Article 23

Chapter VIII

Try as he might, Justin couldn't get to sleep; the net felt like a trap, closing him in.

"Tanya, you awake?" he finally whispered.

"Yeah, can't sleep either."

In the darkness he could barely see her as she unzipped from her net. Soft music filled the room Justin recognized it as Prince Igor. He unzipped, then floated over by her side and settled down.

"What are we going to do, Tanya?" he sighed.

"I don't know any more, I'm scared, Justin, really scared."

"Still think this is a simulation?"

"Well, if it is, I wish to hell Thorsson would pop the hatch and come in. This is going too damn far."

"Too damn far," Justin agreed.

" MacKenzie is off his rocker. We both know Matt and the others are innocent."

"We know, but he sure doesn't. I think he was just waiting for a chance to do something like this. Getting cut off, then Colson running and squealing like a stuck pig. MacKenzie wants vengeance, wants to prove something. Colson gave him the excuse to act."

"But vengeance on who, Justin? Matt Everett? He wouldn't harm a fly."

"O'Brian told me a lot about his wife. Maybe it's that. I don't know there's something really weird about him when it comes to cadets our age. Maybe something happened when he was a kid and now it's playing back out.

"I've been reading that book he assigned to me. I can understand what he sees in it, Ahab believing that he sees an evil no one else can comprehend. Enlisting his crew, even the virtuous Starbuck to destroy what he hates. I think what's left of his rational thinking is convinced that executing Matt and the others will show firmness to the rest of the Fleet. It will force the crisis out into the open, and then let the cards fall where they may. He has no patience for the slow approach like Thorsson. He wants it settled now."

"But he must know Matt is innocent."

"No, he doesn't. He's got this sick obsession with people our age. Convinced nearly all of us are deceitful, untrustworthy. Every school always seems to have a teacher like that, always lurking, trying to catch somebody and thereby prove themselves correct. So Matt and the others fit the bill for the crimes MacKenzie imagines."

"And he takes in the one sniveling rat who really is untrustworthy. Has anyone tried to talk to Colson?"

Justin shook his head. "He can't be reached. He lives up in officer country now. Guess MacKenzie, or Colson figures that if he wandered around back here with us low- lifes he'd get torn apart."

"I think I'd kill him myself if I could," Tanya hissed.

Justin was startled by the hatred in her voice. This whole thing was going completely out of control on both sides. It was strange how only days ago they were all straight and proper cadets, at least on the surface. It only took several days aboard this ship, with its fear and mistrust and a little discomfort thrown in due to the anti-radiation suits, and everyone was supping over the edge.

Their classes always emphasized honor, self-sacrifice, and the unspoken acceptance of the concept that one would willingly lay down his life for a comrade or for anyone in peril. Yet it didn't take long to change all that around. Those not arrested were cowed, divided into whispering groups.

He wondered if senior cadets would have behaved the same way. Petronovich seemed to have sided with the Captain. Did that therefore mean that in some perverted way the Captain was right after all? He wrestled with that thought. Petronovich had gone all the way through the Academy, and had done so with honor. He was a friend of Brian Seay's, and though everyone might grumble about Brian, Justin knew that he himself would not hesitate to follow the senior cadet's lead.

He wondered if Brian would have sided with MacKenzie or offered some resistance. Some inner voice told him that if Brian had been aboard this ship, chances were he'd be down below locked up with the others. Everything MacKenzie had done so far was a violation of Fleet Procedures singling out offworld cadets, the strange questioning, acting after listening only to Colson and no one else, the manner of Matt's arrest and the interviews afterwards, and above all else the decision to execute the nine cadets without benefit of a formal hearing. No, Brian would be down in the brig.

So how did it get to this? Was most of humanity made up of sheep that cower and turn their heads the moment a wolf emerges? History seemed to show that was the case; in fact, many preferred the wolf especially when he singled out a target that was unpopular with some.

