Harris asked us to give an account of where we had been and what we had done.
I delivered my report and concluded, "For our scientific report, the collected specimens, unearthed ruins, captured alien Psionic beings and the ancient alien breeding facility, I am giving the podium to Midshipman Wetmouth."
Harris raised his hands. "One moment Mr. Olafson, would you explain how you ended up on a planet that was strictly off-limits and deemed too dangerous for anyone except a specially selected team with Marine support?"
"Sir, we had no knowledge of our destination being off-limits; we had no control over the destination of the shuttle that dropped us off. We did ask several times to verify our orders and destination and each time the orders were confirmed by Lt. Clusen, the shuttle hangar officer and the shuttle pilot. We were ordered to conduct this mission as our field test. The nature and name of the planet were only revealed when we found the PDD in the packing crate."
Admiral Stahl's voice sounded calm as he asked from the back where he was standing, "Lt. Clusen can you shed some light on this mystery then? Sending Midshipmen to Quagmire Bog was certainly not part of the field test."
Clusen shrugged and said, "I can't know all the planets that are off-limits or deemed dangerous, Sir. I received the orders to send the Olafson team there for their evaluation test from Academy HQ. That Midshipman team received so much attention from Senior Command that I never questioned them."
Harris said, "Academy HQ has never in its entire history sent Midshipmen to restricted planets. The HQ orders were for Lt. Strasenburgh and team and came from the Science Corps not the Academy, including the equipment on the shuttle."
Clusen said, with a tone of accusation in his voice, "The Olafson team has been favored since they came aboard. Their impossible scores inflated by military decorations they could not possibly have earned, making it unfair to those Midshipmen working hard to gain their accolades. Commanding the Devastator, being picked for fighter class, showing off obviously choreographed fighting before important dignitaries and showing off at the Diamond Ball escorting royals. How should I know that this was anything different? I simply followed orders and sent them along. Frankly, I have to say since they have been gone things have run much more smoothly on Deck 54 and those who really deserve it excelled."
Someone handed Harris a PDD and the Captain looked at it at the same time Marines escorted a Chief Petty Officer to the front. The man had light blue skin and wore the insignia of a shuttle pilot on his sleeve.
Harris looked up. "Mr. Uhrim, I understand you flew the shuttle that dropped these Midshipmen on Quagmire Bog. I was also informed you are currently investigated for stealing five highly-classified jammer drones. I am sure it won't surprise you to hear we found them in an orbit around that planet. You know what the penalty is for stealing classified Mil Tech?"
The shuttle pilot grunted. "I am not taking the fall for this on my own! I had no choice; I am Thauran and was forced to obey him."
"Lt. Clusen?"
"No not him, he has little to say. I am talking about Midshipman Suppor."
Clusen still tried to save the situation. "The orders came from Academy HQ. If one of my Midshipmen did something illegal, then I will investigate and deal with it. Sir, this discussion should not take place before all these Midshipmen!"
"Oh, it will happen right here. They earned the right to hear why the Navy sent a bunch of Midshipmen, ill-equipped, to one of the most dangerous planets without any support."
Stahl got up. "I give you one chance and one chance only Mr. Clusen. If you tell me the truth now I will give you a fair trial and court martial. If you lie to me, I will not consider you an officer and deal with you accordingly."
Clusen remained defiant. "I followed HQ orders."
Stahl waved at someone and a Marine escorted a furry gray being in Lieutenant’s uniform. Stahl said to it, "Lt. Nort. You are the Communications Officer on duty while these orders supposedly were received from Academy HQ. We can find no transmission log for that day. Your signature however can be found on a document that cancels the deployment of the actual survey team and substitutes it with the Midshipman team. Can you explain that?"
The being was nervous and Clusen was staring at it with such intensity as if he wanted to kill it with his gaze.
The furry Lieutenant tried to escape the stare and said in a quiet tone. "No, Sir, I cannot confirm that. No communications have been received from the Academy during that time or anytime while I was on duty since we left Arsenal 4."
