Down Went McGinty

A long-serving officer aboard a modest orbital station confronts a blown safe and an antique coin that becomes the sole piece of evidence in a theft accusation. A senior security director orders the officer to produce the culprit within a day, exposing professional resentments and rivalry over stalled advancement. Consulting his lieutenants, the officer weighs suspicion against the reputation of a well-known maintenance man and navigates cramped command structures, loyal bonds, and procedural rigidity. The plot examines how authority, ambition, and small-group dynamics influence judgment and the effort to protect both crew and career under intense pressure.