The atmosphere in the ship grew tense waiting for the arrival of the three officers from Capella Station. Kent was allowed to continue with his duties and it was Harper who kept to his cabin. Wild rumours flew around, changing hour by hour as neither of the protagonists would speak about the case. Everyone was on Kent’s side, although many feared that he might have gone further that the officiators would condone.

Eventually the officiators arrived, a colonel, a major and a ship’s captain; evidently the base had taken the case seriously. Normally in any dispute between crew members, the ship’s Captain would have made a ruling that both parties would have complied with, but as Harper was both a Major and an external Inspector, he had exercised his right to take the case higher. This had set in train a whole series of protocols that were a nightmare to challenge.

Kent went to see the officiators as soon as he heard they’d arrived. However, they had been allocated cabins in a secured area and Kent was told firmly, if politely, that it was totally impossible for him to have any contact with any of the officiators before the trial.

“Can you at least ask Colonel Young to view the recorded evidence before the trial?” he asked the man on duty. “It’s extremely important—there is sensitive information on it which should not be broadcast to the whole ship!” he pressed. The man replied politely that he would see what he could do, and Kent was obliged to leave, trying to have faith that the message would be delivered.

Colonel Young could see no reason for delay; it appeared a simple matter of hearing from the two protagonists and then making a judgement. There was no evidence to be investigated as far as he was aware and no witnesses to be called. Harper and Kent sat on opposite sides of the three judges, turned slightly toward each other and facing rows of tightly packed crew. Corporal Hamilton had been co-opted into making sure the events were recorded without interruption and was seated next to the judges with the ship’s camcorder in place. Captain Matthews sat next to Lieutenant Kent.

Colonel Young opened the proceedings with a formal calling to order and then read the charge.

“It appears to me, Major Harper, that the point we are trying to ascertain is whether or not Lieutenant Kent was aware that you were not a Second Lieutenant as he had been lead to believe but in fact a Major. Lieutenant Kent himself admits to actually striking you. Is that correct, gentlemen?”

“Yes sir. He also kicked me in the stomach when I was on the ground, unable to defend myself,” Harper added self-righteously.

“Is that true, Lieutenant Kent?” Young asked him with raised brows.

“Um... yes sir, it is,” he confessed reluctantly. “Unfortunately, I lost my temper.”

“I see. Are you making any claim of self defence, Lieutenant Kent?”

“No sir. Though I will plead extreme provocation, while believing we were both the same rank, sir.”

“So noted. Now when did this incident occur, Major?”

“Between 19:00 and 20:00 hours on the 6th of June 2480, sir.”

“That’s correct, sir,” agreed Kent.

“Location?”

“The cabin allotted to me on the P112 Kalar, sir.”

Kent nodded and Colonel Young asked him to agree verbally for the record.

“Now Major Harper, I believe you have a recording of the incident, for the whole period in question?”

“Yes sir, you can check the time and date on it if required.” There was a gasp of comprehension from some of the crew. The Colonel frowned.

“Could you pass your personal recorder to Corporal Hamilton, please?”

Corporal Hamilton took the device from Major Harper and scanned it with the ship’s camcorder. “The date and time are as stated, Colonel,” he reported.

“Let’s hear it then,” requested the Colonel, glancing across at Lieutenant Kent who was sitting absolutely motionless, his jaw clenched. Obviously his request had either not been conveyed to the Colonel or else he had not seen fit to act on it.

“You understand, Lieutenant, that if you hear anything on that recording that you deny was said, you have the right to say so?”

“Uh... yes sir.” Kent was so tense he could hardly speak.

Colonel Young frowned. There was something funny going on here. Matthews wouldn’t back the man like he had if he thought he was lying, and Kent himself would hardly deny the charge if he had admitted it on the recording, yet the thought of that recording being played obviously worried the hell out of him. Perhaps he had said something else that he shouldn’t have, a criticism perhaps of someone above him? Still frowning, Young ordered Hamilton to play the recording to the court.

There was an excruciating minute’s silence before the soundless courtroom heard Harper’s brisk “Come in.” Then Kent’s voice came, clear and courteous, “Lieutenant Harper, I’ve come here to give you a piece of advice...” As the recording continued, Matthews grew increasingly concerned, what on earth had been happening on his ship?

Colonel Young’s frown deepened as the import of Kent’s “piece of advice” struck him. It sounded as if Major Harper had been deliberately trying to stir up trouble by disparaging the Kalar’s Captain. He waited expectantly for Harper’s denial to follow.

Harper’s reply however puzzled and then alarmed him. “I think I know more about your precious Captain Matthews than you do!” Young had a sudden premonition of what he was about to reveal and glanced involuntarily at Matthews. He had obviously had the same idea, the colour had drained from his face and he sat as if frozen. Young had actually opened his mouth to stop the recording when the damning words filled the courtroom. “... a homosexual, an om?”

Men sucked in their breaths audibly; Colonel Young because he feared the crew’s reaction; the other two officiators because they hadn’t known; and the crew because now they knew why Kent was so tense and feared his reaction.

Matthews felt as if the ground was falling away beneath him—he was finished, the men would despise him and hate him. What were they going to do? Shout, snigger, embarrassed silence? He sat staring straight ahead; he couldn’t bear to meet anyone’s eyes in the room. His whole career, his reputation... Why was Kent taking so long to answer? Kent! Well he knew how he felt about oms at least! No wonder the thought of that recording being played had sent him into a blue spin.