Yet we are the generation of space, at least that's what Thorsson keeps preaching. The disdain MacKenzie showed for Thorsson Justin wondered if in fact the Academy was in a dream, and the attitude of MacKenzie was more the norm. If so, what then of honor and comradeship? He remembered Thorsson's story of Confederate Sergeant Kirkland who, during the Battle of Fredericksburg, dropped his rifle, took the canteens from his friends, and crawled out into the open to give water to wounded Union soldiers. Thorsson had dwelt on that, asking if they could reach the same level, to risk their lives to give comfort to a fallen enemy.

And Matt is my friend, my closest friend and what have I done? Justin thought guiltily.

"You're awfully quiet," Tanya said.

"Just thinking, that's all."

"Something about you is different now," Tanya whispered.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know. Just different, not as nervous, like something's building and changing inside you."

Justin didn't know how to reply.

"Do you really think he's going to execute them?"

"Hard to believe, but I think he will. We're cut off, he claims there's an emergency, and in a technical sense, he might be able to get away with Article Twenty-Three."

"But why, damn it? He can keep them locked up down there till we hit Deimos, turn them over for court-martial. There's no reason not to wait."

"Oh, yes, there is."

"Why?"

Justin shook his head sadly. "Why not? It's that simple why not? Kill some traitors, arrive at port and some will acclaim him to be a courageous hero for having the guts to take a stand."

"You think someone would protest, though. What about the media, someone will scream about a Captain murdering a bunch of sixteen- and seventeen-year-old kids."

"The media?" Justin sniffed. They'll tell lies as they always do. Come on, Tanya, think. Think of some of the leaders in the past who were nothing but damn lying scoundrels, cheating, stealing, breaking the laws left and right, yet the media kissed their butts while other leaders trying to bring about honest reform were pilloried. Right now the press are calling the separatists a bunch of terrorists. If some people were killed on the Gustavus, that clinches the deal.

"Remember that there are a lot of people who don't like the Academy. They've never liked the military to start with; they're afraid of our discipline, our adherence to an older code of values, and would love to see us torn down. Matt, Madison and the others will be instantly denounced and then through them they'll get at Thorsson and the Academy. We'll be seen as a nest of sedition to be rooted out. It won't be the first time that cadets or soldiers who were innocent were sacrificed to get at someone farther up the ladder."

"I wonder if MacKenzie is using Matt to get at Thorsson then," Tanya said, her voice bitter.

"You know," she continued, "I don't think I've ever heard you talk so much before."

"Well, I guess there wasn't anything this important to talk about," Justin replied, suddenly feeling somewhat shy.

"So what do we do?"

Justin fell silent for a moment. " MacKenzie still trusts me somewhat."

"So?"

Justin got up and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?"

"To see the Captain."

"Are you crazy?' Tanya hissed. "Go in there and you might be victim number ten."

"Maybe so. But I'd rather that than sitting here doing nothing."

"I'm going with you, Justin."

"No, you aren't."

"Look, Justin, you can't order me out of this."

"Tanya. He does trust me to a certain extent. You, I'm not sure. I think the fact you're a woman might set him off as well. Just stay here."

She hesitated.

"Please, just listen to me just this once? If I get caught up I'd like to think there was still someone on the outside on my side."

"All right. But I'll never forgive you if you get yourself locked up."

Stepping out of his room he looked up and down the corridor. At the end of the hallway he saw an enlisted man standing guard. Justin motioned that he wanted to approach, and the guard waved him forward.

"I'd like to go see the Captain," Justin said.

"Listen, son, just go back to your room."

"I'd like to see him," Justin pressed.

"Kid, it ain't pleasant up there right now. You can hear them hollering and yelling all the way out in the lounge. I heard O'Brian say it was getting kind of nasty, something about Hemenez being relieved."

"What?"

"Just that, and believe me, kid, I'd rather have her flying than Lewis any day of the week. So play it cool and get back to your room."

"I'd still like to see him."

