“Aye aye, sir!” He spun about and marched out. I glanced at Alexi. He returned my gaze, impassive.
I leaned back. “So. One more port safely arrived at.
Pilot, an excellent job, as usual.”
Surprised, he flushed with pleasure.”Thanks very much, sir.”
“Alexi, you’re in charge of arrangements here. We leave in twenty-four hours. Make sure the oncoming passengers are told we’ll sail two days early. See that our supplies are boarded on time.” None of that should be a problem; we’d already radioed instructions.
“Aye aye, sir. If you’ll excuse me please, I’ll get started now.”
I nodded permission. “Lieutenant Crossburn.”
“Yes, sir?” Subdued and chastened, he seemed much relieved to be freed from his punishment detail. Defused, we couldn’t have our launch out of commission.
“Go below and bring Vax Holser to the bridge.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
I thumbed the caller.”Chief Me Andrews to the bridge.”
I waited with the Pilot and Lieutenant Chantir.
Philip reported, breathless. “Sir, pardon, please. The Governor is on the station. General Tho is with him. Captain Forbee’s shuttle is just docking.”
“I’ll be with them in a moment. When I call, escort them to the bridge.”
“Aye aye, sir.” Tyre hurried off. Before, his manner had been cooperative. Now it was something more intense.
Alexi’s doing, perhaps.
Vax Holser and Lieutenant Crossburn appeared at the hatchway. Vax seemed ill at ease in borrowed civilian clothes that didn’t quite fit.
“Bring him in, Mr. Crossburn.”
Vax, expressionless, followed onto the bridge. I stood waiting. The Chief hurried in, stopping short when he saw Vax.I paced. “You all know I suspended Lieutenant Holser’s commission because of his actions the day we found Tel-star.I have reviewed the matter and I conclude that I made a mistake.”
I glanced at the Chief, felt my face redden. “True, Mr.
Holser’s actions could be construed as mutinous. But I failed to take into account certain mitigating evidence.
First, the Captain had left the ship, and because of the emergency, Mr. Holser had no time to summon a superior.
For the moment, he was in charge. He chose not to Fuse.
It could be argued that as the senior officer present, the choice was his. I don’t take that view, but I can’t conclude beyond doubt that his action was mutinous, despite my utter disapproval.”
The other officers listened, absorbed. Vax, of course, hung on my every word. “Mr. Holser knew Admiralty would take a dim view of abandoning a Captain in interstellar space, and I must take that into account as well.” I couldn’t mention Vax’s true motive, but I knew it now.
“Therefore, I revoke my suspension of Mr. Holser’s commission and I restore him to active duty. Darla, can you erase a recording I ordered you to make?”
“Yes, Captain. You have to order me to erase it and copy your order into the Log. Then the recording is irretrievably wiped.”
I opened the Log and wrote. “Darla, erase my suspension of Mr. Holser from your records.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
I turned to Vax. “You’re reinstated. I still consider your actions reprehensible. They indicate an appalling lack of concern for the safety of the ship. I therefore fine you three months pay and deprive you of three months seniority. I rebuke you.”
He stood at attention, his eyes glistening. “Aye aye, sir.”
“Put on your uniform and report for duty.”
“Aye aye, sir!” A grin broke through his solemnity. With a crisp salute, he turned and strode off the bridge. He broke into a run before he reached the hatch.
“Clear the bridge, please.” I thumbed the caller. “Mr.
Tyre, escort our guests on board.”
Three hours later the shaken Governor walked slowly down the corridor with General Tho, Captain Forbee, and myself.
“You can’t stay to defend us, of course,” Governor Williams said.
“No, sir. Above all else I have to warn Admiralty.”
“Some of our local vessels have lasers, Governor.” General Tho. “If we can organize a unified command--”
“You have it,” I assured him. “Captain Forbee, put yourself under General Tho’s command regarding the defense of Hope Nation.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
The General looked relieved.
“I can’t believe you really found Grone,” Captain Forbee said. “That story of his... “
“It would explain the epidemic,” said the Governor.
“But why an epidemic? Why not bombs?”
I said, “If they’re unicellular organisms they certainly understand viruses.” We walked in chilled silence.
The General muttered, “If I hadn’t seen your holos I’d try to have you committed.”
“Judge Chesley would be happy to oblige.” They smiled.
“Gentlemen, you’ll be on your own. I’ll warn Miningcamp and shoot straight for Earth. You know you won’t have help for three years at least.” No radionics could outrun a fusion drive. We’d be seventeen months each way, and Admiralty would need time to mount a response.
“Right.” We paused at the airlock. The Governor glanced around uneasily. “I’ll feel better back on the surface. Lord God help us all.”
The next day was a blur of activity. Supplies, cargo, and passengers were loaded in record time. Later, I’d get a chance to meet our new passengers; for now I was so busy I hadn’t even checked the manifest. I remained on the bridge, answering questions and directing the harried crew, breaking only for meals.
The planet rotated below, visible in our screens. Amanda was somewhere below; if I looked carefully I could probably spot Centraltown. I sighed. I would learn to live without her.
At last we were ready to leave. I gave the Pilot the conn.
As soon as we cast off the lines he rocked us free.
We drifted ever faster from the station. In an hour we were far enough to Fuse; with deference he returned the conn to me. I fed our calculations to the puter.
“Coordinates received and understood.” Darla.
“Chief Engineer, Fuse, please.” I burned Hope Nation into my memory before it faded from the simulscreens.
We Fused.
Saddened, I left the bridge to Vax and Lieutenant Chantir’s watch, and went below for something to eat.
Passengers milled excitedly in the corridor, exploring the ship. I spotted Derek, grinning foolishly. “Well, Mr. Carr.”
I fell in alongside him. “You’ll be back someday.”
“Perhaps, sir.” He didn’t seem much concerned.
“Why so happy, Mr. Carr?”
“I met the new education director, sir. I think we’re going to be friends.”
I didn’t need a reminder of Amanda. “That’s nice,” I said, glum. I grimaced at the sealed airlock. “It’s going to be a long trip home.”
A familiar voice, behind me. “Think so?”
I whirled. Amanda waited, hands on hips.
“Hi, Micky.” She smiled. Her eyes danced as she came into my arms.
EPILOGUE
“Are you all right, sir?”
I blinked as I emerged into the bright sunlight. My head ached miserably. I swallowed my nausea. Vax hovered; Alexi waited by the car.
“I’m fine.” Despite my claim I felt awful from the P and D I’d voluntarily undergone. For three days they’d pumped me full of drugs, questioned me without end. I remembered little of it. Ever-changing faces, persistent demands that I explain in detail each decision I’d made. They’d stripped me of reasons, facts, motives, and exposed my foolish mistakes to the merciless light. I wanted nothing more than to curl up in bed beside my wife.
“What happened, sir?”
“I passed, Mr. Tamarov.” I swallowed again.
Alexi guided me to an electricar. “What next, sir?”
“They’ll decide whether to court-martial me.”
“They wouldn’t dare!”
“Watch your tongue, Mr. Holser.” Even among comrades I wouldn’t allow that.
“Aye aye, sir. Do you want to go back to quarters?” The entire crew had been shuttled from Lunapolis to Houston Naval Base as soon as my report was read, and we were still there.