When the girls agreed, Alex sent,
Julien asked.
Alex replied and sent Julien an image of his avatar shining like a beacon.
In the courtroom, the girls were the first to testify about the club and the drugs in Espero, but in questioning, they could not produce evidence that the club was owned by Peto Toyo or that the operators of the club worked for him. The same was true for the freighter, since the girls admitted they never left the cabin until the ships docked above Jolares, and then they were moved while blinded by hoods and in the quiet hours of the morning.
Slowly but surely, a picture was created of a fragmented history in which the testimony of the girls did not specifically tie Peto Toyo to the club, kidnapping, or incarceration.
The testimony of Orlando and Consuela did much more damage, because Toyo was at their orphanage, intimidated them into selling, and was present when the orphans were dosed. However, the evidence of the children’s drug addiction was destroyed when Terese and Billings were said to have cured them.
An indication of the mindset of the panel came when one member asked Cordelia a question. The older woman said, “As a SADE, can you produce a vid that is indistinguishable from the real thing?”
To which Cordelia replied, “Another SADE could detect the difference, but if you’re asking if present New Terran technology could detect the difference, the answer is no.” That response threw Cordelia’s entire collection of presented vids into doubt.
Miranda, Svetlana, and Deirdre fared even worse. The moment it was determined that they had entered Toyo’s domes under false pretenses, kidnapped a security officer, operated on him without consent, and entered areas of the dome without management’s permission, their credibility as witnesses was destroyed.
If it wasn’t for the testimony of the TSF officers at both Jolares and Udrides, a strong case against Peto Toyo would not have been built at all.
The inquiry panel heard testimony for three days. In the end, they determined that Toyo was guilty of the murder of citizens in the Udrides domes and the manufacture of illegal drugs, but the evidence against him ordering the operation of the Espero club was inconclusive.
The subtle message underlying the summary was that the Harakens did not have the right to assume Toyo was responsible for what happened in Espero, and without direct testimony from the individuals who were captured after exiting the club and proof they were in Toyo’s employment, at the time, the panel was unwilling to indict Toyo in absentia for those charges.
Christie sent in anger to Alex when the panel’s summary was announced.
Alex replied.
* * *
“Are you nuts?” Drake yelled at Bernoulli. They were in his office at Government House.
Immediately following the inquiry panel’s findings concerning Toyo’s activities, Bernoulli had announced the formation of a second panel to review the unusual circumstances surrounding Peto Toyo’s death at the hands of Tatia Tachenko. Found with his knife thrust into his brain while the Harakens admitted they used stun guns during the fight had raised several questions for the counselor.
“We’re talking about Alex Racine’s admiral,” Drake continued in his outburst. “What if the panel concludes she should be held over for trial?”
Bernoulli had never heard the president raise his voice to her in this manner or to anyone else, for that matter, and she felt on treacherous ground. “What do you want me to do now, Mr. President? The media already broadcast the story, and Tatia Tachenko has been served notice.”
Drake was fuming and about to voice his frustration when his private reader lit up with a comm. Before he could ID the caller, Alex Racine’s face appeared on the small screen, and his voice emanated from its tiny speaker.
“I would like to know how far you intend to go, Drake, in trying to drive a wedge between our people,” Alex said. His anger was as obvious as the flush of blood in his face. “Serving a warrant on my admiral to appear before one of your panels. Are you out of your mind?”
Drake glared briefly at Bernoulli, who winced. He thought to tell Alex he was unaware of the counselor’s intent, but he knew Alex would only accuse him of not being in control of his subordinates.
“We’ve already seen the quality of justice your panels are capable of under the direction of Counselor Bernoulli,” Alex said. “The woman is intent on discrediting Haraken testimony, especially that of a SADE, which indicates to me strong prejudices, which should not be evident in someone responsible for dispensing justice.”
Bernoulli’s cheeks reddened at the insult, but Drake held up a finger away from the reader’s cam pickup to silence her. It occurred to Drake that Alex might be right, and he wondered if he had not done enough to foster a balanced view about the Harakens for his people.
“Your media has the story about Tatia being served, which means we can’t very well pack up and leave your system, without irreparably damaging our image even further among New Terrans,” Alex continued. “You might ask yourself, Drake, how they got the story so quickly. Tatia will be there, as will I and all the others who were present during the fight with Toyo. Tomorrow, I expect a fair and impartial presentation of the evidence.”
“I hear you, President Racine,” Drake said. “I will inform Counselor Bernoulli of your remarks.”
“Considerate of you to say that, Drake, even though unnecessary since the counselor is standing next to you.”
Drake’s reader screen blanked out, and the president turned to stare at Bernoulli.
“I’m a little unsure of what you want me to do, President Drake,” Bernoulli said.
“Was Racine right? Were you biased in the presentation of the evidence against Toyo … overtly critical of Haraken testimony?”
