Well-Traveled Rhodes (Kinsella Universe Book 6)

by Gina Marie Wylie

  “I've stated my case.”

  “Well, in a moment we will pass judgment upon you. I want you to think about something between now and then. The crew of that ship properly objected to an improper order; there was no actual disobedience. You were instructed that there was none and that you had no order authority over those individuals. I submit, Captain, it was you who was the insubordinate officer, disobeying the legal, direct orders of your superiors.

  “In this matter as well, Commander Rhodes is obeying her orders -- and you manifestly are not. Further, you usurped authority not yours, you lied to officers and non-commissioned officers of the Fleet, and you used your rank and position to push a private vendetta. Admiral Booth is your last chance to say something exculpatory.”

  “He won't get it from me!” Admiral Booth said. He jerked his thumb at Admiral Saito. “What he said. Dittoes!”

  “Captain Kornblatt, you stand accused of the specifications and charges you've heard. Speak -- or forever hold your peace.”

  “You already made up your minds! This is a kangaroo court.”

  “In your mind, Captain, you can't imagine changing your mind about guilt or innocence. All of us here have sat on Special Boards and done exactly that. None of us wish to see our own people killed, no matter what you might think. On the other hand, we're not about to tolerate scum like you hurting our chances in this war.”

  He pointed a finger at Cindy. “You object to the conduct of the war; that's what got you where you are today. Have you reconsidered?”

  “Sir, we're not like them. We have no business destroying them because of what they are. But, the hard reality, the inescapable reality, is that we can't talk to them and they slaughter us without compunction. I don't think, at this time, there is anything else we can do.”

  “Once before you faced the judgment of those whose duty it is to conduct the war. You were given an opportunity to reconsider. You didn't -- you stood your ground. Captain Kornblatt doesn't understand why the officers who saw you that day unreservedly recommended you for line duty with the Fleet. Commander Rhodes, it is what we expect of those like you: you make your best considered judgment, and stick with it, no matter how bad the odds look. When a final decision is rendered, you go with it, and don't oppose it.

  “Someone like Captain Kornblatt could review your performance on your recent deployment and he would find perhaps ten thousand or a hundred thousand times when you or your crew violated Fleet Regulations. He simply wouldn't allow the fact that your crew has saved the Federation, and that you alone facilitated that, to sway his judgment.”

  He turned to Captain Kornblatt. “Sir, judgment as poor as yours, can't be permitted. You endanger all of us. Sir, you are found guilty on all of the charges.”

  “So, you're going to shoot me?”

  “Oh, no! If you'd have asked me earlier, I'd have promised you we wouldn't.”

  President Van de Veere turned to Admiral Litvinik. “Admiral, earlier I heard you lament that you won't be able to make this man walk the plank. Personally, I think that's a capital idea.” There was a lot of emphasis on the word “capital.”

  “Captain Kornblatt, you will be held in this compartment until such time as the Federation Council's Special Board Review Panel approves this judgment. They are already meeting, running about twenty minutes behind real time. I expect the review will be done in under two hours.

  “You are sentenced to be marched to a public area of this station. There, in front of the members of the station crew, assembled to watch, you will be stripped of your insignia and rank, all medals and awards. You will then be stripped of your shipsuit, and a sign hung strategically around your neck with the words 'insubordinate liar' on them. We will give you a transponder to swallow, such that you will not be a hazard to navigation. You will then be marched through such public areas of the station, as the station commander so chooses, led to an air lock and cycled through, as you stand. God have mercy on your soul and those who have stood judgment upon you.”

  He turned to Admiral Fletcher. “Admiral, it is my judgment that Fleet regulations be modified. After today, I want 'Kornblatt' to be a listed standard for insubordination, corruption and malfeasance. I want all such offenses hereinafter to be compared to Kornblatt: half a Kornblatt or, God forbid, even more than a Kornblatt.”

  “Aye, aye, sir.”

