Son of Justice (15 page)

“Very well, Ambassador. The charge of trespass will be removed,” the colonel acceded. He then refocused attention on Eli. “We will focus on the remaining charges. Let’s begin with the charges surrounding your abuse of authority.”

The next sixty minutes passed quickly. One by one, the five members of Eli’s squad who had been requested to attend the panel review took their place at the small table on the right side of the room. Each relayed the same basic facts, and provided similar testimony.

They had overwhelmingly elected Eli as their squad leader. They had done so because he had proved himself to be capable and competent, and over the weeks leading up to the exercise, had earned the respect and trust of every recruit in their unit. All denied that he abused his authority. No one had been forced to follow him or to act in any manner that they had not been in full agreement with. He had requested their input and suggestions when forming their strategy for completing their assigned mission. Without exception, all of them had agreed with the plan and given their approval to proceed.

“I jokingly suggested that we ask the Telgorans for help” Private Gale Benson proudly stated when asked how Eli had come up with the plan. “Eli took that idea, mulled it over for a minute, and then ran with it. We all thought it was a bit crazy at first, but what did we have to lose? We knew that no unit had ever launched a successful attack on the tower. This at least gave us a shot of succeeding and kicking some Minith butt. Um . . . no offense intended, Colonel.”

The two Minith officers grimaced and their ears flattened against their heads. In contrast, Eli noted that Titan and the two human majors stifled grins at Benson’s less-than-tactful comment. The reactions highlighted the divisions that still ran deep between the two cultures. Humans had won the Peace War and forged the Alliance, but the Minith still rankled at the defeat.

Despite the minor faux pas by Benson, Eli felt his team presented the human viewpoint very well. They were given an unwinnable mission and had managed to come out the victors. He was proud to have led them and hoped he would get a chance to stay with them and complete their training.

Still, it was the Minith version of events that would hold sway with the colonel. When Twigg was called forward, Eli shuddered. The sergeant was not a friend. Just the opposite. He had displayed his intense dislike of Eli—all humans, really—on multiple occasions. Of all the speakers, it was his testimony that would command the attention of Colonel Drah and perhaps dictate the outcome of the review.

The eight-foot-tall warrior made his way to the witness table without looking in Eli’s direction. When his bulk settled into the chair, it issued a groan that had not been evident when the previous human occupants had sat down. Dressed in full battle gear, he was an impressive figure, even for a Minith.

“Sergeant Twigg,” the colonel began. “Can you tell us how you know Private Jayson?”

For the first time, the sergeant looked at Eli.

As the dark brown eyes searched his face, Eli was surprised that he couldn’t tell what the Minith was feeling, had no clue as to what he might be thinking. Over a lifetime spent with the aliens, he had become adept at translating their tics, movements, and expressions. They weren’t known for hiding their inner thoughts, but that’s what he found when he looked at Twigg.

“I have known Private Jayson for ten weeks,” Twigg answered. “He is a recruit in the training company that I lead here on Telgora.”

“Can you describe your interactions with the private, Sergeant? Has he been a model recruit?”

“Not even close,” Twigg replied, still hiding his emotions.

“Elaborate please, Sergeant.”

“Private Jayson is not like most humans recruits. He doesn’t follow directions in the same fashion. He doesn’t think only about his position, or how he can get himself through the tasks he is assigned. He thinks . . . differently.” Twigg’s right ear dipped, and his shoulders hunched in the distinctive Minith way that displayed confusion or bewilderment. It was clear to Eli—as well as to the Minith in the room, he had no doubt—that the sergeant was stumped by Eli’s behavior.

“I’m not sure I follow, Sergeant. How has he acted that makes him a poor recruit? What has he done that would dictate his removal from the Alliance Defense forces?”

For the first time, Eli noted a real emotion. Twigg was smiling at the colonel.

“He is a natural leader,” the sergeant replied. “One who leads through example. Not through threats or by creating fear. In the past ten weeks, he has displayed a remarkable ability to win allegiance and support from his men.”

“Exactly!”

“That’s right.”

