"I have bad news, worse news, and good news for you," said the man behind the desk.
Rommie, Dylan, and Beka were in Valdor the planetary capital of Broughton, and home of Nicholas Balasan, arguably one of the best advocates on Broughton, and certainly one of the most successful, if his rates were considered a standard of success. Beka taking advantage of her, for all intense and purposes, bottomless bank account had contacted the advocate asking that he represent her friends in the upcoming trial, and the advocate had agreed enthusiastically. The three of them along with the counselor were sitting in the counselor's meeting room sipping glasses of the brandy that was one of Broughton's primary offworld exports, winding up what had been several days of discussions and planning for the upcoming trial.
As Andy was back in school and it was an 28 hour trip by train from Cape Breton to Valdor, it had been decided that Andy would stay home with Evie, Harper, Trance and Dr Jackson while Beka, would accompany Dylan and Rommie to the planetary capital to meet the advocate Beka had contracted with. Dylan had elected to travel to Valdor by train rather than commander transportation from the High Guard base precisely because the train trip took 28 hours, and they had been able to obtain sleeper cars. The cottage which was cozy for three was now housing eight, and was to put it mildly, overcrowded. Andy had been forced to give up her bedroom to Harper and Evie and was now sharing her foster parent's room, sleeping on a cot at the foot of their bed. Harper and Evie, now ensconced in Andy's bedroom, were sleeping double in a single bed, while Trance, Dr Jackson and Beka were sleeping in the living room and drawing cards to see who slept on the couch and who slept on the cots. The sleeping situation was bad enough, but the fact that the cottage had only a single bathroom made a bad situation miserable. Rommie had flatly refused Dylan's suggestion that they dig a latrine pit in their back yard using language that Andy had attempted to memorize for her own use. The long train trip would afford Dylan and Rommie some much needed privacy, and the opportunity to engage in a variety of connubial activities that had they been unable to engage in with Andy sharing their room.
The refusal of the Cape Breton legal authorities to enforce the order issued against Rommie and Dylan had created what Rommie had called a 'judicial Sitzkrieg.' The Office of Public Safety was backing off to regroup in light of the town's rallying around Dylan and Rommie, and the unexpected appearance of outside interests in the case. Somehow the Than Hegemony had learned that one of their naturalized citizens, an esteemed university professor and war hero was involved in the case. Additionally the fact that a 'well placed individual in the High Guard' had released information to the press about the Nietzschean Unified Prides' offer of sanctuary was causing consternation within the office, as it seemed to indicate that not only was the High Guard taking an unusual amount of interest in a case involving some of their own, but that the Nietzscheans had intelligence on the Office's proceedings. As a result the Office was playing things very cautiously, which gave Dylan and Rommie cause to believe that they could make the trip to the capitol without having to fear apprehension by the Civil Guard.
"Let's hear the bad news first," requested Beka
"The bad news," said the advocate turning his attention to Dylan and Rommie, "is that your refusal to turn your foster daughter over the the child welfare offices has resulted in additional charges brought against the two of you. Fortunately your town's constable's refusal to enforce the executive order, saying that he knows both of you and feels that your stepdaughter is better off where she is with the two of you rather than in a foster home has taken the wind out of the sails of that charge. Without local support the O.P.S. would have to bring in outsiders to forcibly remove your foster daughter from your custody, which would be very risky for them if something went amiss.
"And the worse news is?" queried Rommie.
"The worse news," responded Balasan, "is I have ascertained the identity of my opposite number from the Office of Public Safety. He is ArimanusKlallam.
"The name sounds Nietzschean," said Dylan. "Why is he such bad news? We're not going to engage in trial by combat."
To begin with,' said the counselor "he's ambitious. He's made no secret of the fact that he has his sights set on a seat in the planetary Senate, at the very minimum. Considering who the two of you are, this case will attract a great deal of attention from the news vids He undoubtedly considers this case, and the accompanying publicity, a stepping stone to bigger and better things, and will pull out all stops to win it. He has also posted several articles in 'The Economist" decrying the changes the High Guard forced on the Triumvirate concerning AI's. He has been claiming that the Commonwealth's economy was damaged when the corporations were forced to pay their indentured servants a living wage. Unfortunately he's attracted a backing from certain wealthy individuals."
