Public-domain ebook
Language: en476 downloads on Project Gutenberg
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In: Science-Fiction & Fantasy·Novels
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #65370.
The opening · free to read
Why would a Space Officer lead an android rebellion? Even Lieut. Mannion believed he was guilty as they gave him the supreme penalty....
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy October 1957 Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Lieut. Dan Mannion of the Earth Space Patrol stood in the prisoner's dock in the courtroom, gripping the rail of his cubicle so hard his fingers hurt.
Comdr. Edward Harkness of the SP, who was presiding, glared at him sternly. "Lieutenant Mannion, the charges against you are severe. You face the risk of total mnemonic erasure if found guilty. Is there anything you care to say in your own defense before we proceed with the trial?"
Mannion glanced around the military courtroom, seeing the pale, tense, anxious face of his wife Virginia, the stern countenance of Dubrow, his former commanding officer, the interested eyes of half a hundred onlookers.
"No," he said. His voice was thin and dry. "There's nothing I can say. Nothing at all."
He saw Virginia's pleading eyes. She was telling him silently, Please, Dan. Tell them you're innocent. At least put up a defense!
"Call the witness," Commander Harkness ordered.
"Base Commandant Lee Dubrow will please take the witness stand."
While Dubrow was being sworn in, Mannion studied him. His former commander on the Iapetus base was a tall, icy-faced man with close-cropped gray hair and a stiff military mustache. Mannion had never been particularly friendly with his commanding officer.
"Commander Dubrow, will you relate the events leading up to Lieutenant Mannion's actions in the Android Rebellion?"
Dubrow cleared his throat. "Very well. As you know, the Space Patrol established its base on Iapetus last year--no, two years ago, at the end of 2365--as part of its program of preparing Saturn's moons for colonization."
"How many members of the patrol were with you?"
"Fifteen, altogether. I was in command, naturally, and for most of the period we were there Lieutenant Mannion was my second-in-command."
"Isn't it fairly unusual for a Lieutenant to hold such a high position?" the prosecutor asked.
"Major Dunphy was killed by a rebellious android seven weeks after we arrived," Dubrow said. "Lieutenant Mannion was the next highest ranking officer in my squadron and he took over."
"How many androids did you have with you?"
"Over a hundred," said Dubrow. "It was quite a time we had when they mutinied."
"Had you any knowledge of the mutiny beforehand?"
"No."
"Did any member of your staff know about the mutiny before it took place?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"Lieutenant Mannion. He was in conspiracy with VZ-1972, the ring-leader of the mutiny."
Mannion felt his face go bright red. He wanted to stand up and shout, "That's a lie! I never knew anything about the mutiny!"
But he couldn't. Somewhere in the back of his mind lay a shadow of doubt. He could not remember anything that had happened at the time of the mutiny--and perhaps he had--perhaps--
The judge said, "Tell us about Lieutenant Mannion's part in the mutiny."
"Yes, sir. The first we knew about it was on the morning of November 9, 2366, when the androids we used to keep the atmosphere-generators running refused to perform their regular tasks. I ordered Lieutenant Mannion to go outside and discover what the trouble was. He refused. I ordered him a second time, and he struck me and threw open the airlock. All of the androids rushed in."
"What happened then?"
"I found myself wrestling with Lieutenant Mannion while the androids destroyed all of the Project's equipment and apparatus. In the struggle all 12 of my men were killed by the androids. Finally I succeeded in subduing Lieutenant Mannion and bringing the androids back under control--"
"How was that done?"
"The androids respond automatically to a direct command from the superior officer, no matter what they're doing. Had I been free to give that command the mutiny would never have taken place. But Lieutenant Mannion prevented me from giving the command until it was too late. All of our men were dead and the Project set back more than a year. I placed Lieutenant Mannion under detention, put the androids in permafreeze, and returned to Earth. And here I am."
"Is that the extent of your testimony?"
"It is."
"You may step down, then. Lieutenant Mannion?"
Mannion rose and faced the judge. "Sir?"
"You've now heard your commander testify that you wilfully obstructed his attempt to end the android mutiny ... a mutiny which cost 12 human lives and did over $5,000,000 worth of damage to the Iapetus Project. Is there, again, anything you care to say in your own defense?"
Mannion shook his head. "No, sir."
"Very well, then. The court will adjourn for 15 minutes while data is programmed and fed to the computer, after which the verdict will be announced and the sentence read."
Mannion frowned. "But I don't remember, Virginia! My mind is a blank for the entire period of the mutiny! For all I know I did do as the Commander says!"
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