As the last guard was leaving the cell he reached over and grabbed her buttocks on his way out. Were it not for the many weapons trained on her, the guard would have woken up in the hospital.
As they all marched away Sarah turned to the guard on her cell and asked, “Are you going to ogle me, too? I swear this is a planet populated by perverts!”
“No ma’am,” the guard replied deferentially. “Just to clarify, ma’am, they aren’t being sexual. For them human females are a delicacy. They have been buying them from pirates throughout the non-aligned space ever since the Earth joined the League. It is not Eros that drives their bad behaviour, but a lust for food.”
Sarah was surprised by the guard’s deferential tone. “You don’t have the same attitude as the other guards,” She observed. “I appreciate your tone, but I am unsure why you would choose to be so respectful.”
“We Zarans regard females with respect, ma’am, and I must confess that I am in real awe of the respect that you command from your people. Your crew responded instantly when your ‘Mr. Preston’ identified you,” he told her, “…also, we have met before.
“I was aboard the Axia-class warship Trilor in the Chora Nebula three light years from here. The Trilor was one of the ships that you disabled but didn’t destroy. For the Galoran warriors that is a crime against their honour. It is why I am now a lowly prison guard. Along with the Galoran crew I was dishonoured. This is the best work that I can get.”
“Why do you serve the Galorans at all? Your world is a member of the League of Systems.”
“My family was banished from Zara one hundred and eighteen years ago.” Sarah could hear the pain in his voice. “My grandfather was accused of treason. I was just a young child then, so I don’t know whether the charge was true or not. All I know is that my entire family was banished. We can never go home again.
“We were, at the time, a wealthy household. The Zaran government seized all our assets and bank accounts. By order of the High Council we were deported to Hasath, a world of thieves and assassins on the edge of Mavorian space.
“At the last minute before we left, my mother’s family managed to get some cash to her without the Zaran government knowing. My father used that money to send mother and I to Galor Prime, where he had some friends. We never heard from him or grandfather again. When I turned twenty-one standard years of age I was drafted into the Imperial Fleet. Though, not being Galoran, I could never hope to rise to command, I managed to rise in the ranks as high as is possible for an off-worlder, and found that the fleet had become a home. Then I was dishonoured.”
Sarah listened to the guard’s story. “I am surprised that you don’t hate me? I have unknowingly taken a great deal from you.”
“I know, we all know now, that you were the Battle Commander on that mission. Your strategy was well executed, and you defeated a far superior number of ships. I am Zaran. I know that it is not the way of the Stellar Corps to destroy defeated foes. I don’t hold it against you. I respect you. One day I will regain my honour. For now I am sorry that I must be your jailor.”
Sarah and her guard, whose name she learned was Hawthan, talked for a while. During that conversation she was able to learn that the charges of which she had been convicted fell under the Code of Gan, the warrior’s code, which was enshrined in Imperial law. It was why Hawthan and his surviving officer-level shipmates were now unable to continue to serve in the Galoran fleet.
Fortunately for Sarah, she had covered Galoran law at the Academy, and knew the Code of Gan well. She began to form her strategy for the following day, when she was to go before the judge to be condemned.
In his cell Peter didn’t know whether to be worried or relieved. He knew Sarah, but could she really get them all out of there alive? Or was the woman he loved about to end up on the War Master’s dinner table?
While most people never heard the full story, Peter knew why Melgr Hmlar hated Sarah so much, and that worried him. It didn’t help when the prisoners in the surrounding cells kept demanding to know how he had recognized Captain Maloney from behind and in the nude. There was no way that he was going to tell them about the scar. “She’s my best friend!” was all he told them.
War Master Melgr was feeling uneasy, too, when he called upon Ettac IV that evening. “I have been analyzing our battle strategy, my brother, and I am concerned. Not about defeating the Corps’ puny armada tomorrow. By the time they arrive on our borders their ships in the Mavorian system will already be deeply engaged in battle with the Mavorian fleet. It will be impossible for them to disengage to assist their colleagues attacking us.
