Law's End

by Glenn Douglass

  "That's not fair." More words than that were a struggle he couldn't seem to win.

  Greene shook her head and shut her eyes in an effort to clear her head. "It has never been about fair with us has it? It's always about our responsibilities. That's what came between us."

  There was a lifetime of regrets in her father's response. "I'm sorry. I wish things had turned out different."

  A bitter laugh escaped Greene's lips. "I know. You wished I'd turned out to be a good company girl, but that's not who I wanted to be no matter how much you wanted it for me."

  More earnestly than Greene recalled ever having heard him her father said, "No, it's not that at all."

  As an internal struggle given voice Greene's words said more about herself than her father. "Isn't it? Isn't that always the issue between us? You had a plan and it relied on a part that failed."

  "Ursa, that's not true." Looking at the slumbering form he added, "I just want you to be happy. I've always done everything I could for you...."

  "You've done everything including this wonderful once in a lifetime job opportunity," Greene said cutting off her father as she looked down longingly at her comatose husband, "that almost got both of us killed."

  "I'm sorry." Her dad looked down at his hands. "I don't know what else to say."

  History, resentment, and unresolved anger made being reasonable an impossibility. "Perhaps you should just go. We wouldn't want you to be late to the hearing."

  Standing again her father said, "I always seem to wreck your life whenever I get involved. I've always wanted to be there for you, to give you everything that I never had, but those weren't things you wanted." Looking earnestly into his daughter's eyes he confessed, "So yes, I stayed away because I was disappointed, but I wasn't disappointed in you, I was disappointed in myself. I tried to raise you to be like me, so I could give you all the advantages I had to struggle for, and I failed. You are your own person, and in many ways you have become the person I once wished to be, but who somehow got set aside and forgotten." He started towards the door, but stopped at the frame, leaning on it. He looked back at his daughter with words that seemed to catch in his throat and only came forth with coaxing. "I realized that you didn't need me. I'd been doing more harm than good. So I stayed away, but I've always been very proud of you."

  The door closed behind her father as he left, leaving Greene alone with the confession. Pondering the words and their meaning she again looked out across the greenhouses stretching across the inverted horizon. Looking back to her husband she wondered how much of it was true and how much was rationalization.

  The tablet resting in Greene's lap prompted yet another diversion of her attention. Swift arrival of a magistrate had been followed by a swiftly scheduled hearing to decide how to handle the contention between two Lawship captains and a possible pirate. Greene herself had not been asked or invited to attend, but she had faith that the situation would be resolved in a civilized fashion now that they were back in civilization.

  Closing out the muted umpteenth proposal for a media production based on her life's recent events Greene brought up the feed from the Code of Law hearing. It was a slightly disorienting shot of a railed off circle of light surrounded by darkness. As she watched familiar faces appeared to stand around the circle.

  Chapter 23: "Code of Law"

  1) Impartiality. The Code of Law exists for its own benefit. The Code of Law shall always rule in its own favor. Only by vigilantly pursuing its own interests can the Code of Law be taken seriously as an impartial institution where all other conflicts coincide.

  -First Principle of the Code of Law

  Courtrooms in the Mareville settlement had always been open affairs from their earliest incarnations. A central railing created a small open space a few meters across at the center of a large empty room. Those at opposite ends of a dispute took places on opposite sides of the circle with evidence and mediators taking positions within.

  The shape and organization of the courtroom was an expression of the Mareville judicial cooperative philosophy. There were no prosecutors or defendant advocates as exist in adversarial systems. Instead there were investigators, the evidence they collected, and impartial mediators in search of a consensus opinion on the truth of the matter. Objective impartiality with a focus on the facts, as opposed to might makes right arguments, ruled Mareville courts.

  Ordinarily this courtroom would have been full of interested parties standing beyond its center ring. Instead of the usual crowd of spectators, supporters, and witnesses the room beyond that center ring was left darkened and empty. Today the local rule of law would stand aside while the Code of Law worked.

  On this day this Mareville courtroom would serve the Code of Law. A magistrate with broad powers focused on maintaining the integrity of the Code of Law itself would have authority. Whatever decision best maintained popular faith in the functioning of the Code of Law would determine the verdict.

  Dressed in the navy blue uniform of a Code of Law magistrate with its gold and silver tipped cord, metal braid, and medallion of office the magistrate was an old man, but looked much older. His expression was weary and more than just a little outwardly perturbed at having been summoned at all. It was an expression of a beleaguered parent having to deal with the unending petty conflicts of squabbling offspring.

  Magistrates were legal troubleshooters constantly travelling throughout Laniakea to settle the disputes in their assigned territories as rapidly as possible. Their biggest job was ferreting through the nuances of jurisdiction to determine who had the right to take custody of captured fugitives and seized goods. As a sideline they settled disputes between Lawships that more often than not involved contested bounties. On very rare occasions magistrates were called in to deal with accusations of misconduct against Lawship captains and crews.

