At least my surroundings were nice enough that I could regret my decision in comfort.
I was in a small studio apartment. There was a bed in the back, with a wooden dresser and a color television. In the front of the room was a small alcove with an electric stove and a refrigerator and a small dining table.
I had been extracted from Jamaica by the Global Military Police and ferried to this United Nations Spacy base somewhere in the Caribbean. The Spacy was nice enough to let me get some groceries from the commissary. One of the GMP's investigative aides always accompanied me. Major Nova Satori had told me that I should not leave the base.
I was not watching television. Pretty much all the channels had reports on the assassination of two members of the Ruling Triumvirate of the Robotech Masters, and I was the prime suspect. There was speculation that rogue elements of the United Earth Forces had orchestrated the event, whisking me away to one of their safehouses.
"The United Earth Forces are now operating without a United Nations Security Council," said one of the commentators. "Without a United Nations, they are nothing more than outlaws."
I then saw another channel. Some guy from Syria was on.
"This is clearly part of a Jewish conspiracy," he said. "First they steal the world's money, and then they cause chaos. They are responsible for all the wars in the world."
After relaxing in my comfortable room, I heard the door open, and saw Major Satori, clad in her Class "A" Army uniform, standing there.
Another person entered, and I recognized him as Major Jack Emerson.
"Hi, Jack," I said.
"Good to see you," the major replied. "I'm glad you're out of danger, for now. Someone is here to see you."
A black man in his mid fifties walked in, clad in Class "A" Air Force uniform, and I recognized him as Supreme Commander Tom Washington.
"Hello there," I said.
"Good afternoon," said the general. "Everyone at ease. Let us have a seat."
We all sat down on the dining table.
"Brief us on what happened starting when you lost consciousness before you found yourself facing the Triumvirate," said Satori.
And so I did, beginning when I delivered my report to Winthorpe's office.
"Amazing you pulled it off," said Washington. "I mean, if the battery on that watch had been depleted, then we would not have been able to follow you."
"It is unfortunate that the lady in the red dress had a backup plan in case you didn't follow through on the assassination," said Satori.
"Yeah, but think about it, Major," I said. "I imagine that if their plan went as intended, it would have ended with the guards killing me after I killed the two ladies."
"The question is, what do we do now?" asked Jack.
"The UEF has a general policy of delivering persons in their custody or control to a recognized state charging them with murder," said Washington. "But it may not apply in this case. Intel indicates that officials within the Jamaican government were involved. If we turn him over, he may not survive to see trial."
"So I hide out in U.N. territory?" I asked.
"I would advise to the Plenipotentiary Council that you be granted asylum."
"What's that? I heard of it before in the news."
"After a quorum of the General Assembly failed to meet, several member states formed a Plenipotentiary Council to take control of U.N. assets, command the United Earth Forces, administer U.N. territories, and conduct negotiations with the Robotech Masters, until such time as a quorum of the General Assembly convenes to take over. The Council has the final say of what to do with you. Jamaica has a representative on that council. They may defer to the demands of Jamaica."
"Sir, if he is turned over, he will get killed before trial," protested Jack.
"I know, and the chairman suspects this as well," said Washington. "I will speak to the full Council and urge them to grant asylum, and, if they choose not to, to allow me to take whatever measures necessary to keep you safe. Something bad is going on, and much more than the life of one war veteran is involved."
I later stood outside on the street. There were many clouds in the air, and puddles from the recent Caribbean storm dotted the street. Several small bungalows serving as guest quarters lined the street, as did wooden utility poles with streetlights attached to them and wires connecting them.
"So much has happened," said Jack.
"Yeah," I said, looking at the sky. "We need to be working together to prepare for the Invid, not fighting over scraps!"
"I know," said Jack, who was looking at the sky. "Every time I look up there, I think of Nina. Those few months. The sky is her final resting place in this Universe. She was the best."
"That's right," I heard General Washington say. I looked and he was standing about twenty feet from us. "When she was sixteen, I let her use one of the flight simulators the veritech pilots use for training. She said she wanted to do more than just fly crop dusters. She worked hard to be a Thunderbolt pilot. The Air Force was honored to have her as a pilot and officer, and I was honored to have her as a daughter."
