Article 23

Chapter IX

"All hands, all hands, report forward to witness punishment."

Justin froze, looking over at O'Brian.

"Go, go! Remember, you got fifteen minutes, maybe twenty. It'll take time for them to line up, go through the reading of the Articles. I'll cover for you when roll is called, say I've confined you and Leonov to the galley and Hemenez is watching you."

Justin grabbed "Brian's hand, then looked over at Leonov and Hemenez.

"Let's go," Justin announced.

Crouching, he looked down the narrow ventilation tube set in the aft wall, its cover panel and filter unbolted and removed.

He took a deep breath and pushed his way in. Glad to be out of his anti-radiation gear and wearing just a light jumpsuit again, he squirmed into the narrow opening and pushed himself along. Stopping after five meters, he looked back in the darkness and felt a hand touch his bare foot.

"All right?" Justin whispered.

"Fine, keep moving," Tanya replied, " Hemenez is right behind me."

Justin squirmed along, counting the ventilation grills passing beneath him the first one leading to a storage room, the second, then the third. Reaching a barrier, he stopped. He put on a respirator filter, then pulled out the screwdriver and popped the mount off the filter blocking the way. As he pushed the filter aside a light plume of dust swirled up from the baffle and lead shielding. He wondered just how much of a dose he was picking up, glad that the emergency respirator he was wearing, which had been stored in the galley survival gear, would keep the worst of it out of his lungs.

Once clear of the filter shielding he knew they were in the back end of the ship, crawling under the reactor and engine mounts. The only barrier to the raging inferno of the sun was the outer hull surrounding the hydroponics unit, and within minutes he'd pick up a year's worth of radiation. The anti-radiation suits were far too bulky for the narrow ventilation shaft, but if they had simply gone aft through the doorway into the engine room it would have triggered an alarm up in the cockpit.

Finally he hit the fifth ventilation opening, as O'Brian had explained, and stopped. He looked down on the racks of tomato plants four meters below. He went to work on the screening beneath him with a bolt cutter, lopping off the tops of the screws that projected up through the ceiling and held the panel in place. The last of the bolts sheared off; he pushed down and felt the screen detach and float away. He doubled over and went through the opening, turning a somersault before landing on his feet.

Cautiously he looked around. No one was here, and he breathed a sigh of relief. When he had first proposed taking the ship to stop MacKenzie he had expected that maybe Leonov would go along he wasn't sure about Hemenez and O'Brian. But he needed them if there was any hope, for they knew the ins and outs of the ship and what had to be done beyond a vaguely formed plan to "do something to stop MacKenzie."

It was O'Brian who suggested timing it so closely, pointing out that everyone would be heading to the lounge area just prior to the seven o'clock muster and in those precious minutes there would be the chance to maybe pull it off. Between Hemenez and O'Brian the two had cooked up the plan of going aft through the ventilation shaft down into the hydroponics room and then forward again to the room where the prisoners were being held.

Justin realized with a cold certainty that the next ten minutes would decide it. Either he'd succeed, and then there would be a whole new crisis to deal with or, most likely, he would be dead, for a genuine mutiny would fully justify MacKenzie's actions and the Captain would simply add Justin and his friends to the trip through the airlock.

Leonov came through the opening, followed seconds later by Hemenez.

Hemenez looked around.

"Good, we're well aft, no one's here."

Justin wondered just how heavy a dose they were receiving dressed only in their light jumpsuits. The thought almost seemed absurd there was a good chance that in fifteen minutes the consequences of absorbing a rad or two of radiation would be moot.

Hemenez motioned them to go forward. Justin pushed off, floating down the length of the hydroponics chamber, weaving his way through the racks of sorghum which helped scrub the CO2 out of the air and the trays containing the spices, tomatoes and lettuce that O'Brian was cultivating.

Reaching the bulkhead door leading forward Hemenez stopped, putting her ear to the door, motioning for Justin and Tanya to be quiet.

"There are people in the corridor," she whispered. "Sounds like they're leading Matt out."

Justin struggled with the urge to simply burst through, waiting patiently as the seconds dragged out. The high temperature in die room made him break into a sweat although he felt cold and clammy with fear.

He looked over at Tanya, who was breathing in short, rapid gasps.

"Remember, we move quick," Hemenez announced.

With a flourish she pulled the kitchen knife out of her belt and cupped it in the palm of her hand, concealing the blade with the back of her arm. The gesture made Justin think of pirates about to storm the quarterdeck. He followed her actions, wondering if he could indeed use the blade on the guard who was surely waiting on the other side of the door.