  Taking a position leaning against the rail on equal footing with Kassad, Andrews, and Connelly the magistrate began by rote stating, "I am not prone to allow these things to drag out. I want all the facts, up front with no deception, and this gets settled immediately. I've got to be on the other side of Andromeda in eighteen hours so that doesn’t leave any time for a lot of back and forth. Plus all these ponies are creeping me out." The magistrate gestured to indicate the railings stanchions that had been shaped to look like horse heads in keeping with the settlement's ubiquitous theme, and then looked back and forth between the two captains. "This wouldn't be the first time I ended up pulling the licenses from both captains. So if you two want to take this opportunity to settle things between yourselves so I can be on my way I'll have no objection." He paused briefly then when no one immediately seized upon his offer warned, "Last chance." The only response he received was the two captains glaring at each other silently. "Fine then, let's get at it."

  Glancing over the record on his device the Magistrate began in the most formal form. "Captain of the Sabha, are you fit to offer testimony?"

  "I believe so sir. The PC&R staff have me on meds, but my mind is clear." Kassad didn't add that his mind was in fact clearer than it had been in what felt like years.

  Without further preamble the magistrate inquired, "You are accused of evading a Lawship with criminal intent, how do you plead?"

  Without hesitation Kassad proudly responded, "Guilty sir."

  More annoyed than surprised the magistrate said, "Guilty? There's a surprise. Extenuating circumstances I suppose?"

  Nodding sharply Kassad explained, "I evaded the Lawship only after it became clear their intent was to impede a declared and lawful rescue operation. Their actions, and their very presence, could serve no lawful purpose."

  Even though he had access to and was looking directly at all three captain's logs displayed in the tablet he held the magistrate asked, "Armhamon, what was your reason for interceding in a stated rescue operation?"

  In a tone and manner utterly devoid of the disdainful sneering which usually characterized her speaking Andrews stated, "We had reason to be
lieve based on the existing record that the captain of the Sabha was involved in illicit activity; specifically the looting of potentially dangerous material from the lost expedition."

  As Andrews spoke the magistrate was paging through Kassad's file and after Andrews finished speaking the magistrate responded, "Fair enough assumption, but why were you keeping station at the Law's End barrier in the first place."

  Allowing herself a small grin directed at Captain Connelly, Andrews elaborated, "We were contacted by University officials concerned that scavengers might attempt to loot the proprietary and potentially dangerous research from the platform lost on the other side of the barrier."

  After confirming that assertion in his data as well the magistrate nodded. "That's all in order." Once again directing himself to Kassad the magistrate inquired, "Captain Sabha, under what authority or cause did you undertake this rescue operation?"

  Simply repeating what the documents held by the magistrate would say Kassad replied, "I was contracted by family and associates of the missing research team."

  Looking over the contract that stipulated the details of Kassad's hire the magistrate noted in an appreciative tone, "And for a significant fee." Then going back to the line of inquiry at hand asked, "Did you take anything other than the stranded science team aboard your ship?"

  In carefully crafted honesty Kassad answered, "Just what they had on them." Armhamon's captain sneered at Kassad's omission, and Connelly gave both of them an inquisitive look, but no one contradicted the statement. "The camp was a mess and the platform itself had been destroyed. We were in pretty bad shape ourselves by the time we reached the site."

  Unimpressed by the over long answer Kassad had offered the magistrate inquired, "Can our Lawship captains confirm that there was no salvage taken aboard the Sabha other than incidental personal effects?"

  For a moment there was a deep and uneasy silence which Connelly broke by speaking first. "There was a data card. Captain Armhamon took it into her possession."

  Spreading his hands innocently Kassad said, "The lead researcher had a data card they seemed to think was important. They were in pretty bad shape so I put it in my pocket for safe keeping."

  Rolling his eyes at Kassad's excuse the magistrate asked, "Captain Armhamon where is the data card now, and what was on it?"

  Proudly Andrews explained, "That card has been turned over to University authorities for proper disposal in accordance with Code of Law governing illegal research. No one will ever know what was on that card." The University representative lurking in the darkness behind Andrews nodded in affirmation as Andrews took open pleasure at Kassad's dismay over the revelation. "Given the Sabha's history as a smuggling vessel, and Captain Appaloosa's connection to the criminal, I'd like to perform a complete dismantling search to look for more contraband. I want to take both vessels down to their bolts."

  With a tap and a glance the magistrate announced his findings, "I don't see any convictions on smuggling charges in the records for the Captain Sabha let alone Captain Appaloosa. The Code of Law does not support such a requested action against personal or system property on the basis of speculation. As always local jurisdictions have preeminence in such a decision." Turning his attention back to Kassad the magistrate inquired, "I don't suppose you have any evidence of ill intent to back up your decision to evade a Lawship?"

  Knowing that this was where he needed to show reasonable doubt in the Armhamon's intent Kassad carefully presented his case. "There were many small clues that pointed to the Armhamon's unlawful intent. That in over a month after the incident they'd failed to lend aid to the survivors of the research platform was one. That alone could only mean that they intended the scientists to remain on the other side of Law's End until inevitably dead. If they were concerned about dangerous or illegal research they could have taken the initiative to recover it themselves. What decided the matter for me was that they never asked us for our destination, nor did they assert their authority as a ship of the Code of Law to lead or even assist in the rescue operation."

