Free Allegiance by Timothy Zahn Page B

okay back there,” Grave said.
    “I said we weren’t an
official
unit,” Brightwater said. “What’s wrong with us just discussing our plans and coming to a consensus?”
    “Nothing, assuming we can come to one,” Marcross said. “Unfortunately, that isn’t always possible.”
    “Translation: you’re still pushing for us to go hide on Shelkonwa?” Grave asked.
    “I still think it’s our best bet,” Marcross said.
    “Regardless, he’s right about us needing to have a clearly defined chain of command,” LaRone said. “Discussion and agreement are fine, but in crisis or combat you need one man giving orders and everyone else obeying them.”
    “So again, what’s wrong with LaRone taking point?” Grave asked.
    “For one thing, he’s the one who got us into this mess,” Brightwater muttered.
    “What’s
that
supposed to mean?” Grave growled.
    “Just what it said,” Brightwater said. “If he hadn’t killed Drelfin, we’d still be aboard the
Reprisal
.”
    “Doing what?” Grave shot back. “Slaughtering more civilians like we did on Teardrop?”
    “Maybe they were all Rebels,” Brightwater insisted. “
We
don’t know. Anyway, I think I just heard someone say that someone had to give orders and someone else had to follow them.”
    “When those orders are for the legitimate protection of the Empire and its citizens,” Grave said.
    “Do you want to go back?” LaRone asked.
    The argument broke off. “What do you mean?” Grave asked, frowning.
    “It’s not a trick question,” LaRone told him. “If you want to go back, Brightwater—if
any
of you want to—you’re welcome to do so. Just drop me off somewhere and go.”
    “You’d be dead in a week,” Grave said flatly. “They’d drag your location out of our minds and nail you to the wall.”
    “Maybe that would be enough to calm them down,” LaRone said. “As Brightwater pointed out,
I’m
the one who killed Drelfin. Maybe they’ll let you go back to the unit.”
    “Of course, as Grave pointed out, Palpatine’s Empire may not be worth serving anymore,” Quiller said quietly. “I was under the impression we’d already been wondering about that when all the rest of this went down.”
    “Well,
I’m
not going back,” Grave said emphatically. “Brightwater?”
    The other made a face. “No,” he said reluctantly. “Even if we
could …
never mind. We can’t, and we won’t.”
    “Which brings us back to the question of command,” Marcross said. “And for the record,” he added, looking at Brightwater, “let me remind everyone that it was
Drelfin
who precipitated this, not LaRone.”
    “Maybe we should start from the other direction,”Quiller suggested. “Does anyone here particularly
want
to be in charge?”
    “Personally, I see no reason not to let LaRone hang on to the job,” Marcross said. “At least, for now.”
    “I thought you were the one who didn’t want him giving the orders,” Quiller said, frowning.
    “I said I disagreed in principle,” Marcross reminded him. “I don’t necessarily disagree in practice.”
    “I’ve seen LaRone in plenty of combat situations,” Grave said. “He’s got my vote.”
    “
I
sure don’t want the job,” Quiller said, half turning to face Brightwater. “That just leaves you, Brightwater.”
    The scout trooper grimaced, but nodded. “No, it makes sense,” he said. “I presume this isn’t a lifetime appointment?”
    “Not at all,” LaRone assured him. “Furthermore, if and when anyone has any objections or suggestions about anything we’re proposing or doing, you’re to let me know immediately. It’s us against the universe now, and the last thing we can afford is private doubts or resentments.”
    “Then that’s settled,” Marcross said, climbing out of the copilot’s seat. “I’m going to go check the landspeeders, see if either of them picked up any damage. You four go ahead and pick us a target planet—anywhere is fine with me.”
    Marcross