The Status Civilization

The guards marched down the corridor. Barrent could hear them talking as they entered the assembly room. "What do you think started those explosions?" "Who knows? Those prisoners are crazy, anyhow." "They'd blow up the whole planet, if they could." "Good riddance." "Well, it didn't cause any damage. There was an explosion like that about fifteen years ago. Remember?" "I wasn't here then." "Well, it was worse than this. Two guards were killed, and maybe a hundred prisoners." "What started it?" "Don't know. These Omegans just enjoy blowing things up." "Next thing you know, they'll be trying to blow us up." "Not a chance. Not with the guardships up there." "You think so? Well, I'll be glad to get back to the checkpoint." "You said it. Be good to get off this ship and live a little." "It isn't a bad life at the checkpoint, but I'd rather go back to Earth." "Well, you can't have everything." The last of the guards entered the assembly room and dogged the door shut. Barrent waited. After a while, he felt the ship vibrate. It was beginning its departure. He had learned some valuable information. Apparently all or most of the guards got off at the checkpoint. Did that mean that another detachment of guards got on? Probably. And a checkpoint implied that the ship was searched for escaped prisoners. It was probably only a perfunctory search, since no prisoner had escaped in the history of Omega. Still, he would have to figure out a way of avoiding it.