Oooooooo
I was beginning to set up a routine during my stay on the base, eating meals at my quarters or in one of the little restaurants on base, going jogging, using base amenities. I was always accompanied by a member of Major Satori's team.
It was on a morning jog when Major Satori herself gave me some news.
"The Council has decided that you must stand trial in Jamaica for murder," she said.
"Oh," I replied. "Are you going to arrest me?"
"No, we are not delivering you into Jamaican custody. Supreme Commander Washington made an arrangement with Jamaican officials. The United Nations will maintain custody of you until and unless the court finds you guilty on the charges. You will be brought to Jamaica and back under my team's escort."
And so I was.
Ooooooo
"In my opinion, you should take the deal," said my lawyer John Jones. "A twenty year sentence is better for you than a life sentence."
"Aide from the fact that I am innocent," I replied, "I would not survive to serve even a year."
We were heading to the courtroom in Kingston. Jones was dressed in a black robe, and a white wig covered his head- lawyers wore that type of outfit when appearing in a courtroom. I myself was dressed in a suit. Major Satori and her team accompanied me, and several Jamaican government agents accompanied them.
We all entered the courtroom. The prosecutor was already waiting at his wooden table, clad in wig and robe. The judge, clad in that same outfit, went to the bench. The flag of Jamaica was erected on a pole behind the bench.
The judge read out the charges and asked for my plea.
"I plead not guilty," I said.
"Very well," said the judge. "As I understand, the government made an agreement with the United Nations in that the United Nations shall maintain custody of the defendant until the charges are withdrawn or a verdict is reached."
"We request that the defendant be remanded to custody."
"The defendant shall remain in custody according to the terms of the agreement," said the judge.
He banged his wooden gavel.
"What is next?" I asked as I was escorted out.
"Depositions," replied Jones. "Basically a less formal hearing where witnesses give testimony. It is not considered part of the trial, though testimony is considered evidence."
My mom then called out my name. She and Dad stood in the hallway, in their best outfits. Paul and Trina were there with their kids.
"Are you all right?" asked Paul.
"We'll be fine," I said. "I'm on the next flight back to base."
"Take care," said Dad.
I hugged them all.
Ooooooo
It was about two weeks later that depositions started. I sat in this conference room at the Kingston courthouse with the judge, my lawyer, and the prosecutor. From what my lawyer said, in a deposition both sides would question the witness; it was clearly much less formal that a courtroom hearing, as my lawyer wore a suit sans the black robe and wig. We had deposed several witnesses such as people at the hotel and some of the police inspectors on the site. Mr. Winthorpe was in the room.
"I advise the Prime Minister on national security matters," he testified. "The defendant here was our front man for our dealings with the Robotech Masters and the other nations concerning the protoculture."
"Describe what happened at the Montego Grand Hotel," said the prosecutor.
"We had a formal luncheon with businessmen and government officials," said Winthorpe. "We were charting the course for the world."
"Tell us what happened."
"I went to use the restroom near the conference rooms. After I left the men's room, I heard gun shots."
He then told the judge that I had run out of the ladies' room with a pistol in my hand, and that he opened the door and saw two of the Robotech Masters' Ruling Triumvirate dead.
I looked at my lawyer. "I did not see him when I ran out of that restroom," I whispered.
"I have no more questions at this time," said the prosecutor.
He then presented a drawing on the wooden conference table. "This is layout of the area where the shooting took place, correct?" asked Jones.
"It looks like it," said Winthorpe. "I don't remember."
"Which way did the defendant run?" he asked.
"Towards me. I looked right at his face."
He was just lying. I knew he was in on this plot.
"And yet other witnesses had testified that they saw my client running in the other direction, away from the men's room."
"They must be mistaken."
"Or is it you who are mistaken?"
"I saw him with the gun."
"I have no more questions at this time," said my lawyer.
"The witness is excused and is subject to recall," said the judge.
Oooooooo
"The three of us were at a conference in Montego Bay in Jamaica," said the lady in the red dress, the sole survivor of the Ruling Triumvirate. "We met with many government and business leaders."
