Starlaw (33 page)

Jakus and his team quickly spoke with Goll, shook their heads in apparent disagreement, and threw up their hands in confusion. Their leader turned to the court once more. “Sir … our client wishes to say nothing more. But I must elucidate, for the record, that his arrest was illegal. If the act of landing on a banned planet requires the death penalty, notwithstanding any other charges of murder, theft, or looting attributed to my client … then those who landed on that same banned world to effect an arrest are also in violation of the law. They should stand for their crimes as well, with the same penalty being applied.”

A huge outburst poured from the crowds as they stood as one and blasted the attorney for his legal trickery. Despite persistent attempts of court officers to get the crowd to quiet down, they shouted their anger at this maneuvering.

On Earth, Laurel had seen this same kind of semantic game-playing. She kept her silence and didn't respond to those begging her to go ahead, step up to her own microphone, and speak on behalf of the
Titan
's crew and her commanding officer. It wasn't time. Not just yet. But when she did speak, everyone would listen. And they'd remember every syllable.

The melee continued for some minutes. Eventually, Orat 'Cur stepped forward and raised his hands, and the crowd began to wind down. It took more minutes for some semblance of order to return. But 'Cur was a very tall man and his presence not lightly ignored.

“The court has already debated the legalities of this issue, Jakus Mol. Before we yield our conclusion on this rather inclusive definition of enforcing the laws, wherever our League ships might travel, we are as yet undecided. A legal clarification will come before the day is out. However, whatever the crew of one of our enforcer vessels correctly did or did not do in the pursuit of their duties has no bearing on the lives Goll is alleged to have taken on that world.” He turned toward Laurel.

She took a deep breath, stood, and faced him squarely.

“We will hear from the Earther on this matter. Let her words stand as testimony. She has sworn to tell the truth.” He then glanced at Jakus again. “Will your client remain silent and forego his right to openly question her?”

Jakus lifted one hand and let it fall impotently. “My client refuses to speak openly on any issue except to have his defense team reiterate that he did not make any accusation toward any Lusterian citizen concerning collusion. He has not asked for his sentence to be commuted for the sake of naming those who might be Warlord sympathizers on this planet. The rumors so rampantly circulating in the media at this time … are false.”

When Jakus Mol turned away to join his team, 'Cur approached Laurel.

“Have you any questions … any at all … about any of the procedure, madam?”

She was being given the chance to leave and have no further part in this trial. But that wasn't happening. “No, sir.”

“And do you still wish to address the accused?”

“I do,” Laurel insisted loudly. 'Cur was making damn sure she wanted to make a statement and that everyone knew it. Repeated instructions or requests, like those she'd just been given, were always offered as a way out for anyone who'd suddenly gone squeamish. She'd seen that technique employed in courts back on Earth. But she wasn't budging.

‘Cur returned to his place on the dais and spoke clearly so all could hear. “The Earth witness may now speak to Goll. She speaks on behalf of the prosecution and may publicly make any accusation of crimes or attempts to criminal action. She may appeal to the court for such maximum or minimum sentencing as the law allows. But bear in mind that any final judgment or sentence rendered this day comes from the court alone, based on facts heretofore gathered. Her testimony will be added to the records against the accused. As he pleads guilty, and refuses to refute accusations, this woman's statements are allowed as a matter of clarification.” Orat 'Cur nodded at her. “You may speak when and as long as you please on any matter concerning the attack that prosecution has recorded from the
Titan
's records. Those records will be weighed against your own statement for accuracy. As you've sworn to tell the truth, it should match what Commander Starlaw's records maintain. Before beginning, the law requires that you state your name and occupation before witnesses in this hallway.”

She was being told to not to lie or exaggerate. Someone from the prosecution either didn't know or didn't care that she'd researched Darius's records and found them exactly as she recalled. There were no fabrications, no lies to substantiate claims. It was likely the powers-that-be trusted a League officer to the point that what she did or didn't say made no difference. Whether she'd been coached didn't matter. The magistrate's warning was clear.

She had never lied in court or on duty, not about anything. She wasn't about to start now.

She turned to Goll. His face was still a mask of hate and venomous regard. It didn't matter.

“I am Officer Laurel Hannah Blake … badge number 4115, San Diego Police Department. I hold the same rank as one of your ground enforcers of the first cadre, with ten years of experience, thirty-one commendations and—”

“Objection, Magistrate 'Cur! This woman is not an enforcer
here
,” Jakus Mol cried. “Her attempt to imbue authority, to augment her statements, is inappropriate!”

Murmurs from the crowd made 'Cur stand and hold up his hands for silence yet again. “This Earther has every right to bring forth expertise if it pertains to this trial. It matters not to this court where such expertise was obtained. Your objection is overruled, Jakus. And I warn you about interrupting the witness again, or making any attempt at intimidating her. Your client was given an opportunity to question this woman and he refused. It is her turn to speak.” He faced Laurel. “You may continue, madam.”

Laurel was incensed. How dare that man try to mitigate who and what she was? She walked around the partition of her witness box, down a set of steps, and approached Goll's cell. A floating microphone followed her every move.

Murmurs of shock and surprise followed her actions but neither Magistrate Orat ‘Cur nor any of the other magistrates said a word. No court officer tried to stop her.

“I have no problem addressing the defense team's concern in that regard,” she proudly announced. “Neither Mr. Mol nor anyone on this planet has the power to take from me what the laws of my world bestowed. As far as legal authorities on Earth are concerned, I
am
an enforcer until such time as the citizens of my jurisdiction … who gave me authority … rescind it!”

Applause broke out from the galleries, but she continued. The floating microphone followed her straight up to the side of Goll's containment unit. She stood only two feet from him. The bars were the only thing keeping them apart. She stared straight at him as she spoke.

