bugsy’s behavior tonight hasn’t spooked you. But I think it’s indicative of how he sees you as a sister.”

“That perception doesn’t seem as iron tight as I once thought it was,” she muttered and then sighed. “Serves me right for testing it.”

“You... don’t want him to see you as a sister anymore?”

She considered that question. “There was a time when I wanted to know that I could... turn a man’s head. My experiment may have strained our relationship far more than I thought possible.”

“Maybe you should turn your attention to other men. Carefully, I think, because you don’t have to do anything special to turn a man’s head. The way you look tonight is enough to give a man whiplash.”

She gave a short laugh. “Since the subject has come up, perhaps we should discuss our relationship.”

“What relationship? As workout buddies?”

“You’ve said several times you want something more. Asked me to the movies, hung with me at lunch. So I’m wondering if you’d like to adopt me as a sister?”

“No,” Bear answered firmly.

“I can’t give you the kind of relationship you want.”

“So you’ve said. But I’m happy with what we’ve got.”

Her head tilted as she studied his face. “What have we got?”

“Friendship,” he offered with a small smile.

“But that mistletoe kiss-”

“Told me you had no romantic interest in me. And that means, A, that you haven’t been lying to me, and B, that I can relax around you.”

She smiled. “I never thought you were nervous around me.”

“Well, I have been. A bit. I think you have that effect on most men.”

“But no effect on the right one, apparently,” she muttered as the music ended.

She obviously isn’t talking about Bugalu. “Now that we’ve established that we’re friends, why not see a movie together?” She gave him a surprised look as they walked back toward Bugalu. “Friends do things together,” he asserted mildly. “I’ve always behaved, haven’t I?”

“Yes, you have,” she agreed. “Which makes me wonder why others don’t. Because it evidently isn’t impossible.”

“Don’t ask me to explain other men. The only one I can control is me.”

She gave Bear a warm smile as she took a position next to her adopted brother. “Very well, in light of your good behavior all this time, and the establishment of our relationship, I agree.”

“What relationship?” Bugalu asked. “What are you agreeing to?”

“I’ve agreed to go to a movie with Tall Bear,” she answered. “As a friend.”

Bugalu blinked a couple times and then grinned. “Great!”

All Dressed Up

Month 10 Day 31

2010 Hours

Bugalu

Where is she? Bugalu fidgeted with the collar and then the sleeves of his dress uniform and crossed the banquet hall to get some punch. No alcohol in it. Yet. Well, not this early, of course. He glanced at the clock. Where is she? She promised she was coming.

Doc entered the room and stopped to glance around, walked over to join him, getting his own punch. “You look nervous.”

“Mac’s late.” Bugs stared into his glass.

“Is she wearing a dress uniform or something dressier?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, as far as I can tell, Yellow Dog isn’t here yet, either.”

“What’s that got to do with--”

“I believe they were helping each other with hair and makeup.”

“If she’s got help, why is she so late?”

The doc tsked. “Possibly because a woman is never completely satisfied with how she looks. Relax. I’m sure she’s just trying to look her best.”

“I don’t know why. It’s not like there’s anybody she’s trying to impress.” Unless there is...

Doc finished his drink, got himself another. “I think you might be underestimating her.”

Bugalu gave him a sour look. “I know how nervous she felt about coming. After those mistletoe units at Christmas, she was very nearly back to her father’s brainwashing.”

Doc took a slow breath as he mulled that over. “But she did agree to come?” he pressed.

“Only after I promised she would not have to dance with anybody she didn’t want to. Or at all, if she wasn’t inclined to. Told her she could stand on the sidelines and talk with her friends, if that’s all she wanted to do.”

“Good thinking. But that means somebody she trusts should be standing next to her, to keep the wolves away.”

“I’ve gotten used to it,” Bugalu replied.

“Hey, she adopted me, too. I assume that means I can stand in as a chaperone.”

“Do me a favor; don’t use that word around her. She’ll think that’s the only reason we’re standing with her. And despite my seeing her as a sister, I like being around her; she’s fun to be with.”

“Yes, I agree with you on that,” Doc agreed. “Now, just relax. Like any woman, she’ll be here when she gets here. It doesn’t do any good to stew about it.”

“Okay, I’ll try,” Bugalu promised and disposed of his punch cup. “But if she doesn’t get here soon--” He stopped talking because at that moment, she appeared in the doorway. Red curls were piled atop her head and cascaded down one side, balanced by a glistening white bow above the opposite ear. She wore the red dress she had worn the first night of their 2-week shore leave, and if anything, she looked even better than she had in the yellow pantsuit.

She stood in the doorway looking nervous, possibly even on the verge of panic. The music was still playing - it was recorded - but even the few dancers had stopped moving to stare at her. Can’t blame them. Don’t think I’ve seen a more gorgeous woman aboard ship. I should...

