job.”
“Why didn’t you say something?” Franklin snapped.
“He did,” Marshall interrupted. “To me. There was no evidence of anything but incompetence, and it wouldn’t be the first time.”
“We’re stuck, aren’t we,” Rogers said. “I mean, we can’t abandon Hades, not now. The damage is done, and we’re going to have to work with what we’ve got.”
Shaking his head, Pilsudski said, “I disagree. Let’s leave this mess behind and get the hell out of this nightmare.”
“No,” Cooper said. “We paid too big a cost for that rock. The Espatiers won’t give it up.”
“Are you giving orders now?” Franklin asked.
“He’s right,” Cunningham said. “There’d be a mutiny if we tried, and besides, Frank has a point. We’ve taken this installation, and we’ve fought our battle. Pulling out now would be pointless.”
“How long have you known about this?” Gorski asked.
Taking a deep breath, Marshall said, “About four weeks.”
“Why the hell…,” Pilsudski began.
“Because I wasn’t sure, and it’s taken me most of that time to go through everything and double-check, and because the fleet wasn’t in a position to do anything about it in any case. We had a mission, Captain, and whatever we think of it, whatever led to it, we can’t simply abandon it for nothing.”
“There’s a chance that this is still legitimate,” Caine said. “Alamo’s operated on verbal-only orders before.”
“So has Thermopylae,” Rogers added. “In which case failing to obey our orders would constitute an act of mutiny. You’re in a hell of a position, Danny.”
“Obeying our orders, Captain,” Pilsudski said, “might well have started a war.”
“For all we know, we’re at war. We don’t know what is happening outside this system.”
“We’re the big push, though,” Rogers said. “This fleet and Admiral Tramiel’s.”
“What are you going to do?” Dragomirov asked. “And for that matter, why are we here?”
Looking around at them, Marshall paused for a moment. Had he been looking at his officers from Alamo, he wouldn’t have hesitated for a second. He’d have known how they would react, what they would think, and while they might had disagreed, they’d have backed him up. This time it was very different.
“We should head to Hydra,” Rogers said, filling the vacuum. “After dealing with the Cabal fleet in this system. Admiral Tramiel needs to know.”
“Don’t be stupid,” Pilsudski said. “He must have been in on this. He wouldn’t give away half his fleet without knowing what he was doing.”
“Our orders are to remain on station,” Gorski said. “At least until relieved.”
“Danny,” Caine whispered. “Come on.”
“We’re going home,” Marshall said. “We will deal with the Cabal fleet, and then my intention is to return to Mars and demand a full investigation into whatever happened here.”
“Captain,” Gorski said, “We’re serving officers. I don’t think…”
“That’s the problem, isn’t it,” Pilsudski said. “We’re just meant to be little robots, following orders, aren’t we? Don’t think, don’t consider, just do as we’re told.” Gesturing at the viewport, he said, “And that’s cost a lot of lives – and if we end up at war, it could cost us everything. If this was some sort of terrible mistake, there might be a chance to resolve it without bloodshed.”
“At the very least,” Caine said, “Hades is a tool we can use in peace negotiations.”
“We aren’t at war!” Pilsudski replied. “At least, we weren’t until we set off on this fool’s crusade. I’m with you, Captain. All the way to the Combined Chiefs, if that’s what’s needed.”
“Walt,” Rogers said, “You’re talking gross insubordination. At best.”
“If that stops this happening again to some other fleet, that’s fine by me. I didn’t
“Why didn’t you say something?” Franklin snapped.
“He did,” Marshall interrupted. “To me. There was no evidence of anything but incompetence, and it wouldn’t be the first time.”
“We’re stuck, aren’t we,” Rogers said. “I mean, we can’t abandon Hades, not now. The damage is done, and we’re going to have to work with what we’ve got.”
Shaking his head, Pilsudski said, “I disagree. Let’s leave this mess behind and get the hell out of this nightmare.”
“No,” Cooper said. “We paid too big a cost for that rock. The Espatiers won’t give it up.”
“Are you giving orders now?” Franklin asked.
“He’s right,” Cunningham said. “There’d be a mutiny if we tried, and besides, Frank has a point. We’ve taken this installation, and we’ve fought our battle. Pulling out now would be pointless.”
“How long have you known about this?” Gorski asked.
Taking a deep breath, Marshall said, “About four weeks.”
“Why the hell…,” Pilsudski began.
“Because I wasn’t sure, and it’s taken me most of that time to go through everything and double-check, and because the fleet wasn’t in a position to do anything about it in any case. We had a mission, Captain, and whatever we think of it, whatever led to it, we can’t simply abandon it for nothing.”
“There’s a chance that this is still legitimate,” Caine said. “Alamo’s operated on verbal-only orders before.”
“So has Thermopylae,” Rogers added. “In which case failing to obey our orders would constitute an act of mutiny. You’re in a hell of a position, Danny.”
“Obeying our orders, Captain,” Pilsudski said, “might well have started a war.”
“For all we know, we’re at war. We don’t know what is happening outside this system.”
“We’re the big push, though,” Rogers said. “This fleet and Admiral Tramiel’s.”
“What are you going to do?” Dragomirov asked. “And for that matter, why are we here?”
Looking around at them, Marshall paused for a moment. Had he been looking at his officers from Alamo, he wouldn’t have hesitated for a second. He’d have known how they would react, what they would think, and while they might had disagreed, they’d have backed him up. This time it was very different.
“We should head to Hydra,” Rogers said, filling the vacuum. “After dealing with the Cabal fleet in this system. Admiral Tramiel needs to know.”
“Don’t be stupid,” Pilsudski said. “He must have been in on this. He wouldn’t give away half his fleet without knowing what he was doing.”
“Our orders are to remain on station,” Gorski said. “At least until relieved.”
“Danny,” Caine whispered. “Come on.”
“We’re going home,” Marshall said. “We will deal with the Cabal fleet, and then my intention is to return to Mars and demand a full investigation into whatever happened here.”
“Captain,” Gorski said, “We’re serving officers. I don’t think…”
“That’s the problem, isn’t it,” Pilsudski said. “We’re just meant to be little robots, following orders, aren’t we? Don’t think, don’t consider, just do as we’re told.” Gesturing at the viewport, he said, “And that’s cost a lot of lives – and if we end up at war, it could cost us everything. If this was some sort of terrible mistake, there might be a chance to resolve it without bloodshed.”
“At the very least,” Caine said, “Hades is a tool we can use in peace negotiations.”
“We aren’t at war!” Pilsudski replied. “At least, we weren’t until we set off on this fool’s crusade. I’m with you, Captain. All the way to the Combined Chiefs, if that’s what’s needed.”
“Walt,” Rogers said, “You’re talking gross insubordination. At best.”
“If that stops this happening again to some other fleet, that’s fine by me. I didn’t
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