Editing Episode 403: Catalysts and Constraints - Part Four

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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Sunday, 01 Jun 2521</strong><br />
  <strong>En route to Blue Sun</strong></p>
<p>Four  days after we land in Gibraltar, we pull stakes and burn atmo out of there. Kiera  adheres to the letter of the law laid down by our steward and refrains from  sharking Dyson.  She does, however, walk  around openly riffling a deck of cards and it isn’t long before Dyson plays a  few games.  It’s all in good fun and  playing cards passes the time.  As does  conversation and over the next few days Dyson opens up and tells us a little  about what has brought him out here.</p>
<p>He  is not just sightseeing in Blue Sun.   He’s looking for his son. His son was outraged by some of what he saw on  the Miranda-type waves and decided to leave the Core and help out the  Independence movement in Blue Sun. He subsequently disappeared and now after  several months of no word from his son, Dyson is looking for him.  Losing a child is never an easy thing and  living with the uncertainty is hell but Dyson sucks it up and makes little  indication of his inner distress. Even when we ask him a few questions about  his son’s disappearance he maintains his calm demeanor. </p>
<p><strong>Kiera:</strong> How old is your son?  <br />
  <strong>Dyson:</strong> Twenty.<br />
  <strong>Rina:</strong> (appalled) He’s a puppy.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> What’s his name?<br />
  <strong>Dyson:</strong> Kim.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> Kim?<br />
  <strong>Rina:</strong> He didn’t hook up with a crazy monk, did he?<br />
  <strong>Dyson:</strong> I have no idea.  I don’t know  what my son has done. That’s why I’m here.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> Trying to find him.</p>
<p>Rina  asks no more questions, thinking perhaps the Kipling scenario is just too  far-fetched, even for a crew with Karma like theirs. Still…twenty-something  young man lost in the chaos of Blue Sun? Not a good scene, no.</p>
<p><strong>Kiera:</strong> Do you have a place for your last contact with your son?<br />
  <strong>Dyson:</strong> Nope. I know it’s a big Verse and it’s crazy heading out there, but  …what else can you do?<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> No. It’s actually not all that crazy.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> I heard crazier.<br />
  <br />
  Not  a good scene at all.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Wednesday, 25 Jun 2521</strong><br />
  <strong>Highgate, Blue Sun (Qing Long) system</strong><br />
  <strong>1230hrs, local time</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>As  we approach Blue Sun, Nika attempts to send a wave out to <em>Decatur</em> and much to her surprise she finds—unlike the last time we  were out here—once she’s within the million-mile mark, the Cortex is up and  running. </p>
<p>We  have reception. It’s local Blue Sun content only, but it’s at the familiar  Cortex speed and signal strength. She gets the automated warning from Highgate  traffic control: <strong><em>You are entering the military airspace of the Planetary Defense Force.</em></strong>  In addition to the warning, she gets all the  long-missed and familiar comms traffic—news, message boards, chatter, ads…  After so long a silence, the noise is blessedly loud.  On approach to Highgate and Lorngaard, she’s  informed that there is an interdicted zone she must steer clear of by at least  5000 kilometers.  It surrounds the <em>Decatur</em>, parked in orbit over Highgate.  Looking closely at her comms, Nika thinks the  Cortex signal she’s getting is originating from <em>Decatur</em> herself, likely from the big dish we saw being installed on  her hull the last time we were in Blue Sun. Thanks to the no-fly zone  surrounding the ship, however, there’s no way to see with the naked eye if the  dish is in fact finished.</p>
<p>One  thing she has no trouble eyeballing is the fighter escort coming our way.  </p>
<p>Nika  had wasted no time sending a message winging <em>Decatur</em>’s way when we locked onto the Cortex signal:  <em>We’re  coming in-system.  Can we meet?</em>  And apparently Kramer wasted little time with  her reply.  The screen on the bridge  flickers and Kramer comes on in living color, five by five.  Surprising how so little a thing as seeing  someone’s face on the screen in real time can lift the spirit, but lift the  spirit it does.  Rina settles silently in  the copilot’s seat on the bridge.</p>
<p><strong>Nika:</strong> (pleased) Captain.<br />
  <strong>Kramer:</strong> Captain Earhart. (a beat) Ah.  We expected you’d be approaching soon.  <br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Just runnin’ a cargo to Highgate, ma’am.<br />
  <strong>Kramer:</strong> Oh you are?<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Yes, ma’am.<br />
  <strong>Kramer:</strong> So you’re not here for the trial.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> (careful) I was hoping to get word of it, but other than that I didn’t  even know if it had already happened.<br />