"All right, kid," the guard sighed, "it's your funeral. I'll take you forward."

The guard escorted Justin through the lounge and talked to the guard by the forward door. The second man shook his head, then tabbed his commlink. After several minutes' wait the door opened. Petronovich was on the other side. The senior cadet was obviously shaken, and suffering from lack of sleep.

Petronovich offered the same arguments but Justin refused, repeating his demand to speak to the Captain. Petronovich finally led him forward. As the door opened Hemenez came out, her face flushed.

"I've been relieved of duty," she announced, and then stared at Justin. "What are you doing here?"

"I felt I should talk to the Captain."

"You've got guts, kid, I'll say that for you," she said. "Just be careful."

Justin stepped into the room. Doctor Zhing and Lieutenant Lewis were still in the room, both of them looking exhausted. MacKenzie seemed surprisingly refreshed; a thin smile lighted his face as Justin entered.

Justin came to attention. "Sir, permission to speak, sir."

"Ah, the idealist. Have you finished reading the book yet?"

"Sir? Oh, yes, sir."

"So you've come to report. Good, very good. Did you like it?"

Justin was surprised, and then realized that in spite of all that was going on the Captain thought that Justin was simply here to report the completion of a reading assignment. Well, if so, it was best to play along and look for an opening.

"It was troubling, sir."

"Interesting. Tell me, cadet, did Ahab warrant death?"

How to cast this? Justin wondered.

"His sacrifice, sir, did not change the course of events. The rope snagged him and he disappeared over the side. I remember seeing a movie where they did it differently, but in the book, sir, I think it was a senseless death."

"Yet it changed Ishmael, did it not? Was not such sacrifice therefore worth it?"

Justin looked around the room. Lewis was staring off blankly. Zhing, however, was watching intently. Justin knew that everything here was a metaphor, but he was out of his league when it came to this type of interaction.

"Sir, Moby Dick triumphed. He killed his nemesis, he destroyed the Pequod and all aboard save one. Would it not have been better for Ahab to wait until there was a more suitable time to act?"

MacKenzie walked up to Justin and smiled.

"You're playing a game with me, Mr. Bell. You are trying to be Starbuck, counseling caution. Don't play a game you do not understand."

"No, sir."

"Now what do you want?"

Justin suddenly realized that coming into this room was an act of pure impulse. He had not prepared in his mind exactly what he would say.

"Sir, concerning the executions."

"Execution," Zhing interrupted, holding up his hand.

"Sir?"

"The Captain has agreed to execute only the ringleader of the conspiracy. The others will be held for trial upon arrival at a base."

"You mean Matt alone will be executed."

Zhing nodded, eyes darting back and forth. "It's a fair compromise," he said hurriedly, as if to convince himself he had done the right thing. "Besides, Cadet Everett did strike the Captain, a capital offense in a time of emergency or military action."

"Oh, the good doctor argued long and hard for sparing all of them," MacKenzie interjected. "The humanitarianism of the physician, that was it, wasn't it, Doctor?"

Zhing, obviously beaten, lowered his head and looked back over his shoulder at MacKenzie.

"I still think we should wait for this boy as well, sir," he said quietly.

"No!" MacKenzie snapped, slamming a balled fist into the palm of his hand. "When this ship arrives at the base with a conspirator executed it will send a clear message across the system that the days of tolerance for traitors is over. The gesture of sparing the others for later trial is a weakness I regret, but I'll agree to it for your vote, Doctor, to have this traitor receive his immediate reward."

Zhing looked back at Justin in resignation. He could sense what Zhing would say, that in order to spare the other eight he was forced to agree to the death of one.

"Sir, I was informed that Flight Lieutenant Hemenez has been relieved?" Justin asked.

"She has been relieved," MacKenzie replied, "and that is no further concern of yours. Our brave Lieutenant Lewis can handle the ship well enough on his own. I've promoted Senior Cadet Petronovich to fill Hemenez's place."