“Yeah!”

Eli recognized the calls from the team members seated behind him as he sat immobile, stunned by the sergeant’s unexpected admission.

“Silence!” Drah slammed his fist on the table and looked across the room. The shouts died out quickly. Having silenced the humans, the colonel refocused his attention on the Minith sergeant.

“This is not what we discussed,”
Drah spoke quietly in Minith. The sudden switch from Earth Standard language drew curious looks from the humans seated at the table.
“This human must be taught a lesson.”

“It may not be what we discussed, Colonel,”
Twigg replied in his native language.
“But it is the truth. The human should not be expelled. He should be promoted.”

Promoted
? The surprises just kept on coming. For the first time since Eli sat down, his leg didn’t feel the urge to bounce. The jittery nervousness he had previously felt had been replaced by surprise and relief. The sergeant was actually speaking up on his behalf—something Eli never would have expected. That realization was quickly replaced by another, more startling awareness as Colonel Drah’s features morphed from alarmed disbelief to angered resignation. The look the two Minith exchanged was clear for anyone who understood Minith expressions. By going against Colonel Drah’s wishes, Sergeant Twigg had just saved the career of a lowly, anonymous private and, in so doing, had sacrificed his own.

“Colonel, please stop speaking Minith and address the witness in Earth Standard,” the major seated on the left spoke for the first time. He drew an angry, sideways glare from the ranking officer but did not look away. It was obvious he knew the protocol for these reviews and wouldn’t let the colonel run over the proceedings.

“I apologize,” the colonel acquiesced, switching back to Standard. The look of disdain disappeared and was quickly replaced with a stoic, respectful smile that Eli couldn’t help but recognize as forced. “I was merely clarifying a point with the sergeant.”

“Pardon me for the intrusion, Colonel Drah,”
Eli interjected in Minith. The look of surprise on the colonel’s face at hearing his native language being spoken by a human was the fourth separate and distinct reaction to grace the colonel’s face in the past ten seconds. Eli found that fact pleasingly humorous, in a ruthless sort of way. He didn’t hesitate to amplify the colonel’s sudden discomfort another notch.
“Perhaps you can explain to the panel how teaching me a lesson is the same as clarifying a point?”

The room was suddenly filled with gasps and cries of surprise. Of the members of the review panel, only Titan seemed unmoved at hearing Eli speak Minith.

Colonel Drah scowled at Eli from across the space that separated them. The look contained a heated mixture of angry promises and raw emotions. His dad was fond of an ancient saying that seemed to fit this situation:
If looks could kill
. Eli wondered how anyone, knowledgeable of Minith mannerisms or not, could miss the blatant hostility in Drah’s countenance.

The colonel quickly recovered, though, and erased the threatening glare from his face. As before, he replaced the negative reaction with another fake smile. He then slowly turned his head until his attention was back on Sergeant Twigg.

“Please continue, Sergeant,” the colonel commanded in an even voice that belied the storm Eli knew was still brewing beneath the suddenly calm exterior. “You were praising Private Jayson’s leadership abilities, I believe.”

“Thank you, Colonel,” Twigg smiled in the Minith way, with a twitch of ear and upturned lips. Eli recognized that Twigg was enjoying himself. He also reveled in the fact that it wasn’t at his expense this time. He wondered what the sergeant’s future might hold. Angering a Minith colonel was not something a lowly sergeant accomplished with any degree of success. By speaking out against his superior, Twigg was clearly on borrowed time. The sacrifice wasn’t something that Eli would quickly forget. For better or worse, he was now indebted to the alien sergeant. “As I was saying. Jayson is a natural leader. But he has substantial abilities in other areas. He is a skilled fighter with every weapon we’ve trained with, as an example.”

Twigg paused for questions, but received only nods to continue from the panel. He did so.

“And he is clever. His problem solving abilities are unique.”

“Can you give us an example, Sergeant?” the second human major asked.

“Of course. Do we have the capability to view pacer video from the tower exercise?” He received nods from the panel. “I believe watching his actions on that occasion will provide adequate explanation.”