“What I am concerned about is the damage that the Corps ships might sustain. It has been my hope that we will salvage enough wreckage to reconstruct at least three more Jump-ships from the salvage. I now feel that this may not be possible with our present contingent. While we outmatch them in numbers, they will fight to the last; unless we cause them to lose heart.
“Stellar Corps is notoriously concerned with the survival of its troops in defeat. The surviving captains might be persuaded to surrender if, at the last minute, we bring up another fleet of Axia ships. It needn’t be a large fleet, so long as they have no battle damage.
“I could recall six additional warships from the Lirian system, without seriously compromising our contingent there. We would hold them in abeyance, behind the second moon, until the Corps ships are certain of defeat. Then we will move then into position. If I am right the Corps armada will surrender. We might even be able to salvage more parts than I estimate.” Melgr smiled at his brother.
Ettac IV smiled back. “Yes, do it!” He grinned his malicious grin. Then, “On other matters, will you join us in our box tomorrow for the sentencing? We plan to have a direct feed from Earth playing when the sentence is announced.” When Melgr began to protest he raised his hand. “Not to worry, brother. You will still have ample time to get down to the ring in time to gut the female, if you use our private passage; and we have given strict orders that she is to remain unmolested until you arrive.”
Melgr relaxed. He smiled at his brother again. “Yes, it would be a great show for the League, wouldn’t it, especially the Terrans, to see the Imperial brothers sitting side by side. It will teach them that we are a power to be reckoned with.” Ettac IV smiled again, too.
When Pegasus and the first battle group arrived at the frontier Mandy ordered all ships to hold position until she received confirmation from the battle groups in the nebula that they were in positon. The fourth and fifth battle groups signalled ready from within the Chora nebula just as the broadcast from Galor Prime began.
As the fleet prepared, the still nude Sarah was marched out to face the judge. Mandy signalled her attack groups to stand ready and ordered the first battle group to follow her into Galoran space.
For the sentencing Emperor Ettac IV had ordered that the bowl of the Imperial Sports Arena be transformed into a court room. At centre field a dais was erected for the judge, directly in front of which stood the prisoner’s box. To the left and right were the tables set for the advocates, the Galoran version of lawyers; only on the defense side the table was abandoned.
Sarah noted that backing onto the judge’s bench was another area that could only be the execution stage. It, too, was raised, even higher than the judge’s dais. Two metal posts on either side had shackles attached. This was obviously meant for her. In direct line with the execution platform, on the right, three rows up, was the Emperor’s box. Sarah noted that Ettac IV and Melgr were sitting side by side.
“They think that they have this all set,” she thought, as they marched her into the makeshift court room. From the prisoner’s box she could see and be seen by the assembled crowd. Sarah saw the look of lust, food lust, in their faces. The lower tiers were filled with the Galoran elite. They were the ones who had been feasting on kidnapped humans – their delicacy. Even at that distance it was obvious that they were almost salivating.
“Then Sa
rah looked defiantly at Ettac IV. She could see the desire in his face. He was grinning broadly. He expected to be dining with his brother Melgr that evening. She gave him a winning smile. Ettac IV’s smile faded away. A smiling prisoner was not what he was expecting or wanted.
Then the call went up over the loudspeaker: “This special session of the Imperial Court is now in session, Lord Justice Lentc Vennlir presiding. All rise!”
Lord Lentc made his entrance with great pomp to very regal sounding music. All but the Hemlr brothers stood as he entered. Already standing in the prisoner’s box Sarah had little choice.
The great fanfare ended as the judge took his seat. For the first time he bothered to look at the prisoner. A look of surprise, almost fear, appeared in his face as he bellowed, “This female is naked! How dare the War Master show such contempt for the Emperor’s Courts? We shall not continue until she is appropriately attired. Sarah looked him in the eye and gave him an impish grin. Lord Lentc fumed. Everyone sat and waited until the guards returned.
