Responding with a grunt of acknowledgement the magistrate went back to his interrupted question. "Captain, what is your involvement in this."
Formally recounting the incident generalities Connelly said, "Sir, I was in the middle of an investigation when Mareville Navigation Control contacted me and requested my assistance in a rescue operation. I arranged to rendezvous with the Sabha, took charge of the rescued scientists and crew, conducted a cursory inspection of the ship, and took Captain Armhamon aboard before transporting them all here for final disposition."
Outraged over that version of the story Captain Andrews blurted, "Magistrate these two share history, they were engaged to be married, and I believe them to be working together now."
The magistrate snapped, "I know what you believe Captain Armhamon, and I don't care. So keep quiet until I address you. The next time you speak out of turn it will earn you a suspended license." The hard look on the magistrate's face made the seriousness of the threat clear and Andrews shut her mouth in frustrated silence as the magistrate returned to his questions. "Captain Appaloosa how would you describe your relationship to the Captain of Sabha?"
With a cold even glare at Kassad Captain Connelly answered, "We haven't been on speaking terms since I arrested him for piracy."
"I have been speaking." Kassad protested. "You just haven't been listening."
With a warning finger pointed at Kassad the magistrate said, "Don't you start now." Then turning his attention to Andrews he said, "I've been married twice and neither ended in anything remotely like a cooperative conspiracy. Captain Armhamon, do you have anything more to support your demands that the Sabha, her crew, and the rescued research team be turned over to you?"
Pointing to Kassad and Connelly, Captain Andrews said in her most damning tone, "All of them were in contact with University property, and only by forcing them, all of them, to submit to a thorough physical investigation will the fact of their conspiracy be revealed."
With an indifferent shrug the magistrate responded, "That's possible, but there's no outstanding complaint to justify such an investigation. University abandoned the research team and everything associated with the expedition without so much as filing a letter of intent to salvage." The University representative who had been standing quietly in the darkness behind Andrews stepped forward to speak, however the magistrate was quick to cut them off saying, "I also doubt they'll too greatly want people looking into how much effort they spent to prevent a rescue mission." Wordlessly the representative retreated back into the surrounding murk as the magistrate continued, "As for your 'authority as a Lawship captain' what little investigational prerogative you had was lost when the Appaloosa intervened, and her captain seems satisfied with the results of their own investigation. To your charges of conspiracy I point out that criminality by association is only a valid charge in the most barbaric of courts. With all that said all you have left is a thin veil of supposition, innuendo, and questionable decisions which give reasonable credence to Captain Sabha's own questionable actions. You can file with the local authority to extend your case under their jurisdiction, however," the magistrate shifted to their most formal tone, "as far as the Code of Law is concerned this case is dismissed."
Shocked by his sudden win Kassad hesitated a moment before demanding, "What about the damage this Lawship and her captain inflicted on my ship?"
With another shrug the magistrate responded half heartedly while pocketing their mobile device as they headed to the exit, "I'd love to help, but I don't care." And with that the magistrate began to make his way back to the docks disappearing through the courtroom doors muttering an obscenity about horses.
Eager to get her former fiancée out of her jurisdiction Connelly observed unhelpfully, "You have the legal right to submit a repair bill to the Lawship's sponsoring authority."
Unable to contain himself further Canis began barking loudly and enthusiastically which did much to encourage the gathering to break up.
Grumpily Kassad admonished Canis' jubilation, "That's easy for you to say."
Chapter 24: "The Bit and Bridle and Business"
"Pony up to our bar!"
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As the assemblage broke up Kassad cast about for someone to file a complaint with, but Canis' was the only friendly face remaining. The magistrate had been first out the door. Andrews had retreated into the darkened recesses of the room for a muted yet insistent discussion with the University representative. A figure Kassad didn't recognize, but who had a familiar appearance and the dress of a corporate legal representative, left without having said a word.
As for Kassad's former fiancée the look on her face had barely softened from when she'd arrested him all those years ago and her tone of voice was no less harsh. "I see you've weaseled your way out of another one."
Spreading his hands innocently Kassad asked, "Out of what?" When that failed to earn him any sympathy he spread his arms as well asking, "What did I do this time?"
Her voice full of contempt Connelly replied, "For one thing you almost got Canis killed on some allegedly heroic rescue." Canis barked proudly at the term heroic and Connelly leaned over to stroke the dog's head soothingly saying, "That's my hero." Then turning her attention back to Kassad said with a hateful glare, "I turned the Sabha over to the shipyard crews and requested that they extend you credit for repairs."
Hoping to take advantage of the conciliatory content of her words if not her tone Kassad inquired, "I don't suppose you could lift the trade prohibition you put on me just this once. I'd leaving with an empty cargo hold is terrible business."
Connelly answered firmly and with finality. "No."
Taking a breath so he could state his case Kassad was interrupted by a message tone from his wrist device and Greene's voice came to him, "You're still on the media feed," Kassad was momentarily embarrassed by the revelation, "but if you're willing to take on passengers they say we'll be released soon and would like to book passage to somewhere nice, maybe one of those colony worlds you were talking about."
