Dust Bunny (Rust Bucket Universe) Page 10

  ***

  As Admiral Oden left the Congress, he spotted suspended Representative Lordsman on the side. The man was absolutely pale and stunned. Dave guessed that Lordsman expected the case to hinge on other matters instead of duty and honor. Dave knew he chose the only honorable option he could to fulfill his duty. Whether Congress agreed with Dave or not, he didn't regret it and was willing to pay with his career. He had done all he could as a mere mortal in saving the Union thus far. Now it was up to Congress to complete the task. Not only that, but even if he was convicted Dave had left enough officers behind who felt as strongly as he to carry on the tasks of defeating Malak and finishing the quest for justice.

  Fred stated, "I wish you had permitted me to accuse Congress of treason for sending a foreign force against their own Navy. It was the next logical step in the defense."

  Dave said, "There's no need to agitate them farther. They didn't do it to be treasonous. Congress was merely caught in a moment of weakness by Lordsman and doing what they felt was best at the time. There's no need to call it anything more than illegal. We're better off leaving their patriotism intact."

  ***

  Admiral Oden and Fred Drystone reported to Congress in the morning to wait for its verdict. Both men were somewhat surprised when they saw Chief Justice Charlene Curtis enter shortly after the representatives took their places. Curtis approached the Chair and stopped in front of Ethel. There were whispered words between them during which the Chief Justice passed a sheet of paper to Ethel. Ethel looked at the paper and frowned. Some more muted conversation was exchanged before the Chief Justice left.

  Ethel said, "I have been informed that Congress is being sued. Because of the nature of that suit, this trial is suspended indefinitely until resolution of that suit. The results of the suit have a definite bearing on whether this trial is legal. Until then, the defendant is reminded that he is obligated to return for the conclusion, but is otherwise free to move about since he has not been found guilty of anything as yet."

  Lordsman's face clearly displayed alarm over the sudden turn of events. It was obvious to anyone looking at him.

  Fred and Dave both stood up respectfully as Fred acknowledged Dave's status. Then they picked up their documents and left the Congress. Dave stopped at an outside public terminal and immediately checked on lawsuits until he found the one against Congress titled Clark v. Congress. Quickly, the admiral read the particulars of the suit and learned that his friend, George, had filed suit against Congress on almost the same basis as his defense.

  "Well, I'll be," Dave remarked.

  Fred read the same information out of curiosity and shook his head. "He hasn't a chance of winning."

  "I think he has. He's got the right idea, anyway."

  "Well, whatever. Mind you that you don't try to disappear and return to the outer planets. You do that and you'll be found guilty for sure."

  Dave replied, "I'm aware of that and have no intentions of leaving voluntarily. Not only would it jeopardize my case, it would jeopardize George's case and most of the Union's chances for a reconciliation."

  ***

  Inside a private office, suspended Representative Lordsman talked with a woman from Serapha. "Oden needs to be taken down a peg. Once he is, just about everything will return our way again. Do what you can to get him by himself. I'll have people nearby to take care of him from that point. While you're doing that, find out how he's running the defenses against the Malakins from here. The rebellion should have collapsed by now."

  ***

  Admiral Kruler sent out orders to the squadrons for another tactical deployment. Again, he was just in time with his deployment to blunt another Malakin offensive. As before, there were losses among the squadrons, but nothing like the massive losses the Malakins suffered.

  However, one of the deployed units didn't go up against any Malakin forces. It appeared to be completely out of position for anything.

  ***

  "Admiral Oden? My goodness, it is you," the young woman said from a seat near his in the restaurant.

  "Pardon me, ma'am. You were addressing me?" asked Dave.

  "Yes, I was. I've seen your image on the net many times, but never expected to meet you in person. You seem to live a charmed life."

  Dave replied, "Perhaps I do. Let's just say that things have worked out well so far."

  "Well, maybe someone's been looking out for you. Lord knows that you need all the help you can get."

  Dave nodded as he continued to eat.

  "By the way, my name is Jennifer Mollin."

  "Pleased to meet you, Ms. Mollin," he replied between bites.

  "You're not very talkative. Am I intruding?"

  Dave replied, "Not really. No, you're not intruding. I'm used to people coming up to me now at odd times."

  "Oh, this is an odd time for you? I'm sorry. I guess I should let you finish eating."

  Dave replied, "Forgive me, but that came out wrong. I didn't mean that you were here at an odd time. I'm also finished eating, so you're welcome to talk if you like."

  "Oh, in that case, would it be too much to ask for your autograph?"

  "My autograph?"

  "Yes, I collect them. I've got autographs of a lot of famous or important people. You happen to fall in both categories. I'd be especially pleased to add yours to my collection."

  Dave reached into his shoulder pack and retrieved his note pad and marker pen. He pulled a sheet from it and used the marker to sign it with. He passed it over to Jennifer. "I hope this will suffice."

  "Thank you, sir. How is your trial going? Are you just out on a lunch break?"

