Nova (14 page)

Repressing a sigh, she stretched her back as best as she
could, attempting to get more comfortable in her constricting full dress
uniform and with that action, somehow push away the depressing thoughts that
the last several days of Tribunal preparation and trial conjured. The week’s
machinations rippled in her mind, forcing her to consider the reality of
sacrifice and what it truly signifies. It was a meaning that only those who
selflessly dedicate themselves to others, to the mission, can ever really
comprehend. To her own relief, the thought didn’t spur a rush of bitterness in Avara’s
heart, only a gentle bloom of poignancy.

Despite the review of undeniable fact and data as well the
testimony of several key individuals associated with the events, the Tribunal,
officially underway since yesterday, was
not
going well for Vosaia
Strategic Task Forces Agent K’llan Z’arr. Since it was a question of treason at
the highest level against not only the Vosaia but much more significantly, the confederation
of planets and systems that encompass Quorum membership, the proceedings were
closed. The ruling body was officially comprised of only the two Delegates from
each of the member races of the Quorum Systems, ten individuals in total. At
least the proceedings weren’t being blasted by Vid all over the Net by every
reporter with a pen on planet. It was a truth that would hold only until the
records were unsealed after the Tribunal’s completion.

A small grace for the woman whose career and life were
now held in the balance.

Though her culpability remained totally unproven, a
particularly damning blow to Lieutenant Z’arr’s case was the fact that Quorum
Intelligence was able to ascertain the day before yesterday that the Arca X
Detonation research had indeed found itself in Karukai control. Meaning, the
technology for a tenth level Arca was not only out in the wider world, but in decidedly
hostile hands.

A significant number of spies must have been on that one;
wonder how many lived through their reconnoitering.
The thought was a
sobering one.

The fact that the true traitors, Proconsul Far’allyn Tanad
and STF Handler Nanzai C’lann were the most likely suspects to have sent the research
to the Karukai Triarchy was being treated as immaterial. The likelihood that
the data had been purloined even
before
events took place on Ophere, all
in an effort to paint Z’arr as the guilty party, also didn’t seemed to matter
to the Quorum. 

Additionally, much as Hadarr’s initial attitude had foreshadowed
and Z’arr herself had predicted during her work with Marcus, the Vosaia Quorum Delegates
and members of the Vosaia Consulate in particular seemed certain of guilt. Assertions
of what such an act symbolized in the eyes of the Vosaia people seemed to be more
central to debates than the threat that the Karukai represented.

Never mind K’llan Z’arr’s
actual
guilt or
innocence.

It seemed the politics of image and position were achieving
primacy over the pursuit of justice. Though Serros was confident that her old
friend and mentor, Jamie Sweetwater, would see the glaring holes in any theory
of intentional acts treason, based on the rest of the Delegates reactions thus
far, the odds didn’t appear to be favorable. Serros wasn’t even certain of
Sweetwater’s Human colleague, Delegate Ama Najem, a savvy yet hard woman, by
all accounts.

Of the two Vosaia Quorum Delegates, Lara’a Vonn and Jalana
Errevorr, there appeared to be no room for doubt concerning their leanings: guilty.
Also off great worry, the piscine Shiraneth seemed to be closely following the
lead of their Vosaia neighbors, whether out of genuine sentiment or concern
regarding their many economic and mutual defense agreements with the Vosaia,
Avara couldn’t be sure. She suspected their motives were driven by more worldly
concerns rather than the life and reputation of a single individual.

Additionally, much as she had observed over the last few
years in her crew member Lieutenant Belgrum Naxos, the Braxien Delegates also seemed
to be leaning towards considerations of guilt, even if it was a culpability
based solely on perceived incompetence rather than deliberate perpetration. It
wasn’t shocking, given how hierarchical, strict, and success driven Braxien
culture and society was. Only the two Zirgesh Quorum Delegates, Ishness Alkess
and Todden Garn, appeared to be openly favoring a stance of innocence. Also not
unexpected, Serros mused. The Zirgesh tended to be very much driven by gathered
data and the logical application of deduction based on actually
relevant
information.

How refreshing
.

