by Dale Musser
It was while I was searching frantically through the dense jungle for the rare eggs that were needed to make the antitoxin that I encountered the few remaining free natives and learned of their plight. Yes, at this point I did take action to free the natives who were being enslaved, brutalized and slowly exterminated by their captors. Yes, I did initiate the liberation of the prisoners, the burning of the drug lab, and the battle that ensued before the Brotherhood fled the planet. I admit this freely, as I could not, in good conscience, come to this planet seeking a rare ingredient to save one person and turn my back on a crisis that endangered the very survival of the entire native population.
“After the planet was restored to its people, I would have been quite happy to depart with Kalana after she was cured and end my involvement at Alle Bamma, but the natives asked for my protection and guardianship and, in gratitude for the assistance they offered in obtaining the cure for Kalana, I agreed to their wishes. I continue to this day to silently guard their world using my personal resources at no cost to them or, may I add, to the Federation.
“Senator Wingutt also saw fit to mention events where I travelled to Goo’Waddle – another world that was not aligned with the Federation at the time – to purposely engage the Brotherhood. I cannot claim that this incident was unintentional; however, it was not of my own making either. Until today, details associated with this event were classified. However, in light of later developments, including Goo’Waddle’s subsequent union with the Federation coalition, the events that unfolded at Goo’Waddle have been largely declassified for the purpose of transparency during this hearing. I will not enter into the details of this supremely dangerous and even heart-breaking mission that was undertaken by my team and I as civilians, who acted under the direct request of Federation officials on behalf of the Federation’s welfare and security. I believe the declassified documents have been or will be cued to your individual com-addresses for your review during or after these proceedings. Hence, for the sake of prudent and expeditious examination by this assembly, I will provide only the necessary summary of these events.
“Just prior to actions taken at Goo’Waddle, a shipment of solbidyum intended for the planet Duepras was intercepted by agents of the Brotherhood and, as intelligence indicated, eventually taken to Goo’Waddle. Because the stolen solbidyum was taken out of Federation space, recovery became impossible for the Federation military because, as you all know, Federation ships and troops are restricted from taking actions beyond its boundary.
“At the time of these events, I was not a member of the Federation military. So, because of the circumstances, I was asked by the military’s High Command, as well as a high-ranking member of this Senate, to undertake a clandestine mission to recover the stolen solbidyum, before word of its loss reached the populace. It was feared, because of propaganda the Brotherhood was spreading in regard to delayed shipments, that dissension about might cause chaos and retaliation, including possible revolution by some worlds, against the Federation military and government for allegedly hoarding the solbidyum.
“The Federation could not directly attempt to retrieve the solbidyum without violation of treaties with planets outside the Federation but as a private citizen I could. Hence I was asked if I might accept this covert mission. I accepted the mission and, with the help of my skilled and courageous team, initiated the undercover operation to Goo’Waddle with the specific objective of locating and retrieving the stolen solbidyum.
“It was there – on this non-aligned world, outside of Federation jurisdiction – that I met the androids. I must add that, without the cooperation and assistance of the androids, neither I nor the members of my undercover team would be alive today. Nor would it have been possible for us to retrieve the stolen solbidyum and see to its timely delivery to the good people of Duepras. It was there – again, outside of Federation jurisdiction – that I agreed to provide my personal assistance to the androids in finding a new world of their own to live and thrive as a sovereign society.
“I would like to add that none of what I’ve heard regarding the threat posed by the androids to humankind or their desire to see all humanoid races eradicated were apparent or demonstrated then or in any of my encounters with them since. On the contrary, they have expressed and demonstrated that they wish only to live in peace with equal rights, responsibilities and privileges as humankind and any other sentient race in the galaxy. Had the androids so desired they could just have easily taken the solbidyum for themselves and none of us would have been able to stop them. I would also like to point out that, in the several hundred years since the androids fled and took up residence across several non-aligned worlds, they have lived in harmony with the humanoids and other sentient races. They have not displayed any of the actions or behaviors that have been used as a justification for calling them an enemy. Nothing they have done in these hundreds of years justifies maintaining a state of war with them.
“Therefore, while I do not presume to speak for the Senate, I would like to take this opportunity, if the Honorable Chief Justice will allow, to recommend strongly that this assembly consider sending representatives to meet with the androids for the purpose of entering into a peace agreement and to end the senseless idea that we are at war with them.” The utter silence in the room caused me to cast another quick glance at the truth monitor to make sure it still displayed green.
“Senator Wingutt also proposes – without proof – that I profited by these ventures at Alle Bamma and Goo’Waddle. The truth is that my involvement in all of these events has come at significant cost to me. I have not profited in any way. As I stated earlier, even now I maintain security forces to protect the natives of Alle Bamma from invaders at my cost and at no profit to myself or others. May I clarify that I restrict entry to this planet, not in order to prohibit them from contact with outsiders, rather to protect them and their way of life – and this I do for them by their own wishes.