  Dave answered, "The trial's been suspended by order of the Supreme Court of the Union. Seems that the Congress is being sued for illegally admitting Serapha and attempting to modify the Universal Rights Bill. Until that's concluded my trial isn't being allowed to continue because its own legality hinges on the outcome of that lawsuit."

  "Is that good?" she asked.

  "If Congress loses the suit, it is," replied Dave.

  "And if they don't?"

  "Then my trial will probably resume and I'll be found guilty since my defense is based on almost identical circumstances as outlined in the suit against Congress."

  "That would be awful. Didn't you have any evidence to present?"

  "Some, but I doubt that it would help if the lawsuit fails."

  "What kind of evidence would help you?" Jennifer asked.

  Dave answered, "I'm not sure. If I had some way of proving that Serapha intended all along to stage a bloodless coup and take over the Union from within, that might help. However, there's absolutely no way that I could ever get a hold of such evidence."

  "It would?"

  "It might. However, despite my charmed life, that's not very likely to happen. Well, it's been nice chatting with you. Perhaps we'll see each other again." Dave got up and left the restaurant, his payment for the meal already registered against his credit balance when he ordered it.

  ***

  The out of place unit continued to move through space. It consisted of only a few ships, all of which were among the very fastest in the Union fleet. They maintained strict radio silence and moved swiftly in a disciplined formation.

  ***

  Dave was at the same restaurant again solely because it was convenient to the quarters furnished him. His meal was being brought to him when Jennifer Mollin showed up again.

  "Why Admiral! Imagine meeting you again so soon! How was your afternoon?"

  "Quiet," Dave answered.

  "That must be quite unusual for a man of action like yourself."

  "Not really."

  "I was talking with some friends about what you were saying after I showed off your autograph. I think some of them can provide you with the evidence you need for your trial."

  "Indeed? That's interesting," said Dave as he began to eat.

  "Lord yes, you could have knocked me over with a feather when they told me that. I h
ad no idea that some of my friends had access to such information," she replied. "Not only that, but they're willing to help you."

  "They are?"

  "Yes, they told me so. They think you're being unfairly singled out in light of what they know," she replied. "They said that if you could come to see them, they'll hand over the evidence to you to use in your defense."

  "Why can't they just come out in the open with the evidence themselves?" asked Dave.

  "They fear reprisals against themselves if they show their faces and are connected with it. They're afraid for their families' sakes."

  "Well, then I guess I'll have to go on with the trial when it resumes without that evidence."

  "You don't want their evidence?" she asked.

  "I don't intend to fall into your trap, Ms. Mollin, thank you. Tell Mr. Lordsman to get someone better than you next time or to try approaching me himself," said Dave.

  "I don't know what you're talking about," she replied.

  "You do and you can leave me alone from now on. Otherwise I'll have the police arrest you for harassment. Do you or Lordsman honestly think that I'm without resources here on Earth? Give me a little credit for having some intelligence and common sense as well. Good bye, Ms. Mollin," Dave said.

  Jennifer got up and left, still playing the part of an indignant, falsely accused person. Dave watched her leave and was joined a few moments later by Fred.

  Fred asked, "How on Earth did you catch on to her in the first place?"

  Dave answered, "She was too obvious. She pried too much. An ordinary autograph hound would have taken the autograph and wished me luck. Jennifer stayed around and pried some more, trying to find out what I needed so that she could bait a trap. An autograph hound would have brought the autograph request up first, instead of pussyfooting around asking if they were intruding. Autograph hounds don't have any shame about what they're doing nor when. They're too eager to get the autograph and leave so they can show it off. She also didn't even offer anything for me to sign on or with. An autograph hound would have had both in hand and ready to offer me. That told me she was briefed on me. She knew I carried a notepad and something to write with. It was only too easy then to slip a flatbug onto the paper I signed and handed over to her. Then when I left her at lunch, I merely signaled my bodyguard that I had put a surveillance device on her. He notified someone else to stay in range and record what she did and said to anyone. She went almost directly to Lordsman for further instructions. The rest you know since you've heard most of the relevant parts of what was recorded between her and Lordsman. Now you can do what you want with the evidence. As for myself, I'm going to take in some more entertainment after I finish eating."

  "Was there anything else that tipped you off to Jennifer?" asked Fred.

  "Yes, she was trying too hard to dress sexily," said Dave. "That's difficult for someone from Serapha to do."

  Fred said, "You're sharp, I'll grant you that. I would've been caught by her."

  "If you weren't an appointed attorney, they would have been trying much harder to get to you. Then they'd figure you to be essential to my defense," replied Dave. "However, they're not likely to bother you since you're not, but you've been under surveillance for your own protection the whole time, anyway."

  Fred exclaimed, "I have?"

  "Yes, you have. Lordsman's people only broke into your office once. They were awfully disappointed, too," replied Dave.

  "My office was broken into?" Fred exclaimed.

  "The night before you presented the defense. They did a very professional job, too, I might add," said Dave. "You'll be given that evidence to use as well. You'll love hearing their comments about not being able to destroy my only evidence since there are thousands of copies of the officer's oath and the Universal Rights Bill, not to mention that the original is in Congress itself under constant guard. Their comments about what would happen to that document when they finished taking over the Union might even be enough to swing the Congress to possibly vote me innocent if the trial resumes as being legal. By the way, did you see the disappointment on Lordsman's face when you actually presented just that evidence and nothing more? I think he really thought you had other evidence hidden away somewhere else."

