here I don't
want you to be. Second, together, you represent a
cross-section of space professions and experience
vital to the success of an important and urgent
task. What you are going to be asked to do will
place your lives at risk. You will need to rely on
each other, personally and professionally, under
difficult circumstances."

Brad had enough.

"Now let's just wait a minute!"

Brad was on his feet, instantly joined by the
others.

Xindral, head cocked slightly to one side, sat
and listened.

"Zolan said it first," said Brad. "None of us
speaks for the others, so what I say is for
myself. Who are you to force me -- us -- into
a life-risk situation?"

The words, tightened in long-suppressed rage,
spewed forth.

"You just counted off a couple of 'points'." Brad
raised his hand, index finger raised. "Now here's
one for you. I'm here because I was convicted
of a so-called offense against society. No way
do I consider myself a criminal; furthermore, I
don't know if these others," motioning in their
direction, "consider themselves criminals or not.
Again, I say, not my business. I'm here to serve
a prison sentence, and that doesn't include doing
odd jobs where my life goes on the line."

Brad and Xindral faced each other across
tension-charged space. The momentary
confrontation passed, Brad, obviously fed up
with Xindral's evasions, crossed his arms across
his chest and waited. The tall man studied him.

"Your point is well made," he said. "You have
forced the issue forward, and your challenge
must be answered before we go much further.
Here are a few of the pieces. Think about them."

He stepped back on to the platform and took his
seat.

"You were selected only after a searching
investigation into your backgrounds," he said.
"We considered your records, personalities,
and your capabilities: phys and psy, professional
skills, job performance, resiliency, whatever the
task I assign to you will likely call for.

"You are now a UIPS task group, for want of a
better designation. One of you will be appointed
Commander. You will be given a job to do. You
will depend on each other in most difficult
circumstances: your records for reliability
under stress were among the selection criteria.
You were acceptable.

"As to your appointment, that was made by an
authority outside this station, actually, outside
the Correctional Service of which this penal
institution is a part. From the time you were