As Justin looked at MacKenzie he knew that any appeal, any attempt at logic was beyond hope.

"So why are you here, Cadet?"

"Sir. May I have permission to say good-bye to Cadet Everett?"

"He is no longer a cadet," MacKenzie snapped, "I have stripped him of his rank in the service. But yes, you may see the prisoner. You can tell him of the sentence which will be carried out at morning muster, 0700 ship time."

'They don't know? There hasn't been a formal sentencing?" Justin asked in surprise.

"No need for that," MacKenzie replied. "So you can tell him."

Justin looked at the chronometer on MacKenzies computer screen. Just over seven hours to go.

"Thank you, sir."

" Bell."

"Yes, sir?"

"Don't do or say anything foolish. So far you have been spared in spite of some indications casting doubt upon your loyalty."

Again Justin could see the warning in Zhing's eyes. So Colson had tried to drag him into the net. It was to be expected, because he had witnessed most of the encounters.

"Sir, my loyalty to the service has always been foremost in my mind," Justin replied.

"And to me?"

"I am always loyal to the captain of the ship," Justin announced, not adding his own inner question that wondered who indeed should be captain of this ship.

"You're dismissed, Bell. You have ten minutes with the condemned."

Justin backed out of the room, trying to keep from breaking down into a bitter denouncement.

He went down the corridor and turned right by the door leading into the lounge. The stairs up to the flight deck were now on his right, and to his surprise he saw Colson coming down. Colson froze, his eyes darting back and forth nervously.

"I guess you heard," Colson finally said when Justin refused to move aside.

Justin nodded, wondering if a computer link in the corridor might be on.

"Look, Bell," Colson began, and then his eyes lowered.

Justin studied his face. It was pale, drawn, eyes sunken from lack of sleep, streaks of sweat bathing his forehead. Some of it was obviously the strain of being in the suit, and Justin realized that the days of lugging the bulky anti-radiation gear around must be taking a toll. He could feel it himself the increasing sense of claustrophobia, the screaming desire to tear the damn thing off and just run naked, to have a cool, soothing shower and then clean sheets to crawl between. He knew it was setting the entire crew on edge. But the stress in Colson was far more than that.

"Having second thoughts now?" Justin whispered.

Colson looked back up, trying to hold Justin with his gaze. " Everett went too far."

"So far that he deserves to die?"

"That's out of my hands now."

"No, it's not," Justin hissed. "It started with you. You can go back to the Captain, tell the truth, and save Matt's life. Whatever happened between you and him doesn't deserve death."

"He's a traitor," Colson declared, but the old sharp edge to his voice was gone.

Justin drew closer and dropped his voice to a barely heard whisper. "If there's a traitor here, a traitor to the traditions of the Academy, it's you, Wendell."

He wanted to leave it at that, but for Matt's sake he knew he couldn't.

"You can still change that, retrieve your honor and your good standing with your shipmates. Tell the truth, save Matt, and you would deserve this far more than I ever did," and as he spoke Justin pointed to the life-saving stripe above his left breast pocket. "Just tell the truth, Wendell, that would be an act of heroism and bravery reflecting the highest traditions of the Academy."

Colson looked down at the coveted award and for a brief instant there was a look of sadness and longing on his face. Justin actually felt a moment of pity, wondering what inner turmoil must be tearing Colson apart. Surely there had to be a sense of guilt and fear screaming inside of him.

"Mr. Colson?"

The voice on Colson's commlink tab startled him.

Colson pressed the tab.

"Sir?"

"Where are you, Colson?"

"Coming off the flight deck, sir."

"Report to me in five minutes, Wendell."

"Yes, sir," and Colson punched the tab, shutting it off.

"I have to go."

"You can go in there and straighten this problem out," Justin begged as he reached out and grabbed Wendell by the arm.

Wendell looked down at Justin's hand and shook it free. He hesitated for an instant then shook his head.

" Its beyond that now," Colson said. "The Captain has made up his mind and it's final."

