"Lieutenant Kanzaki, would you present your investigation’s findings to the tribunal?" the Admiral politely requested.

Wellington Kanzaki, uncomfortable in his dress uniform, stood before a long black table inside a dimly lit room with black marble walls, ceiling and floor, to deliver his report. He had the strong impression that this room had been designed to make him feel even shorter than he was.

"Admiral, Captains." he nodded to the officers seated behind the table. Crowle herself, commander of the MDF’s Extra-Solar Fleet, chaired the tribunal. On her left were two Martain Captains, Bruce and Yalun; and two from the French Emperor’s Navy, Langlois and Khalid, sat on her right, their gold-braided coat making the Martians’ uniforms seem all the more austere.

"As you are all aware, on the 4th of June 2300 a task force under the nominal command of Captain David Hewson left Outpost 26 on a course for the Mu Casseopi system. This task force consisted of the Fast Cruiser Outlander, the Frigates Amazon, Vixen and Macha, supported by the Imperial Assault Carrier L’Inflexible. Their mission was to capture and/or destroy the antique defensive network still operating insystem, presumably leftover from the Adversary/Precursor War."

Over the next thirty minutes Kanzaki detailed what his team had learned from the Outlander’s recovered log and investigations of the wreckage at Mu Casseopi. How the assault had gone well until an unidentified ship, an ‘XT’, entered the system undetected and had attacked the task force. Amazon went in the first volley, then the XT concentrated fire on L’Inflexible; Vixen and Macha were taken out by the XT’s strangely configured fighters, which were eventually driven off by L’Inflexible’s and Outlander’s mecha; Outlander fired her main gun once before it failed, causing significant damage to the XT, had pursued the XT to the Jump Point, and followed when it entered warp space; due to damage, L’Inflexible’s powerplant melted down, killing all on board.

Now came the unpleasant part. "During our investigation we uncovered some doubts as to Captain Hewson’s suitability for command of Outlander or the task force. He has a reputation for instability, to the point where he earned the callsign ‘Schiz’. Several times during his career he was reprimanded for reckless endangerment, was twice recommended for psychological discharge, and was undergoing mandatory therapy until his final promotion." He paused and swallowed. "It is distasteful to me to cast doubts on the competence of a fellow officer, but I feel I must point out possibility that Captain Hewson may not have been the most suitable choice for the command of Outlander.

Silence.

"Thank you, Lieutenant, that will be all." A few words and a gesture towards the door, and he was dismissed.

Later that night, when he returned to his quarters, Kanzaki found a message waiting for him, a politely worded request to join Admiral Crowle for breakfast in the morning.

The Senior Officer’s Mess on Phobos Base, headquarters of the Martian Defence Force, looked out over the vast expanse of red desert it orbited above. Kanzaki walked throught the door and was immediately confronted by an orderly. "Admiral Crowle sent for me." he said. The orderly nodded knowingly and led him over to a table next to one of the huge windows where Crowle sat by herself eating breakfast.

"Lieutenant Kanzaki, sit down, have some breakfast."

"Thank you, ma’am."

"If you’re wondering why I asked you here, it is because of your performance yesterday, at least in part. I was very impressed by your investigation."

"Oh?" Kanzaki didn’t like the sound of this.

"Yes." she paused for a sip of tea. "You and your team were as thorough as my own people, and you didn’t have their resources."

Feeling a little irritated Kanzaki poured himself some coffee. "Thank you ma’am."

"What made you stop flying?"

The question stopped him in mid-pour. "I’m sure my file explains my decision adequately." was the flat reply. Kanzaki held the Admiral’s gaze for a few minutes, then looked out towards the desert.

"Empathic Mechanical Identification, or Mecha Awareness as the Japanese call it. But that doesn’t tell me why you requested to be transferred." She sipped her tea again. "If you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t push you. The point of my asking to come here this morning is to give you this." She handed over an envelope. "You’ve been transferred, at my request, to the Aurora Project."

Kanzaki looked at the orders in suprise. "But that’s part of the Science Institute. Why are you sending me there?"

"Because, Lieutenant, you have intimate knowledge of mecha, and experience in investigative actions. You should be ready to depart in the morning. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get to work. Good morning Lieutenant."

Dazed, Kanzaki watched her leave.

Kanzaki sat brooding along with the music, occasionally sipping from a glass of wine. He’d gone to his office in the Inquest Section to straighten things up, then come back to his quarters and gotten halfway packed before he couldn’t be bothered anymore. It wasn’t the unannounced transfer or Crowle’s brusque manner that upset him; she had a reputation, and he’d expected nothing less.

Martian military etiquette was relaxed compared to it’s Earth-based counterparts, but there were standards to be upheld, and Kanzaki considered bluntly airing personal matters, painful matters, stepping over the line.

He was still brooding when the door chime rang. "Hello?" he said as he opened the door.

"Lt. Kanzaki?" she asked.

"Yes," he hadn’t been expecting anyone, definitely not this pretty woman in an MDF uniform. "how can I help you?"

She held out her hand, he shook it. "Hi, Melody Kayle. I’m from Aurora. Can I come in?"

"Sure." Kanzaki closed the door behind her, offered her a seat. "Can I get you something to drink?"

"Tea?" He nodded. "Black, strong."

He disappeared into the small kitchen to put the kettle on. Upon returning he asked "What can I do for you?"

"I’m just here to help you on your way to the Institute." She turned her head to listen. "Orquesta Andaluzi de Tetuan?"

Kanzaki nodded. "I’m surprised you’ve heard of them."

She smiled. "My father was an anthropologist at the Institute. His specialty was 20th century North African music."

"Oh." The kettle started piping. When he came back with a pot of tea and two cups, he ‘read’ her uniform: standard black MDF fatigues, red collar tabs indicating some combat specialty, and two silver stars that matched those on his blue collar. He passed her a full cup.

"Thank you Lieutenant..."

"Call me Will."

She smiled again. "Mel." She breathed in the steam off the tea, then drank some.

"I doubt I’ll be ready to leave in the morning. I haven’t finished packing, and I still have some things to tie up at the office."

"That’s all right, your not expected for a few days." She swallowed more tea, then fixed him with a stare. "Can I ask you a favour?"

A pause, and then a drawn out "Yes."

"I haven’t slept in..." she looked up at the clock "seventy-three hours, and I missed breakfast. Could you show me where the mess and the visitor’s barracks are?"

They had visited the Officer’s Mess for a late supper. Restored by food, Melody had insisted on a visit to the ‘wet’ bar. Once there she had challenged Kanzaki to a game of pool, with a friendly wager on the side; ten minutes later he was fifty credits in debt.

"You should have told me you were that good." he said as they walked down a hall towards the room Mel had been assigned.

"If I had, you wouldn’t have accepted. 47, 49, 51. Here we are." Once inside she sat on the side of the bed and began to pull her boots off. "Will?"

"Yeah?"

"There’s a way you can pay off your debt." she said a little to innocently.

Warily he asked "How?"

"Well, right about now, 50 creds seems a fair price for a foot massage."

"Okay."

"Thanks." He pulled off her boots and socks, and began to knead the soles of her feet. At first she let out little moans of contentment or an occasional giggle if he tickled her, but within five minutes she was fast asleep.

Kanzaki made sure she was comfortable, put a pillow under her head, and walked to the door. Before he closed it he whispered "Good night."