Martin and the other six found themselves in the safe room with the door sealed. Communication with Almon was maintained through the audio-visual link. Martin could hear and see Almon move around among the consoles from time to time but nothing else.
Twenty minutes passed and Martin heard Almon say, “They aren't any more competent than I expected, I could have been through that airlock five minutes ago.” Then Almon said, “Martin there's a message coming in for you from your father, you can read it on the view screen in there.”
Martin read the message, “Martin, Randall Benchley is at the UN at this moment expecting a vote on his proposal. Chances are good that it will pass. I have relayed your situation through Lawson to Benchley and urged him to hurry the vote. Delay as long as you can. Be careful my son, I love you.”
In a few minutes, Martin heard Almon say, “They've got the code on the outer airlock. They'll be coming down the corridor to the inner airlock in a few seconds.”
Then Martin heard him say, “They're here.”
Martin heard Almon raise his voice. “Amity crew, this is Almon Kipler, you are trespassing on my property. Move away from the airlock before anyone gets hurt.”
“Kipler, this is Lieutenant Warson, you and those with you are under arrest by order of Captain Cumberland, commanding officer of the UN Ship Amity. Do not resist, I repeat, do not resist.”
“Well come on in then and we will have a little fun.”
In a few seconds, Martin heard Almon's voice again warning someone to stand still but he couldn't see him. Then he heard a shot from Almon's old fashioned weapon. There was a brief high-pitched buzzing like an overhead power line in summer.
Then he heard Lt. Warson say, “You in the safe room open the door that is an order.”
“I'm sorry Lieutenant,” said Martin. “We aren't under UN jurisdiction here.”
“You are now.”
“Well then. I guess we've reached an impasse.”
Minutes passed. Martin could see some of what was going on in the next room through the view screen although there was a limit to how much of the room it showed. The air pressure had been restored, and someone was attending to Almon and one of the Amity crewmen. The rest of the UN crew were searching the room and rifling the lockers. A couple were trying to breach Almon's computer security. Then the viewer went dark as if someone had covered it.
Sometime later Martin heard the view screen beep; a message was coming through. Apparently, Almon had left the link up.
Martin read the message, “Martin, this is your dad, I have just received word from Lawson. The brief passed with only seven nay votes. The Belt is res nullis. Please answer me as soon as possible.”
Martin almost laughed out loud. He called to Lt. Warson in the next room. “Lt. Warson, this is Martin Jackson.”
“Yeah, what do you want, are you ready to come out?”
“Lieutenant, I want you to look at this message that just came in from my father on Mars.”
A couple of minutes passed. “Lieutenant, are you there?”
“A minute, Jackson,” said the lieutenant.
A minute passed, five minutes, then Martin called to the lieutenant again. Nothing. “What are we going to do, asked one of the men?”
“We'll wait,” said Martin.
Ten minutes, twenty minutes, thirty minutes passed. Then the door began to open. Martin and the men moved back against the far wall. The door cleared its frame and there stood Almon Kipler, a little worse for wear.
“Almon!” shouted Martin. “Are you okay?”
“My ears are buzzing but otherwise I’m okay. They hit me with flash-bang. They're gone now. They took the fellow I shot with them.” Martin threw his arm around Almon, they both laughed and shook hands all around.
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