Kas started in surprise. “The dreadnought? It must have taken months to get her spaceworthy!”
Tu-Ker grinned sourly. “It did. But when Ta-Lank and a bunch of other senators formed a committee and demanded to be there when you arrived, the Emperor decided a dreadnought was the only ship large enough to accommodate all of them and all of their staffs.” He snorted in disgust.
“I think Pankin himself might be coming out,” he continued. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I don’t think there’s been anything like it!”
Kas was stunned. “The Grand Admiral? Here?” He paused to collect his thoughts. “I’m in really big trouble, aren’t I, sir?”
Tu-Ker nodded soberly. “I’m afraid so. But it’s not just you. It is everyone aboard your ships. And maybe everyone in the entire Fleet. Practically everyone in the Empire thinks you are the greatest threat since the Horsehead Rebellion five hundred years ago. And they may be right.”
He waved a hand. “Oh, I don’t mean that ridiculous pirate or plague nonsense either. But what happens if that damned senate committee demands you be destroyed? Would the fleet fire on someone they know was just doing their job? Would Pankin order it? And what happens if he or they refuse? And what would the Emperor do? You could touch off a civil war that’d make the Horsehead Rebellion look like a border skirmish!”
His expression became thoughtful for a moment. Then, “You have a reputation for thinking fast on your feet. I hope it is true. For all our sakes.”
As soon as they emerged, Kas was ordered to cancel all vectors relative to the system’s sun. Then he and his crew watched incredulously as no less than eight battle cruisers quickly formed a globe around his ships. All but two of the Empire’s entire fleet of battle cruisers was now in this empty outlying system. Sixteen destroyers and a virtual cloud of auxiliaries supported them.
Finally, hovering just inside the battle cruisers’ englobement hung the huge Atropos. A sphere a kilometer in diameter, she dwarfed her accompanying battle cruisers. She bristled with hundreds of laser, particle beam, and projectile emplacements. Tu-Ker had been right. This was the largest battle fleet ever assembled. And they were here for him! He forced down a surge of fear.
As soon as his ships were stationary relative to their “escort,” Kas fled to his office to report to the Admiral in command, Fleet Admiral Rev Pankin.
The face that appeared was not Pankin’s, though. It belonged to Captain Froud, the Grand Admiral’s Chief of Staff, and it wore a sympathetic and slightly embarrassed expression.
“Good day, Commodore. The Grand Admiral is expecting your call, of course. For security reasons he requests that you report via laser com.”
“Of course, Captain,” Kas replied stiffly. “I’ll establish laser com immediately.”
Froud paused. “Please use a minimum-diameter beam, sir.” Kas nodded. Froud did not have to add that it was very likely that the senators would try to eavesdrop on even a laser com transmission. As they were on the same ship as the Grand Admiral, that would be difficult but not impossible. A minimum-diameter beam would be less than a centimeter across, and would require careful tending to stay focused on one of Atropos ’ antennae. It was the closest thing possible to an untappable com.
As soon as the connection was established, an obviously embarrassed Pankin appeared. “Good day, Commodore. Are you impressed by your welcoming committee?”
“Good day, sir. Impressed is not the word. Terrified would be more accurate.”
Pankin looked angry and very uncomfortable. “This is the silliest damned thing in the history of the Empire,” he began. After a moment, he continued in a more businesslike tone, “All right, let’s get the crap out of the way.”
He flipped a switch on his desk — evidently, he was recording his next words. “First, I have been ordered to inform you that you are to consider yourself and the crews of both your ships under arrest pending an investigation into your conduct during this mission, and that of your officers and crews.
“Second, both ships are also considered under medical quarantine. In addition, by action of the imperial Senate your status is considered the same as that of ships bearing active plague beacons. Any boat or launch attempting to leave either vessel will be fired upon and destroyed. Any attempt by either vessel to initiate boost will be considered an attempt to escape, and the ship will be destroyed.
“Third, you are ordered to cooperate with all legally-constituted investigative bodies to the limit of your ability, and you will pass this order to your crews. You are warned that failure to cooperate with any such body may be considered disobedience of this direct order. Do you understand the orders you have just been given?”
“I understand, sir,” Kas replied grimly, “I and my people will of course obey, though I am unaware of any offenses committed by myself or my people.”
Pankin nodded, his expression changing to one of relief. He nodded. “Very well, Commodore. There is a senatorial investigating committee now on board Atropos, and a legally binding subpoena has been delivered to me ordering you to appear before the committee by vid at 1600 tomorrow. You are ordered to appear at the designated time. Do you understand this order?”
Obviously, all Pankin wanted was a bare acceptance on the recording. Presumably, more information would be forthcoming once the recorder was turned off.
“Yes, sir, I understand. I will be available at 1600 tomorrow.”
Pankin nodded and flipped the switch off. Then he breathed a huge sigh. “Kas, I can’t tell you how sorry I am. This whole episode disgusts me. I came out here to make certain you receive every possible aid. To do that, I’ll need your mission report as soon as possible.”
“No problem, sir. I have been working on it for days. I’ll need to bring it up to this point to make the report complete, but that shouldn’t take long.”
Pankin nodded approvingly. “Excellent. However, I think you should know that damned committee has already subpoenaed your report, so you might want to review it before you send it. Make sure it does not say anything that might make you a target. Transmit it by minimum laser com as soon as you finish it.” He straightened. “Now. You have to appear in front of that damned committee, of course. They’ll probably grill you over every detail of the mission, and second-guess every decision you made. Be prepared for a lot of silly questions about that fool Lu- Jenks.
“Since this stupid committee is an investigative body only, you’re not entitled to have a lawyer present. But the Fleet Judge Advocate General himself is standing by to advise you any time you want him.”
Pankin cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Uh, He’s already asked me to tell you to be very careful what you say about the Lu-Jenks incident. My intentions were good, but by stopping that court-martial, it seems I have left you hanging. This fool committee can reinstate the charges. Since the court never took place, jeopardy did not attach, and double jeopardy doesn’t apply. So watch yourself. The JAG recommends that you cite the Charter and refuse to answer any questions about the incident.” He shrugged. “I’m not sure I’d go that far. These people are powerful, and it would not be wise to offend them unnecessarily. But I’d agree that any answer that compromises your possible defense at a future court-martial should be avoided.”
“Understood, sir.”
Of course, Kas’ ships were now receiving the commercial vid channels and newsies. Every channel and every newsie seemed obsessed with Kas and his ships. Several of the senators who would make up the committee he was to face were interviewed. All of their comments could have been summed up in five words: “We’re going to get Preslin!” So much for senatorial impartiality.
The session was every bit as bad as Kas feared. There were five senators on the panel but it was obvious from the start that the one seated in the center, Ta-Lank himself, was the one that really mattered.
Since he was sitting it was hard to be sure, but Kas thought that Ta-Lank was unusually tall. Certainly, he was thin. His head was shaved which, when combined with his cadaverous body gave him a skull-like appearance. His voice though was soft and melodious. Kas decided that the man’s voice was what had originally gotten him elected to the Senate. However, his eyes were hard and hostile. In fact, none of the faces on the committee revealed anything but hostility.
“Good day, Commodore,” Ta-Lank began in that strangely melodious voice. “This committee has been empowered by the imperial senate to investigate the conduct of your latest mission. Be warned: we will not permit you to put the billions of people of the Empire at risk. Nor will we tolerate any attempts at mutiny or sedition. At the slightest indication of risk to the Empire, your ships will be destroyed. Now, have you any preliminary remarks?”
