A Matter of Principle
This story was also written as a One Hour Only. The story opens with Paul Foster coming into HQ the day after Linda Simmons was electrocuted in control. As you know Foster had brought her to HQ knowing the risk she posed; typical Foster not being able to resist a pretty face. And he is still wondering why Straker let him off so easy.
When Paul sits down with Virginia for breakfast we see that she is still quite angry as she gives him the cold shoulder. There is a couple of things going on here, first obviously, is the fact he endangered HQ as well as all his comrades. The second thing is Virginia is intensely attracted to Straker and anyone who puts him in jeopardy is bound to incur her wrath. Bad move Paul!
To his credit, he “mans up” and meets her in the office to hash it out. We still see some of his immature hot headedness, but in the end he concedes that he was wrong. Of course Ginny doesn’t let him off the hook easy; issuing a challenge to confront Straker himself.
When Paul is asked by Straker later how his meeting went with Lake, Paul is dumbfounded and asks the obvious stupid question. The Commander’s answer proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is aware of everything that goes on with his people as he has made it is business to know them better than they know themselves.
Ed knew that Virginia would corner Paul at some point and he decided to allow it. When he makes the observation that people are more scared of her than they are of him, Ed is beginning to realize how much he depends on her.
In a shining moment of courage Foster stands at attention and assumes responsibility for his actions. And Straker shows wisdom beyond his years by using this as a teaching opportunity making Paul think about what he has done and learn from it.
When Paul sits down with Virginia for breakfast we see that she is still quite angry as she gives him the cold shoulder. There is a couple of things going on here, first obviously, is the fact he endangered HQ as well as all his comrades. The second thing is Virginia is intensely attracted to Straker and anyone who puts him in jeopardy is bound to incur her wrath. Bad move Paul!
To his credit, he “mans up” and meets her in the office to hash it out. We still see some of his immature hot headedness, but in the end he concedes that he was wrong. Of course Ginny doesn’t let him off the hook easy; issuing a challenge to confront Straker himself.
When Paul is asked by Straker later how his meeting went with Lake, Paul is dumbfounded and asks the obvious stupid question. The Commander’s answer proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is aware of everything that goes on with his people as he has made it is business to know them better than they know themselves.
Ed knew that Virginia would corner Paul at some point and he decided to allow it. When he makes the observation that people are more scared of her than they are of him, Ed is beginning to realize how much he depends on her.
In a shining moment of courage Foster stands at attention and assumes responsibility for his actions. And Straker shows wisdom beyond his years by using this as a teaching opportunity making Paul think about what he has done and learn from it.