Justin looked over at Tanya, who was holding a knife as well.

"Ready?"

She offered a nervous smile and gulped hard.

Hemenez grasped the door latch and slowly opened it, peeking out.

She motioned for the two to follow as she pulled the door wide open and started down the corridor. The hallway was darkened. Peeking over her shoulder, Justin saw a lone guard standing by the door into the prison cell, looking squat and distorted with the heavy battle gear donned over the anti-radiation suit. When they were less than three meters away, the guard turned.

"Halt, who goes there?"

Justin, startled by the voice, saw Colson in the shadows. In an instant he understood why the Captain would want his regular enlisted personnel in the lounge in case there was trouble. Also, he wanted Colson out of the way, and down below guarding jailed prisoners was one place he could safeguard him.

"I want to talk to you, Cadet," Hemenez said in a calm yet commanding voice. She drew closer.

"Halt! Halt or I'll shoot!"

"Cadet, I need to talk to you."

Hemenez pushed forward, arms extended in a friendly gesture. The knife blade was still concealed by the back of her arm. Horrified, Justin wondered if she was simply going to spring forward and slice Wendells throat. Somehow when he had dreamed up this plan he had envisioned it as being bloodless. They'd take a guard, break into the weapons locker and arm the other prisoners, then confront the Captain who would be led away in chains while everyone cheered. Now he realized that the mutiny of fantasy was vastly different than reality chances were that people were going to die in the next few minutes, die because of his actions.

"You're a traitor, too. I'll shoot!" Colson cried, his voice breaking.

"Come on, cadet, all I want"

Her words were cut short by the crackling burst of a laser pistol. Wordlessly Hemenez spun around, clutching her shoulder, smoke and the pungent stench of burnt flesh billowing around Justin.

Justin vaulted from the floor, diving over Hemenez. Colson, eyes wide, tried to back up and lost his hold on the floor, feet disconnecting. The gun went off again, the glare blinding Justin for an instant. He felt a stinging burn crease his side. Crashing into Colson, the two tumbled over. Colson tried to knee him in the groin, but the blow simply pushed Justin up towards the ceiling. Turning end-over-end he kicked off the ceiling and came down hard, feet first, slamming back into Colson.

Reaching out with his left hand he grabbed Colson by his helmet strap. He swung the knife around and brought the blade up to Colson's throat, then pressed it down far enough so the skin was taut. It was a strange sensation, the knowledge that with just the slightest flick of the wrist Colson's life would spill out. He thought of all that Colson had done, the madness he had helped to create, and the temptation was all but overpowering. And yet, then what? He eased back slightly.

"Move and I'll kill you," Justin hissed.

Colson looked up at him, goggle-eyed.

"Tanya, get his gun."

Tanya reached past Justin and tore the gun from Colsons hand.

"Mr. Colson?"

It was the Captain on Colson's commlink!

"Mr. Colson, I heard something, what is going on down there?"

"Tell him the prisoners are acting up," Justin whispered. "If you screw up I'll cut your throat from ear to ear."

Colson reached up to the commlink attached to his jacket and fumblingly toggled it on.

Justin pressed the knife down harder so that the skin under the blade was taut once more.

"Sir?'

"What is going on down there?"

"Nothing, sir. The prisoners are yelling, sir."

The terror in his voice was evident and Justin wondered if the Captain would notice.

"Tell them to shut up, Mr. Colson, or I might change my mind about the number to be executed."

The commlink snapped off from tie other end.

Justin leaned forward, his mouth brushing against Colson's ear.

"Off the link," he whispered.

Colson removed his hand.

" Bell, he'll kill you for this."

"Maybe so. Just don't screw up or you'll go before me."

Behind him he heard Tanya unlocking the door and whispering for everyone to be quiet.

" Hemenez?" Justin called.

"I'll make it. You'll have to go on without me."

Marissa and Madison came out first.

"Get him out of that battle gear," Justin demanded, and he passed the knife to Madison.

Going over to Tanya he motioned for the pistol, and to his surprise she passed it over without comment. Quickly he went up to the door to the arms room, leveled the pistol, and squeezed. A brilliant glare exploded in the corridor. He pressed the trigger half a dozen times, then looked down at the padlock.

"Damn, it's not melting."