It took several minutes for support staff to find the footage, but once found, a nod from Drah kicked it off. Eli watched along with everyone else in the room as he and his team came into focus on a large vid-screen located on the left wall of the chamber. They were at the demarcation point, discussing options. The look of defeat was evident on all of their faces as they prepared to launch an attack that was bound to fail. Then, Benson’s comment of, “Maybe we should ask the Telgorans for help” was heard by everyone and looks were exchanged by the panel members. On the screen, the emotions of the team began to change as they discussed their plan and hope for potential success began to emerge.

The video showed Eli giving directions to Ellison on how, when, and where to move the team’s armor, then followed the rest of team into the cavern. There was a tense moment when the altercation between Free and Jayson was shown, but Titan quickly announced that the Telgorans would not hold Eli accountable for the attack since it was obviously self-defense on his part. The dash through the caverns was played in spurts, showing only the occasional frame to save time. The assembled Telgorans at the end of the journey were seen, then Eli’s comments to the team as they prepared for their attack were heard. Eli flinched mentally when the video showed the exchange of his pulse rifle for Free’s agsel staff. If there was any charge that might be valid, it would be him giving his weapon to a noncombatant. Oh well, it was what it was, and a casual look at the panel showed no concerns on any of the faces seated at the table. Maybe he had dodged that particular bullet.

Finally, the attack itself played out on the large screen and Eli watched their advance from a distance some ten meters to their rear where the pacer tracked them. He watched as they stopped their advance, already clearly in firing range of the Minith who were positioned on the platforms ahead. It was also clear that the defenders were completely unaware of their presence. Their focus was to the front, where they believed the attackers to be.

The pacer remained outside when he, Benson, and Childes entered the tower. Eli sat up and watched as the team, supported by Free from the far right, began taking out the Minith, not ten meters away. It was like shooting at still targets on the range, only easier because they were so close. He watched with pride as they made quick work of the defenders. Within ten seconds, all twelve of the Minith soldiers were twitching away. Eli noticed that Free managed to score hits on two different Minith. The Telgoran seemed like a natural, at least from close in.

The video then showed Eli exiting the tower. He took a moment to check on the team, then made his way over to Free, where he retrieved his weapon and returned the staff.

When the video ended, no one said anything for several seconds. Then Twigg filled the silence.

“We’ve been conducting this tower exercise for years. In that time, no one—Minith or human—has ever found a way to accomplish the mission that is given. It was designed as an exercise that couldn’t be beaten. We track each recruit’s movements so we know exactly where they are at all times. When they are in range of our weapons, we shoot them. End of exercise.

“The charges of failing to follow orders and the assault of ranking soldiers that have been levied against Private Jayson are laughable. The orders given were simple and clear: attack the tower, defeat the defenders. ”

Twigg paused briefly to look at Colonel Drah. Drah avoided eye contact, looking down at the table top.

“The video we just watched shows that Private Jayson did exactly what he was ordered to do. He attacked the tower and he defeated its defenders. The fact that he was
supposed
to fail, but managed to succeed, should not be held against him.”

* * *

The panel review wound down quickly after Sergeant Twigg’s testimony, and the proceedings took on an air of finality and completion. Eli didn’t follow much of what transpired in the final stages—his surprise and shock at being defended by Twigg clouded his thoughts—but the comments Drah made regarding a private review by the panel and a final determination of Eli’s eventual status managed to sink in. His fate was now in the hands of the individuals seated at the long table.

He was surprised to find he didn’t really care what judgment they might come back with. He had done what was required and, given the chance, would do it all again in the exact same fashion. Well . . . with one possible exception. His initial encounter with Free hadn’t been particularly enjoyable. Given another opportunity he’d prefer an introduction that didn’t involve thousands of volts coursing through their bodies. He smiled with the recollection.

“Private Jayson,” Colonel Drah’s direct address brought Eli back to the here and now.

“Yes, sir.”

“Return back to your barracks and remain there. You will be informed when we have concluded our review. Do you have any questions?”