Hofstader sat still, angling his head slightly to pan his eyes down the Committee table. You’ve lost them all, he thought bitterly. Some of them just want to slap you on the wrist, but none of them will stand up to Norgov. Fools.
Norgov continued, hardly taking a breath as he droned on. “I am personally astonished at the arrogance you have displayed in wantonly ignoring the directives of this Committee.”
Hofstader sat quietly listening as Norgov continued. He wasn’t really paying attention; his mind had wandered to other things, leaving the Russian’s nasal voice a distant buzz in the background. As always, he was stunned how detached many researchers could be from reality. A lifetime in academia often created an inability to consider the real world implications of research. Hofstader had done some preliminary calculations on how much antimatter a planetwide factory could produce, and the results scared him to his core. His numbers were just short of a wild guess at this point, but he was confident they were at least reasonably close to accurate. The potential applications of so much energy were sobering…at least to anyone with the sense to consider them. The weaponry that could be created was terrifying.
Norgov was still talking when Hofstader drifted back from his own thoughts. “This is the greatest international scientific project ever undertaken by mankind, and its success will depend on adherence to a properly enacted series of protocols, not intellectual anarchy.”
Hofstader could feel the frustration turning to rage. He knew Norgov was a pompous windbag, and he’d girded himself to sit and quietly endure the asshole’s tirade. But there was a limit to what he could stand, and he’d reached it. His temper had often been a problem…he had very little patience for those he considered stupid or foolish. Now the anger bubbled out and he interrupted Norgov.
“Dr. Norgov, excuse me for cutting short your unceasing prattle, but I’m afraid it’s the only way anyone else is likely to get a word in.” Norgov was glaring at him, silent for once, with an expression that looked like it could bore through a plasti-steel bulkhead. “I exercised some initiative and conducted a brief exploration of a section of the facility before it was officially open. I did not removed or disturb anything; I simply examined a length of tunnel.” He saw Norgov shift in his seat, and he raised his voice to forestall the Russian from interrupting him. “No harm was done, and I was able to substantially support my hypothesis. If you want to be a politician and a petty bully, why didn’t you do it somewhere else, and leave the research to those who crave knowledge.”
Norgov sat in his chair silent, his expression apoplectic. Hofstader knew he shouldn’t have lost control of himself, but he really didn’t think it mattered. Norgov was determined to banish him from the research team anyway, so why not let the pompous ass have it with both barrels? Hofstader almost had to force back a little smile. I didn’t even come close to unleashing both barrels on the miserable little prick, he thought. Maybe later.
“Dr. Hofstader, you have only reinforced the finding of this Committee that you are undisciplined and unwilling to work within the framework established for the safety and success of your colleagues.” Norgov’s voice was a little wobbly. He was so angry he could hardly sit still in his chair. “It is with the deepest regret that I must put forward a motion that you be expelled from the research team and that your occupancy visa be revoked immediately.”
If there was any regret in the Russian’s voice, Hofstader couldn’t hear it. He felt another rush of anger, but he controlled it this time. There was no point in arguing. This was a kangaroo court, and nothing he said was going to matter. He leaned back in his chair, silent but with a defiant expression on his face. He watched and listened as Norgov called the role. The others looked uncomfortable, especially Crandall but, as Hofstader expected, none of them would cross Norgov. The vote was 6-0 for expulsion.
Friederich Hofstader leaned back in his chair and looked one last time at the Committee members. Crandall and most of the others looked edgy and upset, and they tried to avert his gaze. But Norgov wore a big smile, and he stared right back at Hofstader.
Hofstader leaned back in one of the hard plastic chairs in the waiting area, Katrina sitting quietly across from him. He felt guilty about his assistant sharing his fate, and he’d tried mightily to get her exempted from the expulsion order and reassigned within the CEL team. He swore she was simply following his orders, and he thought for a while he’d convinced the Committee members, but Norgov intervened and quashed the whole thing. Hofstader was really starting to hate the Russian scientist. “One of these days, you spiteful piece of shit.” He whispered quietly to himself. “One of these days.”
The shuttle was scheduled to board in twenty minutes. They’d be traveling back to Earth on the regular transport and supply ship. The trip would be fairly comfortable, as much as space travel ever was. The ship would be almost empty, so they’d have their choice of cabins. But Hofstader still couldn’t believe he was on his way back home. He’d spent thirty years studying antimatter, and he’d singlehandedly designed the most advanced trap for storing the precious and volatile material. No one on this planet – or Earth - knew as much about the subject as he did but, he thought bitterly, that didn’t seem to matter as much as petty bullshit and politics. Of course, these fools are too busy writing rules and regulations to worry about actually conducting research.
The hatch slid open and Brad Travers ducked into the room. Travers had been with Hofstader and Katrina when they engaged in their controversial exploration, but he’d managed to keep himself out of the Committee’s crosshairs. Epsilon Eridani IV was under the joint jurisdiction of all the Powers, but it had been the Martian Confederation that seized it from the Alliance and invited in the other Powers. While the Martians didn’t retain any official preferential status, it would have been embarrassing for the Committee to take action against one of their scientists, so Travers’ involvement had been kept quiet. He’d tried to intervene for Hofstader as well, but all his efforts had been unsuccessful. He’d even sent a transmission to Roderick Vance, but he wouldn’t have a response until after Hofstader’s ship had departed. He was sure Vance would be upset. The head of the Martian Security Department wanted the best research team possible in place on Epsilon Eridani IV, and without Friederich Hofstader it was definitely not the best team.
“Bradley…nice of you to drop by.” Hofstader was genuinely pleased to see the Martian scientist. “Come…” He pointed to the chair next to him. “…have a seat. They’re not very comfortable, I’m afraid.”
Travers nodded and walked across the room. “Hello, Friederich.” He turned briefly and nodded to Hofstader’s young assistant. “Katrina.” She nodded back and smiled sadly. Travers turned again and walked over to take the seat next to Hofstader.
“You have something to say other than goodbye, my friend.” Hofstader was facing his visitor, speaking softly. “I can see it on your face.”
“Friederich, just listen to me.” Travers was leaning close to Hofstader, speaking very softly. “There is something I discovered that I haven’t shared with anyone.” That wasn’t entirely true – he’d reported it to Roderick Vance, who had told him to keep it to himself until further notice. But he thought Hofstader should know, and he didn’t have time to get approval from Mars. “I was conducting a number of scans myself several weeks ago…all unauthorized, of course.”