Given the layout of sentiments and what would likely be
coinciding votes, Avara felt a squeeze of icy fear when she considered Lieutenant
Z’arr’s chances. She
knew
, in her heart and without reservation that K’llan
Z’arr was not only innocent, but had been deliberately framed to shadow the
true perpetrators of treason. Not only did Serros consider the outcome of a
guilty verdict to be a gross and untenable
slap
in the face of juridical
justice, on a personal level, she felt burdened by the weight of potential
loss. There was something remarkable about Lieutenant Z’arr as an individual, a
personal sentiment founded upon the inexplicable connection Avara felt with the
Vosaia STF Agent.

Teeth painfully clenched, Serros could feel her rage
beginning to boil and then, with effort, cool into immutable determination,
just as when wading battle. It was a comforting sensation for its welcome
familiarity.

“You ready, Captain? Today’s the big day in the hot seat,
after all.”

Serros turned to her Executive Officer and best friend
sitting in the shuttle seat next to her, and tightly compressed her lips into what
she knew was a harsh smile that he would understand immediately. “Yes, I am.”

Marcus didn’t say a word as he regarded her, just quirked
the corner of his mouth to communicate a resigned yet vaguely anticipatory expression
Avara knew quite well:  “
Here we go again
.”

 * * * * *

The sky–car trip from the Paxen Naval Shuttle Dock to the
Forum and the pyramidically designed glass and silver durexium constructed
Quorum Consortium had been quick and uneventful. Marcus had been less than
talkative for most of the jaunt, offering his quiet support, clearly knowing
that she was internally preparing for what was to come. Avara certainly
appreciated her EXO’s solid presence as they walked through the bustling out–grounds
and then entered the building itself.

The Consortium was a truly awe–inspiring marvel of
architecture, fitting as the very heart of Quorum governance. Hundreds of sentients
of all Quorum worlds as well as several non–Quorum systems bustled along the
silver carpeted, polished black flooring of the Consortium’s wide corridors and
arcades. Just as the two Human Nova Squad members, ambassadors, civil and
military dignitaries, lawyers, Shield Operatives, Guild Representatives, and
dozens of functionaries went about their business, all under the watchful gaze
of black–clad and armed Sigil Peace Keepers of the Quorum member races.

It took about thirty minutes for the two officers to finish
running through security and reach the Paladex, the large, central council
chamber where the Delegates heard requests, appeals, deliberated, then voted.
It was in the Paladex that Delegates thrashed out potential solutions and
proposals until a consensus was reached, and where they meted out Quorum law,
policy, and procedure. It was also where the Quorum assembled a Tribunal in the
relatively infrequent cases of High Treason.

As a Tribunal represented a closed proceeding, the large
chamber capable of housing over a thousand officials was mostly empty except
for the Delegates, their Seconds, and the half a dozen or so key players to the
case. Just as yesterday, the space where the ten would stand, the raised, half–moon
shaped Paladex Balcony suspended some fifteen feet above the chamber floor, was
lit in preparation. Below the Balcony were the two main “wings” of the Paladex,
where attendees typically stood during a council session. In the exact center
of the chamber was a long, elegant, silver–railed walkway and platform some
five feet or so higher than the chamber’s wings. It was on that platform where
those summoned to present to and petition the Quorum stood directly before the
Delegates in the Balcony.

The Paladex itself was located at the apex of the
Consortium’s pyramid–peak and was constructed entirely of heavy sheets of slick
glass banded with durexium. Along the walls, carefully regulated water trilled
from high–flung fountains, the essential liquid floating down the incline of
glass panes to discrete floor–based reservoirs. The sheets of water glittered
like breathing crystal in the brilliant lances of golden sunlight that spilled
into and pervaded the Paladex’s interior.

Captain Serros and Commander Perez made their way to the
left wing, just a few rows and a half a dozen steps behind where Lieutenant K’llan
Z’arr stood next to her Advocate. Though her five–foot–nine, trim frame was
straight to the point some would call stiff, Z’arr appeared calm. In her exactly
tailored pale azure, white and black uniform, Lieutenant Z’arr looked every
inch the decorated and respected member of the vaunted Vosaia Special Task
Forces that she was. Her brilliant, sapphire colored hair was pulled tightly
back, locks skillfully threaded into a thick braid and then coiled into a tight
bun pinned to her skull. Three separate medals representing valor and
exceptional service shone at her breast.