  <strong>Kramer:</strong> It hasn’t begun yet but it should be an interesting  experience.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Unfortunately.<br />
  <strong>Kramer:</strong> Yes. It’s … I assume your presence here means you  don’t know anything about this.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> We got word about a month ago that everything had happened, probably  at the same time everybody else did, but no ma’am, I really have no idea what  to say. <br />
  <strong>Kramer:</strong> All I can tell you is he’s refused representation.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> I know certain parties who are going to be  … perturbed by that development<br />
  <strong>Kramer:</strong> (quietly) Yes. (louder) Well, it’s going to be pretty  high security, so wouldn’t recommend any … interference.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> I have no intention of interfering in your business, Captain.<br />
  <strong>Kramer:</strong> It’s not <em>my</em> business. I’m the Captain of the <em>Decatur</em>.  This is a judicial—<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Well, ‘your’ being the PDF.<br />
  <strong>Kramer:</strong> Right. Yes. The PDF<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> If you or Harry have time to catch dinner while we’re in-system, that  would be wonderful. If not…?<br />
  <strong>Kramer:</strong> Why don’t you deliver your cargo and then come on up.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> I’d like that. Thank you, ma’am. Talk to you soon.<br />
  <strong>Kramer:</strong> (soft) Be careful down there.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> (firm) Yes, ma’am.</p>
<p>Nika  cuts the channel and silence takes the bridge.   Nika flies for a moment under escort, acknowledging the <em>Gift</em>’s approach heading and berth  assignment from traffic control.  Joshua  is sitting in the copilot’s chair and he watches for a bit before saying to the  general air:</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> Good to hear from her again.  I like her.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Oh joy.  I don’t have the first  clue.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> My first suggestion? Don’t tell her yet. Not saying  hide it from her forever, but give her some time to get settled while we figure  out a way to disperse that information as smoothly and calmly as possible.</p>
<p>Nika  flies on, her eyes on the Black and her instruments as the <em>Gift</em> glides in.  Then:</p>
<p><strong>Nika:</strong> I’d like to get a little <em>better</em> information before we tell her anything.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> I understand that.</p>
<p>Another  pause.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> Is it going to be you or are we all going up? To see  Kramer?<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> That’s up to you.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> I’d like to go and meet Harry again. I like Harry  quite a bit.</p>
<p>Looking  out the viewports on approach we see that the flea market we’d landed in the  last time we were here has been paved over for ship traffic and there are  already craft on the ground ahead of us.   Not only is it crowded on the ground it’s busy in the air and we were  only one ship in a long line of civilian vehicles in the queue. The massive  landing field where the market once was looks like a launching zone for a  military base.  There are military  vessels of all sorts on the ground and in numbers far more than we recall being  assigned to the area. Certainly more than Nguyen’s crew had.  Doing a quick count as we descend, we  estimate there to be about 100 military ships parked on the tarmac.  Some of them range in size from a patrol ship  of about 2000 tons to ASREVS.  All the  military vessels have taken up a large swath of starport real estate and  somehow flight control manages to shoehorn us in. </p>
<p>Nika  is really not looking forward to the incipient drama waiting for us aloft and  on the ground. She deals with it by paying close attention to her flying and we  make a sweet textbook landing where they tell us to park it.  There’s nary a bump or a budge as we settle  on our struts.</p>
<p>Ladies  and gentlemen, welcome to Highgate.  </p>
<p>Nika  slides a look at Joshua.</p>
<p><strong>Nika:</strong> (quietly) The minute she finds out he is on trial, <em>she is going to</em> <em>hare</em>.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> I know. I know she is.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> She’s gonna jackrabbit.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> (softly) I know she is. I know she is.  See, that’s why I’m not planning to tell her.  Keep her on the ship. Let her know we’re going up to the <em>Decatur</em>, that we’re going to find out information and let her know—<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> As soon as she hits the Cortex feed she’s gonna see it. It’s gonna be  headlines. </p>
<p>True  enough.</p>
