“And you’ll return to it when it’s safe. For now, I’m taking you into protective custody. Hang out on the ship while we do our thing. Ankh? What did you learn from tapping the gold mine? Ankh?”
They waited until he blinked and focused on the Magistrate. “Yes?”
“What did you find out, and what next?” Rivka asked again.
“Didn’t you read the report?” Ankh shot back in an even tone.
“What report?” Rivka mouthed before pulling her datapad from her pocket and opening the flashing icon where the new report was waiting. She zeroed in on the words and inhaled the text, harking back to her law school days where she had devoured mountains of information to generate single consolidated reports supported by legal positions both pro and con, never knowing which side she’d be picked to present.
Rivka ran a finger along a flash burn across the front of her coat. “I miss law school,” she inadvertently said aloud.
“I thought it was only me,” Jay replied.
“You’ve never been to law school.” Rivka looked confused.
“I’m joking, because you look like you’re going to cry.”
“No, not going to cry. I worked so hard to study the law, yet here I am on the enforcement end getting shot at.”
“You’re getting shot at because you are making a case for how people are breaking the law. There is a war, but it’s between the criminals and the law-abiding,” Jay clarified.
“I’m on the outside looking in,” Lindy started. “What I see is a lot of effort on your part to get to the people behind the crime and doing what you can to keep from harming those caught in the middle, even if they broke the law. Had it not been for Oscura Mandel, they would still be walking the straight and narrow.”
“Keeping the peace,” Red added softly, “by stopping one crime at a time.”
Rivka stood and locked her hands behind her back. “We are seeing people’s true natures, as revealed by the extremes of wealth and poverty. Each strips the veneer away, making what is underneath visible. We’ve seen the worst of civilization, and we’ll continue to see the worst the galaxy has to offer because those are the people we have to stop. Someone has to stand between the power brokers like Oscura Mandel, or ‘Nefas,’ as he is called, and people like Lauton, innocents only trying to do their job.”
Rivka paced back and forth. The space only allowed three steps before she had to turn around.
“Where should we go?” Chaz interrupted.
“We need to set up for a final assault. Because of the lucrative nature of what we found hidden beneath the servers on Zaxxon Prime, we only need to explore two other planets before going to Morinvaille,” Erasmus explained.
“I’m not looking forward to that,” Rivka said, stopping to look at Ankh.
“Where do you wish us to go now?” Chaz pressed.
“Take us to these coordinates in the Corrhen Cluster,” Erasmus replied. “Ankh and I have analyzed the situation. Mandel has known where we were going because we did not hide our movements. The Magistrate arranged meetings well ahead of time; meetings with people who were later determined to be in Mandel’s pocket. With current hostilities bordering on open warfare, the Magistrate no longer has the pleasure of announcing her schedule. We will go to the Corrhen Cluster, where we will establish meeting requests with every major player on every planet in question, including those we’ve already visited.”
A Gate formed as soon as Peacekeeper cleared the upper atmosphere. It slipped over the event horizon and was gone from Zaxxon space.
The ship remained motionless in the shadow of a dead moon orbiting an inhospitable planet of an uninhabited system in the Corrhen Cluster. Erasmus and Chaz were coordinating the barrage of requests for meetings to happen simultaneously across fifty light-years of space and multiple planets.
Rivka was only going to make one of them. Quarst was a small planet, but it had one hundred and twenty-four moons and a polar cap that was necessary to cool the power plants for the most energy-dependent race in the galaxy. The entirety of the planet’s small livable area had been developed by the Quarries, a race of quadrupeds. Humans called them ‘Centaurs,’ but the Quarries didn’t see the resemblance.
They liked their machines and comforts. What better place to set up a money-laundering operation?
“The Quarst president has a great deal to answer for,” Erasmus told them. “I have picked it as one of the final two worlds because it has seen the greatest upheaval since contracting with one of Mandolin’s sub-sub-subcontractors. The planet has suffered under the president’s leadership, and there is no end in sight. I believe that he will be the most malleable under interrogation.”
Rivka chewed on the inside of her lip. “Let me see your analysis.” Almost instantly, the report appeared on her datapad. She sat down to read it. Red excused himself to clean his gear and put it away. Lindy went with him. Jay started talking with Lauton about life on Zaxxon Major.
After a while, Lauton’s lip started to tremble and tears welled in her eyes. “Will I get to see my home again?”
Rivka looked up from her pad. “Not only yes, but hell yes. Once we dismantle the racketeering operation, Zaxxon will need people like you more than ever. You built up an operation without knowing about the billing and payments that were cycling through. What if you could integrate the secret systems with the ones you already have to jump Zaxxon up the technological scale? They will need people like you when the corrupt are out of power. We’ll take you back when it’s safe.”
Lauton nodded and became lost in her own thoughts.
“Erasmus, you said that Quarst and Belheeake should give us what we need,” Rivka mused.
“From the systems on Zaxxon Major, I was able to find the links to the shell companies. There are thousands of them. I’ve established a database for lookup purposes. It will give you the links from any company back to Mandolin. I’ll project the final links on the big screen.”
