Scone's face did not change expression at this evidence of distrust. Broward smiled slightly.
"By the way," she said, "what are you doing here?"
"We escaped from the dome," said Broward. "We heard firing down this way, and we thought we should protect our rear before going back into the dome. We found dead Russians, but we never did see the enemy. They must have been the ones you ran into."
"Perhaps," she said. "You must go. You know the rules. No unauthorized personnel near the BR."
"No non-Russians, anyway," said Scone flatly. "I know. But this is an emergency."
"You must go," she said, raising the barrel of her gun. She did not point it at them, but they did not doubt she would.
Scone turned and strode off, Broward following. When they had turned the first corner, Scone said, "We must leave the base on the first excuse. We have to get back to Clavius."
"So we can start our own war?"
"Not necessarily. Just declare independence. The Russ may have their belly full of death."
"Why not wait until we find out what the situation on Earth is? If the Russians have any strength left on Earth, we may be crushed."