  Taken together these failures represented a glaring breach of Lawship etiquette. Failure to gather the basic information to allow for follow up investigation was the more dubious breach of standard procedures. The Armhamon's neglecting to lend a rescue operation its aid and leadership from its trained professional crew was less of a procedural than an ethical failing. When combined the actions constituted reasonable cause for concern if not actually amounting to wrongdoing… or at least so Kassad hoped.

  Kassad allowed these facts to settle in a moment before concluding. "As the leading authority in the rescue operation," Kassad emphasized 'leading authority' to make it clear he was laying claim to the broad powers granted rescue operations, "I became convinced that they didn't inquire or lend assistance because their goals were to prevent any rescue operation from succeeding by whatever means necessary. This was proven out by their unprovoked firing upon my unarmed civilian craft."

  Judging Kassad's assertions at their factual value the magistrate asked Captain Andrews, "Armhamon is this true, did you not inquire as to the Sabha's ultimate destination?"

  Almost tripped up Andrews quickly regained her equilibrium. "It was in the flight plan they transmitted."

  That would be standard procedure and so the magistrate accepted the assertion without verification. "Captain Sabha?"

  With what he hoped was his best gotcha voice Kassad answered loudly and with an accusing point of his finger, "It was not in the flight plan. Only the origin point of the mission at Beckstine port was listed in the flight plan. Beckstine port does not have access to PC&R facilities and so could not be reasonably presumed to have been a legitimate terminus for the rescue."

  Again it took only a glance at the records for the magistrate to verify Kassad's assertion, and with a nod prompted the Armhamon's captain for explanation.

  Andrews looked mad enough to split a hull with the intensity of her glare as she excused the discrepancy, "A minor oversight on my part. Once I had established the Sabha's capabilities, and that its crew was not licensed for rescue operations, I knew his purpose could not be," she put extra emphasis on the last word in response to it having been leveled at her a moment before, "legitimate."

  Taking the words into account the magistrate continued, "Captain Sabha, you've asserted rights as the lead element in a rescue operation. Granted that the Code of Law does not restrict the lending of aid in an emergency, however it also doesn't demand any ship undertake rescue operations involuntarily, even a Lawship. In spite of these facts I would like to know how you justify a one man operation such as yours conducting a rescue?"

  Since saying 'the money was really good' clearly wouldn't win him any support Kassad put the best spin on it that he could. "My crew consists of myself and Canis, a highly trained and experienced space operation's animal." Canis, who had been standing patiently behind Kassad, gave a loud bark of affirmation which startled everyone as Kassad continued, "In addition there is Misses Greene whose husband was on the stranded crew. She is both physically fit and the most knowledgeable authority on Law's End available in Laniakea at that time." From a quick survey of faces Kassad realized the tide was beginning to flow against him so he threw everything into sewing doubt. "I was told they tried to hire a formally licensed rescue ship, and even tried to hire salvage ships, but no one else would do it. That made me suspicious about the entire affair. It takes a lot of resources, or influence, to convince rescue and salvage crews across the length and breadth of Laniakea to not do their job. That's why I took precautions such as not listing an ultimate destination on the flight plan, and not taking the demands of mysterious Lawships at face value."

  Clearly unconvinced, the magistrate inquired, "And taking an evasive course through a star's corona to avoid a Lawship?"

  Allowing anger and frustration to build in his voice Kassad asserted, "Once again I'll point out that the Armhamon, without warning, took shots at an unarmed civilian ship conducti
ng a declared rescue operation, holing the hull at least once. This alone justifies my decision to evade them. If I'm guilty of any wrong doing it is of not going far enough in the protection of the expedition's survivors. If I had to do it all over again I would have evaded them on the way in as well. If I had done so the survivors would be safely home by now, my ship would not be in need of extensive repairs, and the Armhamon's captain would still be happily twiddling her thumbs at Law's End."

  Flushing red with rage Andrews spat, "You'd never have slipped past us you pirate scum."

  With his annoyance and boredom competing for dominance in his tone the magistrate admonished, "I'd warn Captain Armhamon that Captain Sabha has not been convicted of piracy, but I don't care. Just keep your petty name calling confined to the answers for my questions and do not speak out of turn again." Andrews retreated into quiet and bitter glaring as the magistrate moved the discussion forward. "Captain of the Appaloosa…" the name seemed to suddenly strike a chord with the magistrate, "Appaloosa? Seriously, what is wrong with these people?"

  In full seriousness Connelly dutifully answered, "They simply have a passion for equine themes sir."

  Kassad had learned that in many ways the local horse fetish served as a test for those who wanted to make the settlement their home. It was a distinct bit of culture that served to separate those who were willing to integrate from those who simply sought the advantages of residence. Accepting the pervasive peculiarities with good grace had earned Kassad status as a welcome visitor.