The recreation room’s main screen lit up, and Mandolin Partnership appeared at the top. The next level showed a dozen companies, and the next showed numbers instead of names. The third level had more than a hundred shell companies. The majority of the money laundering took place between the third and fourth levels.
“From the fourth level to the sixth a great deal of work takes place, so I don't categorize them as shell companies. Rather, they are real companies with an operations element that is outside Federation control. They still have to manage the supply chain, but they also have to integrate the smuggling part of the business, which is a secondary supply chain. It’s a great deal of work, done by both computers and living beings. People are employed in these businesses and have families that they are taking care of. Most probably don’t know they are part of a corrupt operation.” Erasmus paused.
“When Mandel is toppled, what happens to them?”
“If Bad Company needs their services, they’ll continue. If not, they’ll be out of a job.”
“How many of these people were employed in this sector before?”
“Fewer than are employed now,” Erasmus replied. “About fifty percent fewer.”
“The law giveth and the law taketh away.” Rivka scowled. “Not all victims look the same, and some don’t even know they are victims.”
“What can we do about it?” Jay asked while getting Lauton more water and another food bar.
“I’d like to say I know, but I don’t. I’ll call Grainger, or maybe Nathan Lowell. This is bigger than just me.” Rivka thought about what she’d said. “You know, I can’t call Nathan. By judging Mandel as a racketeer and Mandolin as a corrupt organization, I hand all the contracts back to the Bad Company, of which Nathan is the president. I can’t give the impression that he took out a competitor by sending the law after them. Maybe I’ll investigate the Bad Company after this.”
“The hand that feeds you?” Jay asked.
“No one is above the law,” Rivka recited. “Although, I have had dealing
s with the Bad Company in the past, and am comfortable that they are complying. There we go. Investigation complete, but I still can’t tell Nathan about the progress of this one.”
“But if there is a void following the downfall of Mandolin—and I know you’re going to kick their asses right up around their ears—wouldn’t Nathan need to be ready to jump in?”
“What if he shows his hand before we’re ready to drop the hammer?”
“You need to talk to him and tell him your concerns. How many people are going to be hurt, besides that Mandel guy and his partner?”
“Too many, I expect. I love the law,” Rivka reiterated. “My compliance with it in pursuit of this case has, however, become problematic. I’ll be on the bridge. I have a couple of people I need to talk with.”
Rivka secured the hatch behind her because she didn’t want any underwear-clad people showing up in the background while she was trying to carry on serious conversations. “Contact Grainger,” she requested.
The main screen appeared with a large dark box that slowly illuminated to show Grainger’s face, complete with pillow lines and hair standing up.
“No way!” he mumbled. “Zombie calling me in the middle of the night. How strange is that?”
“Everywhere we go, people are shooting at us. The ship was attacked in space. This is more like a war than a legal action. What the hell?” she told him without preamble.
“I saw your interim reports. I also saw data provided by your computer genius, who stated unequivocally that your ship was in no real danger.”
“He clearly has more confidence in his AI than I have in the ineptitude of our enemy. I’m collecting evidence, but at this point, it’s more to make sure that we completely dismantle the racket. Mandolin committed the crime of bribery, until it became attempted murder. He has no inhibitions out here. I am the first to challenge him. Why haven’t the Federation’s armed forces dealt with this guy?”
Grainger scratched his head and yawned. “The Federation uses the Bad Company’s Direct Action Branch, a small mercenary group that you’ve already met. The Federation also has a great number of single-ship teams carrying out intelligence collection and small-unit missions. And then there is the Force de Guerre, a more traditional invasion and occupation force, but they are already engaged. The rest of the Federation armed forces, as we’ll call them, are provided by member planets. Is it any surprise that the planets Mandolin picked do not have militaries? I would love to request a tactical team to support you, but there isn’t one. The War Axe isn’t available either, because of the unidentified destroyer that’s harassing Keeg Station.”
“Are they okay? It looked like a real shitstorm when we stopped by to pick up Ankh and Erasmus.”
“They’re doing what they do—fighting like banshees—but despite the appearance of one hundred against one, it is an even match. You’ll get your support as soon as possible, hopefully before you have to go to Morinvaille.”
“’Hopefully?’”
“The longer this case drags out, the harder it will be to pin down the perps. Those scumbags have made enough that they can buy a new planet and start over. You need to collect the evidence so Ankh can help the Federation’s best accountants set up triggers to identify something like this before it grows beyond a single planet.”
“But why did they send a lawyer when a bunch of forensic accountants, computer whizzes, and a combat unit could have accomplished the same thing and done it without risk to life or limb?”
“Now you know why most of the Magistrates were warriors, soldiers, or hell-raisers before earning the pin. You were the first one who came to us as a legal eagle, but once you showed your gift and took the law into your own hands, you became one of us. That’s why you’re in the middle of the storm, Magistrate. You ever hear the phrase ‘sink or swim?’”
“I hate that expression.”
“Maybe so, but this is your time to swim.”
Chapter Sixteen
“This is my time to swim,” Rivka repeated after the communication channel had closed. She left the bridge to join those in the rec room. Lauton was asleep, and Jay had her headphones on so she could watch a movie without bothering anyone else.
