Carinae Sector: 01 - Traders' Scourge - Part 1 - Alien Flight (12 page)

                                                            ***

Gindane was careful to hold her emotions in check, as she led the senior members of her research ship into the court rooms in the administration section of the massive Cephrit 31 star base. The senior judge of their trial, Admiral Biruldesec, by stint of his military rank was a notoriously hot-headed Tilmud fleet rear admiral that had a vicious reputation.

Gindane stifled a momentary start at the presence of Omerio seated on the judicial bench as far as possible from the Tilmud admiral. In unison, Gindane and the senior crew members each gave a careful and respectful bow to the assembled judges, but remained silent. Gindane then eyed the rest of the bench, as unfortunately Professor Elysius had to excuse himself because he was involved in the case as Gindane’s mentor and manager.

The professor had briefed Gindane and her crew extensively during their long return to the star base. But she now felt a glimmer of hope as she recognised the two senior Cephrit of the star base seated to one side of the Tilmud head judge. Gindane knew that the unnamed were firm but fair in their justice, and she also knew both the senior Cephrit males. Admiral Biruldesec looked down from the high bench at the assembled Barus crew and gave Gindane a baleful red eyed glare as he spoke.

‘Are you forgetting your manners about protocol commander?’

As the Tilmud made the flat statement he seemed to swell with rage and indignation, the long quills shivered on his back and the broad powerful muzzle flushed crimson. Again the assembled crew kept quiet as one of the senior Cephrit finally spoke in the soft chirring way of their species.

‘Please accept my apologies Lord Admiral, this trial on our base is under Cephrit jurisdiction, though indeed we value your presence as head judge in this matter. Note that the defendants are quite proper in remaining silent. Under Cephrit law a head judge decides the direction on inquiry, though I offer my services to run the trial.’

Now visibly shaking with anger, Admiral Biruldesec made a gesture of acceptance with a massive clawed paw, and then sat back as the Cephrit station master continued to softy speak.

‘First we will specify the bounds of this trial and the import of Cephrit law in this matter. Note that no proxies are permitted, we do not allow lawyers as in the Barus jurisdiction model, as we seek the cold logic of this tragedy.’

As the Cephrit Station master continued speaking, Gindane could see briefly from the corner of her widely spaced eyes that Professor Elysius was looking crestfallen. The professor had noted oratory skills and was a respected mediator in Barus territory. The Cephrit continued speaking for a lengthy period, but Gindane was careful to listen attentively despite her good trial briefing. She knew that the soft chirr of the Cephrit hid a sharp mind of implacable resolve typical of all their species.

The Tilmud admiral was just plain bad luck, but hopefully the other judges would hopefully at least give her crew a fair chance of acquittal. Gindane would not allow herself to consider the matter of Omerio being on the judicial bench. The Cephrit paused and glanced down either side of its brown and grey carapace at the other members of the bench.

‘Does any other judge here have any further directions at this stage?’

The second Cephrit and Omerio quietly spoke in the negative as the Cephrit station master gave the Tilmud admiral a cool glance. The obviously calmer Tilmud gave Omerio a sneering glance that spoke volumes, obviously the admiral felt that Omerio’s presence as a judge was unsatisfactory. Admiral Biruldesec then eyed the Barus defendants, who were under no illusions about their fate in his eyes, before speaking in the harsh feral snarl of their race.

‘Now given the reluctance of Cephrit law to execute convicted criminals, and since I am chief judge, I insist that if the defendants are found guilty then they should be executed under Tilmud statutes, namely by garrotte.’

Admiral Biruldesec placed on the bench with a flourish an ornate garrotte with handles suitable for a massive Tilmud hand. The Barus defendants were too well briefed to react, and Omerio sat in stony silence at the end of the bench. The Tilmud admiral looked directly at Gindane with a predatory gleam, and she barely repressed a shudder, as no doubt the admiral could already see himself garrotting her as a public spectacle.