<p><strong>Nika:</strong> (half-hearted) Just knock her out.   Tell Arden to just knock her out.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Not that I want to argue against the Captain but no,  we can’t do it. I got it.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> I know.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> I got it. I know. I got it.  I’m gonna go talk to her.  I got it covered.  Just see what you can do to get our cargo  delivered.  I’ll get the passengers and  you get the cargo.  And I’ll get  Rina.  First, to Rina.</p>
<p>The  ground crews are already scrambling over with the fuel lines and the sewer  lines and so forth.  Nika and Joshua  scramble from the bridge to deal with passengers, cargo and crew.</p>
<p>Nika  fields the questions from the ground crew.   The senior ground crewman jots down her responses on his data pad.</p>
<p><strong>Senior Crewman:</strong> How long do you think you’ll be around here?<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Depends on when we can pick up our next cargo. Maybe a week or so?<br />
  <strong>Senior Crewman:</strong> All right. (notes it on pad) You folks lookin’ for  live tickets to the trial? Or you think you’re gonna watch it on the Cortex?<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> What are they runnin’?<br />
  <strong>Senior Crewman:</strong> They’re not much but I can get you good seats. Cuz  right now you’ll be way up in the nosebleeds and you’re not going to see  anything. Might as well watch on the Cortex if you’re gonna buy’em down  there.  But I can get you good ones for  maybe ten credits a pop. Right up front.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> I might look into that but first I have to take care of my cargo.<br />
  Senior  Crewman: All right, I’ll see what I got but they’re goin’ fast.</p>
<p>Nika  flirts with him a little, hoping to find more information or at least maybe get  him to come down on the ticket prices. </p>
<p>Meanwhile  aboard the <em>Gift</em>, Joshua has to decide  what to do first. His job description dictate he take care of the passengers  first.  Sanity and our livelihoods insist  he deal with Rina first instead.  To say  nothing of remaining alive in order to talk to the passengers second. So to  head off the rampage, Joshua goes off to find our twitchy engineer.</p>
<p>He  finds her in the engine room.  She’s  under the main engine, tinkering with it, because it didn’t quite sound like it  should.  She’s not accustomed to our  girl’s engines running perfectly anymore and she’s convinced there’s something  wrong with them.  Or it could be the  stress of the whole situation messing with her head.  </p>
<p>Whatever.  She’s under the engine when Joshua finds her.</p>
<p><strong>Rina:</strong> (muttering) There’s something wrong, there’s something wrong,  theressomethingwrong …<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> (gently) Hey.<br />
  <strong>Rina:</strong> <em>What?</em><br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Patience …<br />
  <strong>Rina:</strong> (sweetly) Can’t you see I’m busy?<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Why, yes, you are. How long do you think this is  going to take you?<br />
  <strong>Rina:</strong> Give me five minutes.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Oh, no. It’ll take longer than that. I think I hear  something pinging in the back.<br />
  <strong>Rina:</strong> I’ll go check that.</p>
<p>And  while she does that, he very quietly exits and closes the engine room  door.  He goes off to find Oliver  Dyson.  Our ship isn’t that big.  It doesn’t take Joshua long to find the man.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> So, we’ve landed.<br />
  <strong>Dyson:</strong> What’s it like out there?<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Pretty heavy duty.   It’s expanded a lot since the last time.   There seem to be a lot of military vehicles. It’s turned into from what  used to be a casual airport to full time airport plus military airport.  <br />
  <strong>Dyson:</strong> I’m asking what the temperature is like.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Oh. I actually haven’t checked outside yet but I know  it’s relatively comfortable. A little hot but it’s relatively comfortable. You  won’t find any lack of information. It looks like our Cortex feed popped on.<br />
  <strong>Dyson:</strong> I was hoping I could find something.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Let me know if you need anything. We’re going to be  off-loading our cargo and we may need to make a trip off-ship.<br />
  <strong>Dyson:</strong> I’ll synch my ID number with your Cortex and then if you plan on  leaving then just let me know.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> By all means. Please.   Absolutely. We don’t have plans to immediately leave. We certainly won’t  be leaving without hopefully another cargo.<br />
  <strong>Dyson:</strong> I was planning to explore on-planet. I might be off on my own a bit.  It’s a big planet.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Yup.  We’ll  ping you. And let us know if you need anything.<br />