Somebody offered her his arm. Whoever it was, she shot him a quick glance, gave him a trembling smile and slowly placed her hand atop his sleeve.

Tall Bear escorted her across the dance floor and directly to Bugalu. “She couldn’t seem to find you in this sea of white dress uniforms,” the brave offered in explanation.

“I was too nervous to see much of anything,” she added in a whisper.

“I tried to tell him that it takes time for a woman to get ready,” Doc offered.

“A lot of time,” Mac agreed. “I’d have given up long ago if not for Dog and Della. I think those 2 could make a silk purse out of a pig’s ear.”

“You aren’t a pig’s ear,” Bugs stated.

She frowned uncertainly. “I didn’t mean I was,” she finally said. “I just meant that... they are miracle workers.”

“They’ve merely enhanced the beauty you already have,” Bugs insisted. “I expected you to come looking good, but I didn’t realize just how good.”

She blinked and leaned an inch away, her face going a delicate pink.

“Bugs, you’re making her even more nervous,” Tall Bear whispered.

“Nothing to be nervous about,” Doc stated. “Brothers always underestimate their sisters. Now, I know you were promised that you wouldn’t have to dance, but I hope you’ll do me the favor of dancing with me, at some point.”

She turned her attention to him in seeming relief. “Thank you, Mac. I would like that.”

After a short awkward silence, the music started a new song. “Well, no time like the present,” Doc said. “Shall we dance?” She placed her hand on Doc’s proffered arm, and they walked away.

“What is wrong with you?” Tall Bear hissed. “You’re usually better at giving compliments than that! You scared her half to death.”

“Where’s Smythe?” Bugs heard himself ask.

“Over with the captain,” Bear answered. “Why?”

Because I wonder how he reacted when she showed up. He turned in that direction, but looking told him nothing. Smythe had his back to the entrance as he chatted with the captain. Drat, he didn’t see her.

Doling Out Assignments

Month 10 Day 26

0906 Hours

Smythe

When Smitty had things figured out, he got up to open his office door, barked, “Harris!”

The blonde was studying a readout across the room and jumped in surprise. “Sir!”

“In here!” He left the door open as he went back to his desk.

She soon arrived. “Yes, sir?”

“Close the door and take a seat,” he instructed, and studied the list on his computer screen as she did so. I don’t think I’ve forgotten anything. I don’t want to leave anything in doubt. He glanced up and saw Harris waiting nervously. “I have a special project for you. You can tell people that you’re working something for me, but you can’t breathe a word about the project to anyone. Understood?”

Harris blinked. “Not even with my roommate?”

Roommate. Oh, blast, she’s Colleen’s roommate. “Especially not your roommate!” He pulled his temper back from the edge of panic. “If you can’t do that, tell me now, and I’ll find someone else. You two work opposing shifts, so it shouldn’t be difficult to avoid telling her anything. And your... efforts during the flu epidemic indicate I’ve underestimated you. This is a chance to see what you can do.”

Harris swallowed, then straightened her shoulders. “Well, we each sleep while the other’s on duty, so that leaves us both awake and free in the evenings. But I don’t have to remain in my quarters with her.”

Stay in her quarters? What’s she talking about? Oh. I guess it’s not common knowledge. “For the record, Co-MacDowell’s discipline has been cancelled. It turns out Wilson made the mistletoe units, based on a question I asked her months ago.”

Harris sighed in relief. “Good. I don’t normally spend much time in our quarters, and if she’s not confined, she usually has her own things to do.”

Right, like Bugalu, MacGregor and now Tall Bear. He drug his mind away from those thoughts. “I’m having Lt Oakhurst pull some data from the computer. Some of it will come to you. I’ll have to find you a place to work. Somewhere private.”

“What kind of data, and what am I supposed to do with it?”

“There’ll be a year’s worth of data.” Her eyes rounded, and he hurried on. “Don’t let that overwhelm you. You’ll only be looking at 6 people. No, 8. Only 8 people. I want you to study how well each of these people respond to the normal needs of their shift assignment. If something requires their attention, how long does it take them to respond?” He made a note on his screen. “See if you can tell if they are actually at their post. Or how much of their shift they are not at their post. Maybe Oakhurst has an idea how to get that information.”

“I have to do this for 8 different people?”

“Yes. In the end, I want to be able to compare the performances of each person to all the other people in that position but on another shift.”

“Is there some--”

The doorbell buzzed. Smitty switched his computer screen to an outside view and saw that Lt Oakhurst stood outside. “Open door,” he instructed. “Come in, Oakhurst.” He was a bit surprised to see the younger man was not in uniform. “I didn’t realize you weren’t on duty. You should have said so, and we could have done this at a more convenient time for you.”

The computer specialist shrugged. “It sounded important. I don’t mind attending a meeting off duty.”