The two Cephrit spoke to each other in a hushed chirr, and looked at Omerio who had the sense to quietly ignore the Cephrit response. The Cephrit Station master eyed the Tilmud admiral as he responded.

‘Yes if the defendants are guilty they will be under Tilmud statutes, but our own laws forbid public executions. Of course you are free to perform private executions in the Tilmud quarter of this star base.’

Admiral Biruldesec sat back with a smug look of accomplishment, as he was obviously still well satisfied with the Cephrit answer.  Gindane considered that the likelihood of the Tilmud planning treachery in this trial, as being beyond doubt. Considering the prospect of being found guilty, she discretely eyed Omerio who was listening avidly as the Cephrit Station master spoke again.

‘Commander Gindane, how do you and your crew plead in relation to the charges of mass murder of the human citizens of Sol three, otherwise known as Earth?’

Gindane and her crew gave another respectful and slow bow to the judges. ‘Lord Station master we plead not guilty.’ The assembled defendants all answered in calm but clear voices.

Admiral Biruldesec looked nonplussed and for once was silent as the Cephrit responded with an acknowledgement.

‘Very well, the plea of you and your crew has been noted, please call the first witnesses. Under the rule and wrath of the all powerful Zronte overlords, let no falsehood or illegality be undertaken during this trial.’

The arcane rites of the trial began in earnest, with clerks and proctors walking across the room under summons from one judge or another. The review stage continued as the various reports of the tragedy that were submitted and duly entered into the trial record. Gindane and her crew remained silent and then finally took their seats under the stern gaze of the judicial bench.

                                                            ***

Steve turned from the chart table at the rear of the bridge of the Aurora Discovery, as Samantha and her brother Dan came onto the lower decks from the docks. The two siblings had just returned from a guided tour into Kerteh to view the facilities of their new business partners.

On the maiden voyage of the ship, they had sailed up to Irian Jiya on a journey to resupply Australian and US civilian medical teams. Steve had obtained the supply contracts as the Australian Navy was returning to traditional patrol duties. The contracts were an unexpected bonus that Steve intended to make full use of while the opportunity lasted. He knew that the whole medical team assistance story in Asia over the last decade was one of incredible commitment by all the people who volunteered.

Steve also knew for a fact that the previous efforts of Samantha and her team in caring for so many ill people had led them to assist the Lee family directly. This had then resulted in the grateful extended family now involving Steve and his partners in their business ventures. The ship had earlier sailed from Irian Jaya for Kerteh on the east coast of Malaysia, so that the crew could meet with the aquaculture co-operative and deliver some initial equipment, during which several members of the Lee family had first come aboard for lunch.

Steve had later stayed onboard with the ship to supervise maintenance issues and talk remotely with his Australian business contacts. Samantha and Dan went to a second meeting in the Lee corporate offices and to later tour the sea pens. When the siblings eventually came onto the bridge, Samantha greeted Steve with a kiss and stood by his side. She glanced at the navigation charts briefly before reporting on their meeting ashore with Mr Lee senior.

‘Steve we had a productive meeting with their management team and they may be able to help with our problem of transferring live fish from our contract at Geraldton. They have a larger specialised vessel, the Lotus Marai with most of her crew, in Singapore. The ship is near new nine thousand ton single deck vessel and in good condition. Mr Lee’s terms are reasonable as long as we bring back some breeding stock for them for an additional project they are implementing. Apparently they had a misunderstanding with their Australian equivalents and are hoping we can smooth the waters as their agent.’

Dan offered additional comments about the suitability of the larger vessel.

‘Steve, the Lotus Marai is not much slower than our ship, and it has seven times the live storage capacity, even if we did have our own tank fully operation. Also the live storage capacity is in four main sections with baffles so we can isolate the snapper, dhufish, mulloway on our return to Malaysia.’

Steve looked over at the drawings and paperwork that Samantha and Dan had brought back with them. The deal was clear cut and very generous towards them from Steve could determine, as the whole aquaculture industry was experiencing rapid growth due to the effects of the recent epidemic on traditional livestock. After a few minutes hesitation, Steve agreed with their assessment.

