Buck was led into the booth, and as they entered the attendant waived his hand in front of a panel on the wall beside the door. Instantly the lights came on and Buck could see the floor below him. It appeared to be a small amphitheater. There were 3 rows of semicircular tables arranged around a platform. He watched briefly as the members of the ruling counsel filed in. He recognized Dr. Huer and a couple of the other terrains and computer brains. Altogether about 15 humans and a like number of computers.
A mechanical voice announced "Attention: Case LM8595B, attention. Please call Col. Wilma Deering"
As the attendant turned to leave Buck stopped him to ask, "What is the Col's crime?"
"Apparently you!"
Buck turned his attention to the room below. The door at the end opened and Wilma entered wearing her dress uniform. She strode to the platform and stood at attention facing the gathered personages.
General Gates cleared his throat. "Since this is a defense directorate matter I will begin. But first Col. please stand at ease. "Wilma relaxed but only slightly. Instead of clasping her hands behind her back she placed them lightly on the podium before her.
"We are here to inquiry into your recent trip to planet Lambda. The directorate policy clearly states that no single warrior or pilot should expect to rescue if he or she is captured. Yet you disregarded this policy and went to Lambda for the express purpose of doing just that for Capt. Rodgers. What have you to say."
Wilma said "I am fully aware of the policy however, I did not go to Lambda in any official capacity. I was off duty, I was not in uniform and only used my personal resources"
And then the questions started.
"If you were off duty who was in charge?" asked General Gates
"Col Walters was in charge with Majors Smith and Baker as the back-ups"
"Have you been out of New Chicago when you were off before?"
"Like most leaders of all of the directorates, I have taken respite time on occasion and yes have left New Chicago in the past"
"Were you in uniform"
"What ship did you take?"
"Were you armed with any weapons?"
"Were you questioned by the pirates who captured you"
Wilma answered each of the questions simply, directly and politely. The barge lasted 15 to 20 minutes. Buck had to admire her fortitude, he would have been very annoyed after the first 5 minutes.
Finally, Dr Huer spoke up. "A couple of questions Col. One had Buck fully completed his mission?"
"Actually, not completely. He had made a preliminary report before he was captured with the basic information concerning the pirate's location, their manpower and weaponry but once we returned to Earth he was able to supply additional details" Wilma replied
"And secondly do you think Buck was aware of the policy against rescue?"
"I cannot say exactly what Capt. Rogers knows, however in past conversations with him has mentioned that in his time, his fellow soldiers would go to great lengths to rescue fallen comrades."
The humans looked at each other, then General Gates said "If that's all of the questions we have for Col. Deering, you are dismissed Col. We will be in touch with the decision of the panel tomorrow."
Wilma turned and walked out of the room.
The attendant appeared and said to Buck, "Well I guess they won't be needing you" and he led Buck out and into the corridor.
Buck slowly walked back to his unit, going over the scene in the hearing room. He couldn't understand why Wilma would have risked her career for him. But is suddenly occurred to him that Wilma may not have been able to rescue him, and they both would have perished.
He turned around and went towards the officer's quarters. The closer he got to Wilma's unit the more upset he was with the situation.
"Enter" Wilma said when Buck was announced.
"Hi Buck, what brings you here?" she said
"Have you totally lost your marbles?" He said without preamble.
"I beg your pardon, my what?" She had no idea what marbles were.
"Why would you risk not only your career but your life? What if you couldn't get me out of that cell? What if I had already been killed?" he demanded
Wilma looked at Buck. She had always wanted to let him know how she felt about him, let him know she loved him, but the time never seemed to be right. And here was the opening. She sighed and said very quietly, "Then I would have preferred to die with you"
Buck and Wilma looked at each other for what seemed to Wilma to be an eternity, she started to turn away from him with another small sigh.
But he reached out and stopped her, turning her gently towards him.
"I would rather you lived with me"
And she was in his arms and her bones turned to water.