“Well, I’m about to load you up with work, so maybe you should mind. First, none of this is to be discussed with anybody and nowhere but in this office. Not with your girl friend, your roommate, nobody. Are we clear on that?”

“Perfectly.”

“Good. Now, the first thing, and I’d like this done before midnight tonight. We want to audio record the bridge during A shift, without any telltale signs that could alert the communications officer or anybody else. Can you do that?”

“Yes. Does this mean Mac has finally filed charges against... someone?” Harris leaned forward in anticipation.

Does everybody know what she’s been going through? That makes me a poor excuse for a supervisor. “Even in this office, we won’t discuss why we want these things done.”

Oakhurst gave a curt nod; Harris barely squeaked, “Okay.”

“And then we need some raw data pulled out... or maybe you have a report you can run for the information. How long it takes for a position to respond to something that needs their attention. I say a position because we want it for all 4 shifts. Also, I’d really like to know if these positions are staying at their post during their shift, or if they’re wandering away and leaving others to do their job. Can you do all that?”

“I do have a report for a performance evaluation. I usually only run it for a single shift, but running it 4 times isn’t difficult. I can do the last item as long as they’re in uniform.”

What’s a uniform got to do with it? “Oh, their rank pins.”

“Exactly. Originally intended as a means to identify a body too badly damaged to identify visually, but nobody remembers that the computer keeps track of those pins as long as it’s aboard the ship.”

Harris visibly shivered. “Glad I change into civvies before I go on a date,” she stated softly.

“Even the senior officers seem to have forgotten that use,” Oakhurst stated. “Once I start gathering this information, I assume I send it to you, Mr Smythe?”

“No, send it to Harris. She’ll make it useable for me. That’s why she’s here.”

“She’ll need a place to work,” Oakhurst pointed out.

“Yes, I haven’t decided where. Maybe a briefing room, if she locks the door while she’s in there.”

“She can use my office,” the young man suggested. “I use the office of the shift I’m working.”

“Excellent. Thank you for the suggestion.” He stood up, happy that everything had been settled. “How soon can you have some data for Harris to work with?”

“Umm, you haven’t told me what position you want studied or how far back to go.”

Smitty felt his face go pink. “I’ve been thinking about it so much, I thought I had. We’ll need to go back at least a year. Let’s start with a year. And there’s 2 positions; shift lead engineer and shift helmsman.”

“Mac is pressing charges!” Harris surmised.

Oakhurst shook his head. “He doesn’t want the her to realize the bridge is being recorded.” He faced Smitty. “You realize that if she does get an inkling that’s happening, and she doesn’t approve, she’ll try to hack my hack. And she just might be good enough to do it. Eventually.”

Smitty stood motionless for a moment, stunned by the idea that his senior computer specialist thought his most junior communications officer was that good with computers. Perhaps Harris isn’t the only one I’ve underestimated? Or Colleen has pulled the wool over Oakhurst’s eyes. “Exactly why none of this will be mentioned outside this office.” He turned a stern gaze on Harris. “Especially not to roommates!”

Harris raised her chin little. “Yes, sir. I understand.”

“Well, to answer your question, Mr Smythe, it won’t be a year’s worth of information, but I can have the first 6 months’ report on one person ready for Harris in about half an hour. I’ll start it up before I leave. I’ll follow that with the rest of those reports, 6 months at a time, but only for 1 person at a time. That’s the way the report is set up, and it’s easier to run it 16 times - to cover a full year - rather than rewrite it. The location report will take a day or two to write a mini-program to pull that information. Of course, if you’re in a hurry, I can put on a uniform and get started right away.”

“No. We have to get a couple weeks’ worth of audio recordings. At least. And keep them where no one else can find them.”

“Okay. I’ll go start the first report and set up the recording. Harris, I’ll come back to get you settled at my desk, see that you can read the report. Is there anything else, Mr Smythe?”

“No. Nothing right now, anyway.” Maybe we’ll think of something else, once we start seeing what the data tells us. “Thank you for... giving up your time off, Oakhurst.”

“My choice. I’ll go get started.”

“Yes.” After the younger man had left, Smitty regarded the blond engineer who still sat facing him. “Shouldn’t you get back to work?” he suggested.

“Of course,” she agreed and stood up. “The trouble is, you startled me, and... I don’t remember what I was doing.”

That’s the Harris I dealt with before the flu epidemic. “The crystal readout display,” he stated.

“Oh! Yes! That was it! Thank you, Mr Smythe!” She hurried out of his office.

Smitty saved his file, logged off his computer and considered the screens that showed him various angles of engineering. Now what? Get out of uniform and enjoy my day off, Jane said. Easy for her to say, she doesn’t take days off. Hardly ever. Well, maybe I can practice my pool. Or that Attakke game.