Law's End (28 page)
Authors: Glenn Douglass
Tags: #adventure, #travel, #dog, #future, #space, #rescue, #supercluster
Wounded by the words Greene's father only
meekly managed to respond, "I know." As a representative of
corporate interests her father was relentless and confident but
when it came to personal matters he hopelessly floundered. "I know
things haven't been perfect between us, but I am here for
you."
Some cruel corner of Greene's mind asserted
itself angrily seeking retribution for a history of barely
remembered failings. "You're here for the company and by happy
coincidence it allows you to be here for me. That has always been
the problem between us."
"That's not fair." More words than that were a
struggle he couldn't seem to win.
Greene shook her head and shut her eyes in an
effort to clear her head. "It has never been about fair with us has
it? It's always about our responsibilities. That's what came
between us."
There was a lifetime of regrets in her father's
response. "I'm sorry. I wish things had turned out different."
A bitter laugh escaped Greene's lips. "I know.
You wished I'd turned out to be a good company girl, but that's not
who I wanted to be no matter how much you wanted it for me."
More earnestly than Greene recalled ever having
heard him her father said, "No, it's not that at all."
As an internal struggle given voice Greene's
words said more about herself than her father. "Isn't it? Isn't
that always the issue between us? You had a plan and it relied on a
part that failed."
"Ursa, that's not true." Looking at the
slumbering form he added, "I just want you to be happy. I've always
done everything I could for you...."
"You've done everything including this
wonderful once in a lifetime job opportunity," Greene said cutting
off her father as she looked down longingly at her comatose
husband, "that almost got both of us killed."
"I'm sorry." Her dad looked down at his hands.
"I don't know what else to say."
History, resentment, and unresolved anger made
being reasonable an impossibility. "Perhaps you should just go. We
wouldn't want you to be late to the hearing."
Standing again her father said, "I always seem
to wreck your life whenever I get involved. I've always wanted to
be there for you, to give you everything that I never had, but
those weren't things you wanted." Looking earnestly into his
daughter's eyes he confessed, "So yes, I stayed away because I was
disappointed, but I wasn't disappointed in you, I was disappointed
in myself. I tried to raise you to be like me, so I could give you
all the advantages I had to struggle for, and I failed. You are
your own person, and in many ways you have become the person I once
wished to be, but who somehow got set aside and forgotten." He
started towards the door, but stopped at the frame, leaning on it.
He looked back at his daughter with words that seemed to catch in
his throat and only came forth with coaxing. "I realized that you
didn't need me. I'd been doing more harm than good. So I stayed
away, but I've always been very proud of you."
The door closed behind her father as he left,
leaving Greene alone with the confession. Pondering the words and
their meaning she again looked out across the greenhouses
stretching across the inverted horizon. Looking back to her husband
she wondered how much of it was true and how much was
rationalization.
The tablet resting in Greene's lap prompted yet
another diversion of her attention. Swift arrival of a magistrate
had been followed by a swiftly scheduled hearing to decide how to
handle the contention between two Lawship captains and a possible
pirate. Greene herself had not been asked or invited to attend, but
she had faith that the situation would be resolved in a civilized
fashion now that they were back in civilization.
Closing out the muted umpteenth proposal for a
media production based on her life's recent events Greene brought
up the feed from the Code of Law hearing. It was a slightly
disorienting shot of a railed off circle of light surrounded by
darkness. As she watched familiar faces appeared to stand around
the circle.
Chapter 23: "Code of Law"
1) Impartiality. The Code of Law exists for
its own benefit. The Code of Law shall always rule in its own
favor. Only by vigilantly pursuing its own interests can the Code
of Law be taken seriously as an impartial institution where all
other conflicts coincide.
-First Principle of the Code of Law
always been open affairs from their earliest incarnations. A
central railing created a small open space a few meters across at
the center of a large empty room. Those at opposite ends of a
dispute took places on opposite sides of the circle with evidence
and mediators taking positions within.
The shape and organization of the courtroom was
an expression of the Mareville judicial cooperative philosophy.
There were no prosecutors or defendant advocates as exist in
adversarial systems. Instead there were investigators, the evidence
they collected, and impartial mediators in search of a consensus
opinion on the truth of the matter. Objective impartiality with a
focus on the facts, as opposed to might makes right arguments,
ruled Mareville courts.
