Righteous Reign Episode 4 Ragged Remnant

by Thomas J. MacDonald

"Half an hour. I'll have the shuttle brought over here." The Captain responded. Then, he raised an open hand, closed and reopened it. Ten more men moved forward.

  "Communications, call the shuttle. We need it here in ten minutes. Tell them to home in on us from the orbital images. Get those men out of the water!" He shouted the orders.

  Twelve soldiers wade into the lake with hand weapons drawn, primed, and pointed. Each pair takes a different party. Kos tries to resist but stops when he hears the mechanics of a dozen or so weapons cocked or enabled from the shoreline. Once the Isesinis in the water are handcuffed, they are brought to landfall. Then, they are chained with shackles that permit a stride while securing feet and hands together.

  Five minutes later, the large short range vessel appeared overhead.

  "Do the Isesinis follow any customs with bodies after death?" I ask.

  "If they died honorably we bury them. If not, we just discard the carcass. These men failed in their duty." Kos waves at the dead guards.

  "They'll be buried. Your soldiers didn't fail. They were overwhelmed by a surprise superior force." I advised.

  The Marine Captain picked eight to dig the two graves. The sand is soft and the contingent large so the job was quickly completed.

  "Do you have any words to say over their bodies?" The Captain inquires.

  "I don't consider their deaths honorable." Kos spits at the Captain.

  "If these men believe in an afterlife, we hope they reach their Nirvana. They were soldiers asked to do an impossible task who died honorably. We salute you." The Marine Captain conveyed the prayer in solemn tones. We hold a moment of silence. Then, we all snap to attention and salute the graves.

  "Let's get out of here!" I yelp. Everyone turns towards our craft.

  "What do we do with that?" The Captain asks directing our attention at the Isesinis transport.

  "Destroy it!" General Sparks moans.

  Four "Specialist" Marines move quickly to place explosive bundles.

  "We'll detonate when we're two hundred meters in the air, and out of the way." A Sergeant says.

  A dozen soldiers enter our shuttle. Then, the prisoners are prodded in. Finally, the rest of us board. Sparks is provided a little extra room in the crowded space.

  "Let's go!" He attempted to shout the command to show he's is still in charge.

  "Watch for a blast wave from the surface, when we blow that ship!" The Sergeant calls to the pilot.

  We rise and move south of the lake looking down on the scene.

  "...you ready to detonate?" The Sergeant asks a Corporal.

  "Aye, Sarge." She nods assent. Her boss watches through the portal.

  "Call out our altitude, please." He yells to the pilot over the internal background noise.

  "One hundred meters... ...one hundred fifty meters... ...one seventy-five... ...one eighty... ... one ninety... ...two hundred meters!" The pilot emphasized the last read out.

  The sergeant raises a hand with three fingers up. He folds down to a fist and signals the Corporal. Those near the portals saw the devastation as the enemy craft was demolished. My only regret was that we didn't move it. A few larger pieces of shrapnel spiraled out and fell into the lake. A second later there is a shudder as the wavefront buffets us.

  ......................................................................................

  I was surprised when one of the Kil's personal guard asked to see me a few days later aboard the FSS Interrogator. I had moved my flag while the Examiner was being repaired.

  I ordered the translator activated when I landed in the corridor in front of the appropriate cell.

  "You asked to see me?"

  "Yes, Ad... ..Admiral. I wanted to take a moment to speak with you." The swarthy man said, uncertain of my title.

  "What may I do for you?"

  "First, I will introduce myself. I am Sec Was. A Sec is an Officer commanding a group of up to fifty."

  "That would most probably be similar to a Captain in the OFSA Marines."

  "Regardless, I have been asked to thank you, by my men. And, I feel the same way." I was surprised by the Sec's command of English. The interpreter was confusing me.

  "Turn off that thing, please. This man's English is excellent.' I said to the Marine Lieutenant in the hallway.

  "Why do you feel it necessary to thank me." I inquired as I turned back to the prisoner.