"How come the orders were decoded by you?"
"Sir, I let Lt. Clusen change the orders that came for Lt. Strasenburgh from the Science Council and I used a comm. loop with an old Academy code to create these orders for Lt. Clusen."
"Why would you let him do that?"
"Because he has powerful friends and they threatened to kill my family back home."
Clusen hissed, "And die they will!"
The furry Lieutenant straightened. "I am glad I came forward, Sir, and I will face charges as an officer and not as a coward."
Stahl said, "Mr. Nort, yes you will face charges, but I will send NAVINT to your home world to protect your family."
He turned to Clusen. "Why?"
"My family is forced to live below our status; Namamir Suppor has the fate of my mother in his hands. His family is influential and has the ear of the Emperor himself."
"I am ashamed to have men like you on my ship. I am ashamed that this Navy allows trash like you to wear this uniform. Marines, take him and that Midshipman and get them out of my sight."
Stahl looked away as the Marines dragged them out. Then he said, and I was certain his words were transmitted throughout the ship, "The Devastator will remain where she is, we will not approach any planet, nothing will be launched or allowed to leave before everyone aboard has been checked by Psi Corps. Anyone belonging to any secret society or organization can come forward now and I promise everyone receives a fair trial. My offer ends in 30 minutes; anyone caught after that will be hanged, no appeal, no trial, no second chances. Remember this is my ship and there is no place you can hide that I can't find you."
Harris added, "Centron, sound General Quarters and prepare for a head count. Any life form not on the crew list will be found, anyone not on his post will be dealt with as a deserter."
Then he faced us. "You all, and especially you Mr. Olafson, must by now have the lowest opinion of this Navy and I cannot find any excuses. All I can offer are my apologies!"
"Sir, no apologies necessary. I am proud to serve this great organization. It is true, I experienced what might be called injustice. It is true I meet a few that might not live up to the high standards of this Navy, but many more hold up that standard, I met those who exceed it every day and I am very proud of this Navy, as a citizen and a member. I feel deeply honored and beyond what I deserve to be given a chance to serve alongside distinguished officers, hardworking enlisted and senior staff. Most of all I feel deep gratitude to this Navy because it was the vehicle that allowed me to make friendships that are deeper than any family ties could be."
I snapped to attention and saluted the Admiral and the Captain. My friends immediately followed suit and to my surprise, so did every Midshipman present.
There was a moment of silence. Stahl simply nodded and said, "Why don't you carry on with your report, Ms. Wetmouth? I am eager to hear what your findings were."
Wetmouth did not have to be asked twice and she delivered a long lecture and finally came to an end saying, "Since being on board, I was able to cross-reference my findings and some of my data with GalNet. I am fairly sure the snake beings are the legendary Psi weapon the Afonee used in the Glamaan war about 9000 years ago. The Afonee culture has ceased to exist but excavations on their home world found similar DNA manipulator hatcheries just like the one we found."
She bowed to the audience and stepped down.
"So all we had to do to solve the Quagmire mystery was send t
he Olafson Gang." Harris smirked. "I should have thought of that!"
Stahl grinned. "That's how we managed to solve the Bone Mystery on Wichita." To us, he said, "You did well down there and acted like Fleet Officers should. Do you have any requests or wishes?"
Har-Hi nodded. "Yes, Sir. I'd like to keep at least one of those old TKUs."
"Permission granted. Anything else?"
Krabbel danced nervously back and forth. "Well some ice-cream would be nice, Sir! I mean real ice-cream made from fresh milk."
That caused open laughter and Stahl nodded. "I'll see what I can do. You are on R&R for 48 hrs. Mr. Olafson, you are with me!"
I followed the Admiral and as soon as we reached the corridor and were alone he stopped.
"I personally apologize to you. Mr. Olafson, because what happened was my fault. Lt. Merkus informed the Captain about Clusen's misconduct several times, even before you came aboard, and I heard about Clusen's attempt to change the score rating system. I frankly wanted to see how far he would go. I never imagined he would go that far and commit attempted murder. For this, I must apologize. Lt. Merkus has been reinstated and found not guilty on any charges."