Ordinarily this courtroom would have been full
of interested parties standing beyond its center ring. Instead of
the usual crowd of spectators, supporters, and witnesses the room
beyond that center ring was left darkened and empty. Today the
local rule of law would stand aside while the Code of Law
worked.
On this day this Mareville courtroom would
serve the Code of Law. A magistrate with broad powers focused on
maintaining the integrity of the Code of Law itself would have
authority. Whatever decision best maintained popular faith in the
functioning of the Code of Law would determine the verdict.
Dressed in the navy blue uniform of a Code of
Law magistrate with its gold and silver tipped cord, metal braid,
and medallion of office the magistrate was an old man, but looked
much older. His expression was weary and more than just a little
outwardly perturbed at having been summoned at all. It was an
expression of a beleaguered parent having to deal with the unending
petty conflicts of squabbling offspring.
Magistrates were legal troubleshooters
constantly travelling throughout Laniakea to settle the disputes in
their assigned territories as rapidly as possible. Their biggest
job was ferreting through the nuances of jurisdiction to determine
who had the right to take custody of captured fugitives and seized
goods. As a sideline they settled disputes between Lawships that
more often than not involved contested bounties. On very rare
occasions magistrates were called in to deal with accusations of
misconduct against Lawship captains and crews.
Taking a position leaning against the rail on
equal footing with Kassad, Andrews, and Connelly the magistrate
began by rote stating, "I am not prone to allow these things to
drag out. I want all the facts, up front with no deception, and
this gets settled immediately. I've got to be on the other side of
Andromeda in eighteen hours so that doesn’t leave any time for a
lot of back and forth. Plus all these ponies are creeping me out."
The magistrate gestured to indicate the railings stanchions that
had been shaped to look like horse heads in keeping with the
settlement's ubiquitous theme, and then looked back and forth
between the two captains. "This wouldn't be the first time I ended
up pulling the licenses from both captains. So if you two want to
take this opportunity to settle things between yourselves so I can
be on my way I'll have no objection." He paused briefly then when
no one immediately seized upon his offer warned, "Last chance." The
only response he received was the two captains glaring at each
other silently. "Fine then, let's get at it."
Glancing over the record on his device the
Magistrate began in the most formal form. "Captain of the Sabha,
are you fit to offer testimony?"
"I believe so sir. The PC&R staff have me
on meds, but my mind is clear." Kassad didn't add that his mind was
in fact clearer than it had been in what felt like years.
Without further preamble the magistrate
inquired, "You are accused of evading a Lawship with criminal
intent, how do you plead?"
Without hesitation Kassad proudly responded,
"Guilty sir."
More annoyed than surprised the magistrate
said, "Guilty? There's a surprise. Extenuating circumstances I
suppose?"
Nodding sharply Kassad explained, "I evaded the
Lawship only after it became clear their intent was to impede a
declared and lawful rescue operation. Their actions, and their very
presence, could serve no lawful purpose."
Even though he had access to and was looking
directly at all three captain's logs displayed in the tablet he
held the magistrate asked, "Armhamon, what was your reason for
interceding in a stated rescue operation?"
In a tone and manner utterly devoid of the
disdainful sneering which usually characterized her speaking
Andrews stated, "We had reason to believe based on the existing
record that the captain of the Sabha was involved in illicit
activity; specifically the looting of potentially dangerous
material from the lost expedition."
As Andrews spoke the magistrate was paging
through Kassad's file and after Andrews finished speaking the
magistrate responded, "Fair enough assumption, but why were you
keeping station at the Law's End barrier in the first place."
Allowing herself a small grin directed at
Captain Connelly, Andrews elaborated, "We were contacted by
University officials concerned that scavengers might attempt to
loot the proprietary and potentially dangerous research from the
platform lost on the other side of the barrier."
After confirming that assertion in his data as
well the magistrate nodded. "That's all in order." Once again
directing himself to Kassad the magistrate inquired, "Captain
Sabha, under what authority or cause did you undertake this rescue
operation?"
Simply repeating what the documents held by the
magistrate would say Kassad replied, "I was contracted by family
and associates of the missing research team."
Looking over the contract that stipulated the
details of Kassad's hire the magistrate noted in an appreciative
tone, "And for a significant fee." Then going back to the line of
inquiry at hand asked, "Did you take anything other than the
stranded science team aboard your ship?"
In carefully crafted honesty Kassad answered,
"Just what they had on them." Armhamon's captain sneered at
Kassad's omission, and Connelly gave both of them an inquisitive
look, but no one contradicted the statement. "The camp was a mess
and the platform itself had been destroyed. We were in pretty bad
shape ourselves by the time we reached the site."
