Free Against All Enemies by John G. Hemry

Courageous? No, we were just — He remembered the simulated sounds of SASAL shots ripping past the Michaelson . We could've died, I guess .
    The blond was nodding to Ivan Sharpe and the bosun mates. "Yes. You all risked your lives to save others. Thank you. I know your training is to kill—"
    Sharpe coughed loudly, but one of the bosun mates just grinned and nudged her comrade. "Hell, ma'am, I spend most of my time keeping people alive. War's just kind of a hobby."
    Both of the visitors looked at Paul, who shrugged. "That's pretty much true in a way. We train for what we might have to do, but war's pretty much the last option after all else has failed." At least it's supposed to be the last option .
    The dark man looked skeptical but nodded. "I wish we'd had a chance to fail."
    Paul nodded back but said nothing.
    The chief bosun handled the approach to the asteroid with the same skill and aplomb she'd shown earlier. As the gig came to rest several meters above the surface of the asteroid, Paul gestured to the guests. "How do want to do this?"
    The blond looked distressed. "We don't have suits. We should've thought—"
    "We can drop 'em internally," the chief bosun advised. She pointed downward. "There's a drop chute there. Put in your, uh, objects and I'll open the chute. There's a little spring loaded launch pad that'll push them down toward the surface."
    "Thank you. That will do very nicely."
    As the two visitors cautiously loaded the wreaths into the drop chute built into the deck of the gig, Paul panned the visual display around. On the surface below, he could see scattered remnants of the settlement. No bodies were visible, but at least twenty security personnel were in place and watching the gig.
    The chief bosun tapped Paul's arm and pointed to another display. "They got weapons trained on us."
    "What?"
    "Yeah. Light anti-orbital stuff. Only good for taking out tourists and boats like this."
    Paul glanced back at the visitors and kept his voice low. "What the hell do those cops think we are?"
    "I guess they figure better safe than sorry, sir."
    "Well, they'd better do a better job of recognizing real threats, then. And of trusting people on the same side."
    The drop chute safely sealed, the chief bosun triggered the drop while both of the visitors prayed. The blond watched the wreaths fall toward the asteroid, tears from her eyes drifting away from her face. The female bosun scooped the errant spheres of water up with a cloth, her face impassive.
    Paul watched the wreaths, too, then looked at the security forces arrayed below. He caught Sheriff Sharpe's eye and Sharpe shook his head. As soon as we're gone they'll get rid of those wreaths. Hell. What's wrong with grieving for the innocent dead ?
    A few minutes later they were on their way back to the Prometheus . Paul was trying to decide whether or not to report that weapons had been trained on the gig when he realized both of the visitors were watching him intently.
    "Excuse me," the dark man stated. "But I wonder if you could tell me, in your own words, why you do what you do."
    Paul tried to sort the question through his weary brain. "Why I'm in the Navy, you mean?"
    "The Navy. The military. Why you wear a uniform and, as you said, train to kill if your superiors should find it necessary."
    "That's a rather complicated question and I've had a very long day." Paul thought about it for a while. "I guess because it's important."
    "But, why? Why do you think so?"
    "Because . . . look, we take this oath. Yes. An oath. When I put on the uniform I swore I'd, um, 'support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic.' There's more, but that's basically it."
    The blond looked intrigued. "Then you don't swear to defend the country, or to follow orders, but to defend the Constitution?"
    "Well, yes, we swear to follow orders, but they have to be legal orders."
    "Legal orders?"
    "Yes. You know. They can't violate the