  "You have treated us fairly and with respect. And, you honored our burial customs. The Kil would not have done that. Our system is very rigid and unforgiving."

  "You are very welcome. This is our way. We do not disrespect our opponents."

  "What will happen to us?"

  "Probably nothing. We'll likely send you home. It's Kil Kos and your Emperor we wanted. We also have Dac Kil Res in custody aboard another ship." The man was startled and appeared concerned.

  "Sir, none of this was his doing. And, he only followed tactical orders. He never killed or harmed any prisoners. In fact, he is considered unusually compassionate within our society."

  "I will bear that in mind. And, I'll tell you that, I already consider him an honorable man."

  "The only consideration we would ask for is to meet with the people who prepare our food. We are having difficulties digesting our meals."

  "Of course. I'll make sure the Galley Chief sees you right away.' I reply. 'Is there anything else?" I ask.

  "Just that...' there was a long pause. '...I hope you execute the Kil. He is unusually brutal - even in our system."

  "I have no say over that. Our courts are independent and follow strict rules. In this case, a jury of nine will determine if Kos is guilty of the charges or not, from the evidence presented. A prosecutor is required to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt before the court will convict. And, a defense attorney will be presenting his version of the data. He will make a real effort to disprove the Kil's guilt. We believe it is a just system."

  "Too fair," The man replies. I turn and leave with a shrug.

  .................................................................................

  "Kil Kos, Supreme Commander of the Isesinis field forces that invaded the Orion Federation, you are accused of numerous war crimes. The clerk will please read the charges." Judge Onasta ordered from behind the mahogany counter designated her "bench" - well raised above the rest of the courtroom seating. She is a tall but slight, gray-haired, elderly, jurist with a soft voice and very regal bearing and manner. The Interrogator's sizeable courtroom was filled to capacity, muffling the echo usually conspicuous at this stage of most trials.

  It took the court officer nearly a quarter hour to complete the task.

  "Kil Kos, you have heard the charges. How do you plead?" Onasta calls.

  "I do not recognize your authority. I refuse to participate in this farce!" Kos snaps belligerently.

  "I order a plea of not guilty entered into the record. And Mr. Kos, I will advise you that you are being tried by a legally chartered court of the Orion Federation. Many of the allegations in our documents have also been leveled by four other sovereign Federal authorities in our spatial neighborhood. So, I'd say you better take this seriously because this proceeding has broad universal recognition. Whether or not you recognize it is irrelevant. It will determine your future and may, in fact, establish if you live or die. And, that will happen even without your participation.

  But, under our laws, you are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. And, you are allowed to present a vigorous defense. A panel of nine individuals will weigh all evidence and arguments presented and will decide your fate. So, if you care about your life or prospects you should consider joining in."

  "My defense does not matter. I failed at my task. I shouldn't be allowed to exist!"

  "Since I sense a high degree of ambivalence, I will appoint a solicitor to act on your behalf. Our laws are very precise regarding trials. The bar to prove your guilt is incredibly high. And, the most significant allegati
ons even require the Federation's attorneys to present convincing evidence that your intent was malicious. So, I recommend to you that you cooperate with your counsel.' The Magistrate turned away from Kos to view the general courtroom.

  'Is Commander Simmons from Cag present?"

  "I'm here, your Honor." A young uniformed Officer stood and stepped forward.

  "Have you got someone in your group to represent this defendant. And, I warn you to be careful. I understand the emotions involved here. But, this man deserves a fair trial, under our system!"

  "That is an issue. So, I've decided to represent the General myself. I am sure I can control my own feelings. But, I would never be absolutely convinced of someone else's mindset."

  "So entered! Commander William Simmons will defend the accused! This case is adjourned until February 15. I will hear pretrial arguments, then. I am hoping to reach the jury selection phase by the end of that month. So, let's not make a mockery of this. Put your noses to the grindstone and get to work!" She slammed the gavel down and rose. The courtroom stood in deference to her as she exited.