A few moments after the Humans’ arrival, Lieutenant Z’arr
turned her head to the left to respond to a comment issued by her Advocate, a
Vosaia by the name of Quia Mirador that had been recommended to Serros by Jameson
Sweetwater as a superb choice given the circumstances. Just for an instant, Serros
and Z’arr locked gazes. Avara, mindful of the crucial necessity to appear entirely
impartial to the attendees, many of whom were Vosaia and so able to pick up on
even muted feelings, carefully locked emotion and expression. Yet still, she
tried to gift a reassuring smile with her eyes for Z’arr alone. Z’arr stopped
speaking to her Advocate for just a split second and her lips parted slightly,
then she turned her head and attention fully toward the person who was
representing her case.

The moment broken, Avara cast her gaze elsewhere to see
another Vosaia standing further left and a row up from her own position. She
possessed long, dark blue hair and was dressed entirely in a fitted, sleek
white shift that when added to her skin, made her look like living ice. Her
beauty, especially the delicate symmetrical nose and arched cheekbones, bore a
striking resemblance to Lieutenant Z’arr. Not surprising, since she was
identified to Serros yesterday as being her mother, the famed and revered Vosaia
Consul and Doctor, Ry’anlyar Z’arr.

Also in attendance, Major Hadarr was dressed almost exactly
at Lieutenant Z’arr yet her breast sported several more medals. Captain Serros
caught Hadarr’s sharp gaze bolted in position, impassively regarding her. Avara
offered an inclination of her head by way of a formal greeting to her fellow
Shield Operative. The gesture was politely returned just as the bell–toned
chime signaling the start of the Quorum session and Tribunal sounded,
reverberating like a song through the glass walls of the chamber.

“All in attendance hearken, for thus do we begin this
meeting of the Quorum and Tribunal.” Ten voices, both male and female, low and
high, spoke the ritual words as one that signaled the beginning of the session
immediately after the Delegates ambulated onto the balcony from their private entrance.
Each Quorum Delegate wore the elegant yet simple robes of her office: a stiff
collared cassock of deep black trimmed in silver.

“We are here today to begin our final day of presentation
and deliberation.” The Vosaia Delegate Errevorr proclaimed.

“We are also here today to reach a formal decision regarding
the status of the Vosaia Strategic Task Forces Agent, Lieutenant K’llan Z’arr, whose
condition and citizen–status we consider.” Added the mustard–yellow skinned male
Braxien Quorum Delegate, Nerek Sonalen.

“We shall commence with Advocate Betrand’s closing evidence presentation
and statement and then turn to Advocate Mirador’s closing evidence presentation
and statement.” Delegate Ney officially announced, his voice oddly echoing
through the Voc Box he had to use to speak through his spherical and
transparent nutro–helm.

“Advocate Betrand, please step forward and begin your
presentation.” The brown haired Human Delegate Nejem commanded.

Betrand, a male Shiraneth with slick, iridescent blue–silver
colored scales moved forward at a stately pace, climbing up the five steps to
the presentation walkway then to its end. Placing sealed, synth–skin covered
webbed hands on the Speakers railing, Betrand began to present the final
arguments of his case to achieve a guilty ruling.

As she listened to the Shiraneth drone on for the second day
in a row, Avara had to admit to herself that he was an excellent choice for his
role. Far from proving to be a distraction of gurgled intonation, his speech
was clearly enhanced rather than hindered by the Voc Box which all Shiraneth
were forced to use out of water. His words powerfully resonated through the
chamber, and Bertrand’s cogent, yet carefully emotion–triggering arguments were
delivered artfully. Phrases that wrapped around such terms as “tragic,”
“certain,” “irrevocably,” “heart,” “freedom,” “betrayal,” and “duty” were
seamlessly woven with data dressed as indisputable evidence.

Cleverly, Betrand did not draw out his presentation but instead,
after a well–tempoed and cool thirty minutes, ended by quietly entreating the
ten Delegates of the Quorum to: “make the hard choice and protect the safety
and self–determination of all free–thinking sentients. As such, I move for the
stripping of all rank and for the life–long imprisonment of K’llan Z’arr.”