“I’d like to be there,” he said, “But I’ve got a shift on the Medical Deck.”
After a nap and a shower, I dressed in the new Whites. Why not, it was a formal hearing and I wanted to look professional. I didn’t know if Renan would ask me to testify, but if he did, I wanted to look the part of a squared away Naval Officer.
The hearing room was one of the large ones. As I walked in, I noticed an audio visual technician preparing his equipment. There was a judge’s stand. Two tables in front of it were set far enough back so the presiding officer could look down on the defendant, his team and the prosecutors at their tables. Seven rows of portable chairs filled the remainder of the room.
I selected a seat behind the defense table. Slowly, the room filled with what I could only assume were JAG officers coming to view the proceedings. One young officer strolled in and commandeered a section of seats. Everyone who came after him, was shooed away by the officer.
Rear Admiral Haitham came in with Commander Renan. Haitham’s eyes were on the deck and he shuffled as you’d expect of a much older person. Renan strutted along easily keeping pace with the taller man. Behind them, with her head held high, was Rear Admiral Tuulia.
A tall man entered and strolled to the prosecutor’s table. He gave a brief nod to Renan before setting a tablet on the table. After that, he stood as if waiting for someone.
The officer holding the chairs, turned and faced the door. In strolled a Rear Admiral and trailing behind him were three junior officers. They all waited for the senior officer to sit before grabbing seats as close to the man as possible.
I caught a hand motion between the prosecutor and the senior officer. They both ended up holding fists in the air with their thumbs extended.
Finally, a Navy court reporter walked in and took a seat next to the judge’s bench. Following closely behind him, came an older man in full Admiral’s uniform. He glanced around the room, stepped up behind the bench, and took a seat.
Chapter 40
“Let the record show, I am Admiral Kiril, Commander of the Military forces in the Dos Sector of the Galactic Council Realm,” he said in a clear voice, “Today, I am presiding over a hearing to decide if Captain Haitham and Captain Tuulia should be transported to Command Station for further legal proceedings.”
“Your honor, if I may?” Renan asked as he pushed back his chair and stood up. The table top came to his sternum. It looked as if he were still sitting.
I heard a chuckle from the young officers around the Rear Admiral. Commander Renan heard it too but he ignored the insults.
“The hearing recognizes Commander Renan for the defense,” Kiril announced, “Yes Commander?”
“Admiral, I’ve been reviewing the facts for this hearing. Part of the charge is willful damage and misconduct in commanding a warship of the Galactic Council Navy,” the defense attorney stated, “However, I can find no list of damages accompanying the charges.”
The Admiral and the prosecutor both bent to their tablets. Minutes passed as they flipped through their tablets. With a frustrated shrug of his shoulders, Admiral Kiril addressed the prosecutor.
“Commander Nzai, for the prosecution. I can find no list of damages,” the Judge said, “Is it in another file?”
“No Admiral, we didn’t think we’d need a list of damages,” Nzai replied.
“Then we have a problem,” Kiril said, “The charges are incomplete.”
Behind me and off to the side a voice boomed out, “Now see here Kiril. Just get on with it so I can take Haitham and Tuulia to Command and see justice done.”
“For the record, the hearing recognizes Rear Admiral Remigio,” Kiril said, “Please be aware, Rear Admiral, these proceedings are being recorded and will be available should Captain Haitham and Captain Tuulia go to trial.”
“Fine, fine, you want a damage report, I’ll get you a damage report,” Remigio said.
He motioned one of his aids to his feet and spoke so everyone could hear.
“Get hold of Captain Zikri. Have her do a survey of the Ander El Aitor,” he said looking around the hearing room daring anyone to question his right to command, “Tell her I want it right after lunch. No excuses.”
“Now, can we get on with it?” he asked looking hard at the Admiral.
I was amazed an Admiral would take such insubordination from a Rear Admiral. But, he hadn’t reprimanded Remigio for his earlier outburst. Why would I expect him to do it now?