  <strong>Dyson:</strong> All right.</p>
<p>Meanwhile,  Nika goes to Kiera in her quarters, where the redhead has been watching the  activity going on outside through her container windows.  Kiera turns at Nika’s knock and lets the  blonde woman in.</p>
<p><strong>Nika:</strong> I just wanted to let you know we’re on the ground. I don’t know  exactly how long we’re going to be here and because you know this situation  with Carter, I need to say to you that we’ve arrived in time for a trial.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> (getting it) Aw hell.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> (bingo!) Uh yeah. Exactly.  This  could get highly problematic.  Joshua is  handling talking to Rina. And I am going to tap some contacts to see what the  heck I can find out up there.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> I might check with some of my slightly wealthier pals, friends, and  amigos I have lost track with.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> It can’t hurt.</p>
<p>Kiera  nods toward the engine room aft.</p>
<p><strong>Kiera:</strong> So when you say that Joshua was handling Rina, you mean Arden has  given him sedatives?<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> No-oo. No, I’m <em>hoping</em> it  doesn’t come to that, because she understands the situation and I am concerned  she’s going to jackrabbit.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> Okay, I have a limited experience with your wonderful engineer.  However, she has spoken in the past of making  explosives on board.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Yeah. I’m–okay, yeah. I know.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> Now there are small pharmaceuticals that will kinda keep her … not  down, but … <em>mellow</em>.</p>
<p>Nika  leans against the container wall and asks Kiera point blank.</p>
<p><strong>Nika:</strong> What do you know about Blue Sun? What do you know about the area?<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> Entirely too much. Why?<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> <em>We don’t know</em> if he did what  they’re saying he did or if he is being framed or if there’s a plan in  progress—I’m <em>hoping</em> that the people  I’m going to talk to will be able to tell us something, whether it’s back the  hell off or letting us know it’s okay to get involved. Or it’s not okay to get  involved, or <em>whatever</em>.  </p>
<p>Nika  pauses.</p>
<p><strong>Kiera:</strong> No, it’s all ri—<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> I don’t know what’s going on in the middle of all this.  And I don’t know if she’s gonna walk.  I don’t know if she’s just gonna say <em>I have to go</em> and try something crazy and  get herself and possibly both of them killed in the middle of it.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> Hm.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> So. If you want <em>out</em> of that,  by all means, you can make your arrangements to go to Meridian without us if  you need to.  Don’t feel like you have to  be obligated to stay in the middle of all this.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> Since I’m passenger, I will keep the option open. If things seem to be  goin’ south, I’ll go on to Meridian without y’all and maybe just try to pick  you up on another flight through. I don’t have any vested interest one side or  the other.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> I realize that.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> I’ll help if I can but I can’t jeopardize going to Meridian.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> And that’s fine.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> But then again, there’s profit to be made here too so I might as well  hang round and watch and maybe it’ll help you guys by having a passenger as a  back-up not intimately tied to this.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Yeah and if you know people who might know something? <em>By all means</em>. </p>
<p>Kiera  shrugs, a roll of her shoulders, a tilt of her head.</p>
<p><strong>Kiera:</strong> They may not talk.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> I’m not asking that.  You know  what? If you come across somethin’, that’s great. If you don’t, I’m not askin’.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> The people I know tend to not care so long as it doesn’t interfere  with their business.  That goes for old  friends and new friends. <br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Fair enough.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> They may not have an opinion one way or the other. Or they may not  care but are interested enough to give us something useful. So, I’ll see what I  can find. I’ll put out some feelers.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> I appreciate that.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> Other than that, I’ll lay—<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Other than that, I would highly recommend that you be off the ship for  a little bit. Or you duck and cover in your container and you just let her blow.  Because I’m pretty sure she’s gonna blow and  I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be loud.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> Well, like I suggested, if I were you I’d tell Arden to get ready with  a little bit of a sedative.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> I’m getting ready to go warn Arden now.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> If all else fails you could—<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> She could take it just fine.</p>
