Medal of Honor
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Don laughed nervously. He said, "We've never captured a Kraden ship intact. -- A One Man Scout against a Miro class cruiser?"
Demming grunted. "If we could arrange for you to capture such a vessel, there would be little doubt of you getting the Galactic Medal of Honor, Lieutenant."
Don said, "Why? And why me, and what's your percentage?"
"Lieutenant Mathers," Rostoff said patiently, "the bearer of the Galactic Medal of Honor is above law. He carries with him an unalienable prestige of such magnitude that . . ."
Demming grunted. "Believe me, Lieutenant Mathers, there are an incredible number of laws which have accumulated down through the centuries to hamper the business man. It is a continual fight to be able to carry on at all. The ability to do no legal wrong would be priceless in the development of a new frontier." He sighed again, so deeply as to make his bulk quiver. "Priceless."
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Medal of Honor - Mack Reynolds
MEDAL OF HONOR
..................
Mack Reynolds
JOVIAN PRESS
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Copyright © 2016 by Mack Reynolds
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
MEDAL OF HONOR
MEDAL OF HONOR
..................
DON MATHERS SNAPPED TO ATTENTION, snapped a crisp salute to his superior, said, Sub-lieutenant Donal Mathers reporting, sir.
The Commodore looked up at him, returned the salute, looked down at the report on the desk. He murmured, Mathers, One Man Scout V-102. Sector A22-K223.
Yes, sir,
Don said.
The Commodore looked up at him again. You’ve been out only five days, Lieutenant.
Yes, sir, on the third day I seemed to be developing trouble in my fuel injectors. I stuck it out for a couple of days, but then decided I’d better come in for a check.
Don Mathers added, As per instructions, sir.
Ummm, of course. In a Scout you can hardly make repairs in space. If you have any doubts at all about your craft, orders are to return to base. It happens to every pilot at one time or another.
Yes, sir.
However, Lieutenant, it has happened to you four times out of your last six patrols.
Don Mathers said nothing. His face remained expressionless.
The mechanics report that they could find nothing wrong with your engines, Lieutenant.
Sometimes, sir, whatever is wrong fixes itself. Possibly a spot of bad fuel. It finally burns out and you’re back on good fuel again. But by that time you’re also back to the base.
The Commodore said impatiently, I don’t need a lesson in the shortcomings of the One Man Scout, Lieutenant. I piloted one for nearly five years. I know their shortcomings—and those of their pilots.
I don’t understand, sir.
The Commodore looked down at the ball of his thumb. You’re out in space for anywhere from two weeks to a month. All alone. You’re looking for Kraden ships which practically never turn up. In military history the only remotely similar situation I can think of were the pilots of World War One pursuit planes, in the early years of the war, when they still flew singly, not in formation. But even they were up there alone for only a couple of hours or so.
Yes, sir,
Don said meaninglessly.
The Commodore said, "We, here at command, figure on you fellows getting a touch of space cafard once in a while and, ah, imagining something wrong in the engines and coming in. But, here the Commodore cleared his throat,
four times out of six? Are you sure you don’t need a psych, Lieutenant?"
Don Mathers flushed. No, sir, I don’t think so.