“I —” Bernoulli started to say and then stopped. She knew she distrusted the Harakens’ intentions concerning the Oistos system but was unsure of whether that extended to an inability to impartially lead a panel inquiry.
“That you had to hesitate, Tessie, is the answer for both of us. I want you to imagine our system if the Harakens cut off all ties with us … travelers, technology, trade goods … everything. In a universe that we now know is full of extremely aggressive beings, human and alien.”
“I could … I could work to sway the presentation of the evidence in the admiral’s favor,” Bernoulli volunteered.
It hit Drake how much his leadership had failed to set an example for those around him. It was what Maria had done so well. She demonstrated her principles every day to her subordinates, and they emulated her.
“That’s not what Racine is asking for, Tessie,” Drake said, an air of sadness overtaking him. “He asked for a fair and impartial presentation of the evidence. If you try to sway the panel in Tachenko’s favor, he will only see that as another failure of our legal system.
When morning came, Bernoulli opened the investigation before the inquiry panel, which was made
up of seven individuals. None of the panel members missed ex-President Maria Gonzalez sitting foremost in the courtroom, arms crossed, and a frown on her face, as she met the eyes of the seven.
Tatia Tachenko took the stand and related simply and factually her confrontation with Toyo.
“Admiral Tachenko, it’s your testimony that Peto Toyo’s stun gun failed to fire at you. Why was he not stunned and taken into custody at that time?” Bernoulli asked.
“Let me correct your assumptions, Counselor. Peto Toyo had what his people referred to as a stunner, a weapon capable of killing with a single discharge. Second, we, meaning Harakens, do not routinely stun people who surrender to us, even though they might have just tried to kill us.”
“So why, when Peto Toyo challenged you to a fight, did you accept?”
“You mean why did I consider the opportunity to physically beat a man who we knew was responsible for running an illegal club on our planet, distributing dangerously addictive drugs, kidnapping our young people, and murdering your citizens?”
“Admiral, you’re aware that the previous panel did not find Peto Toyo chargeable on those first two subjects.”
“Yes, we’re aware of your inability to competently handle that inquiry, Counselor. Be assured though that we know who is guilty of what among your people, even if you do not.”
Intakes of breaths could be heard among the panel and the audience. Even Maria had to wince at the audaciousness of the statements. She glanced over at Alex, who was not bothering to hide the slight smile on his face. So Tatia is your outlet, Maria thought, by which you’re informing us of what Harakens think of New Terran justice.”
Bernoulli was caught off guard. The angry glances from the panel members demanded she attack the Haraken admiral, but President Drake’s warning to be impartial rang in her thoughts. She spent the prior evening reviewing the first panel’s transcripts, and she was embarrassed to admit that she did sway the inquiry and not just a little.
“Let us stipulate that you accepted Toyo’s challenge for a fight for personal reasons,” Bernoulli said. “How was it he was killed by his own knife?”
“When that piece of human filth you call Toyo found he was losing the fight, he pulled a knife that was hidden up his sleeve, but even with that advantage he couldn’t win. He pretended to surrender, flipping his weapon over to hold it by the blade and extend it to me. At the last moment, he reversed his grip and tried to stab me.”
“Are we to believe, Admiral Tachenko, that you were able to best a reportedly master knife-wielder?”
“I have a great trainer,” Tatia said, smiling for the first time. “Would you care for a demonstration of his talents?”
Bernoulli surveyed the faces of the panel, who were nodding their agreement. “We will adjourn until you can make the arrangements for your demonstration.”
“Unnecessary, Counselor,” Tatia announced firmly. “Meet my trainer.” Tatia sent to Alain, who was seated in the second row.
The courtroom audience saw Alain rise and dip his head politely to the inquiry panel. One moment, he was standing stock still, the next he was a blur of motion, vaulting in a handstand over the heads of those in the first row and clearing the courtroom railing. He dropped low to the floor, obscuring himself from the panel’s view.
Bernoulli sought to follow Alain, but the man was spinning incredibly fast, as he moved past her table and came up beside her. She felt a strong hand grasp her neck, pinning her in place, and the point of something touched her neck near her jugular vein. She swallowed and her eyes appealed to Tatia.
Tatia sent to Alain, who spun to face the counselor and bowed his head, as he offered her a stylus.
Bernoulli looked at the stylus in surprise and glanced toward the table where she had left it.
Tatia sent.
Alain replied. His thought was tinged with humor, but an undercurrent of concern for his partner leaked through. Despite this, Alain calmly stepped up on the courtroom rail and onto the first row’s seat backs to drop into his chair. The audience was reminded of the way a bird would flit from branch to branch without disturbing the leaves.