‘Well the export permits for the fish are already in place, and we set the quantity already, so we just do the exporting in two or three trips instead of several. Now we should be able to get the quantity increased fairly easily in the following seasons. I say we go with these changes.’

A relieved smile passed between the three leaders of the new joint venture, as Steve turned to John Robertson keeping ship’s watch at the bridge windows. John, the ship’s navigator, was one of several former navy personnel to follow Steve leaving from the navy into his new business.

‘John can you take command of the Lotus Marai? I can send over a few others over as well after we get down to Singapore and further establish our crew needs.’

Dan looked over at Steve and Samantha and also spoke after John acknowledged that he would take command of the Lotus Marai.

‘Steve, I will join the ship as well, I want to clean and test those storing tanks on the return to Geraldton.’

The three partnners continued to discuss the windfall that had eventuated, and what would need to be done to meet the new requirements of their business. In the late afternoon the Aurora Discovery weighed anchor and turned south for Singapore.

                                                            ***

Chapter 6

In the formal trial room of the Cephrit 31 star base, Gindane and her senior crew sat nervously through the fifth day of the trial. Admiral Biruldesec continued to place his garrotte on the judicial bench at the commencement of each trial day, possibly to unnerve the crew. The other trial judges for the most part ignored the Tilmud’s display, and conferred only with the chief judge to ensure that he accepted the trial directions that the two Cephrit judges were issuing.

Gindane had cause to question why exactly was Omerio to be sitting on the judicial bench, as the last two days had seen the Barus trader escorted to the trial room by several large female Cephrit soldiers. The honour guard for the Tilmud admiral had studiously avoided eye contact with the fearsome looking Cephrit marines as the trial participants again entered the trial room.

Omerio for his part, at times looked torn between helping his fellow Barus, and dealing with another matter. Gindane had seen him talk fervently with the two Cephrit judges one evening, once Admiral Biruldesec and the other defendants had left the trial room.

During the afternoon of the second day, Professor Elysius had taken the stand and answered questions from all the trial judges. Omerio in particular asked several long questions. The Cephrit judges then acknowledged that the Barus research team had followed the galactic edicts governing their research efforts to the letter. However they wanted to know how over three billion humans had died due to an epidemic unleashed by a Barus terrorist.

Admiral Biruldesec was initially more circumspect and asked questions relating to Gindane’s general study and work performance. He also wanted to know of any previous issues of dissent or discipline lapses throughout the research effort controlled by the professor. At this point one of the Cephrit challenged him on a point of order in that the professor was not on trial. Admiral Biruldesec was visibly angered at this challenge, but gave a mollified response and then withdrew his line of questioning.

Omerio later continued to yet again to question Professor Elysius, and now the annoyed Tilmud admiral interjected with an objection of his own.

‘Station master, our fellow judge Omerio, received transport aid on the professor’s star ship to this star base after his own star ship’s hyper drive engine failed during a high speed transit of a star system. The Tilmud authorities consider our fellow judge to be a sycophant to the independent races and a possible smuggler. Indeed his line of long winded questioning adds no value to these proceedings.’

The two Cephrit judges looked in askance at one another and hushed chirring discussion took place as they considered the views of the head judge. Admiral Biruldesec for his part, sat back again with the satisfied grin on his muzzle once again making an appearance. Omerio had the sense to abstain from this point of order as the senior Station master once again spoke.

‘Lord Admiral, we ourselves ascertained the suitability of Omerio to take part in these proceedings and we are aware of how he arrived at this station. Indeed we checked his credentials with the Barus military attaché, and while we are at a loss as to why he is employed as a freighter pilot with his background we cannot otherwise fault his presence. However we do take your reasoning over his line of questioning must be acceptable, and we ask that Omerio change his line of questions or desist as per our agreed earlier guidelines.’

The grin then vanished from the muzzle of Admiral Biruldesec, and he idly toyed with the handle of the garrotte as he glanced over at Omerio sitting in silence.