<p>There’s  a thought.</p>
<p><strong>Kiera:</strong> Or you could just put her to sleep and don’t let her think about it.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> She could take it just fine, she could take it very calmly.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> Well, I’ll tell you what. I’ll leave the door to this open.</p>
<p>Kiera  points to her spa chair. </p>
<p><strong>Kiera:</strong> Notice that there are significant straps that will hold people  down.  And there are metal restraints on  these tables. I won’t tell you why. However I have found them useful in the  past, therefore they stay on there.</p>
<p>Nika  starts to laugh, somewhat dazedly.   Because, dear God, what the hell else is she supposed to do in this  situation?</p>
<p><strong>Nika:</strong> Okay, then.  I’ll go warn Arden.</p>
<p>Joshua  sticks his head in.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> Already done.</p>
<p>Because  while Nika was telling Kiera the low-down, Joshua was doing the same with  Arden.  </p>
<p>Backtrack  about five minutes…</p>
<p>Joshua  finds Arden in med bay.  Arden’s already  anticipating trouble.</p>
<p><strong>Arden:</strong> What bad things are waiting on the surface of Highgate? <br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Mike Carter’s trial. <br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> Right. So. Blasting right back into space.  Right?<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> (sighs) No. No, I wish. No, I don’t know if I wish,  but Captain Kramer has invited us up to dinner.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> What does she know about …?<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Don’t mention it to her. No. Don’t, don’t mention it.  Don’t.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> Have you tried contacting the MP?</p>
<p>Meaning  MP Edward Gibbons, on Meridian.  He was  implicated in the Prime Minister’s assassination but was exonerated by us  through the Colchester Wave. As a result, he wasn’t arrested and since he’s  still a free man he might be able to help us.   Right?</p>
<p>Perhaps.  Then again we might not need the big guns  just yet.  Rina might just take it well  enough.  Arden’s not entirely sure of  that.</p>
<p><strong>Arden:</strong>  <em>Rina?</em> Predictability is not her middle name.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Actually, she might.</p>
<p>And  back at Kiera’s container, Joshua fills his Captain in on the conversation,  finishing up with:</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> I warned him.</p>
<p>He  pauses, catching sight of Kiera unlocking a cabinet in her container and taking  out two pistols and a rifle.  Arden walks  in, looking to find out what everyone else is doing and he asks what no one  else has yet.</p>
<p><strong>Arden:</strong> What’s his status?<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> He is <em>alive</em> and that’s gonna  be cause for celebration at this point. Let’s hope she takes it that way.</p>
<p>Now  all we have to do is tell her. Nika heads to med bay with Arden and Joshua  heads back to the engine room to break the news.  Rina’s pretty much where Joshua left her,  tinkering with the engine, sliding under it on a creeper, her tools within  reach on the deck.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> Hey.<br />
  <strong>Rina:</strong> (annoyed) <em>What?</em><br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Don’t get grumpy with me.<br />
  <strong>Rina:</strong> (nicer) Well, then would you get under here and give me a hand?<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Yes, ma’am.</p>
<p>And  he gets under there.  She grabs his hands  and puts them on the engine.</p>
<p><strong>Rina:</strong>  Hold this <em>here</em>.  Hold that in place  while I screw this in.</p>
<p>Joshua  does as ordered and lets her work for a beat.   Then:</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> So.  Good  news.  We know Mike’s alive.<br />
  <strong>Rina:</strong> … okay …</p>
<p>Encouraged  by her restraint, Joshua continues.   Quickly.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> And Captain Kramer had invited us up to <em>Decatur</em> and I’m sure we’ll find out more  information when we get up there. </p>
<p>She  lowers her hands and slides a look at him.   They’re both flat on their backs with the engine inches from their  noses.</p>
