The Feds Pt II
08 May 2020Maggie Oz
The ward staff woke me at 06:30 to feed me breakfast which, all things considered, tasted not half bad. Then a nurse came to check on me, Carrie by her name badge.
"They want you to go and talk with them this morning," she said, she didn't sound very keen on the idea.
"So I'm told. I'm not really sure why it can't wait a bit."
"Do you feel up to it? I can always insist on medical grounds."
"Honestly Carrie, I really don't feel up to much at all, but I'd rather get in, get his over with, get off this station and go home"
"Oh ..... ummm , " she leaned in close and whispered "I'm not sure they are going to be letting you do that Maggie, they seem pretty incensed about all this"
I whispered back "I have a friend who has an Imperial Battlefleet" and I gave her a wink.
She looked horrified.
Even if he knew what was going on I doubt Roy would be able to swing a battlefleet, but the Feds don't know that.
The time moved on towards 0730 and I began to get the feeling that no one was coming to collect me.
It was starting to feel very much like this was taking on the aspect of a show trial. A circus for the Fed media, for the corporations to "tut tut" about and make the Empire look small. The idea was for me to stagger in late and looking foolish.
Not on my watch matey.
Problem 1 : I am more or less naked, paper gowns don't really count as clothing.
I checked the locker near my bed and some kind soul had thought to put one of my spare flight suits in there.
Excellent! That must also mean Witchy Woman was recovered and possibly nearby.
I had been "unplugged" last night so getting my suit on was fairly easy, if incredibly painful. I rolled and folded the empty left leg as neatly as I could and pinned it in place.
Problem 2: I only have one operational leg.
I noticed one of the bits of medical gear was on a trolley and had a flat plate at about bum height.
I managed to perch on it and push myself along, not exactly a wheelchair but the same idea.
I wheeled out into the hall and made my way down past the nurse's station.
"Hey! Where are you off to" one of them called
"I am to report to the Station Commander" I replied as if nothing were amiss.
"You can't go like that!"
"True. Fetch me a set of crutches" I commanded. It worked! And a set of crutches were duly produced.
"Thank you," I decided to go for broke, "Which way to the Station Command Centre?"
"I'll take care of this Nurse" I heard from behind me.
I turned around to see a Federal Naval Officer, a Lieutenant Commander.
"Lootenant Comaander Hanson, Ms Oztraya, JAG, I'll be representing you today," She said.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance Lieutenant Commander, Lady Aztalan if you want to be formal, Maggie if you don't. I wasn't aware Kangaroo Courts involved Advocates"
"Everyone in the Federation is entitled to representation and a fair hearing"
"I'm not sure that helps me any" I replied, looking down at the Imperial Eagle on my shoulder pad "You could perhaps show me the way though."
"Ok, I'll get a wheelchair"
"Don't bother, I'll make do with these" there was no way I was going to be wheeled in, a pitiful shambles, a soft, privileged Imperial slaver.
Click.click..thump Click.click..thump Click.click..thump I went down the halls of the station, following the Lt-Commander. Everyone was stopping to stare, either at my countenance or just the fact there was an Imperial "loose" in the station.
We came upon a set of doors with two Naval Shore Patrol standing guard.
"I'm here to talk to your tribunal as ordered," I said, without breaking stride.
With Hanson in tow, they didn't think to ask for any ID and hurriedly turned to open the doors, the guard began to turn the doorknob when I "Click Clacked" forwards and kneed them open.
"Always make an entrance, especially when you're in trouble"
As the doors opened with a bang I heard a conversation tail off
"As she has not seen fit to respect this court with a timely appearance, Your Honour, I move that ..... " came from what was clearly the Court Advocate
I clattered forwards making as much noise as possible, taking in the scene.
To my front was "The Bench" a slightly raised podium with a large table and 3 Federation Naval Officers seated behind. One Post Commander and two Lieutenant Commanders.
-I'm equal rank to the Boss , nice -
The standard layout of a table to the left and right for the prosecution and defence was in front of that, then a gallery of chairs for the Press and assembled throng.
I moved to the "defence" table, transferred my right crutch to my left hand and snapped off an -agonising- Imperial salute to The Bench and Federation Flag.
"I apologise for my tardiness, Your Honour, I just couldn't seem to find my feet this morning" I bellowed, causing a slight wave of laughter through the galley.
"Madam, ah had no idea you were so severely injured, are yo shaw you are up to these pro-ceedings?" he asked in an accent that harkened to the deep South of the ancient United States of America on Sol.
"Yes your Honour, I am eager to assist the court in whatever way I can and be on my way" I replied, hearing a snort to my left from the other Advocate whom I had not even glanced at.
