“It’s put up or shut up time, gentlemen.” Moore looked around the table. “Pritchard knows, or at least has guessed, our intentions. Not quite the whole picture, but he’s close enough. He might not be able to do anything about it, or he might. Do we take that chance?”

Commodore Gerrard leaned forward. “Admiral, consider also the possibility that, by reacting aggressively, we might be precipitating exactly the reaction we’re so concerned about.”

“It’s Hobson’s Choice, Commodore. We can become paralyzed by trying to second-guess ourselves and our opponents. At some point, you have to make a decision. Even if the decision is to do nothing, at least make it an active decision, instead of doing nothing out of fear.”

“Now,” the admiral looked around the table. “What will we do, today?”

Castillo spoke up. “The nuke isn’t quite in place, but it can be ready within six hours. We’re far enough from the base now for safety, but not outside treaty space yet. So there will be an inquiry, of course. And the SSE pickets haven’t moved from their location, so they aren’t an immediate concern.”

“And we can have the module evacuated in half that time,” Admiral Richards added.

Moore looked around the table. “I know the military isn’t really a democratic institution, but I’d like to get a sense of what everyone thinks. So let’s have a non-binding vote. In favor of the nuclear solution? Against?”

Moore looked at Martinson, the only person to vote against. “Any reason, Martinson?”

Martinson looked ill. “I guess I still believe in the planetary constitution, Admiral. Pritchard hasn’t done anything wrong, hasn’t broken any laws, and didn’t ask to get put where he is. And we’re about to blow him up, to activate a military nuclear device in peacetime, because we’re scared of the dark.” He gazed at Moore, his eyes haunted. “This isn’t what I signed up for, and I don’t see how I can reconcile such an action with the oath that I took. You do this, you do it without me.”

“Understood, Lieutenant Colonel. As officer in charge of this operation, I relieve you of your duties. Please leave the room.”

Martinson nodded, got up, and walked out without looking back.

“Should we just let him go?”

Moore winced. “We may be skirting the edges, Commodore, but we aren’t cartoon villains quite yet. Martinson understands chain of command, and he understands the security level of this installation. He won’t help, but he won’t interfere, either. And he will continue to serve in the future.”

He rapped his knuckles on the desk. “Okay, let’s do this. Commodore, start evacuation proceedings. Castillo, make sure the nuke is ready to go on time. Maybe having things come to a head before a plausible interval has elapsed will work in our favor.”

57.Escape

57.Escape