“Senator Wingutt also inferred in his opening statement that, when I returned to my home world of Earth after discovering that it had been destroyed by an asteroid, I captured and forcibly removed Earth colonists who survived on the Earth’s moon and on a neighboring planet. I flatly deny this allegation. I offered to rescue and transport those willing to relocate elsewhere on more suitable planets, if they so desired, and all of them, including Ming, availed themselves of that offer. While Ming had become a despot on the moon, enslaving and treating his people abominably, he was still given the opportunity for a new life, if he wished to reform his behavior. Reform he did not. He continued to live a life saturated with the most wicked and heinous of crimes against nature and sentient life – crimes that are almost beyond comprehension. Hence, it was of his choosing and by his own depraved desires that he set on the path to becoming the enemy of the Federation that he is today.
“Lastly, as to Senator Wingutt’s allegation that I committed an act of treason by aiding and abetting an enemy of the Federation by conducting trade with them and providing them with top secret Federation military information in the form of military plans for the Nijang Fighter craft, I will leave that matter to the discernment of the Senate. But for myself, I will state to you clearly and firmly that I have not committed treason. Firstly, the plans for the Nijang Fighter belonged to me, not to the Federation military, at the time that I provided them to the androids. The choice to provide them with machinery and materials was established years earlier, before I became a military officer. Furthermore, the machinery and materials were obtained and transactions were arranged and conducted outside of Federation jurisdiction. Lastly, as I have defended, I in no way consider the androids to be an enemy to humankind or a threat to the Federation.
“Did I provide those plans to the androids? Yes.
“Did I supply them with materials facilitate production of the Nijang Fighters? Yes.
“Have I been acquiring those fighters from the androids and supplying them to the Federation military for our fight again
st the Brotherhood? Yes.
“Now, have I been profiting by doing so? No. I have not made even a single credit of profit from the so-called sale of these ships to the Federation as I have thus far donated them to the Federation.”
I heard a gasp spread across the hall. Every senator suddenly focused on the truth monitor to confirm that it had not deviated in color and that I was still telling the truth.
“You may want to know why I began commissioning this work with the androids. The answer is simple. In spite of the multitude of shipyards and contracted fabricators available across the Federation, we are not keeping up with production demands. In the past twenty-two years, the Federation has lost 2,283 worlds to the Brotherhood – 2,283 worlds and the people on those planets, who were once free, productive members of the Federation and who are now in enemy hands. By that count, we are unable to say that we are winning this war. More so, we are unable to say that we are even holding the enemy back, because the Brotherhood has made substantial gains and the Federation has clearly suffered great loss. As all of you know, legislative processes require weeks or months of Senate debates before each decision can be made in regard to the acquisition of military equipment and then it takes years to complete manufacturing at facilities that already struggle to meet existing orders. It is undeniable that, in order to shift the balance of power in this war, the Federation must have more ships. The Federation must have more men. The Federation must secure more immediate resources, just to hold our own in this war with the Brotherhood of Light. We cannot and will not win the current conditions. We cannot protect our citizens or even maintain status quo without more ships and supplies. We cannot and will not vanquish the true enemy of the Federation and bring this war to an end, if we do not take the war to the enemy outside Federation boundaries and into the heart of the Brotherhood’s strongholds.
“Have I committed treason to the Federation? Not in my mind I haven’t. But there are those in this room who must ask themselves a question that is just as valid: Have we committed treason by aiding and abetting an enemy, even if only by restricting the Federation military to defensive fighting against a ruthless enemy only on our own ground, where we take heavy losses of life, resources and security, where we must stay vigilant at night on our worlds and in our very homes, while the enemy sleeps soundly and safely, fearing nothing in theirs? As Fleet Admiral in the Federation military, one who has served in battle, suffered firsthand and seen the devastation and irreparable destruction suffered by others at the hands of this contemptible, vile enemy, I will be so bold as to declare that it is, in fact, treason by dereliction.”
I stared at the Senate briefly, before turning to Chief Justice Terralisa. “I have nothing further to add, Your Honor.”
I glanced at Wingutt, who was reclined confidently at his seat in the accuser’s box with an arrogant, self-assured smile on his face. I’m sure he thought that he’d won his argument and that I had damned myself with my last statements.
“You may take your seat, Admiral,” said Terralisa, after clearing her throat.
As I removed the monitor and stood from my seat, Terralisa spoke again. “We have a last‑minute witness who wishes to give testimony on behalf of Admiral Tibby.”
The sound of hushed whispers buzzed through the hall. I halted and turned again toward Terralisa, the shock most certainly apparent on my face.
“Rebadat Tonclin has requested that he be allowed to provide information and testimony on behalf of Admiral Tibby.”
This announcement was followed by even more whispers and exclamations. From the hall’s side entrance came Tonclin, who approached the testimony chair with a slow and easy confidence. Rebadat was the title given to a Leader upon completion of their term in office. I was unaware that he had planned to appear and, more so, I had no idea what he intended to say. I took my seat in the defendant box as he was connected to the truth monitor, and then Terralisa told him he could begin his testimony.
