“Good,” I said. “Get me out of this, please. Let’s start with your first point. What regs are you looking at?” They all relaxed visibly at my response.
The Chief glanced at his notes. “ ‘Section 357.4. Every watch not commanded by the Captain shall be commanded by a commissioned officer under his direction.’ “ He cleared his throat. “A midshipman is not a commissioned officer.
357.4 says you have to be commissioned to command a watch.”
“As a midshipman I can’t command a watch. I agree with you.”
“Then it’s settled.” Dr. Uburu.
“No. I’m no longer a midshipman.”
“Why not?”
I reached for a holovid and inserted my chip. “ ‘Section 232.8. In case of death or disability of the Captain, his duties, authority, and title shall devolve on the next-ranking line officer.’ “
“So?”
“ ‘Section 98.3. The following persons are not line officers within the meaning of these regulations: a Ship’s Doctor, a chaplain, a Pilot, and an Engineer. All other officers are line officers within the meaning of these regulations.’ “
“ ‘Section 101.9,’ “ countered the Chief. “ ‘The Captain of a vessel may from time to time appoint a midshipman, who shall serve in such capacity as the Captain and his officers may from time to time direct.’ 101.9 suggests a middy may not even be an officer.”
I scrolled my holovid to Section 92.5. “ ‘Command of any work detail may be delegated by the Captain or the officer of the watch to any lieutenant, midshipman, or other officer in his command.’ “ I looked around the table, repeating the deadly phrase. “Lieutenant, midshipman, or other officer.”
I said into the silence, “A midshipman is mentioned as an officer. A line officer.”
The Pilot stirred. “It’s still ambiguous. A midshipman isn’t commissioned. The regs don’t say a middy can become Captain.”
“Nobody thought of it happening. I agree.” I flipped back to the definitions section. “ ‘12. Officer. An officer is a
person commissioned or appointed by authority of the Government of the United Nations to its Naval Service, authorized thereby to direct all persons of subordinate rank in the commission of their duties.’ “
I raised my eyes. “An officer doesn’t have to be commissioned. Look, I want to reach the same conclusion you do.
But the regs are clear. They don’t say the Captaincy shall devolve on the next commissioned officer. They say line officer. I’m an officer. I’m not one of the officers excluded from line of command. I’m the senior line officer aboard.”
“It’s still not explicit,” said the Chief. “We have to guess how to interpret the various passages put together. We can conclude a midshipman never succeeds to command.”
“There’s two problems in doing that. One, when we get home you’d be hanged.”
There was a long silence. “And the other problem?” Dr.
Uburu finally asked.
“I will construe it as mutiny.”
They exchanged glances. I realized the possibility had occurred to them before I arrived.
“It hasn’t come to that,” the Chief said. “Let’s say we all conclude that you’re next in line. Step down. You’re not ready to command.”
“I’ll be glad to. Just show me where it’s allowed.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” said Dr. Uburu. “Quit. Resign the Captaincy. Relieve yourself.”
“On what grounds?”
“Incompetence.”
“Do you mean my lack of skill and other qualifications, or are you suggesting I’m mentally ill?”
“Nobody’s saying you’re mentally ill,” she protested.
“ ‘Section 121.2. The Captain of a vessel may relieve himself of command when disabled and unfit for duty by reason of mental illness or physical sickness or injury.’ “ I laid down my holovid. “I am not physically sick or injured.
I don’t believe I’m mentally ill any more than you do.”
“Isn’t it an inherent authority?” she asked. “The Captain can relieve others. Surely he has inherent authority to relieve himself.”
I said, “I thought of that. So I looked it up. ‘Section 204.1.
The Captain of a vessel shall assume and exert authority and control of the government of the vessel until relieved by order of superior authority, until his death, or until certification of his disability as otherwise provided herein.’ I don’t think they wanted Captains going around relieving themselves from duty.”
“This is ridiculous,” said the Pilot. “Everyone agrees, even you, that you shouldn’t be Captain. Yet you’re telling us we’re stuck with you, that you can’t quit, even though it’s best for the ship.”
“There’s a reason for that,” I told him. “You all know the Captain isn’t a mere officer. He’s the United Nations Government in transit. The Government cannot abdicate.”
“Do it anyway, Nicky,” Dr. Uburu said gently. “Just do it.”
“No.” I looked at each of them. “It is dereliction of duty.
I swore an oath. ‘I shall uphold the Charter of the United Nations, and the laws and regulations promulgated thereunder, to the best of my ability, by the Grace of Lord God Almighty.’ I no longer have a choice.”
“You’re seventeen years old,” said Chief McAndrews.
“There are a hundred and ninety-nine people aboard whose lives depend on the safe operation of this vessel. We have to relieve you.”
“You may relieve me only on the same grounds I can relieve myself,” I said. “Look it up. I will consent to being relieved when a legal basis exists. Otherwise, I must resist.”
The Chief thumbed through the holovid to the section on disability. After a few moments, he reluctantly pushed it aside.
We had reached an impasse. We sat around the little table, hoping a solution would occur.
“And Vax?” the Doctor asked.
“Vax is better qualified. But Vax is not Captain. He’s a midshipman. I am senior to him.”
“Even though he is far better able to handle the ship,” she said.
“Even though. You know how I tried to get the Captain to sign his commission.” I closed my eyes. I was desperately tired. “There is one solution.” She looked up at me, waiting.
“Sign the Log, witnessing that Captain Malstrom commissioned Vax lieutenant before he died. I will acquiesce.”
All eyes turned to the Ship’s Doctor. She studied the tabletop for a long time. The tension in the room was palpable.
After several minutes she raised her eyes and said, “I will not sign the Log in witness. Captain Malstrom did not grant Vax Holser a commission before he died.” The Pilot let his breath out all at once.
She went on, “I realize now we are here in error. The Captain had ample opportunity, not just on his sickbed, but during the weeks after he took command, to commission Vax.
He chose not to, knowing Mr. Seafort was senior midshipman. I know, just as you all know, that Captain Malstrom would acknowledge Mr. Seafort is next in line of command.
Captain Malstrom had authority to leave Nick as senior remaining officer and did. We had no say in the matter while he lived. We have no say in the matter now.”
I had one more hope. “Chief, you were in the infirmary with Captain Malstrom. If you can say you heard him commission Vax... “
The Chief didn’t hesitate, not for a second. “The day I sign a lie into the Log, Mr. Seafort, is the day I walk unsuited out the airlock. No. I heard no such thing.” He fingered the holovid. “We are all sworn officers. We all uphold the Government. It appears that the Government, in its unfathomable wisdom, has put you in charge. You know I wish it were not so. But my wishes don’t count. Sir, I am a loyal officer and you may count on my service.”
I swallowed. “I wanted you to argue me out of it, not the other way around. For the moment, I am Captain-designate.
I will be Captain when I declare I have taken command of the ship, as did Captain Malstrom. First, I’m going back to my bunk to try to find a way out of this. Let’s leave everything as it is. We’ll meet at evening mess.” I stood to go.