" Plastitungsten composite," Hemenez groaned, coming up to look at the lock, which was glowing faintly from the heat of the blast. "The pistol doesn't have the energy to cut it. I was afraid of this."

Justin looked at the eight cadets he had just released. Part of his plan had been to seize the weapons locker and arm everyone before going topside in one quick rush. Now all he had was the one pistol, most of its energy drained, and the knives carried by Hemenez, Leonov and himself. Things were starting to unravel. He looked at his wristwatch. Less than five minutes at most.

"Come on," Justin said, and going up to Madison he grabbed the helmet and heavy protective battle jacket. "Help me get this on."

"Bell, what are you doing?" Livollen asked.

"The Captain accused you of mutiny now let's give him one. We're taking over this ship and stopping the execution. If you're not with me then you better get the hell back in that cell right now and stay low."

A grin broke out on Madison 's face.

"Now you're talking I can't wait to space that bastard."

"No killing' Justin snapped. " Unless we're forced to, I want no killing."

"You're taking on the Captain and the guards?" one of the cadets asked.

"That's the plan."

"He'll space all of you," came the reply and the cadet backed into the cell. "Count me out, I'll take my chances with the court-martial."

Two more cadets followed the first one back into the cell. Justin looked around at his group while strapping on the helmet and pulling on the heavy battle jacket. He had six now, counting Leonov, and just one damned gun. It wasn't looking good. He knew he couldn't hesitate or he might lose more.

"Someone gag Colson," he snapped, "and throw him in the cell."

He hoisted the pistol and grabbed hold of Madison. "You first, Madison, I'll have the gun right at your back. Keep your hands behind your back. Leonov, bring up the rest of the group. Stay out of sight, but move quick if I holler for you."

"Right, General."

He looked back and saw her smile and motion for him to get going.

Livollen, finished with gagging Colson and tying his hands using the collar torn off his uniform, shoved him into the open cell.

"We're not asking you to help," she announced to the three who had backed out, "but at least don't let this scum start screaming for five minutes."

"If we do that, we're part of the mutiny," came the reply.

"I'll cut his throat if you don't," Tanya interjected. "You're protecting him from this terrible band of buccaneers."

Tanya closed the door and slipped the padlock back into place.

Moving quickly down the corridor, Justin stopped at the next bulkhead door leading upstairs and listened, then opened it up. No one was there.

He went up the stairs and came out on the small landing that branched off to the flight control center and the corridor that led to the officers quarters. Looking up into the flight area, he saw Lewis sitting in the pilot's chair staring straight ahead.

A plan instantly formed. He pointed towards Lewis and whispered into Madison 's ear, the thought of barging into the lounge with a single weapon forgotten. She nodded and slipped up die steps. Justin looked down the corridor and then back up. Madison had the blade to the side of Lewis' throat and was already sliding into the copilot's chair.

"Tanya," he hissed softly. She poked her head around the side of the landing and he motioned for her to come up. He leaned over and whispered into her ear. Surprised, she nodded and went back down to the waiting group.

Justin then drifted down the corridor, stopping just at the edge of the turnoff to the doorway leading into the lounge. He could sense the guard standing by the door. Taking a deep breath he stepped forward, turned and jammed the barrel of the pistol between her eyes.

"I'm sorry, but move, make a sound, and you're history."

The guard looked at him, her eyes wide with astonishment. It was the same guard he had talked to earlier when he had gone to visit Matt.

"Cadet, are you nuts?" she whispered. "This really is a mutiny."

"You're damn right," Justin replied.

Tanya came up behind Justin. Reaching around, she pulled the guard's gun from her holster.

"Away from the door," Justin announced.

There was a flicker of a smile.

"It's OK, kid, just don't get jumpy."

"I won't if you don't."

"There are five enlisted personnel in there with MacKenzie, all of them armed," she continued. "Barge in and you'll get fried."

"Thanks, but that's not the plan."

He motioned her up against the bulkhead away from the door. Looking back down the corridor he saw the others come up and brace themselves against the wall to the lounge.

Taking a deep breath, Justin put his hand on the door and slowly unlatched it. He cracked the door open and looked out into the lounge. All backs were to him, except for MacKenzie who was standing by the airlock door. Behind him were the enlisted men, all of them armed with weapons drawn, like MacKenzie. He could see O'Brian, armed as well and standing to one side. He wished he could somehow signal him, but knew he couldn't. Justin knew that just barging in would result in a slaughter. And in that instant, he heard MacKenzie speak.