"Ve'y well, please be seated"
I sat
"Ahooow!" I cried, involuntarily
"I do apologise again, Your Honour, a Thargoid shot a good portion of my arse off a few days ago, I'm a little tender."
There was a ripple of laughter, a few gasps of shock.
"If we can get to the matt'ar at hand?"
"Your Honour," began the Court Advocate, walking towards the bench and turning to look at me .....
and it all became clear.... it was the cow with the kids, from the coven.
So not a media circus, a bigot's vendetta.
"Through a series of fortunate coincidences and the diligence of the War Crimes Standing Committee, we have uncovered an unpunished War Criminal in our midst, namely Ms Ostraya"
"Point of Order, You Honour," I called and stood, interrupting her and throwing off her dramatics
"Yes Miss Ostraya"
"Your Honour," I said, "I am respectful of the dignity of this court and by way of assisting I wish to advise that my correct form of address is, Lady Aztlan."
The Presiding Officer let a slight smile seep through "But of cor's Lady Aztlan, please accept the apology of the court. You may continue, Counsellor. "
"As I was saying, Your Honour," she said "-ahem- , Lady Aztlan" choke on it bitch! "Is none other than "The Butcher of Alioth"," mock shock and horror from the peanut gallery, "and has remained at large for 55 years. We ask the tribunal to rule on the matter under Section 87 of the Galactic War Crimes accord that ... Lady Aztlan, be brought to trial for her unpunished crimes"
The Presiding Officer looked at me
"Ah am a might confused Counsellor, Lady Aztlan's Pilot's Federation rec'ord shows her to be Fifty fower"
Her moment of triumph had come!
"Yes your Honour, she is ... a Clone"
The public gallery erupted into pandemonium, newshounds started frantically streaming the scoop, cameras zoomed in.
"Si-lence, ah will not have this hearing tuned into a cir-cus. If you cannot remain silent and respec'full please vacate the room" he said in response "Lady Aztlan, is this true?"
"It is indeed Your Honour, I am what we call in the Empire a Generational Clone. At my death, a new body is grown from my genetic code and my persona is loaded into it from an engrammic backup device"
"You are a profanity to the human race ! " someone screamed from the gallery amongst other indistinct cries of outrage.
"Shore Patrol, remove that man," said the Presiding Officer. There was a slight scuffle as the man was ejected.
"So you did, in fact, serve in the Alioth Campaign? "
"Yes Sir, I did"
"Ah see. Counsellor, what are the details of the alleged crime?"
The bitch took great pleasure in detailing the events of that day. I listened to her recount them using suitable language to take it from a tragic accident to a deliberate act of genocide by a rogue officer who was executed for the crime.
I remained expressionless.
"Ah see," the Presiding Officer said one she had finished. "Ah should think that p'raps the first question we must ask ourselves is that if she has already been executed for the crime, why we are continuing to pursue Lady Aztlan now?"
"The punishment for the crime was death, Your Honour, her abhorrent cloning has cheated justice, she must be stopped and forbidden from perpetuating her vulgar existence, as all clones should!" this last comment brought more raucous behaviour from the public gallery and an ejection or two.
The Presiding Officer thought on this for a moment, then turned and spoke to each Officer Assisting.
"This is an intriguing issue fower sure, it isn't often we deal with people who have returned from the dead.
Lady Aztlan, do you have anything that might help the court further understand this most unusual situation?"
Lt-Commander Hanson rose to speak, but I grabbed her elbow.
"Sit down Lieutenant Commander," I said gently.
I stood, my cybernetic leg brought me upright with little effort and I used my crutches to move onto centre stage
"Your Honour, I am an Imperial Citizen and an Imperial Auxiliary Naval Officer and as such the Federation has no jurisdiction over me in any way, however as you have extended to me the courtesy of medical aid and sanctuary, I feel obliged to respect your laws and requests whilst you are my hosts.
I also respect that the Galactic War Crimes Tribunal was created in an effort to root out War Criminals and as such, I am subject to its jurisdiction if I have indeed done wrong.
I do point out though that any tribunal convened to hear matters under that jurisdiction must consist of a representative from each of the signatories. Latterly Empire, Federation and Alliance. "
I turned to the Bitch "I was a bit of a legal eagle in my first life. You'll see my name in the authorship list, dear," I said, sotto voce.
She looked, it was, I thought she was about to vomit.
I turned back towards the bench
"Your Honour, let me save us all a lot of time. Yes I AM the Butcher of Alioth, or whatever name you choose to give me," more horror and aghast from the public gallery "I was the one who pulled the trigger and killed those children."
