It took Peters a week to gather the information he needed to take to Lieutenant Ferris. He sought him out one evening when he was off duty and brought a crewman with him. “Lieutenant? Have you got a moment, sir?”

“Come in,” Ferris looked from one to the other. “Is it okay with you if I set the privacy seal?”

The two men nodded and he shut the door behind them and set the privacy seal, so no-one could come in unannounced. Both men were standing uncomfortably in the middle of his cabin and he gestured to them to take a seat. They took the two chairs, leaving him to sit awkwardly on the edge of his bed, wondering if this was really an appropriate venue given the nature of what they were here to discuss. “I’m sorry about this,” he smiled apologetically. “I don’t warrant an office until I reach Second Lieutenant.”

Peters smiled back and for a second looked older than he normally did. “We’ll be fine, sir. I thought you’d want to hear this from Lin first hand.”

Ferris looked at the other man and saw a slight, wiry figure, of decidedly Chinese ancestry. He had joined the ship at the last point of intake and he didn’t know him very well yet, but he remembered hearing he was an excellent shot. “Yes?” Ferris asked invitingly.

“Firstly sir, I am not an om, but I was told when I arrived that on this ship you have to act like you are, if you want to stay.” Lin spoke hotly, not even trying to suppress his anger.

Ferris tried not to look at him too sceptically. As far as he was aware, he was the only om amongst the officers, and there weren’t that many amongst the crew either.

“What were you told, exactly? Can you remember?”

“I’ll never forget it! The exact words were, ‘If an officer asks you to bend over, just do it. Otherwise they’ll use Rule 158 to transfer you. You’ll end up a guard on a prison transport if you’re lucky.’” He stared defiantly at Ferris.

“But they can’t do that, Rule 158 is supposed to help people. It says quite clearly, ‘an om will be transferred without any penalty’,” the Lieutenant protested. Both men stared at him as if he’d just said something incredibly naive. “I’m sorry, I interrupted, go on.”

Lin looked down. “It was in one of the stealth pods.” Ferris couldn’t help it. He glanced across at Peters and flushed a painful red. Peters was studiously looking at Lin. “Lieutenant Hendriks got in behind me and said it... it was time for my initiation. He said all the men on the Jerez had to go through this. Then he made me undo my uniform and... and you know the rest.”

Peters spoke again. “So far I’ve found two other men who will admit to this same thing happening with Lieutenant Hendriks and four with Lieutenant Sanchez.”

Ferris looked aghast as Peters continued matter-of-factly, “I haven’t found any one who says they have had that experience with Third Lieutenant Demir,” he paused, then added, “or you, of course.”

Ferris swallowed. “Captain Perez?” he asked. Peters looked at Lin again.

“No.” But before Ferris could heave a sigh of relief, Lin continued. “But he hasn’t done anything to stop it, either. I went to him, afterwards, to complain and he just said—” he gulped. “That I must have asked for it. It’s true, I didn’t say no and I didn’t fight him, but... he was my superior officer! What could I have done?”

Peters looked squarely at the Fourth Lieutenant. “I know it would be more straightforward if Lin had actually used the word ‘no’, but do you think there is still enough evidence to take this further?”

Ferris was still having difficulty meeting Peters’ eyes and instead turned to Lin. “Yes, I do. This is a flagrant and systematic abuse of power. I’ll talk to the Captain first and if he won’t address it, I’ll forward a report to Colonel Young at Capella Space Station. He’s in charge of those external inspectors who come round every so often. I don’t think he’d be the sort to sweep this under the service hatch.”

Peters nodded with faint satisfaction, as if he had expected that response from Ferris. Lin had one more thing to say. “Sir? Please don’t mention my name to the Captain. At least until you are certain this is going to be seriously addressed.” He looked anxious and Ferris agreed.

For the first time that evening, Peters appeared worried, as if he’d suddenly realised there might be actual physical danger in this process he’d helped to start. “Can I suggest, sir, that you compile your report to Colonel Young, before you see the Captain? And maybe forward a copy to someone you trust, just in case... as insurance?”

Ferris looked at him in surprise and agreed, but with a smile, as if he thought that was a bit extreme.

Peters was concerned that Ferris wasn’t taking the threat of danger seriously enough and leant forward to speak earnestly to him. “Sir, we are not only threatening these men’s careers, but their freedom. It is quite possible they will be charged and imprisoned over these offences. Take precautions please, protect yourself.”

Ferris looked from one to the other. They were deadly serious. “All right, I’ll do it now.”