"Open the airlock, and may the Lord have mercy on his soul."

There was a stirring among the cadets lined up to witness punishment. Some were crying, most stood with heads lowered.

Through the airlock window, Justin saw his friend standing with his arms bound behind his back, head held high.

" Madison, do it now!" Justin screamed and in the same instant he slammed the lounge door shut.

Several long seconds passed and a mad panic seized Justin. Had Lewis overpowered her? If so, now what?

And then the main engines kicked on with over three million pounds of thrust. Acceleration alarms sounded in the corridors, a massive shudder running through the ship. In an instant zero gravity was gone as Somers leapt forward. Apparent gravity was now directly astern, and the floor of the lounge was a wall.

Justin could hear the screams of fear and confusion in the room as everyone was swept off their feet and dropped down the length of the room to the far wall. He counted to three; the seconds seemed like an eternity, the screams in the lounge echoing.

The engines shut down, and Justin felt a surge in his stomach as zero gravity returned. He tore the door open and stepped into the lounge. Everyone was piled up on the far wall in a confused jumble.

"Everyone freeze!" Justin screamed. "Tanya, guard them!"

Justin bounded for the airlock door. To his horror the outer door was open and he could see the hunched over body of his friend floating in the chamber, drifting towards the opening. He reached the inner door and grabbed the handle, but it wouldn't budge; all the safety locks were on and the internal air pressure was just another safeguard keeping it closed.

Seeing the pressurization button, he slapped it hard. Through the window he saw the outer port closing, Matt still on the inside.

" Bell!"

Justin turned and saw MacKenzie coming to his feet, raising his pistol.

" Bell, drop that weapon!"

"Sir," Justin cried. "I am relieving you of command of this ship as per Article Twenty-five regarding a Captain who has violated the Articles, sir. Drop your gun or I'll shoot!"

There was a frozen instant. In the background Justin could hear the air rushing into the outer chamber, the alarm ringing. The cries of the cadets piled up against the wall echoed, yet all his attention was now focused on MacKenzie. He could see the Captain sighting down the barrel of his pistol, finger curled around the trigger. Justin had his weapon up as well, aimed straight at MacKenzie's head. It would only take the slightest amount of pressure and it would be over. Malady had said never draw a weapon unless you fully intend to use it, that bluffing with a gun was the surest way to get yourself killed.

Yet he couldn't do it. Something stopped him in that instant and he wasn't sure what. Even as he saw MacKenzie's finger curling backward he held his fire.

MacKenzie's laser blast struck Justin's helmet just above his brow. The ablative coating of the helmet vaporized, carrying away the intense heat, but the recoil from the exploding vapors jerked Justin's head back.

Justin saw several of the enlisted men bringing their weapons up as well, some pointing at him, others aiming back towards the door while cadets scattered in every direction.

MacKenzie fired again, and the recoil from the vaporized coating staggered Justin as if a blow had hit him squarely in the chest, the battle armor absorbing the blow.

If I don't drop him, Justin realized, others will die. Justin's finger brushed against the trigger and then he saw MacKenzie go down, dropped by a roundhouse punch delivered by O'Brian, who grabbed the gun that fell from MacKenzie's hand. Another gun fired and he heard Tanya scream. The enlisted guard who fired started to draw a bead on Justin.

" Vincennes, I'll kill you where you stand," O'Brian growled. "Now drop it."

O'Brian was already up, MacKenzie's pistol and his own both aimed at the guard. The guard released his gun and pushed it away. Justin turned his weapon towards the other guards, several of them still trying to crawl their way out of the pile-up.

"Grab their guns," someone shouted and in an instant half a dozen cadets were on the enlisted personnel, relieving them of their weapons. The only one still armed was Petronovich, who stood in the corner with his gun half-raised.

"Come on, Petronovich," Justin said. "It's over. Now drop it."

"It's not over, Bell," Petronovich replied coldly. "It's only just started."

He let go of his gun and Iivollen, crossing the room, scooped it from the air.

Justin turned back and saw Tanya curled up in the corner, hands wrapped around her leg. She looked at him and gave a thumbs-up sign.

Grabbing hold of the airlock door, Justin tore it open. Matt was curled up in the corner, and with a cry Justin went to his friend.

There was no movement as he grabbed Matt and pushed him through the airlock door and up against a bulkhead wall. Pulling Matt's head up, Justin clamped his mouth over Mart's and breathed hard into his friends lungs while fumbling to feel his throat for a pulse.