"Lady Aztlan I must caution you that anything you say can be presented at any subsequent trial. It is my recommendation you remain quiet lest you incriminate yourself further," said Hanson, doing her job.
"I understand that Lieutenant Commander, but I have been quiet long enough". I paused and looked out of the viewport in the courtroom wall, out into space beyond, and my mind unwound to that day, "I have fought in many wars, far too many. None of them was particularly just but Alioth, more than any other, was a pointless waste. It just went on and on for no particular reason. Towards the end, the Federals were just as disillusioned by it all as much as we were. We started working with each other, giving each other notice of attacks or supply runs, setting things up so we could look like we were doing our jobs and pleasing the high command, but not killing each other."
I gave a slight laugh
"We even set up a system where we would shoot a ship, then have the crew eject in their capsules and we'd finish it off. We'd then pick up the rescue pods and smuggle the crews back to their homeworlds using the freebooters and civilian traders. They were listed as dead so their families got their pensions, they just laid low for a few years and went on with their lives."
"On that day we had given the Federals a heads up on an impending orbital bombardment. We doctored the vector for the bombardment of an "encampment" to just hit an empty field, so the High Command could win it's pissing contest without hurting anyone.
I don't know how they found out, but some well meaning fools thought it a grand plan to hijack a transporter and evacuate the children of the village, a village nowhere near where the bombardment would actually land. My flight and I saw it come up so we presumed it was more old hands looking to get on the "Hometrain".
I fired, blew the engines as usual. But they didn't eject. The fools tried to fly past. We didn't shoot them again but the damage was done and the hull ruptured. I went in to check for survivors."
"Have you ever seen a person killed by the void?" I asked no one "They are snap frozen. Often with a normal and calm expression on their face. It happens so quickly.
....
The first child I saw ... a little blonde boy ... maybe 4 or 5 ... still clutched his teddy. His eyes wide and innocent. The next was a young girl, maybe 12?, she was hugging a younger child, who looked to be scared..... They all just floated there........ 61 ......... I can see them all."
"I sent out my limpets and gathered them all in. Put them all into the cargo area. They were so small ...... I flew them down to the planet and returned them to the village we had guessed they must have come from. I boosted out, docked on our Carrier and returned to my quarters. I refused to take any further part in the war."
"It's true, I was executed. 4 days later. I was thrown into the void as well. But not for killing children NO. No, I was executed for cowardice and dereliction of duty in a war zone for refusing to play any further part in that insanity."
"When I re-lifed, I found out that the Imperial Navy had reviewed the action and issued me a posthumous pardon. All was forgiven."
"Your Honour, that was 55 years, 5 months, 1 week and .... 2 days ago. I have lived that day, every day, for every one of those days. I have not taken up arms against another human since that day and will not do so for as long as I live.
If it's justice you want, then there is none to be had.
If it's punishment you want, I am serving life .... no parole ... not ever"
The Court Room was very quiet, Hanson handed me a tissue.
"Your Honour I am forwarding to you the official Imperial record of those events and the transcript of my pardon as proof of what I have told you today" I punched in the appropriate codes on my data wristband and the Presiding Officer's bleeped with the receipt.
He briefly scanned the reports, then broke the silence "In light of the testimony offer'd to the tri-bunal by Lady Aztlan, I hereby de-clare this matter closed with the recommendation of no further action. Ah wish to express the tribunal's gratitood to Lady Aztlan for her can-door and help this matter and on behalf of the citizens of Maia I would like to thank her for her courageous efforts to pro-tect us from the Thargoid threat for which she has clearly suffered greatly. I would also like to personally wish her a speedy recovery."
I heard a calm and level voice say "Open the door please," it wasn't a request
The doors of the courtroom swung open and CSM Colverdale accompanied by Royal Marines Nkante and McGovern strode into the room.
They were unarmed, but their distinctive Moon Dust Grey Service Dress and Green Berets, along with a "just you try it Jimmy " look on their faces was more than enough to get everyone's attention.
All three stood head and shoulders above all in the room, including the Shore Patrol.
Roy followed behind.
"Ready when you are Maggie," he said, quietly, with no hint of acknowledgement of anything or anyone around him.
"Your Honour, if it please the court? " I asked.
"Of cor's. Please permit my Officers and I to es-cort you and your colleagues to your ship."
Either to make sure we go or make sure we weren't lynched, I suspected
RM Nkante lifted me onto a gurney and they wheeled me out.
I locked eyes with The Bitch.
I have never before seen, much less been the target of, the level of hatred I could see in her eyes.
Flipping her off didn't really help much either........