"And you gave him the ammunition to do it with."

"I did my duty."

"A line so many have hidden behind," Justin hissed, and instantly regretted his words. He had to use persuasion, an appeal to a higher sense of honor, not condemnation.

Colson drew himself up and started to shoulder his way forward.

"You're in my way, the Captain wants me."

"Wendell, please."

The smile returned and Justin knew he had lost.

"I did do my duty. Thorsson would never see it that way, but I wonder if he'll be in any position to object after all of this is over. MacKenzies right and I know there are others out there who will agree. And don't forget, Bell, my family will back me up, so if I were you I'd find a safe place to hide."

A spasm of rage swelled in Justin and Colson quickly slipped past. For an instant Justin wanted to reach out and grab him, to somehow beat the truth out of him, but he knew it would be useless.

He let Colson go and then stood alone for several minutes struggling for self-control. He had to be calm when he saw Matt; being angry or upset in front of his friend wasn't going to help the situation.

Continuing down the short corridor he turned right and went down the stairs to the lower deck. He approached the guard and announced the purpose of the visit. The guard called up to the Captain and after several more minutes of waiting MacKenzie gave permission for Justin to go in. Justin watched as the guard undipped a key from his belt and unlocked die padlock. Looking farther down the corridor Justin saw what he assumed was the barrier door leading aft to the hydroponics room. Just before the door was the weapons storage area, padlocked as well.

He entered the room and saw that all of the prisoners were asleep, floating. Reaching over to Matt, he touched him lightly on the shoulder. Matt stirred and woke up, this time without thrashing about.

He rubbed his eyes and smiled. "How you doin't buddy?" Matt whispered.

Justin struggled for control.

"What is it?"

Madison, floating behind Justin, awoke. She pushed off the ceiling, let her sticky boots make contact with the floor, and settled down beside Matt and Justin.

"Come on, Justin, spill it," Matt said.

"It isn't good."

"No fooling," Madison interjected. "We've been locked up in here till we're ready to go bonkers. Two chances to hit the head and that's it. And we're slowly getting cooked."

She pointed to her dose meter, which indicated she had picked up half a dozen rad.

"Several years worth, makes me wonder what my lads will look like."

"You'll be all right. Zhing give you iodine doses to flush your thyroid?"

"Yeah, big help. But that's not my worry now," Madison whispered.

"No one's talked to us, questioned us, read us our rights, even told us formally what we've been charged with. So when are we getting outta here?"

Justin struggled to form the words. " Madison, you'll be going before a court-martial board once we arrive at Deimos."

"A court-martial?" Madison hissed. "I haven't even been questioned yet or charged. How can he do that? Besides, I haven't done anything but try and keep Matt here from getting into a brawl with that idiot Colson, and you're telling me I'm facing a court-martial? This is nuts!"

"What about me?" Matt asked, "You said Madison, but what about the others and me?"

"The others will face court-martial as well."

Matt reached out and touched Justin on the shoulder, hand shaking. He gulped, face pale.

"I think you're trying to say something and you can't get it out," Matt whispered.

Justin nodded, and in spite of himself tears came to his eyes. In zero gravity they simply pooled, dulling his vision so Matt looked distant and hazy.

"Justin?" Madison whispered. "What is it?"

"He's going to space me, isn't he?" Matt asked, his voice strangely calm.

Justin nodded. "Seven in the morning."

"Walk the plank and breathe vacuum," Matt tried to chuckle but it came out strangled, his voice choking.

"As a sailor I always figured I'd drown in vacuum some day a lot of us go that way," Matt rambled.

"But I never figured I'd know the time and date beforehand."

Madison started to cry, her sobs waking the other cadets. Word of what was to happen flashed through the room and for a moment Justin lost Matt as the others swarmed around him, some crying, others swearing, shouting their protests so loudly that the guard flung the door back open.

"All right, pipe down in there!" she roared.