As it happened, the War Master’s guards interpreted “appropriately” as “a Steller Corps uniform with a captain’s insignia”. The only one available had come in with the prisoners from the Intrepid. It was Captain Grifn’s. All they brought was the tunic. As she put it on she ran her fingers over the nameplate, remembering her friend.
The tunic portion of the captain’s uniform was designed to fall to the wearer’s thighs. Loral Grifn was a full foot taller than Sarah, so it covered her adequately, even if she had been allowed to sit.
The judge was still not pleased and insisted that it was insufficient to the prisoner’s dignity, but Sarah contradicted him. “My Lord,” she said firmly, “…the captain who wore this tunic before me died serving the League. Although his death was a criminal act, dishonouring his executioner, I am honoured by it, and proud to wear it. This tunic gives me more dignity than even my own might.”
The judge was still unpleased, but Sarah’s statement left him no choice. In all quarters of the League of Systems to which the proceedings were being broadcast people stood and cheered for Sarah. On board the Pegasus and the ships of the five battle groups their resolve was hardened. There was no way that they would let Captain Maloney down.
Mandy opened a channel to all ships. “All ships in battle group one, jump on my mark. We’ll drop out of hyperspace one light year from Galor Prime. Groups two and three, wait until the Galoran ships are within striking distance then jump in. Groups four and five, maintain position until we are sure of the number of Galoran ships. Intelligence reports forty to fifty. If there are less than that, then expect some ships to be attacking from the Nebula. If you see them, you know what to do.”
In the courtroom Sarah stood defiantly before the judge. She was ready as he began to read his prepared text. “Captain Sarah Maloney, having been found guilty of…”
“Objection!” she interjected, “I have not been found guilty of anything, unless the Emperor’s court no longer follows Imperial Law.”
Lord Lentc looked at Sarah in disbelief. Apart from the affront of interrupting him as he delivered his sentence, she had the gall to tell him that she had not been duly convicted. He gave her his sternest look.
“Ordinarily a prisoner who had the impertinence to interrupt me would be severely punished on the spot, but as I am about to impose the harshest sentence possible, there is little else that this court can do. How dare you say that this court does not adhere to his Imperial Majesty’s laws?”
Sarah stood defiantly before him. “I say so because it is the truth. You were about to say that I have been found guilty, under the Code of Gan, of crimes against honour. Under the Code of Gan a warrior cannot be tried in absentia!”
“But if I say that you are not a warrior as defined in the Code?” Lentc countered.
“Then I cannot be charged at all. Only a warrior can be charged with crimes against the Code of Gan. If I am not a warrior as defined by the Code, then the crews of those Galoran ships dishonoured themselves by attacking a ship under my command. So either allow me my right to trial under the Code, or find me exempt from the Code and release me.”
Lord Lentc was taken aback. Sarah was correct. The Emperor had gambled that she didn’t know their laws and would accept her fate. Actually, he had hoped that after hearing the sentence Sarah would collapse in the prisoner’s box, then, like a coward, be dragged kicking and screaming to the execution platform. That was not going to happen.
On the console before him he pressed a button and a privacy field was rose around him. He pressed a second button and the Emperor’s face appeared on his screen. He didn’t waste time. “My Liege, what shall I do? This is not what we expected.”
Ettac IV’s response was terse. “Give her a trial. There is no way she can win. We have enough witnesses to convict her many times over.” He cut the link. “This is not exactly as we expected, brother,” the Emperor told Meglr, “But fear not, you will have your dinner party tonight.”
Below in the “courtroom” the judge addressed Sarah. “As you wish, Captain, you shall have your trial. You may have an advocate to represent you before the court, as allowed by the Code, but the court is not required by law to provide one. Honour should be able to speak for itself under the Code of Gan.”
“Advocates will not be required,” Sarah told him, with a smile that was almost menacing, “…unless the advocate for the Prosecution is also the court’s champion.” She raised her voice as she announced, “Under the Code of Gan, I choose Trial by Combat!” Throughout the arena a loud buzz erupted. No one expected this.
