The lieutenant became slack-jawed for a second due to the surprise and shame of his wrong presumption. Still, he regained his bearings back and smiled as we shook hands.
"My apologies Mr. Nethan, for not distinguishing you."
"It's okay, Lieutenant Xenox. This person here is my first mate and is the most remarkable and dependable person on my ship. For him to have caught your attention first is a testament to his capabilities."
I admired the way this lieutenant acted, straightforward and sincere, without many flowery words. So, it was better to pave the way for him out of the embarrassing situation than unnecessarily berating him.
"You indeed have a capable confidante, Mr. Nethan. But I would also like to meet all of your remaining crew members. It would make the inspection easy for both of us."