“Thank you, Chief Justice Terralisa. Distinguished members of the Senate, I am seated before you today to give testimony and evidence which, I trust, will put an end to the outrageous claims of treason against the finest man the Galactic Federation has ever known. That these allegations could even come to fruition in this hearing, after we have all experienced firsthand what he has done for our coalition, our government, our military and especially our people, is incredulous at best and reprehensible at worst.
Unlike me, Tonclin did not glance even once at the truth monitor.
“I have heard testimony from all parties today and I tell you now that First Citizen Tibby has given you an accurate report of all of his actions and the reasons behind them. This truth monitor reinforces the fact that he has been fully honest with his accounts. However, he has not told you everything. I am here to provide you with one last piece of information that, until this moment, has remained highly classified. First Citizen Fleet Admiral Tibby, being the honorable man that he is, has not revealed this critical detail, because of its classified nature, in spite of the fact that by withholding this information, he stands to be convicted of treason and face sweeping loss and permanent disgrace like none ever seen in the history of the Federation.
“First Citizen Fleet Admiral Tibby has told you of his arrangement with the androids and of his acquisition of Nijang Fighters manufactured by the androids. He has told you that he has not profited by this venture and in that he has been sincere and truthful. However, what he has not told you is that he made these arrangements, including the agreement to manufacture fighter ships, under classified instructions by me and Leader Pheosa, as is permissible under the War Powers Act.”
A small roar of noise rumbled through the hall as senators gasp at Tonclin’s statement. My own jaw nearly fell open, as I knew full well this was not the truth. Yet, when I looked at the monitor over Tonc’s head I saw only the unwavering green hue that indicated he spoke nothing short of the full truth. It was then that I noticed that Tonc’s hand was clenched into a fist, firmly setting a ring against the rough, bark-like skin of his large hand and fingers. Somehow he had managed to meet with Cantolla, who obviously quickly designed the only device in existence that could deceive the truth monitors in a version that would work on his unusual skin. But how? And why? That I didn’t know.
I glanced at Senator Wingutt, whose red face was distorted in rage – and perhaps fear – and I thought for a moment that he was about to bellow out some objection. But he quickly calmed and masked his indignation when his image was displayed on one of the hall’s major media screens.
Tonclin continued. “It was shortly after Leader Pheosa’s inauguration that Tibby reported to both the Leader and me that we were unable to obtain fighters as quickly as needed, and that the ramifications of this problem were becoming disastrous. Federation forces had just engaged in three simultaneous attacks at major locations in the Federation. Losses from these battles were extremely heavy and we needed to replace our ships quickly, or our forces would not have sufficient resources to stave off subsequent attacks. It quickly became clear that our efforts to identify even one facility that increase production were futile, as every shipyard in the Federation was already burdened with impossible delivery schedules. At this time, Tibby mentioned that it was unfortunate that the androids were still considered to be enemies of the Federation, as he knew that, if given the equipment and materials, they were capable of manufacturing fighter craft with incredible speed and accuracy. Leader Pheosa and later I discussed the matter between ourselves and reviewed the history of the androids collected since the Great War and we realized that the androids no longer posed any type of threat to the Federation or to humanoid life of any kind. We also realized that, if we approached the Senate in an effort to normalize relations with the androids, the Senate’s decision would likely be months and perhaps years in the making.
Therefore, the only ready solution was to exercise Clause 133 of the War Powers Act that allows two consenting Leaders to make cri
tical decisions in a time of war without consultation with or endorsement by the Senate. Fleet Admiral Tibby was then given permission by direct Executive Order to make contact with the androids and, if an agreement was possible, provide them with any and all machinery, materials, technology and plans – classified or otherwise – to begin expedited production of Nijang Fighters. Leader Pheosa, who is attending this hearing from his office in the Capitol Station, will verify my account of these actions.”
Tonclin nodded to a technician, who made some adjustments to the vid screen display. Leader Pheosa’s image appeared.
“Greetings, Honorable Chief Justice Terralisa and Honored Senators. As Rebadat Tonclin has related to you, both he and I were in agreement after significant deliberation and research, that it was in the best interest of the Federation that Tibby reach out to the androids by way of his established relationship with their community, for assistance in producing the Nijang Fighters for the Federation military forces. Fully mindful of the trust placed in us by the people of the Galactic Federation to take these actions with the utmost discernment and humility and with a clear understanding of the magnitude of our actions, we invoked the War Powers Act and instructed First Citizen Tibby to move forward with all measures required to secure these arrangements. As also permitted under the War Powers Act, the matter was kept secret, as the action was believed to be highly controversial and, had word of it leaked out inadvertently, the Brotherhood would have used the information to create dissension within the Federation. It was our hope that, at some point in the future, we would be able to reveal the full details and that steps taken at that time would lead to a normalization of relationship with the androids.”
