Alexi held out an appeasing hand. “I had to see you alone, sir. This was the only way.”
I shrieked, “Alone? Have you lost your mind?”
He unfolded a crumpled paper from the pocket of his soiled jacket. “Please, sir. Read it.”
I snatched the paper. “What is this nonsense?”
“A court order, sir. Jared and Irene Treadwell have petitioned for a custody hearing for Cadet Treadwell. They say you enlisted Paula against her will. They say they’ve changed their minds about going on to Detour and want to stay here.
The court issued a temporary order returning her to them until the hearing. It’s set for two weeks from now. Sir.”
I scanned the legal paper Alexi had summarized, while Seaman Porfirio shifted nervously from foot to foot. Ricky watched, fascinated. Paula looked sheepish. Alexi added, “Every shuttle pilot has been served with a copy, sir. So have all our officers groundside.”
“But--it’s--I mean--” I stumbled to a halt.
“Yes, sir. You ordered me to keep an eye on the cadets and to bring them back to the ship unharmed. I was lucky when they handed me the order, sir. Ricky and Paula--I mean, Cadet Fuentes and Cadet Treadwell--were sightseeing in town when I was served at the shuttleport. I rounded them up and hid them here. We’ve slept out every night and I’ve been sneaking into town for food.”
My head was spinning. “And Mr. Porfirio--”
“I’ve had about a dozen of the crew keeping watch for you, sir. They’re all under oath not to say a word.”
I was stunned by Alexi’s good sense and leadership. It wasn’t for him to question his orders; he knew that it was for me to decide whether to release Cadet Treadwell to the court.
His instructions were to guard them.
Once the girl was back in her parents’ custody we’d never see her again; scheduling the hearing ten days after we were to leave made that clear enough.
Alexi had preserved my options admirably.
I turned to our sailor. “You’re commended, Mr. Porfirio.
I’ll consider how to reward you when we’re under weigh.”
I would give him a promotion and a bonus for his courage in decoying his Captain. The seaman grinned at my words.
“Mr. Tamarov, the demerits I spoke of are canceled.
You’ve done a fine job. Outstanding. I’ll mention your exploit in the Log.” He broke into a slow smile of delight. “As for you two... “ With a scowl I rounded on the cadets, who suddenly looked apprehensive. “I’ll deal with you after we get back to the ship!” If they were silly enough to worry about it, that was their problem.
I took a moment to organize my thoughts. “All right, I know how we’ll handle this. Everybody stay put until I get back.”
A few minutes later I was at Admiralty House, in Forbee’s office, explaining the situation. “What’s your opinion, Mr.
Forbee?”
He seemed intrigued by the possibilities. “Well, sir, the United Nations Circuit Court represents the U.N. Government on Hope Nation. Because we’re so far from home the only appeal is directly to the Governor, who’s also a civilian appointee. He has plenipotentiary powers and he’s a representative of the U.N. Government. While under weigh, you, as commander of the vessel, also have plenipotentiary powers.
But groundside, a captain is subject to the civilian courts.”
I objected. ‘ They’re challenging an appointment I made under weigh. Its validity isn’t for them to decide.”
“No, sir. But they may think differently.”
I paused to think it through. “Admiral Johanson had full authority over Naval affairs even though he was based planetside. His orders weren’t subject to the court, were they?”
“No, sir.” Forbee blinked.
“I’m senior Naval officer and in charge of Admiralty House. I don’t have Johanson’s rank, but his duties and responsibilities devolve on me so long as I’m in Hope Nation system. So I have full authority over Naval matters as senior representative of Admiralty.”
He considered it. “It’s a sustainable position, sir.”
“Sustai--” I came out of my chair with a roar. “Don’t give me that goofjuice! Paula Treadwell is validly enlisted under Naval authority. Maintain and support that position as vigorously as may be required. Do I make myself clear?”
“Aye aye, sir!”
With an effort, I made my voice calm. “Very well. Prepare a general order for me to sign. As senior officer in the Hope Nation system I endorse and ratify the enlistment of Cadet Paula Treadwell by Captain Nicholas Seafort of Hiberniaand I order all personnel to defend and support that appointment.” Forbee typed into his holovid.
The next sentence was the one that could see me hanged.
“I further order all personnel to defend and protect Ms.
Treadwell from any civilian authority, including representatives of U.N. Circuit Court, who attempt to interfere with the performance of her duties.”
I leaned back in my chair. “Now, Mr. Forbee, round up every local system officer who has children. If he or she is out of port, round up their spouse. All children of local officers are invited to a tour of Hiberniatomorrow forenoon.
See to it that they accept the invitation. Order a shuttle for the tour. This evening you will pick up some friends of mine in your electricar--you have a car, yes?--and take them home with you for the night. In the morning they will join the tour in clean civilian clothes. Did you get that?”
He said faintly, “Aye aye, sir.”
I straightened my tie in my cabin mirror. My hair was brushed neatly, my shoes gleamed, the pants of my dress whites were crisply creased, the length of service medals pinned to my jacket. I thumbed my caller. “Lieutenant Holser to the aft lock, please.”
I strode down the Level 2 corridor to the airlock. Vax Holser was waiting when I got there.
It had been two days since I’d left an anxious Captain Forbee at Admiralty House; Hiberniawas due to depart tomorrow. About half our crew had returned from shore leave and the rest were trickling in hour by hour. Passengers for Detour were being ferried up by shuttle. Paula and Ricky, safely aboard, were confined by my orders to Level 1 until embarkation. Paula apologized to me for the trouble her family made; I accepted her apology and ignored her breach of custom in daring to speak to me directly. The circumstances were unusual.
The officers’ children had a jolly tour of the ship. The moment they filed out the airlock to Orbit Station, Mr. Vishinsky and his detail sealed both locks and posted armed sentries.
Their orders were to allow no one aboard except crewmen and passengers for Detour. Passengers’ belongings were searched for weapons before they were permitted aboard, and their papers scrutinized. As a final precaution I had sentries posted at the ladders to Level 1.
General Tho was of the U.N. Armed Forces, not the Navy.
As soon as his shuttle pilot reported that two more children had taken the shuttle to Orbit Station than were waiting to go back, he knew what I had done. He demanded I return young Ms. Treadwell. I refused. Tension abounded, until I announced I would go planetside the next day--today--to appear in Circuit Court regarding Cadet Treadwell.
Now the time had come. I wondered whether I would see Hiberniaagain. I might well spend the next half year in a local jail waiting for a ship to take me back to Lunapolis in irons. Well, if so, Amanda would visit me in my cell.
“Mr. Holser, I order you to defend the ship against unauthorized entry. By that I mean entry by any person except crew or passengers. If I’m not back within twenty-four hours you are to assume I’m held under duress, and that I will not return. You are then to declare yourself Captain and proceed to Detour. Acknowledge your orders.”
“Aye aye, sir. Acknowledged and understood. May I go groundside with you?”