"And how do you know the defendant?" asked the prosecutor.
"Our intelligence indicated that he found the Flower of Life within the ruins of Zor's battle fortress," she answered. "He was also one of the captives we had placed in our bioroids during the war. He was later part of a diplomatic mission sent by the United Nations to our ship to discuss our plan for refining protoculture and preparing for the Invid invasion."
"Describe what happened to your sisters."
"We went into the ladies' room near the conference room. As we were checking ourselves in the mirror, he went inside and fired shots. It happened so fast."
"And where is the shooter?"
"In this room," she said, pointing to me.
"And what happened after that?"
"He ran off. I looked at my sisters. The paramedics came, but they were already too late. We worked together for so long. And now this happened."
"I have no questions at this time," said the prosecutor.
"How long was the shooter in the room?" asked Jones.
"Only for a few seconds," said the lady in the red dress. "But I definitely recognized him."
"Everything happened so fast, and you said that you turned towards your sisters."
"I will not forget his face."
"Did you ever use people from Earth in your bioroids against their will?"
"Yes," answered the lady in the red dress. "It was an action we regret. My personal participation was inexcusable."
"Does this brainwashing have any permanent effects?"
"Permanent effects?" she asked.
"My client could still be under a hypnotic suggestion."
"That can't be possible," she said. "He has not been subject to the treatment in nearly a year."
"He was missing for over a month."
"He can not still be under the influence."
"I argue he was. And you used his brainwashing in a plot to assassinate your sisters."
"Objection," said the prosecutor.
"Let me rephrase," said Jones. "Did you plot to assassinate your sisters using my client as a pawn?"
"No, I did not."
"I have no further questions, your Honor."
Oooooooo
"State your name for the record," said the judge.
"Major Dana Sterling, United Nations Army," said the witness, who was clad in a Class "A" Army service uniform.
"Tell this court how long you have been in the United Nations Army."
"Three year, sir. I was just promoted to major this year. I am currently assigned to the staff of Supreme Commander Tom Washington."
"And you have met the defendant?"
"Yes, sir."
"Your witness," the judge said to John Jones.
"What was your involvement in this particular matter?" asked Jones.
"Major Jack Emerson, Corporal Bowie Grant, Musica, and I arranged a meeting with the defendant in Jamaica. We were suspicious of the intentions of the new Ruling Triumvirate of the Robotech Masters. We knew that the defendant had been forced to pilot the enemy bioroids, and so Musica used this device to find out if he was under the influence."
"And what happened next?"
"Musica changed the psychological programming so it would terminate if he was compelled to do something violent. We also fitted him with a hidden transmitter, which he would activate, alerting U.N. agents to extract him. We received the signal and the agents extracted him from the hotel in Montego Bay."
"No further questions."
"Who came up with the idea."
"Well, it sort of came up with an idea over lunch. Jack- Major Emerson- was wondering why the defendant was chosen to be Jamaica's liaison with the Robotech Masters, and why they wanted to see them during their initial negotiations with the U.N. over the protoculture matrix."
"And who authorized this mission?"
"Supreme Commander Tom Washington," answered Sterling.
"And you trust those who planned this mission? How long have you known them?"
"I have known Jack and Bowie all my life."
"Could it be that the United Nations's high command plotted the assassination?"
"I don't know."
"Could it not be that your friend Musica had actually brainwashed the defendant into killing the Ruling Triumvirate of the Robotech Masters?"
"If so, would that not make the defendant innocent?"
"My job is to get to the truth," said the prosecutor.
ooooooooo
"With the Robotech Masters, I operated the cosmic harp," said Musica, sitting in the conference room. "It was an instrument used to control the clones."
"And were you involved in brainwashing captured Earth people into operating the bioroids?"
"I had advised the triumvirate who had since took over rulership over the Robotech Masters."
"And do you know how many prisoners were killed while fighting Earth's forces?"
"At least three hundred, I believe."
"And the defendant was one of the bioroid pilots?"
"Yes."
"When did you suspect that the current ruling triumvirate was up to something?"