"Get the doc!" Tanya screamed.

Justin started to clamp his mouth on Matt again to give him another breath.

"I don't kiss guys," Matt groaned, "but thanks for the thought."

"Matt! You're alive!" Justin cried, clutching his friend.

"Cold, space is so cold," Matt whispered.

"Move aside, Bell."

Justin looked up and saw Zhing.

"Was this fair?" Justin screamed, reaching over to grab Zhing. Suddenly all his frustration and fear were exploding out.

"Let me be the doc right now," Zhing said quietly. "You can shoot me later if you want. God knows I deserve it."

Justin backed away from Zhing and Matt and saw all his comrades staring at him. A few were crying, some were standing in awe, others were angry, turning towards MacKenzie who was firmly held by O'Brian.

"Mutiny! You're all mutinous scum now, and all of you will be spaced for this," MacKenzie cried.

Justin walked over towards MacKenzie, who was still being held by O'Brian.

"Yes, we did take this ship," Justin announced, "but we're not mutineers. This is an action taken under Article Twenty-five to resist any unlawful order given by a superior officer. And you, sir, are hereby relieved of command according to that Article."

"We should space the bastard," someone cried. "Do it right now the way he wanted to do to Matt."

Justin looked at MacKenzie and the rage he had felt for Zhing redoubled. At that instant he would have gladly pulled the lever to the airlock with MacKenzie on the outside for what he had done to Matt.

"Well, Mr. Bell, is that what you want?" O'Brian asked and he made a gesture as if to shove MacKenzie forward. Several of the cadets cheered at the suggestion.

MacKenzie looked at him, and Justin saw a flicker of fear in the man's eyes. There was a strange, intoxicating power to it. With a simple nod of his head MacKenzie would be dead in a matter of minutes. No begging, no appeals would stop it. He could see the bloodlust in the eyes of several of his comrades; one of them, a cadet whom everyone knew had an interest in Livollen, was moving up as if to help O'Brian.

And he could suddenly understand, as well, what MacKenzie was. The power was absolute out here, all contact gone, your voice the one authority that all must answer to. And then he remembered something he had read in the book MacKenzie had ordered him to read, "Who is the judge when the judge himself is dragged before the bar?"

Justin turned away and saw Hemenez standing in the doorway, silently watching.

Justin slowly went up to her, feeling infinitely tired. Drawing himself up formally, he saluted.

"Lieutenant Hemenez, sir, I ask that you take command of this vessel as per regulations upon the removal of the Captain and First Officer and that you guide us to the nearest base at which time I will turn myself over to Fleet authorities for judgment. I surrender my weapon to you and place myself under your full authority."

A flicker of a smile crossed Hemenez's face and then she grimaced as she took the pistol offered by Justin and without ceremony stuck it into her belt.

"I take command of this ship USMCS Somers, by the authority of the Service as stated in Article Twenty-five, that a member of the Service is honor-bound to resist any unlawful order issued by a superior officer."

She slowly looked around the room.

"Please take Captain MacKenzie and Flight Officer Lewis and confine them below with Cadet Colson," and she nodded towards Livollen and several of the cadets. "And remember," she snapped, "all three are to be treated with respect."

" Hemenez, you're dead for this," MacKenzie shouted.

"Maybe we all are, sir," Hemenez replied, "but if so it will be done by a lawful court-martial and not an act of murder, as you attempted."

Next she turned to Zhing.

"Doctor, I am asking for your oath of honor as a physician that you will not attempt to intervene any further in the command of this ship. If you agree, sir, I will not be forced to confine you, and you may go about your duties."

Zhing looked up from Matt and nodded. A cadet came back from sickbay and handed him an oxygen bottle; Zhing clamped it on Matt.

"You and Leonov, you'll have to wait, as will the others," Zhing announced.

Justin looked back and saw that there were a number of injured in the room. Some were nursing simple bumps and bruises, but one looked like she had a broken leg and another appeared to be unconscious.

"Enlisted personnel, turn in your weapons," Hemenez said. "I will ask each of you to report to me in ten minutes. If you give your personal oath not to aid the former Captain you will have the freedom of the ship. O'Brian, you are Acting First Officer, see that the weapons are collected if you please."

She now turned her attention to the cadets.

"Well, you've received a hell of an education on this flight," she said, her voice cold and bitter. "I just pray that all of you learn from it. My first order is that you are forbidden to discuss anything regarding the separatists for the duration of this flight. Do I make myself clear?"