"Sir, what I said in there I really meant."
"I am not going to spare Clusen now. He has lost all rights to be trialed like a soldier. I would like you to be present and to see that I am keeping my word."
"I am not looking forward to seeing a man die, Sir, but I perfectly understand the need for capital punishment in some cases."
While I was standing with the Admiral outside in the corridor, I saw the other Midshipmen and my friends leave the auditorium and Wetmouth waved. My voice became hard and cold as I said, "Yes, Sir, I'd like to be present. I do not feel he deserves death for putting me in danger, but his actions endangered my best friends and that I won't forgive."
He started walking again and said, "What if you get a genuine order that puts you and your friends in harm's way?"
"Sir, I believe in this Union and I feel it is worth protecting. A community of beings where a spider and an android can be friends, where outer form and heritage means little, is a society worth serving and if serving means dying then this is what I will do and I know my friends think the same way."
He put his hand on my shoulder."Well said, son!"
I followed Stahl to the 64th Section of Deck 61. Here was the General Detention Center and the headquarters of Ship Security. There in a small chamber with an auto-dresser he changed into a completely black uniform. Except for his Admiral's gold on his sleeves, it was bare of any decoration or ribbon display. He motioned me to do the same and the uniform I got was similar. No ribbon display, no patches, completely black.
He explained. "The delinquent has lost all rights and the lack of decoration and ribbons symbolizes that these signs of honor would be besmirched by his gaze. What we are about to do is among the hardest tasks a commanding officer has to do."
"Captain Zezz spoke of a similar incident, Sir, and I had the misfortune to be instrumental in a public execution not so long ago."
Stahl pulled on the seams of his uniform jacket. "I remember that case and I know how much it has troubled him. I fought the Shiss for decades and even I thought of them as cold-blooded lizards. Your friend Zezz has one of the most human and caring souls I have encountered in my long journey. I am glad he and you have met."
"Yes Sir, I have been fortunate to become friends with Captain Zezz."
He sighed. "This is why you are here and not your friends, you came a long way already in this Navy and if you keep on this path I see you reaching your goal and becoming Captain of a ship, perhaps soon. This is why I want you here. To see that justice is done but that doing it can be very hard. I want you to see the dark sides of command as well."
I knew we were about witness the execution of a man. I did not look forward to it at all, but to hear why I was here made my heart skip a beat.
He handed me a pair of gloves and a black hood. "The hood helps as a psychological barrier and the gloves are to be put on when the command is given."
He put the black hood over his face and so did I. Then I followed him into a small empty storage bay with an airlock on one side. Twelve Marines all in black, six on each side of the airlock stood silently and ramrod-straight.
Stahl motioned me to remain at his side as he positioned himself next to the airlock controls, dismissing a Sergeant standing there. "You may stand back, Sarge. I must do my own dirty work."
The Sarge saluted. "Aye, Sir, standing down." Whispering, the Sarge added, "For you, Sir, my Marines and I would do anything!"
Clusen was brought in and Suppor as well. Both still wore their uniforms. Each had their hands tied to the back and was barefoot.
Captain Harris stepped before the airlock facing the two. "Lieutenant Clusen, for acts unbecoming an officer of the United Stars Navy I hereby revoke your Commission. By lying after being asked to be truthful you have forfeited your right to be tried by a military court and, under the regulations laid forth by the Uniform Code of Justice of this Navy, you are nothing more than a common criminal."
Harris put his hood on and said, "The mask of the executioners is all you see before you die. No hand shall be soiled by the task of exterminating you from our society."
Everyone put their gloves on and so did I.