Flustered by his predicament Kassad tried a bit too hard to sound congenial as he answered, "Well, I'd be happy to have you aboard." Then addressing himself to an unimpressed Connelly said, "That's hardly a full hold, and if I…"
Connelly was having none of it and cut Kassad off saying, "I want you off of this settlement, out of my nebulae, and if you ever try dragging me into one of your schemes again, legitimate or otherwise, I will open fire on you first and extract answers with a forensics sweep later. I make that threat as a part of my official public record as a Lawship captain. Do you understand?"
It was a stunning threat. Kassad could only nod numbly at the rebuke. Having watched the exchange remotely an embarrassed Greene quietly disconnected. Even Canis could only manage a worried whine in response.
Kassad stood stunned as the woman he once had hoped to spend the rest of his life with strode out of the room in a haze of anger. Forgetting the live feed broadcast to the entire supercluster Kassad silently reflected on what had brought him to this point. The introspection ended when Kassad realized that he and Canis were the last people in the courtroom.
Leaning over to stroke Canis' head himself, Kassad concluded, "I think she misses me."
Canis barked insistently.
Throwing up his arms in surrender Kassad begrudgingly amended, "Okay fine, she misses you more, however I think that's because you're a dog. Everyone likes dogs. Now, let’s go see if The Bit and Bridle can find a steak for the hero dog everyone loves."
Canis barked with loud enthusiasm in support of the proposition.
On the monorail to the Bit and Bridle Kassad forwarded approval for the repair work on Sabha. Leveraging the projected expense against the contracted payment he was due for the rescue operation prevented any accruing of debt; the bane of all spacefarers. In keeping with the standards of a first class shipyard the work was quickly scheduled for an eighteen hour completion timef
rame.
Arriving at the Bit and Bridle Kassad found that it hadn't changed from his memories of the place. Located high on the inward curving surface of the colony where centrifugal force produce only a weak substitute for gravity, the establishment's soaringly high ceiling with many tiers of secluded booths stretched up into the dwindling microgravity. As Kassad knew from experience the peculiar gravity within the Bit and Bridle provided a distinct home field advantage to the regulars in the event of a fight breaking out at any of the bars or alcoves.
It was a typical crowd for the Bit and Bridle. There were the usual exhausted mining and survey crews back at the station for a day or two of rest, shipyard crews enjoying downtime between shifts, the occasional local or transport crew out for a bit of carousing, and as a novelty a large Ka'Hath perched on a precariously and proportionately tiny stool at the main bar picking at a loaf of spiced bread without much enthusiasm. Amongst the patrons happily humming robot servers, disguised by holographic projections to provide them a cheerful stylized equine appearance, tromped this way and that delivering food and drink. Over it all the Bit and Bridle's aging acoustic dampers did a fair job keeping the clattering of dinnerware and too loud conversations of the more rowdy miners down to a low roar.
Quickly spotting his contact Kassad waved off an overly friendly offer of assistance from the robotic wait staff and made his way to the booth. Kassad set his white noise generator on the table as he slid onto the bench opposite Fitzgerald. The casual smoothness of the action was interrupted when Canis jumped up to join Kassad forcing him to slide over to accommodate the animal.
With Kassad and Canis exchanging looks it was Fitzgerald in his expensive suit, which looked to have been made out of liquid emerald and sapphire, who spoke first being honestly agrategful, "I just came from visiting my daughter and I can't thank you enough for rescuing her. I'll do everything in my power to get the company to pay their debt, or at least cover your expenses, but we both know that without the data they'll use every legal excuse to endlessly delay payment."
Unperturbed by the admission Kassad asked, "So what happens to all the data now?"
Fitzgerald was sullen as he pondered the lost research. "There will be another expedition someday. We'll have to be careful because now we're being watched, but we're already looking for other locations, too many questions that those findings could answer." He looked up with that same over eager wonder of discovery that had draw Kassad to him all those years ago as a student. "One day the answers to those questions could open up the universe, perhaps many universes, for us to explore."
Ever since Kassad had known the man he'd been impressed by the raw ambition slaved to the pursuit of new understanding. "I can't believe you've given up on the data from Law's End."
Dismissing the notion with a wave of his hand Fitzgerald explained, "We'll file to have the data returned, but my guess is that they've already destroyed it. They're frightened of the consequences of knowledge." Fitzgerald laughed bitterly. "That's a sad story at least as old as our species."
As Fitzgerald took a long draw from his glass Kassad wondered aloud, "So if by chance a certain very clever ship's captain managed to save that data for you?" From another pocket Kassad produced the data card and waggled it in the air before setting it on the table.
Fitzgerald was extremely dubious about the claim. "You couldn't have made a copy. Not with the Sabha's equipment."
