While the troopers seized control of the giant fighting vehicle, Vorgens and Mclntyre marched to the exec’s compartmentVorgens knocked once and entered.
The exec was sitting on his bunk, with a writing table pulled across his lapHe looked up from the letter he was dictating into the audioprinter.
“What’s wrong. Watchman?”
“Get your jacket on and come with me,” Vorgens ordered.
“What?”
“I don’t have time for arguing. We’re going to see the brigadier.”
“He’ll throw you out …”
“No he won’t. Put on your jacket and come. I’m sure the brigadier will want you as a witness.”
The exec pushed the writing table away and stood up. “Witness? To what? What’s going on here. Watchman?”
“You’ll see soon enough. Come on.”
The exec grabbed his jacket from the rack over his bunk, then looked down at his bare feet.
“No time for putting on boots,” Vorgens said. “Let’s move.”
With a helpless shrug, the exec padded out into the passageway behind Vorgens, pulling on his jacket and buttoning it as they advanced to Brigadier Aikens’ compartment.
Aikens, in full-dress uniform, was buckling a pair of ornate pistols across his middle when the door to his compartment abruptly opened. Vorgens and the exec stepped in. Mclntyre remained out in the passageway.
“What on earth do you think you’re doing?” Aikens bellowed. “I told you to stay out of my sight. Watchman. What’s the meaning of breaking in here like this? And you,” he turned to the exec, “where are your boots?”
Vorgens said quietly, “Brigadier Aikens, you are hereby relieved of duty. I am assuming command of the Mobile Force.”