Rimmer saw the many buttons on the stranger's collar. Going on Lister's guess that this meant the man was a high ranking officer, Rimmer circled his wrist, then his elbow, then snapped his hand right next to the "H" on his forehead in a sharp Space Corps salute. As far as Rimmer was concerned, it was never too early to start brown-nosing the people in charge.

"Second Technician Rimmer, sir. And Acting Captain of the mining ship Red Dwarf," he added. Even though he was only Acting Captain because, as Lister was the only other crew member on Red Dwarf, he, Rimmer, was technically the highest ranking person left. But Rimmer would take what he could get.

"And might I say that you have a lovely beard, sir. Just splendid. Very authoritative." He raised the hand that wasn't saluting in a tight fist to emphasize the authoritative part.