"You've now heard your commander testify that you wilfully obstructed his attempt to end the android mutiny ... a mutiny which cost 12 human lives and did over $5,000,000 worth of damage to the Iapetus Project. Is there, again, anything you care to say in your own defense?"
Mannion shook his head. "No, sir."
"Very well, then. The court will adjourn for 15 minutes while data is programmed and fed to the computer, after which the verdict will be announced and the sentence read."
Mannion left the stand and felt his wife Virginia come up to him and hold him tightly.
"Dan, Dan, why don't you say something? Dubrow's testimony is damning if you don't speak up!"
Mannion frowned. "But I don't remember, Virginia! My mind is a blank for the entire period of the mutiny! For all I know I did do as the Commander says!"
"Impossible, Dan! You were always so loyal to the Patrol—"
"I still am," he said. "And if I committed this crime I deserve to be punished for it."
"Do you know what the punishment is?"