<p><strong>Rina:</strong> (evenly) What aren’t you telling me?<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Okay. How calm are you at the moment? Are you deadly  calm? The calm-before-the-storm calm? <br />
  <strong>Rina:</strong> (calm) He’s still alive.  Which  means he’s in prison. They haven’t … killed him yet. <br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> (guarded) That’s all fair. Yes. Okay.</p>
<p>Rina  puts her tools down on the deck and speaks to the engine.</p>
<p><strong>Rina:</strong> Okay.  Now give me the bad news.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Okay. Look at me first. <em>Look at me</em> first. Look at me first, because I’m not going to tell  you anything without knowing you’re not going to do something stu—crazy.  And I—dih-dih-dih-dih! (wags finger)  I know you’re going to say you’re not going  to do anything crazy but there’s a lot of reasons why you might.  And I would understand every single one of  them, but they can’t be done right now. So—.</p>
<p>Rina  looks at him. </p>
<p><strong>Rina:</strong> (quietly) They’re going to kill him, aren’t they?<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Actually, if <em>that’s</em> where you’re going, this is … like… slightly better news.  <em>We  don’t know that.</em></p>
<p>Joshua  takes a deep breath and tells her.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> He’s on trial. Or he’s going to be on trial. Shortly.  It seems to be all the rave, headlines all over the Cortex, the topic of  conversation.<br />
  <strong>Rina:</strong> Show trial? Or a <em>fair</em> one?<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> I don’t know that. That’s what we’re trying to tell  you. We don’t know. We still don’t have near enough information to do anything.  (firmly) That’s why we’re going up, talking to Captain Kramer, getting what  information we can out of them, and you’re not going up unless that I’m sure  you’re not going to do anything stupid. And I mean that with all the love in my  heart, but I will not let you go up unless I can trust you’re not going to do  something stupid.</p>
<p>Rina  turns back to the engine without a word.</p>
<p>In  med bay, Arden’s stretching his ears aft.</p>
<p><strong>Arden:</strong> It’s awfully <em>quiet</em> down  there.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> She could take it just fine.   We’ve talked about it a couple of times on the way and her primary  concern is that he’s already dead and beyond whatever help we might be able to  offer. (a beat) So.  Right now? What he’s  actually is giving her is good news. He’s still alive.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> Okay.</p>
<p>Under  the engine, Joshua eyes his former lover and friend and breaks the silence  between them.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> What are you thinking? It’s going to be okay.  Okay?  He’s alive.<br />
  <strong>Rina:</strong> (whispers) <em>I hate you.</em><br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> <em>He’s alive.</em> (sighs) We’re going to get some information. We’re going to do something. It  just requires … some planning. And some forethought. (very softly) But you’re  gonna be fine. He’s gonna be fine. We’re gonna be fine.  Here…</p>
<p>Joshua  offers his hand. Rina ignores him, staring straight through the engine.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> Give me your hand.   Hold my hand. </p>
<p>Seconds  pass.  Rina makes no move. Neither does  Joshua.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> You’re gonna be fine. Take my hand.</p>
<p>She  looks at Joshua. She stares at his hand.   And takes it.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> (holding tight) You’re going to be okay.  You’re gonna be fine. <br />
  <strong>Rina:</strong> (low) I’ll leave my gun. I’ll leave my knife. I’ll leave the three  extra clips. <br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> You’re gonna leave everything.  Damn. You’ve gone even farther than I’d  thought you’d go. We’re gonna get it worked out.  And unfortunately, this is going to be one of  those cases where it ain’t gonna be done with guns. It ain’t gonna be done with  grenades. (a beat) If we had grenades.</p>
<p>He  gives her hand a squeeze.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> We have people on our side. We’re gonna find out.  Stay calm. We’re gonna head up in a couple of hours, I think.<br />
  <strong>Rina:</strong> (whispers) Then I’d better get ready. Thank you.</p>
<p>She  pulls free, grabs the engine and rolls out.   She leaves the engine room, goes to her quarters and shuts the  door.  The clack of the lock, when it  comes, is soft.  When nothing explodes or  crashes or breaks, Joshua releases a slow breath and crawls out to join the  others in med bay.</p>
<p>He  finds Arden and Nika waiting for him. Nika is sitting on the exam bed with her  elbows on her knees, holding her head in her hands.  She looks up at Joshua when he walks in.</p>