Unimpressed by the over long answer Kassad had
offered the magistrate inquired, "Can our Lawship captains confirm
that there was no salvage taken aboard the Sabha other than
incidental personal effects?"
For a moment there was a deep and uneasy
silence which Connelly broke by speaking first. "There was a data
card. Captain Armhamon took it into her possession."
Spreading his hands innocently Kassad said,
"The lead researcher had a data card they seemed to think was
important. They were in pretty bad shape so I put it in my pocket
for safe keeping."
Rolling his eyes at Kassad's excuse the
magistrate asked, "Captain Armhamon where is the data card now, and
what was on it?"
Proudly Andrews explained, "That card has been
turned over to University authorities for proper disposal in
accordance with Code of Law governing illegal research. No one will
ever know what was on that card." The University representative
lurking in the darkness behind Andrews nodded in affirmation as
Andrews took open pleasure at Kassad's dismay over the revelation.
"Given the Sabha's history as a smuggling vessel, and Captain
Appaloosa's connection to the criminal, I'd like to perform a
complete dismantling search to look for more contraband. I want to
take both vessels down to their bolts."
With a tap and a glance the magistrate
announced his findings, "I don't see any convictions on smuggling
charges in the records for the Captain Sabha let alone Captain
Appaloosa. The Code of Law does not support such a requested action
against personal or system property on the basis of speculation. As
always local jurisdictions have preeminence in such a decision."
Turning his attention back to Kassad the magistrate inquired, "I
don't suppose you have any evidence of ill intent to back up your
decision to evade a Lawship?"
Knowing that this was where he needed to show
reasonable doubt in the Armhamon's intent Kassad carefully
presented his case. "There were many small clues that pointed to
the Armhamon's unlawful intent. That in over a month after the
incident they'd failed to lend aid to the survivors of the research
platform was one. That alone could only mean that they intended the
scientists to remain on the other side of Law's End until
inevitably dead. If they were concerned about dangerous or illegal
research they could have taken the initiative to recover it
themselves. What decided the matter for me was that they never
asked us for our destination, nor did they assert their authority
as a ship of the Code of Law to lead or even assist in the rescue
operation."
meekly managed to respond, "I know." As a representative of
corporate interests her father was relentless and confident but
when it came to personal matters he hopelessly floundered. "I know
things haven't been perfect between us, but I am here for
you."
Some cruel corner of Greene's mind asserted
itself angrily seeking retribution for a history of barely
remembered failings. "You're here for the company and by happy
coincidence it allows you to be here for me. That has always been
the problem between us."
"That's not fair." More words than that were a
struggle he couldn't seem to win.
Greene shook her head and shut her eyes in an
effort to clear her head. "It has never been about fair with us has
it? It's always about our responsibilities. That's what came
between us."
There was a lifetime of regrets in her father's
response. "I'm sorry. I wish things had turned out different."
A bitter laugh escaped Greene's lips. "I know.
You wished I'd turned out to be a good company girl, but that's not
who I wanted to be no matter how much you wanted it for me."
More earnestly than Greene recalled ever having
heard him her father said, "No, it's not that at all."
As an internal struggle given voice Greene's
words said more about herself than her father. "Isn't it? Isn't
that always the issue between us? You had a plan and it relied on a
part that failed."
"Ursa, that's not true." Looking at the
slumbering form he added, "I just want you to be happy. I've always
done everything I could for you...."
"You've done everything including this
wonderful once in a lifetime job opportunity," Greene said cutting
off her father as she looked down longingly at her comatose
husband, "that almost got both of us killed."
"I'm sorry." Her dad looked down at his hands.
"I don't know what else to say."
History, resentment, and unresolved anger made
being reasonable an impossibility. "Perhaps you should just go. We
wouldn't want you to be late to the hearing."
Standing again her father said, "I always seem
to wreck your life whenever I get involved. I've always wanted to
be there for you, to give you everything that I never had, but
those weren't things you wanted." Looking earnestly into his
daughter's eyes he confessed, "So yes, I stayed away because I was
disappointed, but I wasn't disappointed in you, I was disappointed
in myself. I tried to raise you to be like me, so I could give you
all the advantages I had to struggle for, and I failed. You are
your own person, and in many ways you have become the person I once
wished to be, but who somehow got set aside and forgotten." He
started towards the door, but stopped at the frame, leaning on it.