Captain Zikri had assumed command of the BattleShip when Haitham had been relieved. She’d need to take a Shuttle and her staff and record and list all the damages. It’d take her hours and she’d be lucky to finish by end of watch. It was a nice delaying tactic by Commander Renan.
Kiril read some more charges. Renan objected to a few but, was shot down on every issue. He must have overstepped his boundaries with the request for a list of battle damages. Nzai simply smiled and agreed with Kiril’s rulings.
In addition to watching the active players in the front of the hearing room, I kept an eye on Remigio and his aids. The five were squirming and whispering among themselves. A good senior officer would have chastised the junior officers. Remigio didn’t, he actually participated in the chatter. Oddly enough, Kiril ignored them.
Two hours had passed and everyone was a little bored of Kiril performing for the recording. He had stated every issue, and repeated every ruling, so it was recorded perfectly. I wasn’t bored. I was nervous.
The door opened and Stone Angel in the persona of Mister Lieke Steyn appeared. Under one arm were three tablets. They had red top secret sashes on them. I began to stand but, a slight motion of his hand told me to stay seated. He marched directly to Renan and bent over. The two whispered back and forth before the Commander pointed to a seat. Lieke sat with the three sealed tablets resting on his lap.
“Admiral Kiril, permission to approach?” he asked.
“Mister Renan and Mister Nzai please attend me,” Kiril ordered.
The two lawyers walked to the judge and the three had a heated argument. I watched Stone Angel and Remigio. The Rear Admiral was antsy as if he should be included in the conference. The Striker was as relaxed as I’ve ever seen him.
Five minutes later, Kiril spoke, “All those attending this hearing without a Top Secret clearance are advised to clear the room.”
My status as a Striker pilot required me to have the necessary clearance. Many in the room stood silently and shuffled out of the room. Once the room had mostly cleared, Remigio stood.
“Now see here,” he bellowed, “Three of my aids haven’t received their clearances as yet. I didn’t see any reason to exclude them just for some administrative details.”
Renan looked at Lieke Steyn. He received a mouthed, “Absolutely not.”
The defense attorney turned to Admiral Kiril and spoke out loud, “Absolutely not, Admiral.”
Rear Admiral Remigio blustered before almost shouting, “Do you know who I am? Do you realize the powerful people to whom I answer? I demand to know what is so important, that my aides need to be excluded.”
And there it was, the political card played. Remigio was connected to politicians and he lorded it over everyone. It was the reason, Admiral Kiril had given him so much leeway. I was interested to see how much backbone Kiril had and if he’d go up against Remigio.
During the exchanges, I’d forgotten Rear Admirals Haitham and Tuulia. Haitham sat quietly, still in the same position he assumed when he first sat. It was as if he’d already been sentenced. Maybe he had. The rules and regulations he used to keep his ship and crew safe were being used against him. For a career officer, it was the worst possible situation.
Tuulia was different. She seemed to be taking in everything. Her head tilted as people spoke and she nodded in approval or, shook her head no if she didn’t agree. I guess for her it was an educational experience.
“Let me be clear,” Admiral Kiril stated harshly, “Anyone without a Top Secret clearance is ordered
to vacate the room. If you stay and it is determined you do not, you will be brought up on charges.”
Three of Remigio’s aides stood and left the room.
“Now, Commander Renan, please call your witness,” Kiril directed as the door closed.
“Mister Steyn, of the Galactic Council Intelligent Inquiries Agency, please advance,” Renan said.
Stone Angel was an agent of the Intelligent Inquiries Agency. I had no idea. The G.C.I.I.A. was the brains behind all the other services. They were so secret, no one knew where they were headquartered, or who was employed by the agency.
Lieke Steyn dropped a tablet on Nzai’s table and on Renan’s before handing the final tablet to Admiral Kiril.
“Gentlemen, what you hold are air-gapped tablets,” he said, “They can’t access the net and the information contained is sealed and cannot be copied. I will give a verbal report and you can follow along on the tablets. After my presentation, you will return the tablets. Is everyone in agreement?”
“Wait just a minute,” Remigio shouted, “How can you come into this hearing and give a presentation? Collect the evidence and leave with it?”
