by Jucha, S. H.
Bernoulli whirled around trying to identify who spoke, and Steve held up his reader and pointed a finger at it.
“Who is that?” Bernoulli called out.
“So now you’ve added eavesdropping to your list of transgressions, President Racine.”
“Actually, no, Counselor,” Steve said. “I’ve held an open comm with Cordelia since before you arrived. You’ve simply been overheard the entire time you’ve been here. If you wanted privacy, you should have requested it.” Steve’s comments elicited a spate of snickers, and Maria fought to maintain a neutral expression in the face of Bernoulli’s angry blush.
“As for us,” Steve said, gesturing to his fellow investigators, “we’re fans of the SADEs, apparently unlike some people.”
“At ease, Major,” Maria commanded sternly.
“Just saying, Madam President,” Steve replied, angling for the last word, and reminding Bernoulli of who stood in front of her.
“All this is beside the point,” Bernoulli declared, “I can’t issue a warrant based on information provided by a pile of chips or crystals or whatever.”
Bernoulli would have argued, but everyone surrounding her had shifted from casual stances to those adopted by the military when tensing for action. It was intimidating, which angered her and scared her at the same time. “Understood,” she reluctantly acknowledged.
While Maria and Bernoulli’s argument about probable cause and reliable information sources continued, Steve casually sauntered over to Maria’s transport, pulled out a flare rifle, which was used as an emergency signaling device, aimed it into the air, and pulled the trigger.
As the round exploded out of the barrel and arced above the small park toward the assemblyman’s house, leaving a bright red trail in the evening’s sky, Steve looked at the shocked faces of the group and said, “Oops … accident.” Coincidentally, if one wishes to believe that, his errant round landed on the roof of the representative’s home. “Fire,” Steve said nonchalantly.
“I believe a rescue is required, Colonel,” Maria said, smiling at Portis.
“Absolutely, General,” Portis said, snapping a quick salute. “Come on, people, we have a civilian evacuation to perform. Sergeant, comm for Fire Suppression Services,” she ordered as she double-timed it toward the house.
“You won’t get away with this,” Bernoulli said, staring angrily at Maria.
“Get away with what?” Maria asked innocently.
“I won’t let you search the house once the fire is out.”
“I have no intention of doing so, Counselor. That would be illegal.”
The two women stood by with the investigators while TSF troops cleared the building. Colonel Portis ushered Assemblyman Egan and his aide over to them.
“Do you know what started the fire, Madam President?” Egan asked Maria, nodding a greeting to Counselor Bernoulli.
“Much to my regret, Assemblyman Egan, it was one of my own people. A flare was accidentally discharged. My company will be responsible for any damage to your charming home.”
“You always were an honorable woman, Madam President. Thank you,” Egan replied.
Steve looked down at his reader, the swirling signature of a SADE in evidence. It cleared and an arrow floated on the screen. Confused, Steve picked up his reader and watched the arrow rotate. He held the reader flat, and the arrow spun about 50 degrees. “Locate the suspect reader,” appeared in text underneath it.
Steve walked in the direction of the arrow. It led him toward the assemblyman and his aide. Approaching the two men from behind, the arrow shifted toward Egan, who cradled a reader in his arms, as if afraid to lose control of it. Making sure he was within Maria’s eyeline, Steve held up his reader and then swung his eyes down and toward Egan’s arms.
The decades as a TSF-ranking officer gave Maria her idea. “Colonel Portis, we can’t have the assemblyman and his aide standing out in this cool, misty, night air while FSS puts out the fire and ensures the house is safe. Why don’t you transport them wherever they choose?”
“Generous of you, Madam President,” Egan said. “My offices at Assembly Hall would be fine, Colonel.”
Portis knew that Maria was aware that only TSF personnel were allowed to use TSF transports, except in the case of suspects or felons, but the colonel was known for her nimble mind. “It would be my pleasure, Assemblyman Egan,” Portis said pleasantly.
Maria accompanied the representative and his aide to the TSF transport. Bernoulli followed behind, her bare feet squishing through the muddy soil. Egan’s aide noted the counselor’s odd attire for the circumstances and was torn between commenting or remaining silent.
The moment Egan and his aide were seated in the back of the TSF transport. Maria held up her reader, pretending to check the screen. “Colonel, one moment, we appear to have an issue. Information I’ve received indicates a reader in your transport was used to order supplies to build the illegal stunners. You will need to confiscate their readers,” Maria said, pointing to the assemblyman and his aide.
“What kind of game is this?” Egan declared hotly. “These are government-protected tools. You’ll require a warrant to take them from us.”
“On the contrary, Assemblyman Egan,” Portis said, catching on to Maria’s ploy. “You’re sitting in a TSF transport. That’s our jurisdiction, and if I’m provided with information from a reliable source, such as Maria Gonzalez, that data relating to a crime is present, I have a duty and the authority to confiscate the sources.”