Ankh was embroiled in a private conversation with his AI. Rivka could tell by the way he gripped the pack containing Erasmus and his face, which was locked in a thousand-meter stare. Red and Lindy were in the back somewhere.
She poked the Crenellian’s shoulder and he nearly jumped out of his skin, but he didn’t lose his grip on the pack. “Don’t do that,” he said evenly when his breathing calmed. “What?’
“Can you sever the links between Morinvaille and the two planets where you think we’ll find all that damning evidence?”
“Why would I need to cut the links if we’re going to Morinvaille last?”
“What if we go there first, cut the heads off the hydra, and then not have people trying to kill us when we show up?”
“But our analysis was definitive in that we need to go Quarst and Belheeake first.”
“As soon as we show up, someone tips off Mandel and he sics the dogs on us. If there is no Mandel, there will be no dogs. The last thing he expects is for us to knock on his front door.”
“He won’t let you in. His empire will continue its operations because you’ll be neutralized.”
“Then Grainger will come after him. The Magistrates will keep coming until Justice is served.”
Ankh considered what she had said before replying, “Of course we can cut Mandolin off from everything outside their home planet, but can we do it before they transmit a signal to destroy the evidence or summon reinforcements? That’s the question.”
“I have full confidence in you, Ankh. Do I have an appointment scheduled with Oscura Mandel, Chairman, President, and CEO of Mandolin Partnership?”
Ankh communed briefly with Erasmus. “Your appointment is confirmed, Magistrate.”
“How close can you Gate us to our landing coordinates?”
“Erasmus can put Peacekeeper millimeters from reentry. We’ll exit the Gate into the turbulence of the upper atmosphere.”
“That’s as close as you can get?”
Ankh stared at her without answering.
“I’ll take that as a yes. I never studied astromechanics, so I don’t know. That’s why we ask questions, Ankh—to learn.”
“You are supposed to go to Morinvaille last.” Ankh held her gaze as she slowly shook her head.
“Change of plans, my friend. It’s time to swim with the big dogs. I have enough evidence to put him away, so I don’t need any more. Ordering the destruction of our ship was a capital crime. It’s also something I take personally, so we can stop fucking around with the preliminaries. It’s time to go for the throat. I need you to cut all signals from the planet and keep those communications systems offline until I give the all-clear.”
“I will need the configuration of any space-based communication relays to improve our chances.”
“No can do. If we start snooping around, they’ll destroy everything and disappear. When we show up, I expect all hell to break loose.”
“If they destroyed everything and disappeared, doesn’t that achieve your goal?”
“Everything except for Justice. They have a great deal to answer for.”
“None of the planets they operate on are showing any problems,” Ankh replied.
“That isn’t an argument. On the face of it, most RICO crimes seem to be victimless, but they aren’t. People lose their free will, becoming slaves to a system they can’t change. There are lots of victims, but they have put on brave faces. Lauton is a victim. Does she look okay?”
The Zaxxon was sleeping comfortably, but her features were drawn. Even with her eyes closed, the dark circles were prominent.
Ankh’s expression didn’t change.
“If you don’t have the time for a digital separation, maybe we can do something a little more hands-on.”
“
Boarding a comm relay satellite is ill-advised at the best of times,” Ankh retorted.
“How about if we just blow it up?”
“What if there is more than one?”
“Then you have responsibility for the others. Will there be more than one? Morinvaille is a tiny planet with a small habitable area.”
“It’s also outside Federation borders.”
“But by doing business within the Federation, they come under our jurisdiction. They still answer to us. They came into our house and broke our laws. It’s time to pay the piper. I’m going to get a couple hours of sleep. Once we start sliding down this mountain, there’ll be no stopping until we reach the bottom.”
“We’re in space. There is no mountain,” Ankh told Rivka, who was already on her way to her cabin.
“Hamlet!” she grumbled when she saw the hairball on her pillow.
“Chaz, connect me to Terry Henry Walton, please.” Rivka sat watching the main screen.
The bridge was quiet. Red stood behind the captain’s chair, fully outfitted in his gear. He carried the shotgun in a case over his shoulder and the railgun in his arms. The vest’s pouches were filled with grenades. Rivka had him on display to convince TH that they needed his help.
“Barrister, not a good time,” Colonel Walton answered. The image bounced before settling.
“We’re going to confront Mandolin Partnership directly. Since they’ve tried to kill us every step of the way, we’re skipping everything else and going straight for the jugular. We are going to be outgunned. I was hoping you’d be able to join us, but I see that your situation may be as bad as mine.”
“We’re trying not to destroy this guy because we want the technology that he used as he toyed with us, but I’ve had about enough of this bastard. Ted can try to reverse-engineer it from the billions of pieces floating through space. Kill that ship!” Terry shouted at someone offscreen. “Dammit.”
“If you can make it or send anyone else, we’d appreciate it. I’m transmitting the coordinates to you. If you don’t hear from us, that’s where the next expedition needs to go.”
Judge, Jury, & Executioner Boxed Set Page 34
