The Mannion Court-Martial By Randall Garrett 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." * * * * *