Intrepid

''Oh, I'm sorry,'' the colonel said.

''So am I,'' Kris agreed.

The women and men at that end of the room continued their quiet discussion for a few more minutes, hunching over screens on the wall or flimsies that sailors or scientists rushed in to them.

Finally, Colonel Cortez stepped away from the screen, stretched, and said, ''Those pictures pretty much settle it for me. What about you?'' There were general nods from the others.

Colonel Cortez turned formally to Kris. ''Lieutenant Longknife, if you will take your seat.'' With an open hand, he directed her to the middle seat on the long side of the table. He himself took the same seat across from her. Captains Drago and Krätz sat on either side of him. Jack and Penny took the chairs at Drago's elbows. Abby sat at Krätz's side with a full court-recording suite in front of her.

Where had Abby gotten all that gear? Kris wondered, then answered her own question. Of course, I've got a judge aboard for civil cases. She'd have a recording set.

Kris had wanted the Wasp outfitted for every eventuality that might arise beyond the rim of human space. She'd brought a judge. She'd brought a court.

Just what all do I have aboard? Kris suspected she was about to find out.

Colonel Cortez cleared his throat. ''By a strange quirk of fate, my date of rank is a week earlier than Captain Krätz's …''

''And lots earlier than mine,'' Drago put in.

''So I am presiding over this Court of Inquiry. While our findings have been expedited, it is the opinion of this court that more time would not result in a different decision … and would leave findings open to questions of data manipulation. I want that entered into the record as a challenge to anyone who attempts to reopen this matter and review our decision.''

For an infantry officer, Cortez seems in full control of the global reality of the situation, Kris thought, but said nothing and schooled her face to an unremarkable mask.

''For the purpose of this investigation, the court has relied heavily on the Ultra High Density Optical Scanner of the scientific task force aboard the Wasp, as recorded by the Super High Speed Visual Spectrum Recorder. These were brought aboard by the scientists to record the fine details of stellar events.''

Cortez paused and studied some handwritten notes in front of him. ''Here I must ask a question of an unusual witness. Lieutenant Longknife, can your personal computer bear witness?''

''I believe so. Nelly, you understand that you must tell the truth as you see it, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.''

''I understand the oath, Kris. Colonel Cortez, I promise that I will do that.''

Kris would not have been surprised if Nelly had called upon God to bear witness to her truthfulness, but the computer left it at that.

''Miss Nelly,'' Cortez said, ''were you aware of the advanced scanner and visual recorder being on board and did you review any of their data during the close encounter with the liner Tourin?''

There was only a slight pause before Nelly spoke. ''I have in storage the Wasp's full inventory. As such, I know these items. They are listed by name with no further information about their capabilities. I have no information about their mounting or of any data they acquired. The Wasp's central computer had no feed from them and, as such, I had access to no input from them. Put another way, sir, I knew these devices were aboard. I did not know they were active, and I saw nothing from them during the close encounter with the liner Tourin.''

''Thank you, Miss Nelly,'' the colonel said. ''That resolved the only matter left unanswered for the board. Lieutenant Longknife, may I direct your attention to the wall behind you.''

Kris turned in her chair. She found herself staring at a stern view of the Tourin. It filled the wall behind her in spectacular detail.

''This is photo 34,215 of the pictures provided to this court,'' Cortez said, and now Kris could spot that number up in the left-hand corner. Below it was a notation: RANGE, 20,412.

''The photos before this one show only the approaching ship or the blurred image of it as the Wasp flipped ship. This photo is the first one that interests the court. Lieutenant, could you describe in your own words what you see in it based upon your plan of attack to damage the liner while causing as little harm as possible to its passengers and crew.''

Kris wanted to say, Not fair. You've had an hour to look at this picture. And besides, you can't make me my own prosecutor .

But the picture drew her. She stood, taking it in and knowing exactly what she was seeing.