[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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
Page 91
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
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.
CHAPTER X
"Hebe Cadet Bell, Justin, 144-99-1842 reporting as ordered."
Justin stood before the Court-Martial Review Board, eyes straight ahead.
Behind the five men sitting at the long table he could see Mons Olympus framed
by the airlock window. The highest mountain on Mars soaring upward, its summit
lost beneath a thin line of clouds wreathing the slopes. It felt good to have
one-third gravity under his feet again; it made him feel steady.
Outside the window he saw a few protesters standing outside the base
perimeter; one sign caught his eye, Space Mackenzie! Justin flushed at the
sight of it.
The hearings and trial had been moved down to Lowell City, the main base of
the USMC on the planets surface. The general explanation was that a matter of
such grave significance had to be heard by the office of the rear admiral in
command of Mars, Omar Singh. Justin could
understand the unstated political reasons as well. The separatists had seized
upon the "Somers
Incident," as it was now called, to demonstrate that the USMC was a service
out of control.
Holding the trial in the heart of the separatist region would be seen,
hopefully, as an act of fairness. He also knew that the media back on Earth
saw the holding of the review board on
Mars as caving in. More than one commentator was openly stating that MacKenzie
had in fact shown restraint and should be decorated for heroism rather than
face a court-martial. Justin and his followers were already being branded as a
group of reckless, spoiled children.
"Mr. Bell, you may be seated."
Justin sat down in the plain armless chair in the middle of the room. Admiral
Singh was sitting less than a four meters away, a semicircle of glittering
brass flanking him on either side. Singh nodded to the Judge Advocate, who
stood up.
"Mr. Bell, I am Captain Tracey Houston. I want to explain something to you
before we proceed. This is not a general court-martial but rather a review
Page 92
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
board hearing to decide if the events that you were involved in aboard the
Somers warrant the need for a general court-martial, and if so what charges
the USMC will bring against you and others. Do you understand that?"
"Yes, sir, it was explained to me by my legal advisor."
Justin nodded to the woman sitting to the side of the room.
"You understand, therefore, that there is no one here in this room who is [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl wyciskamy.pev.pl
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
Page 91
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
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.
CHAPTER X
"Hebe Cadet Bell, Justin, 144-99-1842 reporting as ordered."
Justin stood before the Court-Martial Review Board, eyes straight ahead.
Behind the five men sitting at the long table he could see Mons Olympus framed
by the airlock window. The highest mountain on Mars soaring upward, its summit
lost beneath a thin line of clouds wreathing the slopes. It felt good to have
one-third gravity under his feet again; it made him feel steady.
Outside the window he saw a few protesters standing outside the base
perimeter; one sign caught his eye, Space Mackenzie! Justin flushed at the
sight of it.
The hearings and trial had been moved down to Lowell City, the main base of
the USMC on the planets surface. The general explanation was that a matter of
such grave significance had to be heard by the office of the rear admiral in
command of Mars, Omar Singh. Justin could
understand the unstated political reasons as well. The separatists had seized
upon the "Somers
Incident," as it was now called, to demonstrate that the USMC was a service
out of control.
Holding the trial in the heart of the separatist region would be seen,
hopefully, as an act of fairness. He also knew that the media back on Earth
saw the holding of the review board on
Mars as caving in. More than one commentator was openly stating that MacKenzie
had in fact shown restraint and should be decorated for heroism rather than
face a court-martial. Justin and his followers were already being branded as a
group of reckless, spoiled children.
"Mr. Bell, you may be seated."
Justin sat down in the plain armless chair in the middle of the room. Admiral
Singh was sitting less than a four meters away, a semicircle of glittering
brass flanking him on either side. Singh nodded to the Judge Advocate, who
stood up.
"Mr. Bell, I am Captain Tracey Houston. I want to explain something to you
before we proceed. This is not a general court-martial but rather a review
Page 92
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
board hearing to decide if the events that you were involved in aboard the
Somers warrant the need for a general court-martial, and if so what charges
the USMC will bring against you and others. Do you understand that?"
"Yes, sir, it was explained to me by my legal advisor."
Justin nodded to the woman sitting to the side of the room.
"You understand, therefore, that there is no one here in this room who is [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]