Return From Mars

The Heroes Return

We had been waiting with baited breath for a reply from Captain Price. Now that I knew what was behind the emergency I was even more worried. When we got it, Armistad almost choked.

...begin transmission...

            The video came up on the screen and we saw Captain Price in a ship. Colonel Armistad frowned at this; they should be in the ground base, not the ship.

...Helios this is Ultor over...

            Price was definitely on the ship.

...Helios I have made an emergency blow and am now heading back to Earth over...

            Price had disobeyed orders.

...I know that it was against orders, but I had no other option over...

            Armistad was not happy at all. He looked about ready to blow.

...Chris is in the morgue and Josh and Dylan are attached to life support. They are stable, but have shown no signs of responsiveness over...

            Armistad was already reaching for the reply switch, his face a thundercloud.

...We should be home in two months over and out...

*     *     *

Armistad met with his small council immediately after we received Price's message. The council included; myself, Major Dion Grafton (his second in command), Anthony Herschel (his personal aide), Sarah O'Hara (the head of the science division), and Captain Tomas Peter (the captain of Helios Security). All of the council had seen the contents of the video and were part of the decision making team on the base.

            The decision to come home had been unexpected, and Armistad called the meeting to order almost straight away, knowing that if he gave the council time to talk it would eventually cause them to take sides. This decision would have to be made as quickly as possible.

"We need to make a decision." The Colonel said, once everyone was quiet. "As far as I am concerned we only have two options. We can let the ship come home or we can destroy it when it comes into range of our missiles."

"There is only one option the way I see it." Captain Peter said. "We cannot allow the team to come home. They broke security protocol."

"The risk of there something being on the ship is too high." Sarah added. "Even with our quarantine measures we cannot guarantee that we can stop anything getting into this base."

"There is also the matter of Captain Price not following orders." Major Grafton added. "I know the Captain from when we were at West Point together. She was always a soldier; she would follow orders down to the last letter."

"Even if her team was in danger of losing their lives? I have known soldiers to ignore orders if it meant certain death. The Captain's hand may have been forced." Anthony added quietly.

            That stopped the momentum of the conversation and gave the council a moment to think.

"What about you James?" Armistad asked. "You haven't said anything yet."

            I coughed lightly.

"My opinion will not matter. This is a military operation now."

"I will decide whose opinion will matter and whose will not." The Colonel replied. "I will hear what you have to say."

            I inclined my head.