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trial depositions—Hunter included. Just about everyone close to the trial knew that it would be won or lost based on the strength of testimony about the traitor’s most grievous crime: his part in the starting of World War III. As such, the most detailed information about the war was necessary for the US prosecutors to present at the trial.
    Still, Hunter was apprehensive about the whole procedure.
    “It seems like there’s a million other things I should be doing,” he told the woman doctor.
    Like making sure his F-16 was still in flying condition. Or like getting some long overdue R&R. Or like trying to find his lost love, the beautiful Dominique.
    “I believe this exercise is very necessary,” the doctor told him. “For you, as well as for the others.
    “Your testimony will be the key element in this trial. We can’t expect you or the others to have total recall of the events leading up to the traitor’s crimes. That’s why this session, and the others, will be crucial in presenting our case and assuring that the traitor pays for his crimes.”
    Hunter had heard the explanation many times before, but it didn’t make him feel any better. He hated thinking about the fact that someone was going to be tinkering with his brain—his psyche. His very private subconscious.
    “Listen, doctor,” he said in one last valiant stab at an alternative. “Why not let me just lock myself up somewhere and I’ll write it all down? The whole thing … The day the war started. The transit to Europe. The war itself. What happened afterward. It isn’t likely I’ve forgotten any of it.”
    She straightened out her short skirt and picked up a clipboard.
    “You have probably forgotten more than you realize,” she said. “This has been the case with the others. Mr. Toomey. Mr. Wa. The Soviet pilots …
    “As you know, I’m entering all of these recollections into a computer—a Gray supercomputer. With its highly advanced word processing software, the computer will be able to interconnect all of your testimonies into a single document. It really will be quite unique. A ‘white paper’ they used to call it, though I prefer to think of it as a ‘computerized epic,’ if you will. But then again, I’m a romantic …
    “In any case, when the computer has done its work, I believe we’ll have an excellent perspective on what happened back then.”
    Hunter shook his head and muttered a curse under his breath.
    “Whatever happened to the old judge and jury type trial?” he asked. “Just put me on the witness stand and give me an hour. I’ll convict the SOB myself.”
    The doctor lit a small cigar and seductively blew out a long stream of smoke.
    “Major, you know that General Jones and the Command Staff have approved of this method of trial,” she said. “So have the trial justices. If the traitor is to be punished for his crimes, it is absolutely necessary that he get a fair hearing. Generations from now, people will look back on how we handled this. We cannot be perceived as a lynch mob, dealing with a criminal via brutish Old West justice. It is an important cornerstone to the reconstruction of our country that we afford him every opportunity within the American judicial system.”
    Hunter shook his head again. “Including going out and hiring some smart-ass Finnish lawyers for him? Do you know what the Finns did to us after the war was over? They’re the ones who destroyed all of our military equipment.”
    “I know that, Major,” the doctor cooed to him. “And if we are going to win this case, we’re going to have to beat the best. That is why this computerized deposition is important.”
    Hunter let out a long breath of resignation. He knew she was right.
    “And there’s another reason for this,” she continued, her hand lightly touching his shoulder. “This document will, in effect, serve as a history of what happened. It will be written as almost an ‘oral history.’ The reasons we chose this style of