I heard a yelp from around the corner. Those
needles had a fantastic velocity, and bounced around a long time before
stopping.

At the corridor, I lay down on the floor for a rest and risked a quick
look. A group of three men were bunched around the Control Section door,
packing smashite in the hairline crack around it. That wouldn't do them
any good, but it did occupy their attention.

I faded back into the cross passage, and keyed the mike. I had to give
them a chance.

"This is the Captain," I said. "All personnel not at their action
stations are warned for the last time to report there immediately. Any
man found away from his post from this point on is in open mutiny and
can expect the death penalty. This is the last warning."

The men in the corridor had heard, but a glance showed they paid no
attention to what they considered an idle threat. They didn't know how
near I was.

I drew my needler, set it for continuous fire, pushed into the corridor,
aimed, and fired. I shot to kill. All three sprawled away from the door,
riddled, as the metal walls rang with the cloud of needles.

I looked both ways, then rose, with effort, and went to the bodies. I
recognized them as members of Kirschenbaum's Power Section crew. I keyed
again as I moved on toward the lift at the end of the corridor, glancing
back as I went.

"Corley, Mac Williams, and Reardon have been shot for mutiny in the face
of the enemy," I said. "Let's hope they're the last to insist on my
enforcing the death penalty."

* * * * *

Behind me, at the far end of the corridor, men appeared again. I
flattened myself in a doorway, sprayed needles toward them, and hoped
for the best. I heard the singing of a swarm past me, but felt no hits.
The mutineers offered a bigger target, and I thought I saw someone fall.
As they all moved back out of sight, I made another break for the lift.

I was grateful they hadn't had time to organize. I kept an eye to the
rear, and sent a hail of needles back every time a man showed himself.
They ducked out to fire every few seconds, but not very effectively. I
had an advantage over them; I was fighting for the success of the
mission and for my life, with no one to look to for help; they were each
one of a mob, none eager to be a target, each willing to let the other
man take the risk.

I was getting pretty tired. I was grateful for the extra stamina and
wind that daily calisthenics in a hig