Twin Stars 1: Ascension

by Robyn Paterson

  She stared at him in fascination. “That’s really something. I have known a number of nobles, but I don’t often get to interact with them like this. Please forgive me my interest.”

  Their dinner arrived, and both began eating. Tysen had to admit, the chicken here was quite good. Perhaps he’d bring mother and Hariet here in the near future- although he worried Hariet might not want to eat in public with her condition. Yes, nobles were conceived in a medical facility, but it didn’t mean that their supposedly perfect genes really were perfect. Errors, legacies of generations of genetic alterations of the human genome, still crept in and popped up- Hariet being one such example. They called it “Plastic Syndrome”, a condition unique to Nobles with their enhanced nervous systems, and her sense of touch was literally disappearing. Her skin becoming as sensitive as a piece of plastic.

  “Hey, wait a moment.” Lt. Clews waved a piece of carrot to get his attention as a thought occurred to her. “Doesn’t that mean you have a member of your family who’s involved in organized crime?”

  “No,” Tysen shook his head. “The paper brother we adopted was killed several years ago in a vehicle accident.” To Tysen’s great relief at the time. “It won’t come up.”

  “I should hope not,” she said, popping the carrot in her mouth and chewing on it. “We’ve already got enough problems with the piracy charges, and anything that paints you in a bad light won’t help our cause, even if you are a Noble.”

  They finished their meal in silence, each thinking their own thoughts about the situation. Finally, as coffee was being served, Lt. Clews brought the files up again into view, having dismissed them while they ate.

  “Okay then, let’s talk about our defense. What story are we going to tell them?”

  “Why not the truth?”

  “That’s the problem, isn’t it?” She brought up the files in question- lists and images of containers scrolled between them. “You traded all of these cargo containers to pirates for a tow back into orbit.”

  “Cargo that was about to be destroyed as the station fell on the planet and killed a great many people.” He pointed out.

  “But it wasn’t, was it?” The image on the AR window between them changed to security footage of the pirates loading the containers onto their shuttles. “So, that makes you a thief who aided and abetted these pirates in robbing the station. You traded property you didn’t own for services that may not have been necessary if the station personnel had managed to get things back under control.”

  “They were locked out, it wasn’t possible.”

  “Doesn’t matter,” she brought an image of a balding man with thick black eyebrows up. There was a name under the image- Archibald Thomas. “That’s now how the crown attorney is going to put it. He will frame it so you look like you were a part of the pirates. Like it was all a big plan- terrorists or no. He will make you seem like the mastermind of the whole thing.”

  Tysen looked at the image aghast. “Why? I’ve never done anything to him!”

  “It isn’t about you, Lieutenant- it’s about the service.” She sighed. “I’ve defended a lot of men and women in the last year, and it’s been the same thing over and over. The brass is looking for people to be made examples of- people they can come down hard on. They want everyone to know the penalties for “creative thinking”; because they’re scared they can’t hold on much longer. Or, to use an old saying- they’re looking for a chicken to kill to scare the monkeys.”

  “And I’m the chicken,” Tysen said sourly.

  “Exactly.” She waved the image of the prosecutor away and gave him a sympathetic look. “I hope I’m wrong about this, but I don’t think this time is going to be any different.”

  “So, do you have a plan?”

  “I few of them,” she brightened. “But first, I need some cream for my coffee. Let me order some, and we’ll get started…”

  * * *

  Tysen’s mother had been a piano player of some note in her youth, and while she hadn’t kept it up through the years, the habit of playing the piano when something was worrying her was a strong one she often fell back on. Thus, Tysen was in no way surprised when he returned home to hear the soft sound of piano music drifting through the house from the back sitting room.

  Making his way quickly through the large home, Tysen found his mother sitting at the antique baby grand that had been a gift to her from Tysen’s grandfather on her sixteenth birthday.

