Bucky continued, “A single M433 high-explosive dual-purpose forty-millimeter grenade will likely destroy me, but the sergeant must be thirty meters from me to ensure the explosive mechanism is armed upon impact.”
A couple of the Rangers laughed, and one of them said, “Thanks for the tip, asshole.”
Morgan stared silently at the robotic soldier, as if searching for something he wasn’t finding. “Why don’t you resist? Why don’t you try to run away, or kick me in the nuts, or anything?”
Bucky replied, “I have no directive to harm you. I have no directive to avoid destruction.”
“Did you have a directive to kill Kemp?”
“No.”
“Then why did you?”
“I do not know.”
The general was clearly frustrated. In fact, something truly pathological was going on here, as if this titanium weapon were a stand-in for all the killers of all the men Morgan had ever lost under his command, for all those he had never had a chance to confront. You rarely see the enemy, and when you do, you even more rarely come to understand him. That’s not how war works.
And it was not how the tin men worked either, apparently. General Morgan was talking to a wall of metal, searching for the ghost in the machine. But ghosts aren’t real, and maybe all the general saw when he looked into the strip of black polycarbonate protecting this thing’s optical sensors was his own reflection.
Morgan said in almost a growl, “You heard it, Sergeant Miller. Thirty meters.”
CHAPTER 24
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS MILLER WALKEDfarther down the parade ground to give himself firing distance as his fellow Rangers worked to get everyone to back away from the target. General Morgan and Captain Pickman turned and started toward Miller’s position.
Ignoring Corporal Powell’s admonishments to move out of range, Brodie and Taylor instead approached Bucky. They stopped near the bot, which remained motionless. Brodie said to General Morgan, “Sir, we cannot allow this.”
Morgan stopped walking and turned to them. “With what authority, Mr. Brodie? I am eliminating a threat to the men and women under my command by disposing of a piece of faulty equipment that has caused the death of two members of the United States Army.”
Taylor said, “This unit—and the other fifty-nine at this facility—constitute material evidence in our investigation of the deaths of Major Ames and now SPC Kemp. Destroying, or attempting to destroy, this equipment puts you in direct violation of Article One-Thirty-One-b of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.”
General Morgan looked her in the eyes. “Then arrest me, Ms. Taylor.” He turned his back on them and continued toward Miller. “Sergeant Miller, prepare to fire.”
“Yes, sir.” Miller raised his M4 and clicked a switch to engage the underbarrel launcher. Then he flipped up the sight and adjusted his grip toward the forward trigger.
“General Morgan,” said Brodie, “I advise you under the provisions of Article One-Thirty-One—”
“Can it, Brodie,” said Captain Pickman. “You are speaking to a brigadier general and the camp commander.”
“That’s right, prick. And I wasn’t speaking to you.”
Brodie walked past Captain Pickman as he unholstered his SIG Sauer and held it at his side. Taylor did the same, both of them following Morgan. Brodie said, “Halt and face me, sir.Now.”
Brodie was aware of disturbances all around him, people talking, getting agitated, unsure what to do. Morgan halted and turned back to him, then eyed Brodie’s pistol. “Are you going to shoot me, Mr. Brodie?”
Brodie said to Sergeant Mendez, “Sergeant, disarm the general and place him under home confinement.”
Mendez did not move.
Taylor said to Mendez, “Sergeant Mendez, you were just issued a direct order by a chief warrant officer of the Criminal Investigation Division.”
Then Colonel Howe spoke up: “Sergeant Mendez, do as the agents instruct. General Morgan is hereby relieved of command under Relief for Cause.”
Morgan darted his eyes to Colonel Howe. “Unless you have that in writing from my commanding officer—and I know you don’t have shit—you are attempting a mutiny.” He said to Sergeant Mendez, “Stand down, Hector.”
Mendez hesitated, unsure of what to do.
Brodie stole a glance at Sergeant Miller, who lowered his M4 as he tried to read the situation.
