The com-screen was on, tuned into a lightweight political chat show. ‘Admiral Wolfe believes that Admiral Westland knew that his youngest son planned to return to 2012,’ one of the commentators was saying. ‘If this was true, what does it mean for the Board of Guardians?’ ‘If Westland has helped his son break the Temporal Laws, he will be stripped of his title and put on trial for conspiracy. That would lead to an immediate election and almost guarantee that Admiral Wolfe will win the presidency.’ ‘What can we expect from Wolfe if he’s elected president of the Board?’ ‘For starters, time missions to the past will come to an end. Wolfe has made no secret of the fact that he doesn’t think there is ever a good enough reason to approve a time mission to the past.’ ‘That’s bad news for Westland Travel.’ ‘Absolutely. Admiral Westland’s fortune comes from building ships capable of travelling through four dimensions. If time travel is eradicated, there will be no demand for his ships.’ ‘Is there any chance that Westland and his son are innocent?’ ‘Of course.