  “Mother! I have excellent news!” He said enthusiastically, getting a stern look in return. His mother gestured at a nearby sofa where Hariet lay sleeping beneath a hand-woven blanket in the gentle afternoon suns.

  “Oh, sorry!” He raised a hand in an apologetic gesture, then stepped in close and whispered- “Mother, I have news. I was just in contact with our ship’s surgeon and he said he’ll be willing to arrange for Hariet’s operation with one of his colleagues at a veterans hospital in Castle City.”

  His mother’s eyes widened. “Really?” She whispered back. “Tysen, that’s wonderful!”

  He nodded, then after hesitating a moment he added. “We will have to pay him privately, of course. Cash only.”

  His mother made a dismissive gesture. “I’ll sell the horses, that should pay for it.”

  “Mother,” Tysen cautioned. “You only have two of them left, and one is Hariet’s.”

  “What good is a horse she can’t ride?” She reminded him. “No, we can get her another one later. Right now, what’s important is that Hariet can have her operation.”

  They both looked at his sleeping sister for a time, and then his mother looked up at him. “Any news from your lawyer?”

  Tysen nodded. “Yes, my part in the hearing is scheduled for tomorrow morning. I’ll be taking the stand just before second lunch, when they’re done questioning my crew.”

  “Don’t worry,” she told him. “I’ll have your best suit prepared.”

  “You will do nothing of the sort!” He said with mock seriousness. “I can take care of my own clothes- thank you very much! No, you just worried about sister, and I’ll take care of my own needs.” Then he paused and added. “Oh, and I’d prefer it if you and Hariet didn’t come to the hearing.”

  He watched her carefully- he expected resistance on this point, but he’d already thought it through and decided that he didn’t want to put them through any more stress.

  “Why ever not?!” His mother exclaimed, acting much as he’d expected.

  “Mother,” Tysen dropped to one knee beside the piano bench, taking her hands in his, and looked up into his mother’s soft blue eyes. “I know you want to support me, but this may not be pleasant. Lieutenant Clews thinks they may be a bit rough on me, and I’d prefer you not see it.”

  She gave him a pained look, and then finally sighed and nodded. “I see.”

  “Mother,” he gave her a reassuring grin. “Don’t worry. We have an excellent case. This will be over before you know it.”

  * * *

  “Please be seated.”

  The courtroom was a cold, gray amphitheater, with the defendants and prosecutors on the lowest level, looking up at the raised seats of the panel of judges. Rings of spectator seats, now filled with members of Crystal Leaf’s crew and assorted others, were tiered up behind the lawyers- looking down on the legal gladiators before them.

  “This review panel is now back in session, and for the record, I am Commodore Earnhardt Sorrell.” Announced the head of the five-member panel, a grim broad-faced man with a large black mustache. “Over the past few days, we have heard from the crew of the Imperial Star Guard Cutter Crystal Leaf regarding the incident at Miraposa Three, and we will now hear from the defendant- Lieutenant Albert Tysen.” Then he focused on the small table to his front left, where Tysen sat with his lawyer. “Councilor Clews you may begin your opening statement.”

  The Judge Advocate gave Tysen a confident smile and then stood up, taking a moment to look at each of the panel members before refocusing o
n its leader. “Thank you, your honor.” She said in a loud, clear voice.

  “Your honor, fellow members of the board, this man before you needs no introduction. Lieutenant Albert Tysen was the recipient of the People’s Medal for Bravery twice in his short career, and has been personally decorated by the Grand Admiral with the Imperial Academy’s highest honor- the Ying Fa Star, for graduating the top of his class. At 26, this makes him one of the most decorated officers in this service for his age, and these are decorations he earned in the field making decisions and taking actions necessary to save the lives of both his crewmates and to defend this state. I remind you of his record because, as I have just said, he is a man of action who has been rewarded by our service for those actions time and again.

  “How then, could he not take action when he saw the orbital transfer station above Miraposa Three falling? A station filled with many thousands of lives heading for a planet filled with countless others? I ask you ladies and gentlemen, what would you do in that situation? Would you have let all of those people face their fates?”

