SECTION 34
Angrily, Ulnar attempts to raise Benbo again, but the wing commander refuses to accept his calls. The young upstart seems intent on deliberately provoking more trouble. Ulnar considers threatening Benbo and his men with violence, but he dismisses the idea at once. The squadron’s battlecruisers wouldn’t fire on the destroyers, and Benbo’s men know it. The days when members of the Legion would turn their guns on one another are dead and gone, with Eric the Pretender and the android Oreo.
Ulnar realizes he has very little way to enforce his authority. As long as Merros backs his youthful protégé, Benbo won’t have to worry about repercussions for disobedience.
“Damn politics!” Ulnar says aloud, smashing his fist against the top of his desk.
Perhaps Merros would place discipline ahead of his feud with Ulnar. A slim chance, but it’s Ulnar’s only hope of backing Benbo down. He reaches for the intercom, then hesitates at getting involved with Merros. Suddenly resolve wells within him.
If Ulnar asks Admiral Merros to stop Benbo, go to section 77.
If Ulnar reconsiders and decides to order the squadron to accompany Benbo to Thule, go to section 35. However, the Morale of Ulnar’s ships drops by 2 due to his display of indecisiveness.
If Ulnar reconsiders the call to Merros and allows Benbo to take his wing to Thule unopposed, go to section 40.
If Ulnar backs Benbo by formally ordering him to Thule, but does not accompany him, detach the whole recon wing in the usual manner, go back to section 8 and choose a destination.