“I and other officers were on duty the night Goll attacked us. Attacks of the kind he committed before my own eyes were also perpetrated against a number of citizens. I cannot and will not speak as to his guilt in those other killings, but I will testify as to what I saw right before my own eyes.” She moved even closer and Goll actually snarled. “I saw this vamphiere rip open the throats of police officers with whom I worked. Then he tried to kill me. But for Commander Starlaw and his medical technician, I'd have died. The facts of these events are recorded in the commander's report. I do not object to … nor will I alter … one syllable of anything the commander wrote.”

The crowd muttered again and she almost felt them lean toward her, lending her strength. But she didn't need it.

“This vamphiere before me is a coward. He landed on my world and committed murder. And how else was any enforcer on my planet to stop him if the commander had not landed and taken action? Goll knew my people had no weaponry that could match his. He believed it was highly unlikely anyone would chase him to Earth. On the night he attacked my friends, he'd actually landed his craft in a park where anyone exercising the next morning could have found it. According to the commander's records, it'd been parked right next to a jogging trail. That was the extent of his disdain for my people, and for any League justice.”

Loud rounds of shouts and applause again broke from the galleries.

“No, Goll … I can't crawl inside your head and know exactly why you chose to land on Earth, but I can speculate as this court allows. You landed many times over a period of weeks, and I believe you killed on each and every occasion. Being there at all, so far from Luster, indicates you were escaping League justice. That seems to have been your goal. But you didn't get there by yourself, did you?”

Goll actually growled and leaned toward her. For that moment, she no longer cared what the crowd's response might be. She was talking to
him
.

“Commander Starlaw reported that his crew destroyed a Vardorian-class, light starship in the park.”

“What of it?” Goll blurted.

“The defendant will refrain from—”

She briefly held up one hand. “It's all right, Magistrate ‘Cur. He's only opening his mouth now because he knows exactly what point I'm about to make. And he feels I'm getting close to a truth he believed would be overlooked. Isn't that right, Goll?”

“The court is highly interested in this point of fact, madam. What is there about the craft that is condemning?”

Laurel kept her gaze on Goll, never wavering. “My research indicated that kind of ship is top-of-the-line for its class. It's highly expensive, the latest model. And there have only been several hundred produced.”

“Go on,” 'Cur instructed.

“I believe Commander Starlaw assumed the ship to have been stolen. Oddly, no stolen or missing reports of a craft of that type have ever been made. At least not according to the general archives from Luster's Department of Vital Records. As the name of that division implies, those records are made available to average citizens so they may, at any time, scan serial numbers and report stolen property that nefarious individuals may attempt to sell. That agency is meant to keep everyone honest.”

“Yes, madam … we are all aware of why that department exists. Please get to the point,” 'Cur insisted as he listened intently, leaning forward as if he knew what she might be about to say.

“Sir … Commander Starlaw was anxious to leave Earth's surface before he and his crew were discovered by members of my own constabulary or Earth's military. He didn't enter the serial or licensure number of Goll's vessel as exigent circumstances existed. Such actions were within his purview. But I find it strange that, back on this world, not one of the vessels of that type was
ever
reported stolen. Every single one ever produced is listed as having been consigned to Caprorian Industries, for the use of corporate officials here on Luster. I think it highly unlikely a vessel of that expense and design would have been overlooked from Caprorian's inventory. And for so many months.”

“Indeed!” 'Cur muttered as he nodded. “Continue …
please
.”

“Sir, I believe Goll was never supposed to have been caught. A powerful vessel of that type was meant to provide him an escape to distant places. With his murdering habits I believe he'd made a nuisance of himself in this sector of space. Commander Starlaw was on his heels everywhere he was sighted. Goll and his protector simply didn't count on the tenacity of the
Titan
's commander and crew.”

“Objection!” Jakus Mol shouted. “The witness is inferring things she cannot know about.”

“We'll see just what I know and what I don't,” she snapped back before anyone could rule on his protest. Then she paused before saying more.

The court officials were having a difficult time containing the crowd's growing excitement. Her next words had to be carefully chosen. Darius, Barst, and Gemma knew nothing about any of this. She must make sure the court understood the accusations were her own.

“I maintain that Goll was
provided
a vehicle that, because of its speed and maneuverability, might more easily evade detection. And more … ”

“Madam … you have this court's full attention!”

“One of the Chief Operating Officers of Caprorian Industries was arrested just an hour ago, trying to leave Luster at Crystol City's main airfield. When he was detained for simple questioning before takeoff, it was discovered that he had no less than six separate pieces of identification … all bearing different names … on his person. Since that, in and of itself is a major crime on Luster, he was taken into custody and is signing testimonial documentation concerning his involvement with Goll's escape. This man is also admitting his collaboration with the Warlord faction, involving attacks made on civilian transport vessels.”

“You lie!” Goll shouted.

The entire building shook with shouts of anger and outrage.

Laurel spoke as loudly as she could, to get over the din. She finally put her attention on the magistrates. Information coming over her wrist communicator wasn't exactly what Barst, Gemma, or Darius received, because she'd programmed her communication device to correlate with the name of
anyone
of rank in Caprorian Industries—anyone who was or even might be connected to Lusterian authority. A few names on all those lists were connecting. All she had to do was draw lines to dots.

“This gentleman under arrest is only one of many being questioned and brought back to League Headquarters. He, like many others, assumed the rumor
I
instigated … the one inferring Goll was naming names in connection to Warlord conspiracies … was true. That corporate mogul wanted no part of a death sentence and was fleeing Luster. But he isn't just some official holding stock in a company. His name is Prafin Lon. You may also know him as Prefect of Crystol City. In that position as well as having business contacts in many industries, Prefect Lon would have been privy to shipping schedules of everything from precious ores to fuel.”