  “Or,” she paused, letting the question hang. “Would you do whatever it took to save them?”

  Lt. Clews was out from behind her table now, walking to stand right in front of the panel and looking up at them.

  “Lieutenant Albert Tysen was faced with that choice, your honor, and he did what he believed was the only course of action available to him to preserve that station and those innocent lives. Yes, there may be question in his methods, but does not the law require temperance and consideration of circumstance?

  “These were exceptional circumstances, and they required exceptional measures on the parts of those involved to bring things aright again.”

  Now she turned, gesturing back at Tysen. Their eyes met for a moment, and he could see she was truly in her element, doing what it was she loved. The perpetually tired woman he had gotten to know over the previous few days was gone, and the woman she really was had come to the fore.

  “This man -Albert Tysen- was a hero that day, ladies and gentlemen, and he should not be here on trial, but be out there being celebrated for doing exactly what our service taught him to do- act in the defense of those who could not act for themselves. It was the right choice at the right time, and that should be the board’s only consideration.” Then she took a deep breath and bowed from her waist to each of them. “Thank you, your honor, and fellow members of the board.”

  “You may be seated, councilor.” Sorrell ordered, and Lieutenant Clews returned to her seat, damp with sweat, but clearly happy with her presentation.

  “Nice speech,” Tysen commented as he handed her a nearby towel.

  “Captain of the debating team at my law school,” she grinned. Then she became more serious- “Remember what we practiced.” She whispered.

  “The court calls Lieutenant Albert Tysen for questioning.”

  Tysen straighted, raised his chin and stood up.

  “I stand ready, your Honor.”

  Sorrell fixed him with a mirthless frown. “Lieutenant Tysen, this board of review will now hear your own testimony regarding the facts of Day 120, Year 2718. You will answer our questions clearly and take an oath on your honor to provide us with the truth. Is that understood?”

  “It is, your honor.” Tysen said with more confidence than he felt.

  Satisfied, the judge gestured toward a chair that rose up from the floor before the five.

  “Good. Then, take your place, and let us begin.”

  * * *

  “Well, that could have gone worse,” Lt. Clews said, stirring her cream into her coffee. They had retired to a nearby coffee shop following the session’s end to discuss the events of the day.

  “I see what you mean,” agreed Tysen with a hint of frustration in his voice. “Those questions showed a clear bias against me- did you notice how Commodore Thann shut his eyes whenever I spoke?”

  Clews nodded. “I don’t think he likes you very much.”

  “He doesn’t,” Tysen agreed. “He was one of my instructors during my training cruise. I defeated him twice during the opening maneuver exercises.”

  She gave him a long, amused look. “Y’no, somehow that doesn’t surprise me. You might have the devil’s luck, Lieutenant, but it’s not with you today. That is one of the most hostile boards of review I’ve ever seen. They’re not looking for money, they’re looking for blood.”

  “Yes, as you warned me earlier they don’t seem inclined toward creative thinking by officers.” It had been a hard afternoon for Tysen, and much of his previous optimism had been scraped away by the board to a reveal cold, hard reality. The service he had dedicated his life to was now quickly becoming the very one who sought to take it.

  “Still,” Clews commented, clearly trying to keep things level. “Whether they like you or not, you gave some pretty solid answers, and they can’t ignore that.”

  “No,” Tysen replied. “They can’t. How long will the deliberations be?”

  She shrugged. “Could be hours, could be days.”

  “Then there’s no point in staying here any longer,” Tysen pushed his chair back and stood up. “I have arrangements to be made regarding a family matter. If you’ll excuse me?”

  “No problem, I’ll link to you as soon as anything comes up. I…” Then her face suddenly got a faraway look, and she raised a hand to keep him from leaving- Tysen could tell she was receiving an incoming link. After a moment, she started speaking, but she was clearly still in the linked conversation.