<p><strong>Arden:</strong> Is everything okay down there?<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> She took that about as well as she could have taken  it.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> Yeah. (eyes him up and down) You’re not even bleeding.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> I expect her hurt. I expect her scared. She’s not going to rabbit on  us?<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> I don’t think so. I think she understands that she’s  not going to be able to rush in there guns a-blazing, even <em>us</em> guns a-blazing.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Look—<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> I know. You don’t have to argue  with me. <em>I know</em>.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> There is no getting around it.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> Now that that’s said, what can we do for <em>her,</em> right now.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Right now? Leave her alone for a little bit. Give her-she’s  getting—If it tells you anything, she promised to leave the guns behind when we  go up to the <em>Decatur</em>. She promised to  leave the <em>knives</em> behind. I mean, she  was leaving everything that might be <em>lethal</em> other than her behind.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Wow.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> <em>Yeah</em>.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Okay.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> She must be coming down with something.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Love.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> I’m not sure that’s a good idea with Brian up there. </p>
<p>Nike  lets loose a deep breath.  Crisis  averted.  For now, at any rate.</p>
<p><strong>Nika:</strong> Okay. Now I will go and take care of our cargo.  And let our guys know our cargo is onboard.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> I’ll stay on the ship and keep an eye on her.</p>
<p>Nika  takes care of the cargo… or rather it’s taken care of for her.  Despite paperwork stating it is to go to a  civilian industry, the nitrate guanidine is loaded up onto military vehicles  that pull up to the <em>Gift</em> and is  carted away to destinations unknown.   Nitrite guanidine is used as a fertilizer component, true, but it is  also used as an ingredient for smokeless gunpowder, especially useful for the  big guns. The military personnel have the proper paperwork to claim it. Cargo’s  been delivered, we get paid by the military men.  Fair enough.</p>
<p>But  Nika makes a mental note of it and files away what she’s seen.</p>
<p>Meanwhile  Kiera’s true to her word and is putting out feelers, pinging her contacts,  saying: <em>Hey, I’m in town and wow, what is  this mess all over the newspapers burning up the news corps?</em></p>
<p>What  this mess is, is the Trial of the Century.  </p>
<p>As  such there are a number of features to this trial that make it stand out.  In addition to Mike Carter’s guilt or  innocence, of course.  Part of the issues  involved are the birthing pains of a new nation.  If he’s found innocent, does it mean that  there are rebels who still use covert tactics to assassinate people and if  that’s what they are, is the rule of law important anymore?  One of the arguments is Mike Carter must be  found guilty to show the rebels of the Verse that Blue Sun is a real country  and not just a bandits hiding in the system with no honor amongst themselves. </p>
<p>That’s  one view.</p>
<p>Another  view is that Mike Carter is a patsy via some kind of internal strife and what  people want to hear is that he’s going to turn over on whoever set this up and  that that will cause the truth to come out. Is it Gibbons? Is it Nguyen? Is it  some other force that the Alliance backed?   People have suspected that Carter was with the Alliance ever since it  was discovered he’d been captured and held in captivity for a long time.  And then disappeared from all of his  contacts.  So people suspect he’s been  working for the Alliance for the last year or more.</p>
<p>Highgate  is also unusual in that there is a large expatriate population from the Core.  Their view can be summed up as: Tut-tut. This is what happens when you stop  following the rules of civilization.   What do you expect of bandits and pirates? These people are incapable of  ruling themselves. For them the real question is whether this will cause a  civil war in Blue Sun or not.</p>
<p>Furthermore,  the big mystery in all this is not about the trial <em>but about the will</em> of You Ge. Where will his estate go? After all,  the man owned an entire moon in Blue Sun, named Niao Chao, or Bird’s Nest.  </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>As  for Michael Cameron Carter himself, the man has been surprisingly quiet.  He hasn’t testified at all.  It’s all over the news that he’s refused  representation.  There’s speculation that  it’s perhaps he’s insane and representation should be provided for.  Others speculate that it’s a trick so Carter  can play the insanity card as part of his defense. Some think that he’s  arranged an inside job for a last minute reprieve. Still others think that he  fully intends to go through the trial process and eat the bullet and die. </p>