  The president turned to Cindy. “I have no questions for you, Commander. It is my judgment that you have done your duty and more. Admiral Fletcher? Any questions?”

  “I have no questions. It is my judgment that Commander Rhodes has done her duty and more. My very great honor, Commander.”

  The line of admirals all said the same thing.

  “You are excused, Commander.”

  “Sir, may I be permitted to remain?”

  “Of course, Commander.”

  The next up was the JAG officer. He was quickly dealt with, grateful to be leaving on his own two feet.

  The two commanders, one Fleet and one Port who had objected were also quickly dealt with.

  Then the first commander who hadn't objected faced the tribunal. “Commander Jayne, in the matter before us, as previously specified, you participated in an illegal Special Board. The specification is that you assisted in said illegal board, the Earth being in a state of Race Emergency at the time. How say you?”

  “Sir, I was... well, flattered that I'd been asked to serve on a Special Board. It didn't take long after I arrived here to realize that I was present based on my ignorance of procedure, not my familiarity. I heard those two other officers object. I started to open my mouth to object, but Captain Kornblatt was furious, and announced that any further objections would see the officer in question boarded himself for insubordination.

  “Sir, on my honor as an officer of the Fleet, Port Arm, I decided to bide my time. It was my intention that the first chance I had to speak, once the board was in session, I was to object and then resign, regardless of the consequences. I wasn't sure what was going on, but it was clearly unjust. It was my belief that with a majority of the Board protesting, that it would be cancelled and immediately reviewed.”

  “On your honor, you speak the truth?” the president pressed. “Knowing that lying before a Special Board is an automatic death sentence?”

  “Aye, aye, sir. Sir, I pulled my comp to me when I decided that, typed in my resignation, time-stamped it and turned my comp off.”

  The president of the Federation stared at him for a moment, cleared his throat and spoke again. “Grissom Station, I know you can hear me. Did this officer do as he stated?”

  The station's voice came on the compartment's PA. “It is correct. Sir, I realize that I have not been asked to testify concerning this matter, and in truth I don't have much to offer. Captain Kornblatt was not wired and so I was not privy to his thoughts and intentions.

  “However, about an hour before this proceeding, shortly after Commander Rhodes came aboard, he asked me for lists of all officers aboard on permanent duty here, sorted by whether or not they had the advanced Fleet law certificate. I was dissatisfied when Captain Kornblatt chose only officers without a certificate. That was outside of regulations.

  “I monitored events here and when I realized what was happening, I alerted the various command staff as to events. I also alerted Tiger as well, however by that time other officers had alerted her, and she was already coming to maneuver stations, preparing to move.”

  The computer paused for an instant and then continued, “Mr. President, an officer is coming with a notification concerning a related event. I believe it would be better if the matter was handled here rather than in due course; it is no longer urgent but is relevant nonetheless.”

  The compartment door opened and a Marine colonel appeared. He handed a sheet of paper to the president, then one to his general and was gone an instant later. The president passed the paper to Admiral Fletcher after a quick read through.

  The president turned to the Port
commander standing in front of him. “It is my belief that you should be required to complete the Advanced Fleet Law certificate in the next thirty days. Further, Admiral Fletcher, I assume there was a review of the advisability of having officers of the rank of commander able to join a Special Board. I would like you to personally re-conduct that review and if you wish to continue the practice, require the Advance Law certificate as a prerequisite for promotion to commander. Do you have any questions for this individual, Admiral?”

  “None, sir. I agree with your judgment. I will conduct that review, sir. In fairness, I must add that we require that certificate for promotion in Fleet Marines to field rank, that is, major or higher, although only lieutenant colonels and above may sit on Special Boards.”

  The line of admirals agreed and those two officers also departed.

  The president looked at the forlorn cluster of Marines; all that remained in the corner. “Brigadier Peter Wentworth, I understand that you have something to say to this tribunal.”

  “Yes, sir.

  “This is the most difficult thing I've ever had to do in twenty-one years of military service.” He indicated the Marine sergeant in the corner.