  "That's recorded?" asked Fred.

  "Every word of it. With some videos, too. Military intelligence, even though it's considered a classic oxymoron, happens to be just about the finest you can find nowadays."

  "I thought that was one of the areas that the military wasn't too good in."

  Dave replied, "A fostered image, Fred. It serves to make everyone less paranoid about it and puts our enemies off guard. They learn about our own perception of our intelligence functions as being rather inept and simply don't do everything they should to protect themselves. All the while, information is quietly being collected under their noses. I wish I could tell you more, but you don't have a need to know. Besides, anything you might tell anyone about what I've already said would merely get you a good round of laughter."

  Fred nodded silently in agreement.

  ***

  Several days went by. Still, Dave kept to the same routine, letting himself be seen in the same places. He made it obvious that he wasn't trying to escape punishment. He was also the bait for further attempts by Raymond Lordsman who didn't disappoint him.

  Dave sat down and leaned over at just the right moment for a bolt to just barely miss him. The would be assassin didn't get a second chance to fire at Dave. Well-hidden, skilled bodyguards took hold of the perpetrator quickly and subdued him, taking him into custody alive. Dave glanced up to momentarily study the would-be assassin's features and then casually returned to his meal as if nothing happened. Even before he finished eating, police and media personnel were on the scene, documenting the attack and asking questions of everyone, including the admiral.

  "I'm sorry, but I didn't see much. I happened to lean over at the right moment and the bolt went right by without harming me. I'm glad that no one else was hit by the gunman," said Dave to both the police and the media. He didn't tell them that the assassin was in military custody. Dave let them draw their own conclusions that the assassin took only one shot and escaped.

  ***

  The following day, the Supreme Court of the Union met on Captain Clark's lawsuit against Congress. It was fairly short in duration and judgment took slightly less time to be arrived at. When it was over, Captain Clark walked out of the court with a grand smile on his face. He'd won. The Supreme Court decision declared Serapha's admission to be completely illegal. Serapha wasn't a member of the Union.

  ***

  Within hours, the Seraphan fleet quietly began packing for the return to Serapha's own territory, since they weren't part of the Union Navy. Their welcome was clearly ended.

  ***

  Rear Admiral Oden appeared in Congress the following day with his attorney. The proceedings there were equally brief.

  Ethel said, "In light of the actions of this Congress being declared illegal by the Supreme Court, this trial is dismissed since it was based on whether Rear Admiral Dave Oden was mutinous. Since the admiral continued to uphold the law upon recognizing a conflict and this law does take precedence, he cannot be considered to have done anything illegal. Admiral Oden, this Congress apologizes to you. You are free to resume your duties. I, along with the other members of Congress, wish you success."

  ***

  The following day, Lobbyist Raymond Lordsman appeared in court as a defendant. Fred Drystone walked in and asked the court for permission to present evidence as a friend of the court. Behind him, several military personnel escorted a handcuffed would-be assassin and a few other persons, also in handcuffs, whom they had arrested. Jennifer Mollin was in tears as she was led forward with unfamiliar jewelry securing her wrists.

  Raymond Lordsman's face became pale when he recognized the assassin and the others behind that man as people he used against Admiral Oden who was present in the court room as a witness for t
he prosecution. Within an hour, Raymond was on his way to prison. The others brought in by the military were arraigned. They would have their cases heard soon enough so that Raymond would have company in prison.

  Chapter 9

  Dave went back before Congress. This time as an advisor to help bring back the planets that stated they were seceding.

  "Admiral, you live on Beulah most of the time and know the cultures of the outer planets quite well, I understand," said Ethel.

  "I have researched them so that I can uphold my responsibilities under the law. I know something about them, but I'm more on the level of a student," he answered.

  "Whatever. What matters is that you do know something about them and you are trusted by them. That is probably enough. Our question is, how do we convince them to return to the Union?" asked Ethel.

  "Frankly, I think that when the full provisions intended by the Universal Rights Bill framers are put into force, they will quietly return. Of course, an apology would help and surely would go a great length in settling the differences," Dave said.

  Ethel replied, "I have no problem with apologizing to them for my actions. I think I am joined by the rest of Congress in that. I do want to know what you mean by the full provisions, though."

  "It's simple. Their people have different lifestyles that they're not allowed to pursue off of their individual planets. I don't think that they intend to pursue some of those to the extent that they would be subverting other cultures on other member planets. However, they would like to know that they truly have the right to live the way they choose anywhere within the Union. That's a generalization, of course, based on their current behavior and my limited knowledge of history. You and I both know that there will always be at least one individual who decides to test the law and find out if he or she is truly allowed to do what it states."

  "I think I understand. That's always been a gray area within the law since the Union was founded. If we follow up on one aspect, we risk damaging another culture or lifestyle. If we don't, then we're not fully living up to the law as you state," Ethel replied.