  Sitting among the gallery spectators, Admiral Gojen Svjosloki takes note of the beautifully crafted wooden mallet and sound block. He ponders why he never thought to steal one from a courtroom instead of cutting up the Examiner Pub's handrail all those years ago. He'd been lucky when he took that chance.

  ......................................................................................................

  El is communicating with me daily as the Interrogator travels to meet him. He'd moved to the Examiner for the duration of the completed mission so its Engineering and Maintenance crews could complete repairs on its damaged bow hull, shields, and weapons' units, while I'm away.

  Of course, I am receiving all the usual mail. But, El is ensuring I got the flavor of how our operations are proceeding. He says things are returning to normal very quickly. The Isesinis did little damage to infrastructure. We may find out from the Kil, but I believe they intended to use what they could when they felt secure. But, we never allowed them to get to that stage.

  The Federation Council and King David have decided the four worlds most severely affected shouldn't pay Federation taxes for six months. That frees a substantial amount for each to recover. They will still enjoy the benefits of the Federation, in the meantime.

  Susan Sylvestry has won election as Earth's President. She will do well. She's very impressive, understands government and politics and is very popular. Most of us from Earth see her as the one who led our people in tough times.

  Here aboard Interrogator, Sparks is recovering nicely. Though he says it still hurts a little if he has to cough or laugh. He told me privately how much he cares for President Sylvestry. And, his severe injury made him realize how fleeting life can be. So, he intends to ask her to marry him. I will grant a recovery leave. He can pop the question, then.

  George returned to Rigil aboard his Theatre One Mobile Hospital. We're in contact, daily. He wants to plan the mission to Eta Pegasus as soon as he's cleared for full duty. I keep telling him to think about getting well, instead. Then I assure him, we'll wait for him to go after the Isesinis. He hasn't been confined too long, but I sense he's getting quite anxious. It's hard to keep a good man down.

  .................................................................................................

  On February 5, as were breaking out of FTL mode at Rigil, the courtroom's half-filled for the Judge to hear a specially scheduled motion from Simmons. He's asking for a lengthy delay because there was an enormous amount of evidence turned over at the discovery hearing. And, he says he needs time to travel to interview witnesses and investigate events for his own team.

  Justice Onasta grants his motion and extends the standard pretrial argument date to March 30. There is an outburst as attendees yell boos and catcalls.

  "That's enough!" She yells as she slams her gavel. "I will have calm in my courtroom, or this will become a closed trial. Our laws give every defendant the right to a fair trial. And, they favor the accused when it comes to preparation. So, I will hear no more of this. The very next disruption will cause me to ban observers for the duration of these proceedings!" she snapped as she slammed the hammer again, rose, and exited.

  ................................................................................................

  It's time for a break. The past two years have been a grind. But the last six weeks have been all-consuming. Almost all my time has gone to my work. There was even a two-week period without my family. So, I notify El and Roh and take a week off.

  Bryant, Fred, and I head down to Rigil. It's a little breezy this time of year. There are times when you can go for a swim in the lake but most days require a light jacket. So, we don't plan for water sports. If the opportunity arises, we'll take it. Instead, we concentrate on the new amusement park, Rigil New York's beautiful downtown, and OFSA Headquarters.

  That may sound a little strange for a holiday, but Bryant is always asking. And, as a C&C, I have some exceptional privileges. If I want to show him everything, no one will stop me or say a word against it. Of course, that's impossible. The campus is so big you can't take someone through it all in a week. But, it is great to see how fascinated and appreciative he is as I guide him through his exploration.

  Chapter 27 Anguish & Recovery

  Monday, February 26, 2272

  "We really don't grieve for people. We mourn the hole created in our own lives." V. Adm. Marie Bryant.

  February has been brutal. That's why I haven't written anything in so long. In the early part of the month, we were all very actively assisting in recovery operations. At the same time, we were redeploying to resume our responsibility throughout our territory. But, on Tuesday, February 6 the entire Orion Federation stopped. I've read about times that generated widespread grief, but I have never seen so many cases of crying people. And, I haven't ever had to console so many.

