"That slab of red paint says you're wrong," said Greggor sternly.
Inkland inspected the red paint from where they stood and was forced to admit that something had been close enough to do it while in space. "Who did that?" he stormed.
Mantley indicated Maynard, and Inkland strode over to Guy with murder in his eye. "You insolent young puppy—I'll see that you lose your rank, senior executive." He whirled to the assembly and said: "No matter what was done, the fact that a mere senior executive did it is good enough to prove that it was a prank—"
"Just a moment," snapped Maynard. "First, I resent being called a puppy. I dislike being called insolent. And third, I defy your intent to deprive me of my rank!"
"Why you—"
"For your troubles, Patrol Marshal Inkland, I shall consider my success complete upon the day that I command the Orionad myself!"
"Ridiculous."
"Inkland," said Mantley softly, "I would speak more even. You are at fault, and the fact that Sector Commander Maynard has decorated your ship in a complex space maneuver of his own device should bring praise from you instead of hatred."
"Sector Commander?" asked Inkland.
"His insignia has not been properly installed," said Space Marshal Greggor with a fatherly smile. "But his rank has. And if young Guy Maynard puts his aim at commanding the Orionad, I'm beginning to believe that I would start looking for another job, if I were you."