“Then we’ll get out of your transport,” Egan said, attempting to climb out of the rear seat, but he found his way blocked by troopers.
“Counselor Bernoulli, please correct this ill-informed officer. I’m an elected official of our government. TSF has no authority over me or my possessions,” Egan called out.
“In most circumstances, you would be correct, Sir,” Bernoulli allowed. She was incensed by Maria’s manipulation, but her hands were tied. “But, under these conditions, Colonel Portis is right. You are on what is considered TSF grounds and, as she is the senior officer present, you are under her authority.
“Your readers, Sirs,” Portis said, extending her hand.
Egan’s aide looked at his boss, who was frozen. The exalted persons surrounding the strange happenings were too much for him. He climbed over the representative, handed his reader to Portis, and backed away from the transport.
Steve looked down at his reader. The arrow still pointed at Egan. Steve caught Portis’ eyes, nodded at Egan, and winked.
“Your reader, Sir, unless you wish to be arrested for disobeying my lawful command,” Portis ordered,
Egan’s eyes beseeched Bernoulli, but the counselor dropped her head, shaking it in negation.
Finally, Portis reached into the tr
ansport and gripped the reader. She had to apply significant force until the reader was slowly withdrawn from Egan’s clutches. “Do you still wish to be transported to Assembly Hall, Sir?” Portis asked, but Egan appeared dazed, staring straight ahead.
“Counselor,” Maria said, nodding toward Egan.
Bernoulli stepped to the transport’s open door. “Assemblyman Egan, do you wish to make a voluntary statement to me?”
Egan turned his head slowly to fix on Bernoulli. When recognition of who was talking to him seeped in and kick started his brain, the assemblyman said, “I wish to discuss a plea deal.”
“Are you admitting to having committed a felony, Assemblyman Egan?” Bernoulli asked, checking to make sure her reader was recording.
“If I have committed any such act, I would wish to discuss that in private with you and my attorney.”
“Colonel Portis, please take Assemblyman Egan into protective custody and deliver him to my offices. He is to remain in your care until he, his attorney, and I meet. Is that clear?”
“Completely, Counselor Bernoulli,” Portis replied.
A sergeant climbed in beside Egan, while the rest of the patrol clambered aboard. The transport lifted and headed for Government House.
“Well, you got what you wanted, Maria,” Bernoulli said.
“If you mean did I fulfill President Drake’s request to locate a perpetrator of the stunner manufacture, then, yes, I did. I’m sure Egan will give up his cronies, unless you cut him such a sweet deal that he has no reason to capitulate.”
“I know my job, Maria.”
“That, I’m not so sure about. Good day, counselor,” Maria said, turning her back on Bernoulli and heading toward her own transport.
Lagging behind, Steve glanced down at his reader. The arrow was gone, replaced by the image he had come to enjoy. “Cordelia, we have the reader and a culprit … at least one of them.”
Cordelia said.
Steve laughed. “It was all I could think of, at the time. It was better than stunning Bernoulli, which had been my first thought.”
“Cordelia, you have to know that many of us don’t think like her. Tell the other SADEs that we appreciate their help, and that they’re welcome in our homes anytime.”
-42-
“Bernoulli made a deal with Egan,” Tomas Monti said to Alex. They were enjoying the view from Maria’s porch, after an evening’s fine dinner.
“Anything of value from the assemblyman?” Alex asked.
“Oh, yes … Egan rolled over on his fellow conspirators, which included his brother-in-law, in exchange for a lesser sentence. Egan kept insisting that it was all merely business. When Bernoulli questioned Egan as to what he thought Toyo intended to do with the stunners, Egan said, ‘I had no idea and never asked.’”
Alex didn’t reply, just shook his head in disgust.
“At least Bernoulli did a better job this time,” Tomas said. “She discovered that Egan and his associates were frequent visitors to Toyo’s domes and were granted special privileges. Apparently, one day Toyo approached the brother-in-law, who manufactures TSF stun guns, with a proposal, a pile of credits, and free access to his domes’ entertainment for life. That information ensured that the counselor was less inclined to be generous with the deals she offered.”
“On another subject, Tomas, I’m concerned about your position here on New Terra,” Alex said.
“You brought me out here to ask me whether I wanted to return to Haraken in light of the warm feelings circulating around this planet about Harakens,” Tomas said.
Alex grinned at his friend’s astute deduction.
“The answer is no … emphatically, no.” Tomas replied. “You see, I have this model of behavior that I follow,” Tomas said, warming to his subject. “When things get tough, you don’t run away. Even if it’s hostile aliens coming for your people, you don’t flee for another world. You find a way to fight back.”