I was glad for the hood as I could not help but feel sorry for the two. For all his faults he was still a thinking being and like before, back on Corri-Door, I wondered why society had not found a way to deal with crime another way. My mind tried to explain all the reasons to my consciousness and while I understood all the reasons, and because they put my friends in harm's way they deserved what was coming to them, but my soul still refused to listen and I felt somehow guilty for putting them here. Clusen was still defiant and said, "I had to do what I did. I am also my mother's son and the welfare and status of my family is more important than Fleet and duty."
Suppor seemed not to fathom what was about to happen. His face showed the same arrogance as always. "I demand to see a lawyer! If I am no longer a Midshipman, I am a civilian and therefore have the right to a lawyer. The Emperor shall hear of this! He was not pleased with what happened to Admiral Swybar and now you accuse Thauran nobles again."
Stahl spoke: "You don't deserve anything. You soiled the uniforms you wear so much that nothing can clean them, so you are going to implode in it. By conspiring against the Navy you formed a secret and condemned yourself to death."
Clusen was dragged to the airlock first. The massive door opened. His tone of voice changed and he was pleading. "I am sorry! I knew what I was doing was wrong! I will do anything to make good what I did!"
The Marines started to beat a steady rhythm on drum pads that they wore on their belts. I had heard the very same when they chained me to the whipping post, back at Camp Idyllic. It caused cold showers to run down my spine.
I flinched as Clusen's legs collapsed. He was now weeping and his face had lost all arrogance, all that made me recognize him as the man I knew and turned him into a helpless victim. The Marines dragged him mercilessly and without losing a step into the airlock chamber. The door hissed down and slammed with a terminal-sounding clang into the frame.
Stahl said, "May whatever gods you worship have mercy on you."
He then pressed the button. There was no sound coming through the thick material but we saw Clusen getting pulled into the vacuum of space through the transparent window in the door. He did not explode or implode. I was certain I saw him move his legs before the outer door closed.
Suppor had seen it too and now it finally hit home. He knew that he was about to go next. He screamed and cried and begged.
Stahl said, "Brain scans and testimonies confirm that you are, despite your youth, a driving force of deceit and disorder. It was you who placed a deadly life form in the shower of your comrades. You conspired with the Worm, but since you were not yet commissioned and still in training, you will not be e
xecuted. After serving the maximum of 90 days in the brig you will be dishonorably discharged and with the loss of all your citizen privileges, released into civilian life. By then you will find a very different Thauran Empire. Your Emperor is implicated in dealing with the Worm and committing crimes against the Union. He is your Emperor, but he is also a Union citizen and as such he will be arrested and trialed."
Chapter 3: Celtest
The Devastator had excellent recreational facilities and offered something for almost any taste, but the most-liked recreation area was called The Village. It was a small downtown area complete with shops, cafés, nightclubs, restaurants, virtu-show halls and theatres. The sky appeared real, with moving clouds and a warm yellow sun. It would even rain or snow once in a while. The Village centered on a park with grass, trees, flower patches and narrow Duro-Crete walking paths. The park featured picnic areas, offered a wide variety of outdoor sport facilities and had a large lake in the middle for swimming and paddling around in small boats.
We had settled down at one of the picnic areas next to a big oak tree, and close to the shore of the lake. Elfi wore a golden bathing suit that was so tight it appeared as if it was painted to her body. Wetmouth had on a pink bikini that revealed her perfectly curved body and her top barely covered a pair of firm-looking breasts. The French-cut bottom of her bikini made her lissome legs appear even longer than they were.
Mao, Muhammad and I wore black swimming trunks. Hans was wearing a hideous-patterned shirt that would have been big enough to serve as a tent for the rest of us, and shorts revealing his massive calves to the world. The Saturnian was standing at a BBQ grill and the smoke he produced smelled deliciously of seared meat.
Krabbel, who only wore uniform when on duty, was all his hairy self, hanging from the tree on an almost invisible string of spider silk and holding four ice-cream cones at the same time.
Elfi, who just had returned from a swim, was a sight to see as she took off the bathing cap, shook loose her precious, shimmering hair and began to dry her legs with a fluffy towel.
Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 7 Page 44