"I had wondered why they invited the defendant to the conference, instead of his commanding officer. The defendant than then appointed by the Jamaican government to represent them in their dealings with the protoculture. I knew how the clone hypnosis worked, and I wondered if the defendant was being used as what you call a pawn."
"A pawn."
"Yes. I fear there are those from both our peoples who wish to use the protoculture for their own advantage. When I examined the defendant with my equipment, there was a sleeper program hidden inside him, and I suspect in the other persons who had been taken captive by the Robotech Masters."
"And what did you do?"
"I placed a hidden command to press a hidden signal on his watch if he were reactivated, and to break the hypnosis if he was ordered to do something violent."
"And why did you choose that course of action instead of outright curing him?" asked my lawyer.
"We needed to see what they were up to," answered Musica. "And we were right. The lady in red betrayed her sisters."
"No further questions."
"You ask us to trust you, do you not," said the prosecutor.
"I say the truth," replied Musica.
"You betrayed the Robotech Masters during the war."
"I first left my people to join with this soldier, Bowie Grant. I later reunited with my sisters, and in an attempt to escape, one of them was killed. The Ruling Triumvirate abandoned many of the clones. They betrayed us, and the sister in red of their successors betrayed her two sisters."
"And how do we know you did not program the defendant to kill the two ladies in the Ruling Triumvirate?"
"You have my word. And even if that is true, would that not make the defendant innocent?"
oooooooo
"I would like to summon another witness for deposition," said John Jones. "I call Major Nova Satori."
Major Satori sat at the wooden table, clad in her arming doublet. She was sworn in.
"State your name for the record," said the judge.
"Nova Satori."
"Your citizenship or nationality?"
"Japan."
"Your witness, counselor."
"Tell me your rank and post in the United Nations Army," said my lawyer.
"I am a major and an inspector in the Global Military Police. I investigate crimes connected with the United Earth Forces."
"And how did you first meet the defendant?"
"The Jamaican? Majors Emerson and Sterling, Corporal Grant, and Musica approached me. They told me it was suspicious that he was given such a prominent position in the Jamaican government, with close contact with the Ruling Triumvirate of the Robotech Masters. After a few meetings, they organized a plan to check if he had programming and to alter programming. He agreed, and Supreme Commander Washington gave the go-ahead for the mission, which we called Operation Reggae. He was given a secret signal hidden in a watch, which he was programmed to activate if he was reactivated. And in February 22, the signal was activated. My mission was to extract him, to get him the hell out of there. We managed to do so, but not before two sisters of the Ruling Triumvirate were killed."
"Do you believe the defendant killed them?"
"No. The program was supposed to end if he was told to do something violent. It is my belief that there was a backup hitman just in case. Our intel demonstrates that this was a plot for the surviving sister to take control."
"I have no further questions."
"Your witness," the judge said to the prosecutor.
"That is an interesting tale," he said. "A grand conspiracy to kill two members of the ruling Triumvirate so that one woman could take sole control of the Robotech Masters and the protoculture matrix. What is your proof?"
"I told you.," answered Satori. "The defendant was requested by the Robotech Masters as part of the U.N. delegation, despite the fact that he was only a second lieutenant in a Spartas battalion. He was then given a high position in the Jamaican government, just below Cabinet level. And it was confirmed by Musica when we found the hidden program, set to reactivate."
"Very complicated, Major. Is it not simpler to say that the defendant killed those two ladies in the ladies' room?"
"It is simpler, but it is not the truth."
"Or is it not possible that Musica had actually placed the mental program causing the defendant to kill the two members of the Ruling Triumvirate, and that you were a pawn in a U.E.F. plot to assassinate the Ruling Triumvirate? There would be as much evidence for that as that yarn you just spun."
"Musica has earned my trust. The Ruling Triumvirate had not."
Oooooooo
Later, I was walking, with my military police escort, to the parking garage next to the courthouse.
"Things seem to be going well," I said.
"Let your lawyer worry about it," said Major Satori.
We got into a car. The driver put the vehicle and gear and headed for the exit. We soon reached the street.
The vehicle in front of us was consumed by a fireball, and flew into the air.