“Are you part of this proceeding Rear Admiral Remigio?” Lieke Steyn asked.
“Not officially but I am..,” he was cut short by Admiral Kiril.
“Rear Admiral Remigio,” he said with steel in his voice, “Sit down and listen or, I will have you escorted from this room.”
Remigio looked shocked but not as stunned as his aide. I guess the young officer hadn’t seen the Rear Admiral put in his place since joining the man’s staff.
“Mister Steyn, please begin,” the Admiral ordered.
“I’ll keep this a brief as possible,” Stone Angel said, “I will not take questions at the end. We have in our possession a body from the same enemy who attacked the Ander El Aitor. After DNA tests and Chromosome tests, we’ve reached a finding. The body is not totally Realm.”
There were a few gasps. I was leaning forward hanging on every word. Cionaodh 5th Daire wasn’t Realm? He looked like us and seemed so close to us in movement, even if he had strange habits.
“We have 46 pairs of Chromosomes,” Lieke stated, “Tests reveal our subject has 47 pairs. If a Realm citizen has 47, they suffer from Klinefelter syndrome. Medical difficulties in these individuals can include osteoporosis and a number of physical indicators. One of which is infertility. Test subject one, or as I’ll refer to him, the Troop had none of the debilitating features, however, he was sterile.”
“We performed DNA and Chromosomes tests and have concluded he is a hybrid of a Realm citizen and another race,” Lieke said, “From all indications, the other race is humanoid. Our tests indicate a direct link to a line descended from a Water Buffalo like creature. The Water Buffalo has 48 Chromosomes while the Realm citizen has 46. Other examples of this type of cross breeding are between a horse and a donkey. The resulting animal is called a mule and has 63 pair of Chromosomes. The combined 64 from a horse and 62 from the donkey creates a hardier breed.”
“The only way to describe this abnormality, is to conclude the Empress’s followers found a civilization of these people and mated with them,” he said, “However, the offspring were sterile as was the Troop. We’ve decided the Empress used a breeding program to build a force of these hybrids.”
Renan, Nzai and Kiril had their noses buried in the tablets and as Lieke spoke, they scrolled and read and shook their heads.
Commander Renan raised his head and asked, “To what end?”
“That’s the second part of my presentation,” the Striker, or G.C.I.I.A. agent said, “We secured a computer hard drive from a Constabulary ship.”
Rear Admiral Haitham raised his head for the first time at the mention of the Constabulary. The Realm had just confirmed the enemy who’d inflicted the damage to his ship. It was a small movement but, I was glad to see him rise from his stupor.
“We confirmed the presence of a second Constabulary Carrier group,” Stone Angel reported, “This second group did not participate in the engagement with the Ander El Aitor. We have not determined its purpose but suspect they’re here for a secondary target.”
“Hold on,” Remigio shouted standing and pointing a finger at Lieke Steyn, “They couldn’t capture another sector. Even if they did, we’d sweep them from it in a matter of weeks.”
“Did you not listen to the first part of my presentation?” Lieke asked.
“Of course I did, something about some hybrids or Buffalo men,” Remigio stammered, “What does that have to do with the second group?”
“The Empress’ Constabulary, her troops, are sterile,” Lieke said slowly as if speaking to a child, “They can’t breed. She needs our citizens and their DNA. In plain words, she needs our citizens to breed her next generation of Constabulary Troopers.”
The room erupted with individuals gasping and speaking to each other.
After a pause to let the room calm down, Lieke continued, “Construction Station would be an ideal target. They could use it to build ships to carry Realm citizens to the Empress’ home world. Now, can they capture Construction station? Yes. The assets available in one of their Carriers is sufficient to overwhelm our assets in the general area. As to recapturing it, the same assets used to capture Construction would be available to defend it. So, in the opinion of…”
Chapter 41
The door slammed open and two of Remigio’s aides rushed into the room.
“Admiral, we’ve lost contact with Captain Zikri,” one shouted.
“What? What are you talking about?” Remigio asked.
“Her Shuttle was hit by a missile,” he stated, “There are reports of multiple unidentified Fighters inbound.”
