"You're putting a mighty fine gloss on bailing yourself out!" Janichevski flared.
"Sure, I'm no idealist. But neither am I a slave," Blades hesitated. "We've been friends too long, Adam, for me to try bribing you. But if worst comes to worst, we'll cover for you ... somehow ... and if contrariwise we win, then we'll soon be hiring captains for our own ships and you'll get the best offer any spaceman ever got."
"No. Scram. I've work to do."
Blades braced himself. "I didn't want to say this. But I've already informed a number of my men. They're as mad as I am. They're waiting in the terminal. A monkey wrench or a laser torch makes a pretty fair weapon. We can take over by force. That'll leave you legally in the clear. But with so many witnesses around, you'll have to prefer charges against us later on."
Janichevski began to sweat.
"We'll be sent up," said Blades. "But it will still have been worth it."
"Is it really that important to you?"
"Yes. I admit I'm no crusader. But this is a matter of principle."
Janichevski stared at the big red-haired man for a long while. Suddenly he stiffened. "O.K. On that account, and no other, I'll go along with you."
Blades wobbled on his feet, near collapse with relief. "Good man!" he croaked.