A storm of angry shouts greeted her. Frightened, the enlisted woman waved her laser pistol, but Justin could see that her heart wasn't in it.

"Please, just be quiet or the Captain will be down here to kick my butt."

"He's getting spaced and you're worried about your butt?" Marissa Livollen cried. "Give me that damn gun and I'll take care of MacKenzie for you."

"Don't talk like that!" Justin shouted, "Just everyone pipe down."

Startled by his vehemence, the cadets looked over at Justin.

"Please," he said softly, looking at the guard. "I'll be right out, but just forget what you heard here. OK?"

She nodded her head. "Sure, OK, but you gotta keep it quiet," and she half-closed the door.

Justin stood up and grabbed hold of Matt.

"Look, buddy, this isn't going to happen."

"Yeah, sure, Justin."

"I mean it."

"Look, Justin. You're the first real friend I've ever had. I wanted you to know that. It means a lot to me."

Justin grabbed Matt by the shoulders and hugged him.

"My stuff. Whatever you want, it's yours."

"I don't want anything of yours except you."

"Look. At least hang on to that picture your mom took of us canoeing on Sugar Creek. Make sure the rest gets back to my Uncle Dan." Matt smiled sadly. "Old Dan will take it hard. Down deep I know he didn't want me to go. Funny. My ' bot, my robot friend I think he'll miss me too. He was a great chess player. When you get a chance, would you visit them? Tell Dan I took it like a real sailor, no whining or pleading. Walked the plank and spat in their eye, I did, before they popped the door."

With that, Matt started to break down.

The chaos around them swelled again with Madison shouting that they should rush the guard.

"Get out of here before you get locked in with us," Matt shouted. "Go on, Justin, do me the favor. I don't want you getting hurt too."

Matt pushed Justin away. Justin started to move back, wanting to spend the last hours with Matt, but his friend drew back into the group.

"See you in the morning," Matt said and he smiled through his tears.

Time seemed to drag out. Justin stared at Matt as if really seeing him for the first time. He remembered as well so much of what Thorsson had said about loyalty, loyalty to the Service and, by extension, loyalty to those who served in it.

Matt had exemplified all those virtues to anyone who extended a friendly hand to him. He remembered how in the first days at the Academy it was Matt who had befriended him, and then helped to pull him into the circle of their platoon. He realized so clearly now that without Matt he would have undoubtedly washed out of the Service. If there was anyone aboard who truly showed what the Service was about it was Cadet Matthew Everett and not the man who claimed to be Captain and was now about to kill him. In that instant Justin fully realized what he had to do.

Without another word Justin stepped out of the room, watching without comment as the guard slammed the door shut and snapped the padlock closed. She looked over at him.

"You OK, kid?"

Justin nodded.

"I heard about your buddy," she whispered. "Tough break. Real tough break. I'm sorry."

"Do you think it's right?"

"It's the law," she replied slowly.

"What law?"

"Listen kid. There are two kinds of law out here. Fleet law and the Captain's law. And what the Captain says is the higher law, at least aboard this ship."

"So you're only following orders," Justin said in a voice edged with sarcasm.

She hesitated. "Go on, get outta here, or I'll place you on report."

"Would you?"

"Just get out of here."

Justin stepped back and looked down the corridor heading aft. He studied it for several seconds, then turned and went forward and upstairs. Stepping into the corridor topside he passed the flight deck and reached the doorway to the lounge. He heard loud arguing coming from the Captain's cabin, and stepping past the door he went and looked down the corridor leading forward. The guard by the doorway into the Captain's cabin was leaning against the bulkhead and obviously eavesdropping. At the sight of Justin looking at him he shook his head.

Justin hesitated, realizing he was standing next to Lieutenant Hemenez's door. He knocked on the door, ignoring the guard who stirred but then did nothing to stop him.;

"Enter."

Justin stepped into the tiny room. Hemenez was sitting at her terminal, studying the screen. She looked up as Justin came in.

"How are you, Bell?"

"Not good, sir. And you?"

