Diamondhead by Patrick Robinson

apart?
     
    “Nossir. What really sets it apart is that it burns everyone to death—anyone anywhere near the hit area.”
     
    Lieutenant Commander, were these the banned Diamondhead missiles, the ones that burned alive the SEALs and Rangers on your mission?
     
    “Yessir. No doubt in my mind.”
     
    Thank you, Lieutenant Commander. No more questions.
     
    Captain Dunning now addressed the defense. “Counselor,” he said, “is there anyone further you wish to call? This hearing is restricted to material witnesses only.”
     
    “Just one more, sir. I call Gunner’s Mate Second Class Jack Thomas, who serves as Mack Bedford’s combat driver, armored vehicle.”
     
    Jack Thomas stood and swore to tell the truth. In reply to Al Surprenant’s first question he said, in his rich Tennessee accent, “Sir, I served with Mack Bedford on three tours, one in Afghanistan, two in Iraq. If there’s a better officer in the United States armed forces, well I ain’t met him yet.”
     
    Al smiled. “And what qualities have you seen in him that allows you to offer such high praise?”
     
    “Sir, on that day at the bridge, it was all I could do to stop him rushing into that fire to save Charlie and Billy-Ray and Frank. They was burnin’ up, on fire in that real blue flame.”
     
    Did you think this was unusual behavior?
     
    “Nossir. Mack Bedford would do anything for his men. They’re his prime concern, at all times.”
     
    Was he a good combat officer?
     
    “The best. Fantastic marksman, stealthy, and as strong as a lion. The best swimmer on the base. Folks say Mack Bedford was more dangerous unarmed than most guys holding machine guns.”
     
    You ever seen him in action?
     
    “Yessir. In the mountains fighting al-Qaeda. Boy! He’s somethin’. And we all look up to him. Because when you fight with Mack, no matter who the enemy is, or how many of ’em, you’ve always got a real shot at comin’ home.”
     
    Thank you, Jack. No more questions.
     
    Captain Dunning addressed the courtroom and asked, formally, if either the prosecution or the defense wished to make any further statement. This would not be a full summary of the evidence, just a short summation of the case for both sides.
     
    Harrison Parr declined, on the basis that he was quite certain the court had already made up its mind about the murder charges. Al Surprenant said he would like to make a short statement to the panel. Captain Dunning nodded his assent.
     
    Mack Bedford’s attorney faced the five officers. “Gentlemen,” he said, “we have heard two incontrovertible pieces of evidence. First, the men who crossed the bridge were the same men who fired the missile. The defendant saw them before and after, and no one has dared to suggest he was incorrect. Second, an illegal Iraqi missile had destroyed four U.S. tanks and murdered twenty serving SEALs and Rangers, all burned to death. And all of this, beyond question.
     
    “The subsequent measure of doubt against the surrender was so strong, the SEAL commander opened fire on them because they may well have been pulling one of their regular tricks, pretending to surrender. In his opinion, and in mine, they had done quite sufficient damage for one day.
     
    “I therefore ask the court to find Lt. Cdr. Mackenzie Bedford not guilty on all charges. Thank you for listening to me.”
     
    Captain Dunning stood up and called for a two-hour recess during which time everyone could have lunch. The court would reconvene at 1400 hours, when the verdicts would be announced.
     
    The captain led the way out, followed by his four-man panel. Mack Bedford walked across to Commander Surprenant and offered his hand, stating quite simply, “Thank you, sir. No one could have done more.”
     
    “We’re golden on the murder,” replied Al. “And I’ve crushed the Geneva Conventions. Our only problem is they may have been told to find you guilty of something. Just to placate the media and to protect the Middle