He looked back at his daughter with words that seemed to catch in
his throat and only came forth with coaxing. "I realized that you
didn't need me. I'd been doing more harm than good. So I stayed
away, but I've always been very proud of you."
The door closed behind her father as he left,
leaving Greene alone with the confession. Pondering the words and
their meaning she again looked out across the greenhouses
stretching across the inverted horizon. Looking back to her husband
she wondered how much of it was true and how much was
rationalization.
The tablet resting in Greene's lap prompted yet
another diversion of her attention. Swift arrival of a magistrate
had been followed by a swiftly scheduled hearing to decide how to
handle the contention between two Lawship captains and a possible
pirate. Greene herself had not been asked or invited to attend, but
she had faith that the situation would be resolved in a civilized
fashion now that they were back in civilization.
Closing out the muted umpteenth proposal for a
media production based on her life's recent events Greene brought
up the feed from the Code of Law hearing. It was a slightly
disorienting shot of a railed off circle of light surrounded by
darkness. As she watched familiar faces appeared to stand around
the circle.
Chapter 23: "Code of Law"
1) Impartiality. The Code of Law exists for
its own benefit. The Code of Law shall always rule in its own
favor. Only by vigilantly pursuing its own interests can the Code
of Law be taken seriously as an impartial institution where all
other conflicts coincide.
-First Principle of the Code of Law
always been open affairs from their earliest incarnations. A
central railing created a small open space a few meters across at
the center of a large empty room. Those at opposite ends of a
dispute took places on opposite sides of the circle with evidence
and mediators taking positions within.
The shape and organization of the courtroom was
an expression of the Mareville judicial cooperative philosophy.
There were no prosecutors or defendant advocates as exist in
adversarial systems. Instead there were investigators, the evidence
they collected, and impartial mediators in search of a consensus
opinion on the truth of the matter. Objective impartiality with a
focus on the facts, as opposed to might makes right arguments,
ruled Mareville courts.
Ordinarily this courtroom would have been full
of interested parties standing beyond its center ring. Instead of
the usual crowd of spectators, supporters, and witnesses the room
beyond that center ring was left darkened and empty. Today the
local rule of law would stand aside while the Code of Law
worked.
On this day this Mareville courtroom would
serve the Code of Law. A magistrate with broad powers focused on
maintaining the integrity of the Code of Law itself would have
authority. Whatever decision best maintained popular faith in the
functioning of the Code of Law would determine the verdict.
Dressed in the navy blue uniform of a Code of
Law magistrate with its gold and silver tipped cord, metal braid,
and medallion of office the magistrate was an old man, but looked
much older. His expression was weary and more than just a little
outwardly perturbed at having been summoned at all. It was an
expression of a beleaguered parent having to deal with the unending
petty conflicts of squabbling offspring.
Magistrates were legal troubleshooters
constantly travelling throughout Laniakea to settle the disputes in
their assigned territories as rapidly as possible. Their biggest
job was ferreting through the nuances of jurisdiction to determine
who had the right to take custody of captured fugitives and seized
goods. As a sideline they settled disputes between Lawships that
more often than not involved contested bounties. On very rare
occasions magistrates were called in to deal with accusations of
misconduct against Lawship captains and crews.
Taking a position leaning against the rail on
equal footing with Kassad, Andrews, and Connelly the magistrate
began by rote stating, "I am not prone to allow these things to
drag out. I want all the facts, up front with no deception, and
this gets settled immediately. I've got to be on the other side of
Andromeda in eighteen hours so that doesn’t leave any time for a
lot of back and forth. Plus all these ponies are creeping me out."
The magistrate gestured to indicate the railings stanchions that
had been shaped to look like horse heads in keeping with the
settlement's ubiquitous theme, and then looked back and forth
between the two captains. "This wouldn't be the first time I ended
up pulling the licenses from both captains. So if you two want to
take this opportunity to settle things between yourselves so I can
be on my way I'll have no objection." He paused briefly then when
no one immediately seized upon his offer warned, "Last chance." The
only response he received was the two captains glaring at each
other silently. "Fine then, let's get at it."
Glancing over the record on his device the
Magistrate began in the most formal form. "Captain of the Sabha,
are you fit to offer testimony?"
"I believe so sir. The PC&R staff have me
on meds, but my mind is clear." Kassad didn't add that his mind was
in fact clearer than it had been in what felt like years.