"Great," groused Beka. "We're dealing with an ambitious, well financed, bigot."
"It gets worse," said the advocate. "During the rebellion his family were Commonwealth loyalists. Both his grandfathers served in the 442nd Lancer Battalion.
Seeing the look on Beka's face, Rommie explained. "The unit was composed of Nietzscheans loyal to the Commonwealth. By the time the war wound down they were, for their size, the most heavily decorated unit of the High Guard. They were known as 'The Wounded Lion Battalion' because of the high number of 'Order of the Wounded Lion' medals they received."
"Exactly," continued Balasan. "And while his grandfathers were risking their lives for the Old Commonwealth, the Commonwealth showed their appreciation by placing their families in internment camps and confiscating their property. Both sides of the family were completely destitute when they were finally released."
"So, we have not just a well financed, ambitious bigot, but one with a personal ax to grind, gunning for us since we represent the Old Commonwealth," stated Dylan. "What's the good news?"
"I've learned which judges the Judge Advocate Corps has assigned to adjudicate the trial," stated Balasan. "It would have been hard to find a better combination if I had picked them myself. The case will be decided by a three judge panel. The senior judge is Wolfgang Arber. His specialty is economics, which probably won't be a factor, but among his judicial peers he is considered an one of the Corps' most outstanding investigators. He's actually been requested to adjudicate on several off world cases. He's virtually immune to showmanship and has a strong dislike for histrionics in his court."
"Who's the right hand judge?" asked Beka.
"Mist On Still Water, will be the subject matter expert. She's published several well received papers on expert systems and on the design of quantum computers. I suspect she was selected because being non human she will be detached from the emotional aspects of this case."
"And the third judge," asked Rommie.
"Cullen Parell," answered Balasan. "He's an expert in martial law and military history with an special interest in the pre fall High Guard. He will probably be the most sympathetic member of the panel. I have one other piece of good news. Since the is essentially a child custody case, albeit a rather novel one, I was able to convince the Judge Advocate Corps to have the hearing held in Cape Breton rather than in one of the other cities in the judicial district."
"I'm surprised that an expert in child psychology wasn't included as the right hand judge," said Dylan. "Considering that the O. P. S . is arguing that an organic child is in danger mentally as well as physically when raised by an AI."
"According to my sources that had been the original plan," said Balasan, "but Judge Arber argued that Mist on Still Water be the right hand judge and the Corps agreed."
"Sounds like we have the case in the bag then," said Beka.
"Don't you believe it," admonished Balasan. "Klallam didn't get where he is by being a poor prosecutor. He wouldn't have taken this case if he didn't think he has a good chance to win it. The Judge Advocate Corps is fully aware of the implications of this case. Frankly I'm surprised they didn't assign a five judge panel to decide it. You can be sure that they will be deciding this case on facts not emotions. Though I think that with the absolutely extraordinary information you gave me, Mrs Hunt, we will be able to convince the judges to rule in our favor."
"There's one other thing we can be sure of," added Beka. "The media is going to go crazy over this case. Before it's over Cape Breton will probably have more news vid teams than native population. It's going to be a zoo."
The counselor gave a snort of amusement. "Oh you can be sure of that, and you can bet that Klallam will attempt to use the media to his advantage. However I think that we will be able to use it to ours as well. Here is what I suggest..."
Before Balasan could make his suggestion he was interrupted by the of the phone sitting on the small table beside his chair. He picked it up, and as he listed to the voice on the other end his face grew grim.
"What? Was any one hurt? Thank the Divine for that..Call my driver and have him get my gravcar ready for a trip, and tell him to pack and overnight bag."
He put down the phone and turned to face the others. "That was my secretary. She just received a call from the Cape Breton constable's office. Approximately one hour ago there was an attempt to kidnap your foster daughter."