Managing data always resulted in errors from tiny quantum voltage fluctuations, random cosmic ray impacts, or any of a myriad other causes normally beneath the concern of every day experience. The larger the amount of data and the more often it was manipulated the more errors accumulated. Without bulky specialist equipment to error check copies truly massive files like those that the Law's End expedition had recovered would be riddled with enough errors to make them worthless from a single replication.
With a shrug Kassad explained, "For the record, and very legally, I never said that data card they pulled off me was the one that contained the expedition's data." A robotic waiter set Kassad's unordered drink in front of him before trotting off, leaving Kassad to inspect the glass dubiously, and remark, "These things all look the same, and if they're so frightened of what it contains… well they may not ever know the difference."
A smile had spread across Fitzgerald's face as he listened to Kassad's explanation and instinctively he looked around to be certain that no one had overheard, but the overt scan reviled no eavesdropping. Pushing the card back towards Kassad Fitzgerald said, "They might be watching us here. I'll set up a cargo run for you to one of the company's stations. Bring it there and I'll see to it you'll be paid." The eagerness dropped away from Fitzgerald's face and he asked, "But how did you manage it?"
Proud of the success of his little deception Kassad grinned as he placed the card back in his pocket. "I swapped it with Sabha's navigations charts for the great attractor region. You know that area changes so rapidly and unpredictably the charts have to be swapped out every couple of years." He shrugged and spread his hands. "As it happens I just had my entire navigation database replaced." Grinning conspiratorially Kassad concluded, "Damaged in the Armhamon's attack of course." More seriously Kassad added, "And this all costs extra. I wasn't contracted for courier work, or picking a fight with a Lawship. You're lucky I'm just this good at what I do."
Fitzgerald was quick to allow the request as relief flooded across his face. "That won't be a problem." Shaking his head with a chuckle Fitzgerald explained, "You've really saved my neck this time. The company was starting to think I pulled from their finances just to rescue my daughter."
Rolling his eyes at Fitzgerald playing the loyal company man Kassad said, "Well, it's not too far from the truth is it? You know me and I know you. You're a obsessive manipulative secretive schemer, but you're not evil. What really disturbs me is that you didn't warn me that they were researching illegal weapons technology. That information, and knowing how far they would go to stop it from being retrieved, would have made this a great deal easier."
Shifting uncomfortably in his seat Fitzgerald looked down at his left hand resting on the table top and examined the finish on his nails. "They weren't, at least not directly anyway," looking up to give Kassad an accusatory glare he added, "however at the prices you charge I think I can expect a certain amount of proactive mindfulness during a contract."
Having to concede that it would still be a very good payday, minus Sabha's repairs and with the bonus, Kassad allowed Fitzgerald the point. "Fair enough, you get the corporate wheels turning, and I'll get out of here before the University finds out that star chart is not what they were after."
Smiling proudly Fitzgerald nodded at Kassad's comment. "I taught you well enough to know they won't destroy that data as easily as the captain of the Armhamon seems to think."
Lifting his glass in imitation of a toast Kassad said, "You're also the one who taught me that information can't be destroyed… especially when there's a price tag on it." He took a sip of the beverage and then lifted it to his eyes with a frown before setting it back on the table. "I'm just hoping it has to physically make its way back to a University central office before someone notices. That would give us plenty of time."
Of the two of them Kassad was clearly more comfortable planning on the fly and Fitzgerald openly worried about the details they might have missed and contingencies that may be needed. "The captain of the Armhamon said she thought they'd destroyed it." Fitzgerald's comment provoked little more than a sarcastic expression from Kassad. "What if they inspect it at their offices here? Maybe we should arrange immediate alternate transport for the data?"
It was a valid enough concern that Kassad settled back in the booth to give it some thought before concluding, "I doubt they'd risk anyone at a satellite campus coming into contact with it, and I'm sure that Captain Armhamon will pounce on any sudden hiring of ships for courier work."
The obvious question immediately occurred to Fitzgerald who aske
d, "What about you?"
Waving away the concern Kassad replied with a smirk, "Conveniently I'm prohibited from picking up cargo here. Not that Captain Armhamon won't be watching me anyway, but that hasn't stopped me so far has it?"
There was one aspect of the situation Kassad had forgotten about, but Fitzgerald, his mind busily grinding through the situation, was quick to inquire, "And your passengers?"
For a second Kassad was confused by the question and then he recalled the passage request he'd received from Greene and husband. "You heard about that did you?"
Smiling at his former student's naivety in such matters, Fitzgerald informed him, "At least a quarter of Laniakea watched the video feed from the hearing."
The idea of having been watched by trillions of beings was too abstract for Kassad to grasp so he simply shook his head saying, "I'll find somewhere nice to let them off. I think they've been through enough don't you?"
Hammering the table between them with a balled fist Cameron was insistent. "You can't divert. That information is too important. This is my life's work."
Mostly just to wind up his former mentor Kassad countered, "It's just a little detour."
Of course Cameron was able to grasp that he was being toyed with and relaxed his tone as he responded, "No detours. No stop offs. We're too close now. Do whatever you have to do, tell them anything, but get that data to the company."
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