  “Marine Sergeant Samuel Dixon sent a second runner to his officer to ask for guidance, even after being told the first time that his orders were legal. He'd been ordered to use deadly force against a number of serving Fleet officers. It was Sergeant Dixon's belief that the orders were from a deranged officer.

  “Sir, the corporal found the junior officer of the watch's office empty, and that the assigned officer, Lieutenant Hans Rudesheim, was nowhere to be found. It is regulation that the junior officer of the watch may not absent himself from his duty post until properly relieved. As the officer was not present, the corporal correctly woke his company commander and informed him of the situation. Captain John Tremaine inquired of the station where the missing officer might be and was told that he was no longer aboard the station.

  “A shuttle had been stolen from the ready bay and launched on an unauthorized flight. Station flight operations reported that the shuttle had been instructed to land in Berlin and attempted to recall it.

  “Sir, it is my sad duty to inform you that moments later the shuttle's IFF and radar transponders were turned off and the shuttle reported that control had been shifted to manual and the flight control computer was in shutdown mode. The shuttle increased acceleration to more than four gravities, down bound to Earth.

  “Flight operations called an Earth-space emergency, as they continued to demand that the shuttle pilot cease and desist. Earth defense forces were alerted, and the shuttle flight path continued to terminate in the vicinity of Berlin. Approximately sixteen minutes ago Earth Defense issued a final warning to the shuttle to shut down and prepare to be boarded, or lethal force would be used to stop him.

  “Three minutes later, four laser stations of the defense force engaged the shuttle and destroyed it. It was traveling in excess of twenty kilometers per second when it was destroyed, and would have arrived at more than twice that velocity.”

  He raised his eyes to the President. “I've never had an officer under my command go AWOL before. The thought that this officer tried to deliberately cause an event of mass destruction leaves me in great shame that an officer under my command could even contemplate such a thing.” Again he gestured at the sergeant and his men. “These men, sir, are blameless. If there is any blame, let it fall on my head.”

  Cindy stood back up. The president contemplated her for a moment, but turned back to General Wentworth. “The matter of Lieutenant Rudesheim will be the matter of another Special Board, after further investigation.” Then he turned to Cindy.

  “Lieutenant Commander Rhodes.”

  “Sir, it was clear to me that Sergeant Dixon and his men were acting under duress. It is difficult for anyone in the Fleet to disobey a direct order; while the protocol for doing so is in the Fleet regulations, the greater the difference in rank, the more difficult the issue becomes. I obeyed Captain Kornblatt's orders in this situation; I can't find fault with NCOs and enlisted personnel doing so as well.”

  “Well said, Commander, well said. I am of the opinion that we can wrap this up. What say you, Admiral Fletcher?”

  “It is expected of the officers, NCOs and enlisted persons of the Fleet are to follow the orders of their superiors. When those orders are in error, when those orders are illegal and duress is being applied, it becomes quite difficult. Like Lieutenant Commander Rhodes, I believe Sergeant Dixon and those under him did their best to balance obedience and judgment. I find no fault with the sergeant’s actions.”

  The other admirals agreed and President Van de Veere adjourned the Board. The doors were opened, but only few more people were admitted. There were the rest of the crew of the Shore... and Captain Shapiro.

  Captain Hall looked Cindy up and down. “You do have a way of getting to the center of things, XO.”

  “Sorry, Captain.”

  “You have no idea what a shock it was when Tiger went to battle stations.” Cindy made a face... what with one thing and another that could have been badly misconstrued. She nodded at Captain Shapiro. “The captain here set us straight. She said she didn't know what was up, but wanted to bet all takers a dollar that it was you.”

  Cindy laughed, and that laughed released a lot of stress. Even the sight of Admiral Litvinik leading a party escorting the prisoner from the compartment did not affect that release. At the same time Cindy saw Admiral Booth patiently waiting a few feet away, trailed by his daughter and Lieutenant Zodiac.

