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velocity at near-relativistic speeds, I'm saving them months of their lives spent in acceleration and deceleration. You're talking about expecting them to give up years!"
"Surely you're not saying," said the First Speaker, "that we should blow up Lusitania and wipe out the pequeninos and thousands of human beings so that your crews don't get depressed."
"I'm saying that if you don't want us to blow up this planet, fine-- but let us come home."
"We can't do that," said the First Secretary. "The descolada is too dangerous to leave it unsupervised on a planet that has rebelled."
"You mean you're canceling the use of the Little Doctor when nothing has been done to contain the descolada?"
"We will send a landing team with due precautions to ascertain the exact conditions on the ground," said the First Secretary.
"In other words, you'll send men into mortal danger from this disease with no knowledge of the situation on the ground, when the means exist to eliminate the danger without peril to any uninfected person."
"Congress has reached the decision," said the First Speaker coldly. "We will not commit xenocide while any legitimate alternative remains. Are these orders received and understood?"
"Yes sir," said Lands.
"Will they be obeyed?" asked the First Speaker.
The First Secretary looked aghast. You did not insult a flag officer by questioning whether he meant to obey orders.
Yet the First Speaker did not withdraw the insult. "Well?"
"Sir, I always have and always will live by my oath." With that, Lands broke the connection. He immediately turned to Causo, his X.O., the only other person present with him in the sealed communications office. "You are under arrest, sir," said Lands.
Causo raised an eyebrow. "So you don't intend to comply with this order?"
"Do not tell me your personal feelings on the matter," said Lands. "I know that you're of Portuguese ethnic heritage like the people of Lusitania--"
"They're Brazilian," said the X.O.
Lands ignored him. "I will have it on record that you were given no opportunity to speak and that you are utterly blameless in any action I might take."