There was a chorus of agreements.

"Nor are there to be any recriminations. Debate as to who was on which side in this incident is finished for the duration of this flight."

Justin could see Colson's followers looking about nervously, having already backed into a corner away from the rest of the cadets.

"I remember Thorsson telling us we were comrades no matter where we came from or how we might one day be separated by choices made by our superiors, and I still believe that. Mars, Venus, Earth, sailors and habitat dwellers, you are first and foremost of the Service. What you saw here," and she nodded back towards the forward part of the ship, "that's not us.

"Now to the business we must face. All of you are to write a fair and honest report of all things that you saw transpire from the moment you boarded this ship. You can write it any way you want, but it must be honest, with no hearsay. All of you are forbidden to utter another word to each other about what happened here until every last report is filed. You will deposit them with me, and you have my pledge that I will take your reports, seal them and not examine them in any way. I will turn these reports over to the appropriate authorities upon our arrival at Deimos. I shall offer the same opportunity to the former Captain, Flight Lieutenant Lewis, and Mr. Colson.

"Finally," she said, and looked toward Justin and Tanya, "I regret to inform you two, along with Cadet Smith, that you are hereby under arrest on the charge of leading a mutiny."

Justin looked at her, startled.

"I'm sony, but in this case we're bound by tradition and law, and we will automatically face charges upon our arrival at the base on Deimos. If I have your pledge of honor you may have access to the galley, but for the duration you are confined to your quarters and no other cadet may speak to you. Upon arrival we will turn ourselves over to the commander of the Base, and that includes you, too, O'Brian. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, sir," Justin replied.

"Fine, all hands dismissed."

The cadets started to leave the room, a sharp glance from Hemenez stilling all comments. She came up to Justin, hesitated, then finally extended her hand.

"You have guts, Bell, more guts than I've ever seen before. Especially that last moment. I would have tried to stop you, I think O'Brian would have as well, but you could have killed the Captain a lot of them were ready to follow you."

"I know, and it frightened me," Justin said.

"I could see that too. I'm sorry to have to place you under arrest, but we have to follow procedure here, unlike that man we arrested."

"I know that, sir."

"Come on, let's get to the infirmary."

"Me?"

"You're wounded, too," and she pointed to his side. Under the battle jacket he felt a sharp pain for the first time, and he remembered that Colson had hit him.

They went over to Tanya, who was sitting against the wall with weapon still in hand, helped her up and went through the door to the forward section. Madison greeted them.

"I left it on auto-pilot at least I hope I did it right. Lewis is down below."

"Fine, Madison," Hemenez said. "I'll be up in a moment to check."

"What a kick to that engine," Madison announced. "I told Lewis to give us full power and he did I darn near cut his throat by accident when the engine came on. So everything's OK?"

"Yeah, OK," Justin sighed.

When he reached sickbay he saw Matt sitting up, an oxygen mask still strapped to his face. Zhing was putting drops into Mart's eyes. His hands and feet were wrapped in warming cuffs, and an IV was stuck into his arm.

Justin could sense the smile under the mask, and in spite of Zhing's protest Matt pushed the mask aside.

"Well, I figure it was forty seconds in the vacuum club this time," Matt gasped weakly.

"Is he going to be all right?" Justin asked.

"Possible frostbite to his extremities. Eyes were starting to freeze up, I think the drops will stabilize them, some freeze damage to his throat so he'll talk funny for awhile. No symptoms of nitrogen bubbling, though with forty seconds of vacuum we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed. I think, with luck, his lungs will heal up and be all right. Hearing might be off for awhile, looks like one eardrum ruptured, but he's anesthetized now and not feeling much pain."

"Hell, pain," Matt mumbled, "this is nothing. Why, I remember the time" and his voice trailed off as he looked around at the group with a lopsided grin.

"I'll be with you three in a minute," Zhing announced. "But for heaven's sake don't stand around there gawking, get your anti-radiation suits on right now."

Justin suddenly realized that he had been getting a heavy exposure for nearly an hour.

He stepped closer to Matt and clumsily took his friend's hand.

"Thanks again, old buddy, I owe you one," Matt whispered.

"No matter what, it was worth it, Matt, it was worth it."

"Hard dock!"

"All hands, all hands, proceed to the main airlock."