<p>There  is another angle.  The details of Mike’s  prior incarceration by the Feds is not public information, so no one but us and  those directly responsible for it know that Mike was captured, possibly  tortured, and interrogated while pumped full of a Chempliant derivative. Nika  is loath to say it aloud to Joshua because she doesn’t want it getting it back  to Rina—though she admits that it’s possible Rina’s already considered it: that  when the Alliance had Carter in their hands, they programmed him.  That the Alliance made a modern-day  Manchurian Candidate out of him and after they got the intel on the sleeper  agents out of him, they released him with embedded programming for future  mayhem.</p>
<p>Another  detail not public knowledge is Mike’s breaking into the PDF records on  Highgate.  Even we don’t know what he was  after or if he took anything, or on whose orders he pulled that job.</p>
<p>There’s  been no talk about the death penalty for Mike from the prosecution.  There isn’t a prosecution or a jury at all,  really.  Blue Sun’s method of  jurisprudence is more like the Trial of Socrates—everybody gets to vote on the  innocence or guilt of the accused. It’s less a trial by jury and more a trial  by public opinion.</p>
<p>So  says Kiera when she delivers her findings to Nika and the crew.</p>
<p><strong>Kiera:</strong> I don’t think he needs representation as much as he needs a PR firm.</p>
<p>We  find out that there will be people speaking on Mike Carter’s behalf, running  the gamut from character witnesses to people claiming insufficient evidence or  that there is evidence of a cover-up and therefore if he’s executed no one will  be able to find out the truth.  Perhaps  it would be better to throw him in jail for a few years, then haul him out to  see if he’ll cooperate.</p>
<p>Anybody  can speak at the trial, so long as one can prove relevance. Local Law  Enforcement heads the panel that determines relevance of the speakers, and they  are part of the PDF.</p>
<p>A  brand new soccer field has been constructed to serve as the venue for the  trial.  The accused will be tried in  front of a live audience in a stadium packed to the gills. Somewhat like  Castro’s Communists in Cuba on Earth That Was, or the Taliban in  Afghanistan.  In fact, there have been so  many people expressing an interest in being in the jury, if they do it through  the Cortex it will be too cumbersome to accommodate everyone so they are  restricting the votes to those who actually show up <em>in person</em> to vote.</p>
<p>In  addition to trawling her contacts for information on the trial, Kiera’s also  been sounding out her friends, pals and amigos on where she can get those  pharmaceuticals for Byshek’s client. Not that she say it that way, no.  Instead she tells everyone that she’s got a  dear friend who needs the meds because she’s become dependent on them and  rather than throw her out as a friend and a client, she’s looking to find more  medicine. </p>
<p>Her  impression is that Lorngaard isn’t a large enough city to have a sufficiently  developed underground to get the medicine through unofficial or black market  channels. She’s going to have to sweeten the pot with an actual pharmacist to  get the drugs.  She’ll need false  documentation to show him.  She could  trawl through her contacts again for someone to make up the papers.</p>
<p>Or  she might find somebody right here on the <em>Gift</em>.</p>
<p>As  for Rina sealing herself up in her quarters, she’s busy trawling the local  Cortex for news and details of the crime and the trial and the person deemed  responsible for it.  She finds out pretty  much what Kiera has, plus one other detail.   Mike Carter is being held in an undisclosed location and Rina’s pretty  sure it’s for his own protection.  It  wouldn’t do to set up the Trial of the Century only to have the star of the  show lynched in his jail cell before the big day arrives. For now, all evidence  points to the fact that Michael Cameron Carter is still alive and will stand  trial.  And while he’s still alive, there  is still hope something can be done to save him.</p>
<p>After  all, once you’ve jumped off a cliff, you still have the time before you hit  bottom to figure your way out of your current predicament.  Rina’s taken that leap.  She hasn’t hit bottom yet but she knows it’s  coming.  She’s gambling that by putting  her trust in her crew to come up with a solution, by praying that they may yet  manage a last-minute reprieve, she’ll land on her feet and both she and Mike  will walk away alive.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
Jump to:<br>
[[Episode 403: Catalysts and Contraints | '''Part 1''']]<br>
[[Episode 403: Catalysts and Constraints - Part Two | '''Part 2''']]<br>
[[Episode 403: Catalysts and Constraints - Part Three | '''Part 3''']]<br>
<br>
Go back to: [[Episode 402: Shepherd's Hope | '''Shepherd's Hope''']] | Go forward to: '''''[[Episode 404: Crucible | Crucible]]'''''<br>

Back to [[Mutineers Season Four | Season Four: Trials and Errors ]]<br>
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