“Get me Monserrat’s Combat Control. Have them expand the security screen,” Remigio shouted as he headed for the door, “We must protect my ship at all costs. Let’s go to Orbital communications. We can fight the ship from there.”
“Remigio, stop,” shouted Admiral Kiril, “I’ll need you to defend Orbital Station.”
“My first responsibility is to save the Monserrat de la Astolfo,” Remigio said as he and his aides disappeared out the door.
Kiril’s PID began buzzing and so did the court clerks. While everyone looked around for something to do, I spotted the audio video technician.
“Can you receive radio communications on this gear?” I asked.
“Sure Lieutenant,” he responded, “What do you need?”
I flashed my PID over the sensor on his computer, “That. Put it on the address system in this room.”
While I was busy, Lieke Steyn collected the three tablets and strolled out of the door. He didn’t rush.
There was a squelch, some crackling and finally a voice come over the address system.
“Monserrate de la Astolfo, this is the Ander El Aitor, speak to me,” Jaya Perwira pleaded, “Your screen is blocking my number seven launch tube. You’re too close. Your Fighters are interfering with my defensive screen. Monserrate de la Astolfo, come back, Monserrate de la Astolfo this is the Ander El Aitor…”
I reached out and turned down the volume. Wind Chime’s frantic pleas dropped to background noise. Everyone in the room froze as if they’d stepped into space without a vacuum suit. It felt as if the temperature had dropped with each of her desperate words. It was deadly silent in the hearing room except for a lone low voice crying for help.
“Give me my ship,” Haitham whispered.
“What?” asked Admiral Kiril.
“I said, give me my ship,” Haitham repeated a little louder.
“Well see here,” Kiril began but was drown out by the Rear Admiral.
“Give, Me, My, Ship,” he yelled jumping to his feet, “Give, Me, My Ship, Now.”
I watched as the military commander for the Dos sector bit his lip and sweat beads broke out on his forehead. He stared at Haitham. The Rear Admiral was practically standing on his tip toes and he eyes were locked on Kiril. Only his
lips moved.
I read what he said silently, almost as if it were a chant.
“Give Me My Ship,” Haitham mouthed, “Give Me My Ship. Give Me My Ship.”
People were running in and out of the room. Kiril’s PID was exploding and still Haitham kept the Admiral locked in his gaze while repeating the four-word mantra. ‘Give, Me, My, Ship.”
Admiral Kiril broke the stare and screamed, “She’s yours.”
Rear Admiral Haitham ran to the radio.
“Wind Chime, this is Eaglet,” he called hoping to reach the junior officer.
I held my breath as one second, two seconds, three seconds ticked away. They were the longest moments of my life before she replied.
“Eaglet, Captain, we’re hemmed in by the Monserrat de la Astolfo,” she reported.
“Wind Chime, orbit the planet,” he ordered her, then he turned to me, “J-Pop, can you get me to the Ander El Aitor?”
“Aye Sir, I can get you to her,” I replied.
“Tight orbit, between the Station and the Clipper ships,” he relayed directions to his ship, “I’m on the way.”
Tuulia stepped up beside Haitham.
“Shall we go, Captain?” she asked.
“You don’t have to come you know,” he replied.
“Of course I do Eaglet,” she stated, “You’re a lousy navigator.”
The three of us sprinted out of the reinforced glass doors and took the first lift to the flight deck. On the way, I sent a message to Cináed.
‘Staff Sergeant, need a tube facing Clipper ship park,’ I sent, ‘Emergency launch.’
‘Emergency? Is there any other way you fly?’ he asked, ‘Tube one has been cleared for you.’
‘Thank you Marine,’ I sent as the lift doors opened.
‘It’s hot out there, Sir,’ he replied, ‘Safe journey.’
The same two Shore Patrolmen were sitting inside the DS when I jumped through the hatch.
“You two, out now,” I shouted as I hit the power switch.
“But, Sir,” One began.
Tuulia took each of their elbows and gently propelled them to the hatch.
Galactic Council Realm 3: On Guard Page 31