Tomas’ references to the Librans’ intention to evade the Nua’ll and strike out for a desolate world in their city-ships, reminded Alex of the events at Arnos, including the memory of the death of the two thousand elders and the last words of Fiona Haraken, and Alex’s smile faded.
Tomas saw the change in his president’s face and thought, Put it down, my friend. That’s not a burden you should have ever had to carry.
“So, you think you should stay,” Alex said, taking a sip of his glass of port.
“Since you’re serious about not running for the presidency again … yes. More than ever, Haraken will require a positive voice here on New Terra. Someone has to speak for our side of the story.”
“You do have a traveler at your disposal, Tomas. But if you’re ever concerned … right here is where you want to be,” Alex said, tapping Maria’s porch deck with his boot.
“Are you thinking a Haraken ambassador might be a target?”
“Here’s the question we have to ask ourselves. What made Peto Toyo and Roz O’Brien think that Espero was a good target for their drugs?”
* * *
Of the two bills that reached the Assembly’s floor, the one revoking the mining charter was the one in jeopardy of not passing. The second bill sought to expand the charter, extending the power of self-governance to any moon-based company. Those supporting the charter’s expansion were loud and vociferous, and they were backed by powerful entities, which might profit from unfettered operation on the system’s moons.
Constituents had messaged their representatives and called for reform, supporting the charter’s revocation. But, despite the public’s pressure, that bill was destined for defeat until the media broke the story of Egan’s arrest. In the following days, more information hit readers across the system, detailing the complicity of Egan’s brother-in-law in the manufacture of the notorious stunners. The thought of deadly weapons loose in the population was abhorrent to the general population.
The news scared representatives, who had sat on the fence, into distancing themselves from their lucrative supporters. Instead, they started taking their constituents’ messages seriously, which were: Why should civilians have sway over other civilians on moon bases? The TSF are trained to manage civilian unrest, why aren’t they given the power to police the mining concerns?
The effort to revoke the mining charter was bolstered by President Drake’s impassioned speech, part of which said, “We must remove the protection afforded the mining companies given in the early days of space exploration. It’s time to regulate, and, yes, apply TSF procedures and control to these establishments. The period of mining company self-rule must end. They don’t have our civilians’ best interests at heart. Their focus is commerce, whether legal or, as we have discovered, illegal.”
Those anxious to repeal the charter achieved a majority in the Assembly, calling for a vote, and passing the bill, while defeating the expansion bill. Following the repeal, all mining operations and domes became subject to government overview for compliance with corporate regulations. Most important, the TSF became the force responsible for policing these establishments, and the local security forces would be required to operate under TSF guidelines.
In light of General Oppert’s failure to detect the illegal drug and weapons manufacturing that had sprouted up, the Assembly asked for his resignation. Unfortunately, for the general, he was on record numerous times insisting that he had control of the issues, which were nearly insignificant in scope.
Maria was approached by President Drake and asked to resume the position of TSF general, but she demurred. Instead, she volunteered her choice, one Colonel Portis. Drake presented the name t
o the Assembly, which accepted the suggestion.
* * *
In the Harakens’ final days at Maria’s residence, Alex, Renée, and Maria discussed the events surrounding the investigations, trials, the mining charter’s revocation, and the public’s perception of Haraken interference in New Terran affairs.
“I’ll work to communicate the truth about your people and what they’ve accomplished for us,” Maria said to Alex. She was pointedly referring to Bernoulli’s media announcement following the apprehension of the conspirators, who were arrested for manufacturing the stunners. The counselor made no mention of the assistance of the SADEs or any Haraken, for that matter.
“Perhaps, it’s better you don’t, Maria. I think Harakens have worn out their welcome in your system,” Alex replied.
“Alex, don’t let the likes of Bernoulli and these hot-air, corporate types convince you of the mood of the populace. They aren’t the same.”
“But your people are led by these individuals, who influence your ministers, your courts, and the Assembly representatives,” Renée said.
Maria did not expect a pessimistic view from Renée, and it signaled to her a shift in the Harakens’ thinking. “Alex, are you intending to implement a change in our peoples’ relationship?” Maria asked.
“I don’t know, Maria,” Alex said, staring out the window at the thick forest to the south of Maria’s home. He wanted to walk through the trees and smell the rich earth one more time before he left. “Our technology supplements our lives. It’s a part of who we are, but our implants and SADEs frighten many of your people. New Terrans might have been okay with Julien in his box, but I wasn’t … and since the SADEs have become mobile they’ve done nothing to deserve New Terra’s fear.”
“Maybe in time, Alex,” Maria said encouragingly.
“I think we’re talking about a generation or two, Maria,” Alex said quietly, staring out at the woods and wondering if his next walk with Renée on New Terran soil would be his last for many years to come.