William Forstchen - Article 23

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."