This time it was the Emperor who called the judge. Again, he was as brief as he could be. “Use the Zaran as our champion. He has never failed us yet. Also, she is known to have great skill as a fighter, invoke special circumstances.”
Lord Lentc looked up from his console. “Captain Maloney,” he began formally, “…you have chosen Trial by Combat. Understand, combat is to the death. If you are victorious and you survive, you will be judged as innocent and be released. If you are killed your guilt will be obvious. Also, because of your extraordinary fighting skills the court invokes Special Circumstances. The Emperor’s champion shall be the Zaran, Hawthan. May the gods have mercy on you.”
In the stars above Mandy gave the order. Pegasus and the first battle group jumped to the point one light year away from the Imperial home world. Scanners showed that the Galoran defenses were approaching, at warp, from planetary orbit. They would be there in moments.
Opening a channel to her ships Mandy said “Status”. One by one each ship reported: “All systems nominal, weapons hot and standing ready.” When it came to Captain O’Gill and the Dublin, he responded as the others had, adding, “…and shillelaghs at the ready if it should come to that.” Mandy noticed that not only was O’Gill brandishing the traditional Irish cudgel, but there was one by each of the bridge stations. She remembered that the entire crew of the Dublin came from Ireland. “Let’s hope that it doesn’t come to that, Séamus, but it’s nice to know that you are ready.”
In the Imperial Sports Arena, there was a short delay before the Trial by Combat was to begin. The court’s champion had to be prepared, whatever that meant. Sarah was not happy that she would be facing her guard of the night before. She felt that on this seemingly totally corrupt planet he was the only person of honour she had found.
While she was waiting, a representative of the Imperial Prosecutor brought Sarah into a room where several swords were laid out on a table. Some were broader than others. All were unbalanced and heavier than necessary. When she examined them closely she found all had multiple flaws in the metal. One or two of the broadest blades were so badly flawed that they would shatter if she struck them with enough force against a hard object or surface.
“You may choose three,” the advocate told her. “You may use a maximum of two in combat, but the court allows you a spare in case one blade should break.”
Sarah chose th
e two thinnest swords with the strongest blades, one longer than the other. Then she chose the most severely flawed broadsword. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the Prosecutor smile as she chose a seemingly useless weapon. She looked him in the eye and smiled back.
Not far from the planet, the mix of destroyers and Axia ships converged on the small Corps battle group. Mandy ordered her ships to spread out. Once the battle was joined neither warp drive nor jump technology would be of great use, except in retreat. Fleet battles at close quarters resembled the old dog fights in the skies over Earth, more than three centuries years ago.
As they approached, the Galoran fleet moved to hem the Corps ships in. The difference between a space battle and a dog fight is that when ships moving at high speed are shooting at one another from multiple gun ports and torpedo tubes it’s difficult to avoid friendly fire if the fleet is too close together. It also would give the Galorans the chance to bombard them from the periphery while taking a minimum level of fire themselves.
As the Galoran strategy became apparent, the Dublin broke formation. Although the distance was dangerously close Captain O’Gill initiated a hyperspace jump, dropping out of hyperspace in the middle of the enemy fleet.
As soon as the Dublin dropped into normal space, O’Gill fired all weapons. The effect was initially devastating for the Galoran fleet. They immediately lost two Axia ships to Dublin’s Annihilators, and three destroyers were disabled by her smart torpedoes. Then the Galorans began to fire back with disastrous results for the Dublin; but Captain O’Gill’s strategy succeeded.
While all the Galorans were focused on the Dublin, the remaining Corps ships jumped into positions surrounding the Galoran fleet, forcing them to turn their attentions away from the Dublin in an effort to protect themselves from the Corps assault.
In the arena far below the battle was about to begin. The prisoner’s box had been removed, but Sarah was still made to stand where it had been. Moments later, the eight foot Zaran was led into the arena with the same fanfare that was given to the judge earlier.
Chronicles of the Stellar Corps: Sassy Page 21
