1500 hours
He went to sleep , with Murgatroyd curled up in his cubbyhole . The Med Ship broke out of overdrive at 1300 hours , ship time . Calhoun made contact with the grid and was promptly lowered to the ground . It was almost two hours later -- 1500 hours ship-time -- when the people of Dara were informed by broadcast that Calhoun was publicly to be executed ; immediately . From the viewpoint of Darians , the decision of Calhoun 's guilt and the decision to execute him were reasonable enough . Maril protested fiercely , and her testimony agreed with Calhoun 's in every respect , but from a blueskin viewpoint their own statements were damning . Calhoun had taken four young astrogators to space .