you want of me then?’
‘I’ll want you to get everyone onboard the station back to work, all previous maintenance schedules adhered to, the self-sustaining programmes recommenced and the researchers in Arcoplex Two back on the job. I also want the entire station secured for space flight, strengthening made wherever required, the tubeways fully completed, and work started on a full enclosure of the inner station.’
‘We will need the smelting plants back online,’ observed Le Roque.
Saul nodded towards the Moon now beginning to recede behind the Argus Station. ‘After we swing round the Moon, the smelters can once again be extended. They will continue to function with the existing arrays of mirrors for seven months, though with declining efficiency, and we can extend that period by manufacturing more mirrors.’
‘Mars?’ said Le Roque.
‘Yes.’
Le Roque grimaced towards the others before refocusing on Saul. He ran a hand down his yellow overalls. ‘I would like to change out of these before I get to work.’
‘Of course.’ Saul gestured towards the door of the man’s former apartment. ‘I want you to move your personal effects later to Smith’s quarters in the Political Office, which I notice are more capacious than your apartment here. After that you can convert the control centre located there into a secondary version of this one.’ Saul stabbed a finger down at the floor. ‘I’m sure you’ll find a better use for the rest of the Political Office – I note manufacturing space has been tight while valuable resources were squandered there, and also on the cell block.’
Le Roque nodded briefly, and departed.
Saul turned to Chang and the twins. ‘Anything you want,’ he said. ‘Within obvious limits.’
Brigitta glanced at her sister. ‘We want to transfer to Robotics.’ She paused as if not quite sure how far to push it. ‘Will you be running this place like Smith did?’
‘No,’ Saul replied firmly, before turning to Langstrom. ‘As the new head of security here, you will now find that the list of punishable offences has been substantially reduced, so reading it won’t take you long. All of the sections headed “Political Subversion” have been deleted, and you will be receiving no instructions from the Political Office. That’s because it has ceased to exist, and you answer to me alone.’
The legal system here had been merely a straight upload from Earth: unless something was actually approved, it was considered illegal – Roman law – but with the extra twist that all ‘offenders’ were deemed guilty until proved innocent. Judgement and sentencing was delivered by Inspectorate Executive, who would also have investigated the alleged ‘crime’ they sat judgement upon. The catalogue of such crimes, their parameters nicely vague and open to Inspectorate interpretation, had been huge, but it took Saul less than a minute to hack it down by nearly 90 per cent. It was now not a crime, for example, to suggest that your food ration tasted ‘funny’ – an offence that had merited being ‘interviewed’ for five hours by an Inspectorate Exec, assisted by two enforcers and a pain inducer.
Langstrom looked thoroughly surprised as Saul continued, ‘Your men will only carry ionic tasers and nightsticks, and your main duty will be to ensure civilian order. However, I have some other chores for you to complete before then. First you must ensure that everyone is released from the cell block, and that all Smith’s toys there are decommissioned.’
One of those in the cell block was the food critic. His subversive criticism of the Committee had resulted in a two-day period of adjustment after his ‘interview’. With the right treatment he might be able to recommence his job in Atmosphere Management in a month or so, when he regained control of his bowels and stopped dribbling.
‘Very well,’ began Langstrom. ‘I’ve never really agreed—’
‘I’m not interested in your opinion, Langstrom. I will judge you later by your actions.’ Langstrom kept silent as Saul continued, ‘Your next task will be to round up the entire executive staff of the Political Office, plus certain other unpleasant individuals who work under them – I’ve already forwarded a list to your computer.’
It hadn’t been difficult to draw up this list. The Executive contained few redeemable souls at the top, and those in the lower ranks who seemed destined for promotion all demonstrated the kind of inherent nastiness and lack of empathy required for future exalted positions. Saul quickly tired of studying the records of these people, and it had been simplicity itself to create a search engine fit for the exercise.
‘You’ll then take them all to Arcoplex One,’ he finished, ‘where they will join Chairman Messina and his surviving delegates.’
At that, many in the room exclaimed in surprise, and he turned towards them.
‘Yes,’ he said, ‘Chairman Messina and fifty of his core delegates are currently detained in Arcoplex One until Hannah here decides their fate. They are sharing their accommodation with the two thousand corpses resulting from the nerve gas Messina’s troops employed as they boarded the station.’ Saul paused, seeking the right tone. ‘That way our political elite can quickly acquaint themselves with digester technology.’
One of the staff let out a bark of laughter, then abruptly looked frightened. Others, too, showed shocked amusement, before dipping their heads to hide their expressions.
‘Laughter is not an offence,’ Saul declared mildly. He turned back to Langstrom. ‘Any questions?’
‘None I can think of right now.’
‘You and your men must adhere to the laws of this station too,’ Saul warned. ‘Since you’ll be in a position of trust, any infringements will call for a harsher punishment than is dealt out to ordinary civilians.’
‘Understood.’ Langstrom would do as instructed – he had risen in the ranks rather than ended up in a digester. Saul gestured towards the door, and Langstrom set off.
‘Does that answer your question?’ Saul asked Brigitta.
‘Some,’ she replied. ‘But how much freedom are we going to be allowed?’
‘How do you measure it?’ Saul asked. ‘The Arboretum?’ Angela asked.
Brigitta picked up on that. ‘We were never allowed in there.’