  George seemed to be enjoying a rapid recovery from his injuries sustained when the Vallhalla's Flag Bridge was breached and depressurized. But, the doctors say an embolism had formed and moved to his brain. That morning, he had such a severe stroke. He died very suddenly.

  It was a terrible morning for me personally. He was the man who gave me a chance. George was my teacher and counselor. And, George and Marie are my best friends. I was advised by secure e-mail and informed a public announcement would follow three hours later. I did not want my family or my associates to see my immediate reaction. So, I e-mailed Roh, El, and all Staff I have a routine contact with that I would be locked in my office for a couple of hours and did not want to be disturbed under any circumstances. Then, I went to my en-suite bathroom, shut the door, sat on the toilet seat lid, and wept like a baby for what seemed like an hour. I tried to rise and leave several times, but found myself in convulsive sobs each time. Though I'd nearly forgotten the feeling, it was like what I suffered when Helena died almost ten years ago on March 24, 2262. I felt hollow and in physical pain, and had to rise, lift the lid, and throw-up several times.

  I guess about half an hour elapsed before I could steal myself to return to my desk. I took my pad, connected to our mainframe, located the files, and just scanned pictures of us together for another twenty minutes as I shuddered with violent bawls. This is a personal disaster of immense magnitude. It is hard to describe the blackness descending on me. Though my logic tells me there are many other people central to my life, I feel my it's pointless, at this moment.

  An hour later, I've gotten hold of myself. I know George was significant, but my family is really everything to me. I need to be there for Marie. And, I need help my wife, son, and all my Zeta team through this gloomy time. Logic wins in the end.

  I return to the washroom, grab a clean shirt, wash up, and change. I know I need a little more time for my pink eyes to revert to normal. I will have to speak to my people and my family, soon. So, I sit and make some notes. Then, I read them ov
er and over again so I can get through it from memory. That way, I won't break down, myself.

  "Fred, can you grab Bryant and come up to my office. I need to see you both." I said to her image on my screen.

  "Certainly. We'll be there in ten minutes."

  When they arrived, I asked Bryant if he'd like a juice, milk, or soft drink as Fred helped herself. We moved to the conversation pit after acquiring our chosen beverages.

  "Byant, I need to explain something to you. And, your mother hasn't heard this either. It's going to be hard to understand. But, I will try to help you."

  "Are you all right, dad? You're not sick are you?" There was fear in his voice.

  "No, I'm fine. It's not me I want to talk to you about."

  "What's wrong, daddy?" He yelled with tears welling in his eyes as he reverted to the name he hadn't called me in over two years.

  "Just relax and let me tell you. I'm trying, but you keep interrupting."

  "I'm sorry, daddy. You're scaring me."

  "I don't mean to scare you. Our family is okay. That's not what this is about. But, I do have bad news about someone else. It's about a person you like a lot."

  "Who daddy? Did someone die."

  "As a matter of fact, yes. Uncle George died this morning. His body had been badly injured when his ship was attacked. It kept trying to heal itself. But, this morning he died."

  "Are you okay, daddy?" Bryant asked. Tears were streaming down his cheeks as he heaved for breaths.

  "Yes, Kurt. Will you be okay? We all loved George, but he was your closest friend." Fredricka queries softly.

  "Yes. It hurts a lot. But I will be alright. I needed two and a half hours before I could tell you. But, I think we will all deal with it together. We'll help each other." I wrapped my arms around both and pulled them close. We held the hug for several minutes.

  "Son, are you going to be okay?"

  He nodded through streaming tears as violent paroxysms shook him visibly.

  "What about Atina, daddy?"

  "This will be very hard for her, son. But, she and Aunt Marie will need a little time alone. Then, we can go see them. It will help to have people nearby who love them. We can go tomorrow.