“Good day, sir. Impressed is not the word. Terrified would be more accurate.”
Pankin looked angry and very uncomfortable. “This is the silliest damned thing in the history of the Empire,” he began. After a moment, he continued in a more businesslike tone, “All right, let’s get the crap out of the way.”
He flipped a switch on his desk — evidently, he was recording his next words. “First, I have been ordered to inform you that you are to consider yourself and the crews of both your ships under arrest pending an investigation into your conduct during this mission, and that of your officers and crews.
“Second, both ships are also considered under medical quarantine. In addition, by action of the imperial Senate your status is considered the same as that of ships bearing active plague beacons. Any boat or launch attempting to leave either vessel will be fired upon and destroyed. Any attempt by either vessel to initiate boost will be considered an attempt to escape, and the ship will be destroyed.
“Third, you are ordered to cooperate with all legally-constituted investigative bodies to the limit of your ability, and you will pass this order to your crews. You are warned that failure to cooperate with any such body may be considered disobedience of this direct order. Do you understand the orders you have just been given?”
“I understand, sir,” Kas replied grimly, “I and my people will of course obey, though I am unaware of any offenses committed by myself or my people.”
Pankin nodded, his expression changing to one of relief. He nodded. “Very well, Commodore. There is a senatorial investigating committee now on board Atropos, and a legally binding subpoena has been delivered to me ordering you to appear before the committee by vid at 1600 tomorrow. You are ordered to appear at the designated time. Do you understand this order?”
Obviously, all Pankin wanted was a bare acceptance on the recording. Presumably, more information would be forthcoming once the recorder was turned off.
“Yes, sir, I understand. I will be available at 1600 tomorrow.”
Pankin nodded and flipped the switch off. Then he breathed a huge sigh. “Kas, I can’t tell you how sorry I am. This whole episode disgusts me. I came out here to make certain you receive every possible aid. To do that, I’ll need your mission report as soon as possible.”
“No problem, sir. I have been working on it for days. I’ll need to bring it up to this point to make the report complete, but that shouldn’t take long.”
Pankin nodded approvingly. “Excellent. However, I think you should know that damned committee has already subpoenaed your report, so you might want to review it before you send it. Make sure it does not say anything that might make you a target. Transmit it by minimum laser com as soon as you finish it.” He straightened. “Now. You have to appear in front of that damned committee, of course. They’ll probably grill you over every detail of the mission, and second-guess every decision you made. Be prepared for a lot of silly questions about that fool Lu-Jenks.
“Since this stupid committee is an investigative body only, you’re not entitled to have a lawyer present. But the Fleet Judge Advocate General himself is standing by to advise you any time you want him.”
Pankin cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Uh, He’s already asked me to tell you to be very careful what you say about the Lu-Jenks incident. My intentions were good, but by stopping that court-martial, it seems I have left you hanging. This fool committee can reinstate the charges. Since the court never took place, jeopardy did not attach, and double jeopardy doesn’t apply. So watch yourself. The JAG recommends that you cite the Charter and refuse to answer any questions about the incident.” He shrugged. “I’m not sure I’d go that far. These people are powerful, and it would not be wise to offend them unnecessarily. But I’d agree that any answer that compromises your possible defense at a future court-martial should be avoided.”
“Understood, sir.”
Of course, Kas’ ships were now receiving the commercial vid channels and newsies. Every channel and every newsie seemed obsessed with Kas and his ships. Several of the senators who would make up the committee he was to face were interviewed. All of their comments could have been summed up in five words: “We’re going to get Preslin!” So much for senatorial impartiality.
The session was every bit as bad as Kas feared. There were five senators on the panel but it was obvious from the start that the one seated in the center, Ta-Lank himself, was the one that really mattered.
Since he was sitting it was hard to be sure, but Kas thought that Ta-Lank was unusually tall. Certainly, he was thin. His head was shaved which, when combined with his cadaverous body gave him a skull-like appearance. His voice though was soft and melodious. Kas decided that the man’s voice was what had originally gotten him elected to the Senate. However, his eyes were hard and hostile. In fact, none of the faces on the committee revealed anything but hostility.
“Good day, Commodore,” Ta-Lank began in that strangely melodious voice. “This committee has been empowered by the imperial senate to investigate the conduct of your latest mission. Be warned: we will not permit you to put the billions of people of the Empire at risk. Nor will we tolerate any attempts at mutiny or sedition. At the slightest indication of risk to the Empire, your ships will be destroyed. Now, have you any preliminary remarks?”
Kas smiled at him. “Only that there is no risk to the Empire in Vir Rekesh or Starhopper. Our mission has been a complete success and we have retrieved a warship of immense value to the Empire, as well as preventing it from falling into unfriendly hands. As for me personally, I’ve spent more than twenty-five years protecting the Empire, not threatening it.”
Ta-Lank’s smile was mocking. It was obvious that this meeting was being recorded, and he was playing for the cameras. “No risk? You don’t consider a plague that killed over three thousand people a risk?”
Kas shook his head. “No, sir, I don’t. Thanks to the efforts of the ship’s last commanding officer, Dr. Ver Ro-Lecton, the Empire’s foremost epidemiologist, and his equally distinguished medical team, the plague was eradicated aboard Vir Rekesh.”
“How can you know that? You can’t know that!” The senator that spoke was on the left end. His handsome features fairly screamed “body sculpture,” but his voice was high-pitched and scratchy.
Kas sighed. “We know that because one of the medical team became infected and almost died. Dr. Ro-Lecton’s serum saved her, and no one injected with the serum has shown any symptoms. We know that because we have spent more than nine months aboard her, and the records of the original plague indicate an incubation period of only ten days to two weeks. We know that because Vir Rekesh was open to space for nearly a century.”
Ta-Lank was glaring at the other senator. He had not intended to give Kas a chance to have his say this soon, if at all.
“Yes, well, we’ll see about that, Commodore. I am afraid we cannot just accept your word for such an important fact.
“Now,” he resumed briskly. “This committee has only just received a copy of your report to Fleet HQ. We have not had time to review it completely, but we can pose some preliminary questions. Would it be fair, Commodore, to say that you are familiar with the broad outlines of interstellar law?”
Kas shrugged. “I suppose so, sir. An educated layman’s familiarity. I’m certainly no expert on it.”
“But you are aware that intrusion of an armed Fleet vessel into space claimed by another entity is forbidden by interstellar law? And that such intrusion is considered an act of aggression?”
Kas could see where this was headed. “Yes, sir.”
“’Yes, sir’,” Ta-Lank repeated. “Yet despite that knowledge, isn’t it true that you took an armed Fleet vessel and intruded into the claimed space of neighboring entities? And isn’t it true that you did so using falsified documents?”