  “It’s the crown prosecutor, he wants to talk….He says…they want to make a deal.”

  Tysen’s eyebrows furrowed. “What kind of deal?”

  * * *

  The crown prosecutor’s office was a large bright, spartan space backed against a dome-like window that gave a wonderful view of the Kiersgard river valley. The interior was more of a lounge than an office, with large black sofas, low slate tables and Tysen even noted a wooden rocking chair in one corner. Like most personal offices, the large emptiness was actually dependent on who was looking at it. There would be layers of AR windows, images and decorations throughout the office that only the lawyer, and those he gave access to, could see.

  Augmented reality offered both the ultimate in personalization, and the ultimate in customization of one’s environment.

  They had been shown into the top-floor office almost immediately upon arrival, and Prosecutor Thomas had welcomed them with seats on the couch, drinks of their choice, and pleasant small-talk.

  Lieutenant Clews would have none of it.

  “Okay, Thomas. What’s the deal?” She said in a voice that carried more than a hint of weariness- it had been a long day.

  That earned her a loud laugh from the stocky, ginger haired prosecutor, who struck Tysen as a man who laughed often. “Ah. Right to the point, is it Clews?” Then to Tysen he said- “You picked a good one, lad. This one always likes to go for the throat. Just who you want on your team.”

  “I don’t like my time wasted,” Clews commented testily. “And, you’d better not disappoint me today.”

  “No.” He said, shifting to a more serious manner. “No, I won’t be wasting your time. I have a good solid offer from the board.”

  Clews gave a half-nod to tell him to continue.

  “The board, unofficially of course, seems to have realized that prosecuting a hero of the empire isn’t in their best interests at the moment,” he began. “Yes, we both know they’re looking for an example to be made, but right now with things so tight they’ve decided that one of Noble blood might not be the right choice.”

  “How much do they want?” Clews said, getting right to the chase. “The Lieutenant’s family has some money, but not enough to pay off an entire board.”

  The prosecutor gave an ironic smile. “Nothing, actually. While three of the board members are of the Home Guard Fleet, his honor and Commodore Ngumbo are both Star Guard, and have convinced the others that persecuting the
Lieutenant here would be seen as an affront to their part of the service.”

  “And?” She added, her focus returning to Thomas.

  “And…they’re looking to drop all charges against the Lieutenant- there won’t even be a negative mark on his record for this incident.”

  Tysen’s heart leapt- he was going to get through this! But then, he noticed Lt. Clews hadn’t moved.

  “How nice of them,” Clews said suspiciously. “What do they want in trade?”

  “Well,” Thomas said casually raising an open hand into the air. “You know how these things go- someone goes up, and someone goes down.” He made a falling sweep with his hand.

  Tysen suddenly started to get nervous again.

  “Who?”

  “His conspirator- Lieutenant James Kipps.”

  Tysen was out of his seat in an instant, looking down at the man on the opposite chair with horror. “Kip? You want Kip? Why! He didn’t do anything!”

  The prosecutor gave a casual shrug. “Like I said, someone’s got to go down, and he’s next in line. He was physically in command of the Crystal Leaf during the incident, and while he was following your orders he was the one who could have stopped you at any time. The way they want to paint it, you had limited intelligence, and that makes him the one responsible for the final choices.”

  “No!”

  “Thomas, this stinks!” Clews said angrily.

  That got another casual shrug. “I’m just the messenger. You want to take it up with the board, fine. But, this deal is your client’s only chance to walk out of here a free man.”

  Tysen waved his right hand in a dismissive motion. “I won’t do it. Kip was under my command, and following my orders. I was wholly responsible for what happened.”

  The prosecutor gave him a condescending look. “Kid, you might want to talk to your council about this first before you go off making any hasty decisions.”

  “I don’t need to,” Tysen declared angrily. “I swore an oath to the service, and I intend to honor it until the end.”