“As I was explaining,” Tatia said, “I’ve had a wonderful teacher. Defeating an oaf like Peto Toyo was simple. His knife thrust was intended for my throat and I redirected the force of the blow up and away. That the blade was driven into his brain was a nice plus.” Tatia ended her explanation with a grin, which left no one mistaking her opinion of killing the man.
Bernoulli examined the faces of the panel. The individuals seemed unsure of where the investigation was headed, and she sympathized with them.
Several Haraken troopers were called, but they substantiated every statement of their admiral. The consistency of the testimonies gave the panel cause to doubt their veracity, until the fourth trooper, a Libran, reminded them of Haraken technology.
“Your pardon, Ser,” he said to Bernoulli. “I’m simply relating the visual and auditory event from my implant. Those who fought at Udrides are carrying a record of our actions. If you would like, I can project the fight on a holo-vid, which I’m sure our president would be happy to provide this court, as he did for your previous inquiry. As Harakens, we do not embellish or twist the truth, which seems prevalent in your culture. Our implant recordings show exactly what we saw and heard.”
Maria noted that Alex’s smile got even wider.
The panel adjourned and within hours announced their findings. Admiral Tatia Tachenko was not to be charged with any wrongdoing. However, they did go so far as to reprimand her for excessive use of force, which did nothing to endear the Harakens to the New Terran judiciary process.
-40-
The trials of Toyo’s security forces, which were captured at Udrides, failed to produce the sensational events the public expected. TSF performed a voluminous amount of work collecting and examining evidence of the battle that took place in Kadmir’s pleasure domes. In some cases, vids showed defendants slicing throats, clear evidence of murder. But, for most, the invisible stunner fire made it impossible to know who felled which of Kadmir’s people.
Bernoulli separated the defendants into two groups — those faced with conclusive proof of murder, and those who participated in the fight, but for which the evidence of murder was inconclusive. The former defendants were offered an opportunity to plead guilty to one or more homicides with intent, in exchange for a sentence of twenty-five years without parole. The latter group was charged as accessories to murders and faced the decision of a trial or a plea deal of fifteen years of imprisonment without parole.
Without access to Toyo’s extensive funds and his political connections, the defendants were left with little choice. The evidence was too damning against either group to defend themselves against the charges preferred, and, in the end, each one of them accepted the offered plea deal.
So, rather than spectacular trials, the public was treated to a parade of individuals before a judge, who confirmed each defendant’s guilty plea to the charge of accessories to murders and then passed sentence. Those charged with murder, of which there were twenty-one, were scheduled for sentencing on the following morning.
That evening, Alex requested the loan of one of Maria’s rented grav cars for the morrow. Early the next morning, he slipped out of bed and made himself a light breakfast, courtesy of Maria’s kitchen. It was a nostalgic moment, as he had for years made breakfast for his sister and himself, since his parents left early for work.
Alex opened the grav car’s door with its opaque window and was greeted by the smiling and adoring face of his partner, seated in the front passenger seat.
“Greetings, my love,” Renée said.
Alex took in the container, holding five sealed drinks, in Renée’s lap and peeked into the back seat.
“Morning meal?” Tatia asked, hoisting a medium-sized carryall. “Oh, but you’ve
already eaten. Well, more for us. But, not to worry, since we’ve no idea how long we’ll be gone, I made enough to get us through midday meal.”
The “us” who Tatia referred to were the twins, who sat beside her. The admiral began distributing food, while Renée handed out hot thé to those in the rear seat.
“Come, my love,” Renée admonished Alex, who seemed to be stalled just outside the car. “Get in and let’s get going before we’re late to … wherever.”
Alex climbed in, brought the car’s systems online, and lifted off without a word. It was eerily quiet inside the vehicle as Alex’s companions consumed their morning meal, and Alex was left alone with his thoughts, wondering why he felt compelled to make the trip this morning.
As Prima’s premier court building hove into view, Alex contacted TSF, which controlled the highly sought after vehicle spaces today for the court personnel, the media, and the public.
“Hover car, ID HCY-391, there is no more space available at the courthouse. You are waved off, pilot,” TSF control said over the comm to Alex.
“Request exception, Control,” Alex replied.
“Sorry, pilot. There’s space available at a pad 1.8 kilometers at 217 degrees from here. If you hurry, you can still get space there.”
“Requesting exception, Control. Hand me over to a superior officer,” Alex requested.
Within moments, a different voice came over the comm. “This is Major Peters, pilot. Were my sergeant’s instructions not clear?”
Alex smiled to himself. He first met Captain Peters during the debacle over Downing’s disreputable use of presidential power. A good man, Alex thought. “Congratulations on your promotion, Major,” Alex replied.
There was some hesitation before Peters replied hesitantly, “I know this voice … don’t I?”
“Yes, you do, Major. We first met when you were a captain. I’d rather not announce my presence nor have my companions and I forced to walk a couple of kilometers in public.”
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