America's Galactic Foreign Legion - Book 2: Reenlistment by Walter Knight Page B

What galls me is the thought of Czerinski
gloating over my corpse. So, I am reaching out from the grave to
snatch the big prize from Czerinski. As you know, Czerinski stole a
prototype Formicidaen starship from our joint custody. Later
Czerinski claimed the starship was destroyed during the Formicidaen
War. He lied. The starship is buried in a cavern far below the
ruins of Czerinski’s burned-out casino on the DMZ. I hope the
scoundrel goes to prison. My time is gone. Bury me upside down so
Czerinski can kiss my ass.”
    “That is quite an E-mail,” I said. “The Lion
of the Woods is a very vindictive spider.”
    “Initial seismic tests indicate there is a
cavern deep below your old casino,” said General Kalipetsis.
“Before I go to all the trouble of secretly excavating under your
property, you need to tell me the truth. Did you hide that starship
under your casino?”
    “Yes,” I admitted. “But I stole the starship
to deny it from the spiders. History proved I was right that the
spiders cannot be trusted. I am vindicated.”
    “Maybe,” said General Kalipetsis. “But you
also stole the starship from the United States. We could have used
that starship in the last war. And you kept the starship for
personal gain.”
    “You are thinking about arresting and
charging me?” I asked. “You will not dare do that. The stealth
technologies in that prototype starship are invaluable. Its secret
possession will give the United States Galactic Federation a
distinct strategic advantage over our alien neighbors. If you
charge me and put me on trial, the secret will be out.”
    “I may try you in secret and throw you out an
airlock,” said General Kalipetsis. “Treason is a serious
matter.”
    “I used that starship to destroy the
Formicidaen Empire,” I argued. “I even was awarded a medal for my
initiative.”
    “Okay, you have made some good points,” said
General Kalipetsis as he stood up. “I came here to resolve this
matter, not to arrest you.”
    “This conversation is not over,” I said. “Sit
down. I have business partners to settle up with. I want to be
compensated for giving the Shenandoah to you.”
    “You aren’t giving it to me,” said General
Kalipetsis. “The United States is taking rightful possession of the
Shenandoah.”
    “By treaty, you are required to share the
Shenandoah and its secrets with Arthropoda,” I said. “I am giving
you exclusive possession by not telling the spiders about the
starship.”
    “After this last little war, we have a new
treaty with the spiders,” said General Kalipetsis. “And it says we
get all of New Colorado and everything on it.”
    “You are splitting hairs,” I said.
    “And you are attempting to blackmail the
United States into paying for your silence,” said General
Kalipetsis. “Your government appreciates your sacrifices, but
extortion will not be tolerated. Neither will treason.”
    “My seizure of the Shenandoah was eventually
sanctioned by the United States. That means the Shenandoah is a
prize ship. I am entitled to a percentage of its worth. Old Earth
human history is rich with precedent to support my position.”
    “Human history yes,” said General Kalipetsis.
“United States history I am not so sure about.”
    “Also, under established Admiralty Law I am
entitled to salvage rights because the Shenandoah was lost, and I
helped you find it,” I argued.
    “It was stolen, not lost. I am not a lawyer.
Obviously you have had more time to ponder these issues than I
have,” said General Kalipetsis. “However, being a legionnaire, you
are not entitled to anything you salvage without a special
agreement. You work for me.”
    “I was a civilian between enlistments.
Remember? I kept the Shenandoah safe from the spiders during that
time.”
    “It does not matter. I am not authorized to
pay you anything. And I am certainly not asking Congress to write
you a check.”
    “Why not?” I asked. “Congress has plenty of
money. How about