"Oh, just checking the transmit systems," she said, nodding at the screen. "Kind of hoping the storm was dying down. No such luck, we're cut off. Occasional bursts of traffic from high-gain transmitters, but nothing coming our way and most definitely nothing going out."

She turned around to face Justin.

"Guess you heard the verdict?"

Justin nodded. "Also heard about you. I'm sorry."

"Don't feel sorry for me, Bell. Maybe I'll get cleared. If not, there are always the commercial transports."

"Is that what you want?"

She shook her head sadly. "Never thought I'd see something like this. I just graduated last year and nothing like this ever happened at the Academy or aboard my off base postings."

"Care for some coffee? We have to talk about things."

She started to shake her head.

"Galley in ten minutes," Justin whispered.

She hesitated. "OK."

Justin left the room and headed aft, hoping that Hemenez could bluff her way past the guards.

He slowed as he approached the galley and was grateful to hear O'Brian banging some pots inside. Looking through the door he saw the cook loading food containers into the cleaner. Justin turned to go in.

"Hey, you. Bell."

Justin looked back and saw Petronovich approaching.

"Sir?"

"Into your room."

"O'Brian just called for me and Leonov," Justin said loudly. "Said he wanted us to help."

"Into your room."

"But, sir."

"Don't 'but, sir' me!"

While Justin hesitated a beefy hand reached out, grabbing him by the shoulder.

"That's what I said, sonny," O'Brian announced while dragging Justin into the galley. "I need a couple of rats to help me scrub things. You wanna join us?"

Petronovich hesitated. "Even though I'm a cadet, I am a senior cadet holding the rank of ensign and should be addressed as 'sir.'"

"Yeah, sure, sir. Now either he helps me or you help me, what's it gonna be?"

"I've heard nothing from the Captain granting approval for cadets to leave their rooms tonight."

"Well, sonny why don't you just call him on that commlink of yours. And by heavens he'll tell you that at this end of the ship it's O'Brian who runs things and if I want a couple of rats to help me, by God I have them. Now are you coming in to help or are you going back to pacing your beat?"

"I'll remember this," Petronovich snapped. "When things calm down here you'll be on report too."

O'Brian snickered. "Sure, sure. Lose my stripes again. Won't be the first time. Now let us get to work."

Petronovich backed away, trying to maintain his dignity.

" Bell, once things are over with this morning, report to me. We're going to see the Captain about this, and you, too, O'Brian."

"Yes, sir, I'm sorry, sir," O'Brian replied in a wheedling tone.

The cook reached across the corridor and slid the door open into Tanya's room. "Hey, you lazy Russian, get your butt outta the net and in here. I need you."

O'Brian pushed Justin into the galley. Justin went over to the coffee dispenser, filled a container and took a gulp of the scalding brew. The caffeine, lack of sleep and nerves started him shaking. O'Brian went back to work. A minute later Leonov, obviously in a bad mood, came in.

"Close the door," O'Brian snapped, "and get to work."

"Look, O'Brian," Leonov began. "No one calls me a lazy Russian and Her voice trailed off as she looked at Justin.

"You look like hell, Justin, what happened?"

Justin told them the news and the two looked at him, stunned.

"I knew he'd flip some day," O'Brian snarled. "Damn all. It's going to be straight into the fan once we dock."

"What do you think will happen then?" Leonov asked.

"What if this separatist thing on Gustavus goes bad? What if personnel from the Service got killed? I think there might be some who will back MacKenzie up. At least in public. Say that it was an emergency, Everett was talking sedition and mutiny. MacKenzie is shrewd. None of the personal stuff will come out he'll act remorseful, claim that he was reluctantly forced to act to save his ship and he'll be exonerated. Besides, notice how he claims to have compromised by sparing the other eight. That'll make it look like he tried to be fair. And there's one thing that separates Everett from the others. "

"What's that?" Leonov asked."

"That Matt supposedly hit MacKenzie," Justin said.