Without further preamble the magistrate
inquired, "You are accused of evading a Lawship with criminal
intent, how do you plead?"
Without hesitation Kassad proudly responded,
"Guilty sir."
More annoyed than surprised the magistrate
said, "Guilty? There's a surprise. Extenuating circumstances I
suppose?"
Nodding sharply Kassad explained, "I evaded the
Lawship only after it became clear their intent was to impede a
declared and lawful rescue operation. Their actions, and their very
presence, could serve no lawful purpose."
Even though he had access to and was looking
directly at all three captain's logs displayed in the tablet he
held the magistrate asked, "Armhamon, what was your reason for
interceding in a stated rescue operation?"
In a tone and manner utterly devoid of the
disdainful sneering which usually characterized her speaking
Andrews stated, "We had reason to believe based on the existing
record that the captain of the Sabha was involved in illicit
activity; specifically the looting of potentially dangerous
material from the lost expedition."
As Andrews spoke the magistrate was paging
through Kassad's file and after Andrews finished speaking the
magistrate responded, "Fair enough assumption, but why were you
keeping station at the Law's End barrier in the first place."
Allowing herself a small grin directed at
Captain Connelly, Andrews elaborated, "We were contacted by
University officials concerned that scavengers might attempt to
loot the proprietary and potentially dangerous research from the
platform lost on the other side of the barrier."
After confirming that assertion in his data as
well the magistrate nodded. "That's all in order." Once again
directing himself to Kassad the magistrate inquired, "Captain
Sabha, under what authority or cause did you undertake this rescue
operation?"
Simply repeating what the documents held by the
magistrate would say Kassad replied, "I was contracted by family
and associates of the missing research team."
Looking over the contract that stipulated the
details of Kassad's hire the magistrate noted in an appreciative
tone, "And for a significant fee." Then going back to the line of
inquiry at hand asked, "Did you take anything other than the
stranded science team aboard your ship?"
In carefully crafted honesty Kassad answered,
"Just what they had on them." Armhamon's captain sneered at
Kassad's omission, and Connelly gave both of them an inquisitive
look, but no one contradicted the statement. "The camp was a mess
and the platform itself had been destroyed. We were in pretty bad
shape ourselves by the time we reached the site."
Unimpressed by the over long answer Kassad had
offered the magistrate inquired, "Can our Lawship captains confirm
that there was no salvage taken aboard the Sabha other than
incidental personal effects?"
For a moment there was a deep and uneasy
silence which Connelly broke by speaking first. "There was a data
card. Captain Armhamon took it into her possession."
Spreading his hands innocently Kassad said,
"The lead researcher had a data card they seemed to think was
important. They were in pretty bad shape so I put it in my pocket
for safe keeping."
Rolling his eyes at Kassad's excuse the
magistrate asked, "Captain Armhamon where is the data card now, and
what was on it?"
Proudly Andrews explained, "That card has been
turned over to University authorities for proper disposal in
accordance with Code of Law governing illegal research. No one will
ever know what was on that card." The University representative
lurking in the darkness behind Andrews nodded in affirmation as
Andrews took open pleasure at Kassad's dismay over the revelation.
"Given the Sabha's history as a smuggling vessel, and Captain
Appaloosa's connection to the criminal, I'd like to perform a
complete dismantling search to look for more contraband. I want to
take both vessels down to their bolts."
With a tap and a glance the magistrate
announced his findings, "I don't see any convictions on smuggling
charges in the records for the Captain Sabha let alone Captain
Appaloosa. The Code of Law does not support such a requested action
against personal or system property on the basis of speculation. As
always local jurisdictions have preeminence in such a decision."
Turning his attention back to Kassad the magistrate inquired, "I
don't suppose you have any evidence of ill intent to back up your
decision to evade a Lawship?"
Knowing that this was where he needed to show
reasonable doubt in the Armhamon's intent Kassad carefully
presented his case. "There were many small clues that pointed to
the Armhamon's unlawful intent. That in over a month after the
incident they'd failed to lend aid to the survivors of the research
platform was one. That alone could only mean that they intended the
scientists to remain on the other side of Law's End until
inevitably dead. If they were concerned about dangerous or illegal
research they could have taken the initiative to recover it
themselves. What decided the matter for me was that they never
asked us for our destination, nor did they assert their authority
as a ship of the Code of Law to lead or even assist in the rescue
operation."
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