Why would a Space Officer lead an android
rebellion? Even Lieut. Mannion believed he was
guilty as they gave him the supreme penalty....
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy
October 1957
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Lieut. Dan Mannion of the Earth Space Patrol stood in the prisoner's
dock in the courtroom, gripping the rail of his cubicle so hard his
fingers hurt.
Comdr. Edward Harkness of the SP, who was presiding, glared at him
sternly. "Lieutenant Mannion, the charges against you are severe. You
face the risk of total mnemonic erasure if found guilty. Is there
anything you care to say in your own defense before we proceed with the
trial?"
Mannion glanced around the military courtroom, seeing the pale, tense,
anxious face of his wife Virginia, the stern countenance of Dubrow,
his former commanding officer, the interested eyes of half a hundred
onlookers.
"No," he said. His voice was thin and dry. "There's nothing I can say.
Nothing at all."
He saw Virginia's pleading eyes. She was telling him silently,
_Please, Dan. Tell them you're innocent. At least put up a defense!_
"Call the witness," Commander Harkness ordered.
"Base Commandant Lee Dubrow will please take the witness stand."
While Dubrow was being sworn in, Mannion studied him. His former
commander on the Iapetus base was a tall, icy-faced man with
close-cropped gray hair and a stiff military mustache. Mannion had
never been particularly friendly with his commanding officer.
"Commander Dubrow, will you relate the events leading up to Lieutenant
Mannion's actions in the Android Rebellion?"
Dubrow cleared his throat. "Very well. As you know, the Space Patrol
established its base on Iapetus last year--no, two years ago, at the
end of 2365--as part of its program of preparing Saturn's moons for
colonization."
"How many members of the patrol were with you?"
"Fifteen, altogether. I was in command, naturally, and for most of the
period we were there Lieutenant Mannion was my second-in-command."
"Isn't it fairly unusual for a Lieutenant to hold such a high
position?" the prosecutor asked.
"Major Dunphy was killed by a rebellious android seven weeks after
we arrived," Dubrow said. "Lieutenant Mannion was the next highest
ranking officer in my squadron and he took over."
"How many androids did you have with you?"
"Over a hundred," said Dubrow. "It was quite a time we had when they
mutinied."
"Had you any knowledge of the mutiny beforehand?"
"No."
"Did any member of your staff know about the mutiny before it took
place?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"Lieutenant Mannion. He was in conspiracy with VZ-1972, the ring-leader
of the mutiny."
* * * * *
Mannion felt his face go bright red. He wanted to stand up and shout,
"That's a lie! I never knew anything about the mutiny!"
But he couldn't. Somewhere in the back of his mind lay a shadow of
doubt. He could not remember anything that had happened at the time of
the mutiny--and perhaps he had--perhaps--