Justin unstrapped from his seat and looked over at Tanya. The storm had finally abated the day before, allowing them to at least get out of the anti-radiation suits. Zhing estimated that their little one-hour jaunt free of protection had exposed them to over a year's acceptable level of radiation, which would mean either grounding or limited duty aboard a well-shielded habitat. The end of the storm had meant that communications had been reestablished as well, and when the USMC heard the news they had been ordered straight to the moon of Mars as Hemenez had assumed they would be. The base commander was undoubtedly waiting just on the other side of the airlock.

The one great irony to the entire crisis was that the incident aboard Gustavus had been resolved without casualties; in fact, the first report of injuries was exaggerated, only one crew member of the ship had been injured, a tooth loosened in a scuffle, and one separatist slightly wounded. After holding the ship for only a day they had disembarked without incident and fled upon the approach of a Service heavy cruiser, which had not engaged in pursuit.

He could well imagine, though, that with the Gustavus incident fading into the background what had happened aboard the Sotners would now be the center of attention.

"Ready for this?' Justin asked, extending a hand to Tanya to help her up.

"Got butterflies in my stomach. More scared now than when we stormed into the lounge."

"You were one cool piece of work on that," Justin said.

Tanya laughed. "You should've seen yourself wish I had a vid of it. My God, you looked ferocious."

"Who, me?" and he suddenly felt even more nervous.

"Yeah, you, Justin Wood Bell. I think you would have drilled MacKenzie without a second thought if it came to it."

Justin wondered about that. He had, indeed, hesitated, letting MacKenzie get off two shots, and he wondered why. Yet for an instant there he really did want to kill him, especially after seeing Matt in the airlock, fully exposed to the vacuum of space. The whole thing was far too confusing to sort out right now.

Madison gave Tanya a hand as well and die two pulled her up; together they headed out into the corridor. Those around them fell silent as they passed, a few whispering "good lucks" before hurrying on.

"Well, children, are we ready to face the music?"

Justin smiled at the sight of O'Brian. For the first time since he joined the Somers Justin saw the cook not in an old T-shirt but dressed in full class-A blues, a tangle of ribbons on his left breast. Justin was surprised to see a Medal of Honor with Oak Leaf Cluster and a Purple Heart among the "spaghetti." O'Brian caught him staring.

"Yeah, saw a little fun now and again but I tell you, this ride took the cake. Now let's get forward, can't be late for what might be our funerals."

Justin stepped into the lounge and, seeing Matt coming slowly through the door to the forward section, went over to join him.

"How we doing today?" Justin asked.

"Feeling coming back in my fingers and toes gosh, I thought old Zhing was gonna have to lop them off."

"Your ear?"

"Healing. He did a little laser surgery on it yesterday, said I should be back up to Service standard in a month. Darn, can't wash out just because of a bad ear."

Justin smiled. Washing out over a busted eardrum was the least of his worries for Matt at the moment.

"Captain on deck," someone announced, and all came to attention as Hemenez, her arm still in a sling, came into the room. She went up to the airlock door, stopped, and slowly surveyed the group.

"You're a good crew and I hope you don't think it strange for me to say that it was an honor to serve with you. As I promised, I have not looked at your reports. I know you filled them out honestly and that's all that I ask that if questioned about the events which transpired on this ship you speak truthfully and with courage no matter how you feel about what happened here. Open the airlock."

As the door unhinged a bosun's pipe twittered. Justin drew in his breath and he saw a quick sidelong glance of reassurance from Hemenez.

The first man through the door was a fully armed marine in battle gear. The marine cleared the airlock, sharply scanned the group, and then stepped to one side. A short portly man wearing the uniform of a base commander came through the door, and Hemenez snapped to attention and saluted.

"Acting Ship's Captain Hemenez, sir. Welcome aboard."

The commander returned the salute and then slowly examined the group, his gazing lingering on Justin and Matt as if he had been studying their pictures long before actually meeting them face to face.

"Captain, you are relieved. My Exec will take command. Where are Captain MacKenzie, Lieutenant Lewis and Cadet Colson?"

"Down below, sir."

The commander motioned with his hand; half a dozen marines came aboard and immediately headed for the lower deck.

"Lieutenant Hemenez, Sergeant O'Brian, Cadets Everett, Leonov, Smith and Bell, come with me."

Justin spared one final glance for his comrades, and he could see that all eyes were fixed on him. He was tempted to say something but knew it would be inappropriate, and as he left the ship he wondered if he would ever see any of them again.