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The Captain’s gaze switched to her and she felt her cheeks burn. “They picked a fight and they lost.”

    “Doubtless,” Captain Stalker murmured. “These...miscreants have an important briefing to attend. Their punishment will be handled by the Marines, Constable.” His voice was impeccably polite. “Thank you for bringing this to my attention.”

    “But...they’re criminals,” the Patrolman protested. “I have to take them in and book them.”

    “The Sergeant will see to their punishment,” Captain Stalker said, with a languid wave towards the Patrolman. The Patrolman looked behind him and jumped when he realised that Master Sergeant Gary Young had somehow appeared behind him. Jasmine wasn't so surprised – the Sergeant was the sneakiest man in the Corps – yet even she was impressed. “You do not have to concern yourself any further.”

    “I have to take them in,” the Patrolman insisted. He broke off as he finally realised that he and his men were outnumbered, even if they were carrying stunners. They were trained for riot control, criminal investigation and little else. The Marines could have overpowered them with ease. “Will you see to their punishment?”

    “I assure you that they will regret whatever they have done,” Captain Stalker said, a steely note entering his tone. “Now...Sergeant, escort these men back to barracks.”

    “Yes, sir,” the Sergeant said.

    The Patrolman admitted defeat and led his men back to the bar. If Jasmine knew the Patrol, they would probably take the Civil Guardsmen in and arrest them instead of the Marines. Someone would have to take the blame for the brief fight, or the Patrol would look bad. It was a relief to know that the Marines didn't place so much stock in appearances.

    “You lot, move,” Sergeant Young growled. On the other hand, Marines weren’t meant to be picking fights in bars, even with Guardsmen. The Marine Sergeants had plenty of ways to punish misbehaving Marines. “Now!”

    Jasmine saluted the Captain and then followed the Sergeant back to the barracks. Blake had been right, of course. The Civil Guardsmen had deserved the beating, or so she told herself. The Marines would just have to take the consequences. She looked behind her, just for a second, and caught sight of the Captain.

    He was smiling.

Chapter Four
     
    Among the Marines, there is a culture of personal dedication, personal responsibility and service – service to the Marine Corps and its ideal. A Marine learns to take and shoulder responsibility, or stays out of the chain of command. Outside the Marines, it is harder and harder to find examples where power and responsibility are evenly balanced; power without responsibility is the rule. The results, alas, are predicable. The Empire’s rulers possess no loyalty to anything beyond themselves.
    - Professor Leo Caesius, The Waning Years of Empire (banned).
     
    “Attention!”

    Edward was still smiling as he strode into the briefing compartment, although he had to admit that it wasn’t really that funny. He’d downloaded the report from the Patrol and had been amused by the various attempts the Civil Guardsmen had made to avoid any kind of responsibility for the brief fight. Their claims that the Marines had attacked them looked increasingly hollow as they kept trying to duck responsibility, leaving Edward firmly convinced that they had deserved their beating. Their CO had lodged an official complaint, but Edward had mollified him by pointing out that the Marines were going to be leaving in a week anyway and there was no point in locking them up. They would be dealt with within the Company.

    “At ease,” he said, as he took his position at the front of the room. The Marines relaxed with an audible noise. “Sergeant...roll call?”

    “All present and accounted for, sir,” Gwen said. Her voice echoed in the silent room. “We have seventy-four combat effectives in this Company, sir!”

    Edward nodded, allowing