  “Admiral Booth, sir,” she said politely.

  “Commander, it's been a long day for you and not a particularly short day for the rest of us. Tiger understands and is now expecting us tomorrow afternoon at 1600, not the first thing tomorrow morning.”

  “Aye, aye, sir. I'll be present.”

  He smiled faintly. “Ah, yes, in that regard there is a precedent that I've been ordered to follow. Back near the start of the war, then-Lieutenant Willow Wolf was involved in a civil disturbance. She had been en route to meet with the president, and he was upset that she was delayed, first by the altercation, and then by a Special Board that shot two individuals for interfering with her duty.

  “The president then gave Admiral Nagoya a direct order that no one was to be in a position to interfere with then-Lieutenant Wolf's duty again. From that day to this, she has a Marine escort wherever she goes. I'm sorry to say this, Commander, but he has ordered the same thing for you. Lieutenant Zodiac will be in charge of your protection detail. He'll get with you later to go over the arrangements.”

  Cindy swallowed. “Everywhere?”

  “Everywhere public, and aboard ship, someone that can reach you within minutes.”

  “I have no choice, sir?”

  “None, I'm afraid, Commander. Admiral Fletcher did manage to get the president to make the protection details by Presidential Special Order. Not many people are going to go to the president with such a request.”

  “Then, aye, aye, sir.”

  “Say goodnight to your friends, you have ten minutes. Ten minutes with Lieutenant Ozark -- er, Zodiac. Ten minutes later I want you asleep. Commander Booth will fetch you at 1100 hours. She has a rather extensive intelligence briefing for you before we meet with Tiger tomorrow.”

  He saluted her, she returned it, and then he and his daughter were gone.

  Captain Hall was brief. “I wanted you to know, that BuShips disapproved of our ship's name change and turned it down. Admiral Fletcher took about two seconds and told them that ships of the class will all be flown by heroes and should be named after them. So she stays the Daniel Shore.”

  She sighed. “That's the good news. Myself and Commander Roeser are being transferred to Tiger. For reasons I'm pretty sure I understand, Alis McVae is resuming her rank of lieutenant commander and she and Master Chief Shinzu stay with the ship, with Alis in command.

  “Tam Farmer and Chief
Irgun will stay with you, wherever you wash up. Most of the rest will be off to BuSchools for 'knowledge transfer.' They're still working on who else will be in the next crew. They'll want us to brief them before we get too dispersed.”

  “Yes, sir. No problem.”

  “You look terrible, XO. Get some rest. There will be time enough for goodbyes another time, I promise.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Her captain saluted Cindy, who returned it.

  There were hugs with most of the rest and Cindy turned to the captain. “Where is Gunny Hodges?”

  “He said he had something he had to do, XO. He said he'll be along directly.”

  Cindy found herself walking with Lieutenant Zodiac, who briefly sketched what she was going to have to do. In front of her compartment, he handed her a small device. “This is a panic button, sir. It's the same design as has existed for centuries. Push the button and watch out! Here comes the Marines!”

  “Thank you, Lieutenant.”

  He waved at her door. “And now, my first opportunity to be obnoxious. I go in and make sure the compartment is secure.”

  Cindy couldn't resist ribbing him. “Leaving me out here, unprotected?”

  “Sir, we're aboard a Fleet ship. I just have to be within a minute.”

  “I thought this was a station and not a ship,” she continued.

  He laughed. “Sir, I was a sergeant. I've had experts yanking my chain. You are so wasting your time.”

  He pushed open the door and an instant later a pistol was in his hand. Cindy saw Gunny Hodges standing a few feet away, his hands away from his body.

  “Stand down, Lieutenant, he's a friend.”

  “That's right, Lieutenant. You're the OIC of Lieutenant Commander Rhodes' protection detail. I'm the NCOIC.” He handed Lieutenant Zodiac a piece of paper.

  The lieutenant sighed. “Signed by the Marine Commandant himself. I'm not going to get this changed, am I?”