GALAXY AT WAR - Book 2 - Probing Anthera

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - September 2172 - Anthera - The Arrival

John Stillson stormed into the interview room, wishing for the old-fashioned doors that he could slam shut to show his frustration, and glared at Neil.

"What the hell did you think you were doing!"

Neil stayed quiet and stared straight ahead.

"You can't just take a couple of multi-million credit fighters and go off on your own little missions."

Neil continued his silence.

"The plan was already in place. You could be discharged for this," John was pacing the room and waving his arms about. "Why? Why do it?"

Neil focused on the angry eyes of Mr Stillson. "Because your plan would have got the hostages killed, sir."

"It was only ever about bringing in Dowdneer alive. The general is probably going to kill them himself. They do things differently to us."

"My plan worked. No one died and the colonel was brought back alive."

"Are you after your father's job?"

Neil looked up at John with surprise. "No!"

"Mine then?"

Neil shook his head.

"Well it certainly looks like it. We make the decisions. We come up with the plans. All you're supposed to do is carry them out to the best of your ability."

"It worked and I won't apologize for saving my friends lives."

"By putting other lives in jeopardy. What the hell did you take Rebecca along for? She's not a soldier."

"She's the reason it was a success. She was the only way I could get them out alive. The only way."

"Do you know why I'm so mad, Neil? Well ... do you?"

Neil opted for silence once again.

"I told the tranchillions that you could be trusted to go on the mission. I backed you up when they thought you'd be too emotionally involved to take part in the operation. I told them you'd be all right because you follow orders."

"Dowdneer didn't die," said Neil.

"Yeah. God knows how you controlled yourself in that cave."

"Rebecca," Neil looked at the table in front of him. "She stopped me. I think I would've done it, but she stopped me."

John sat in front of Neil and tried to control his anger. "Look, Neil. I won't deny you did a good job. And I won't deny that it would've turned out very differently if you hadn't done what you did, but there is never any excuse for disobeying an order. I'm left with no choice but to fine you two-thousand credits for your actions. The issue of facing charges, or loss of rank, I'll leave to the general. Now go, and don't ever disobey an order again."

"Thank you, sir," Neil got up and left the interview room.

John Stillson looked at the guard in the corner. "Call Rebecca Chambers."

*

General Zemorphoride was conducting his interviews a little differently to John Stillson. Putil Ptierwelope, Colonel Twochelope and Bernis Bowerphille were sitting behind a table waiting for the general to arrive.

"What's the general going to do?" asked Putil.

"Well, it depends on what you've done," said Colonel Twochelope. "Bernis followed my orders but disobeyed the general's when he came with me. My guess is that he'll be punished by Sergeant Skillorpe within two days. Myself. Being the leader. I'll probably be stripped of at least one rank as well as being punished by the sergeant. What did you do wrong?"