"So there's two counts against him and your friend gets spaced."

" Thorsson would never sit for that," Leonov replied. "He'd bust his own career to get MacKenzie for killing one of his cadets."

"Would he? Look young lady. There are some who think Thorsson's off his nut with all this talk about the brotherhood of the service and our destiny to go for the stars; the emergence of the new generation of humanity. Chances are Thorsson will fall too because of this."

" Thorsson fall?" Justin cried. "That's impossible."

"There are some folks who think your Academy is nothing but a billion-dollar toy. They'd turn around and say that Thorsson was soft and Everett was the result. The truth of it all will get buried in a lot of mudslinging. And I tell you this, even if MacKenzie never goes a step farther in the Service, he'll have won what he wanted. He showed everyone that he was tough."

"By killing a sixteen-year-old cadet?" Leonov cried.

That will be forgotten. He'll be branded a traitor. What will be worse, though, this will drive a wedge between the two sides. In the Fleet the small core of hard-liners will rally around MacKenzie. But on the broader side of things the separatists will have a martyr and proof for their argument that the Service is an iron fist ready to smash them if they resist. This could take the simmering pot and make it boil over. And that, as well, is exactly what MacKenzie wants."

Justin listened to O'Brian, fascinated by how clear his logic suddenly was. The act of the simple, rough cook was, Justin realized, a facade. There was a depth of understanding to the man he'd never quite seen before. O'Brian looked at Justin and winked as if he knew what the cadet was thinking.

The door slid open and Hemenez stepped into the room.

"Lieutenant, sorry, I just heard the news," O'Brian said.

"Don't worry about me now, that's the least of my concerns."

O'Brian drew a cup of coffee and pressed it into her hand.

"All right, Bell, what gives?" Hemenez asked.

And as Justin began to talk the three looked at him with wide-eyed astonishment.

Alone in his room, Captain Ian MacKenzie stared out the forward view port. Mars was to one side, shining with a brilliant intensity in the center of Gemini.

It was quiet at last, the arguing finished, the task all but accomplished. Finally it will be clear, out in the open, he thought. He could sense what would happen when they finally docked. But it would be beyond recall. They she would portray Everett as a hero. Just like them to take such deceit, such arrogance and turn it about, wrapping it in a shimmering mantle of glory. Let them, he mused. It will drive them further in their madness and then it will be out in the open.

Then it will be revealed, all the poison, the lies and the corruption, and in the end I will be seen for the strength I alone had, to stand against the darkness. There will be a war and when it comes there will be need for such as me. Gone will be the men and women like Thorsson, unmasked as the builders of traitors. It will be a time of action, and command will be in the hands of men like me who will remember my courage.

He leaned over and turned on his computer, punching in the bypass codes. Scanning room by room he listened to all that was being said. In some rooms he heard whispers, yet more talk. He let the recorder run. Here will be more proof, for there will be a time when such things will be allowed to be heard. He switched through the lounge, which was empty, and then the galley.

Again that damnable music. He listened for a moment, then continued on.

He looked at the clock in the lower corner of his screen. Two hours to go. At least it would be over with quickly. He had seen enough good men die in vacuum to know it would be fast. For a brief instant the face of Everett was in his mind. Mouth open, gasping in the nothingness, then the freezing eyes rolling back, features going slack, arms and legs relaxing, limp, slowly curling up into a fetal position.

He hoped the boy wouldn't cry or struggle. At least take it like a man. Not a boy. But then they were deceitful, liars, and he remembered the boarding school so long ago, the taunting because he wasn't of their class, a boy from the east end of London among all that snobbery and wealth. Never good on the playing fields, called a drone for finding solace in study. The bully, Thrackworth red hair just like this one. The late night beatings with the others watching, saying nothing, afraid, or, worse yet, laughing. No one to stand by my side. Well, it was good training for the long watches alone, always alone.

Sighing, he turned the computer off and waited for the beginning of the morning watch.