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Beyond Hope
- Chapter 51 - Greed[]
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A Legal Situation due t series of Mistakes[]
Federated Commonwealth Space (Federated Suns State)
3063
"That's your Solution??" asked Helena (Cameron) Drillson
"Yes, Helena. That's what I can do while we're waiting until there's enough charge on this drive to get back to Kowloon. The solution I can use without simply declaring the Constitutional Charter I pushed back into existence is an utter fraud and declaring myself an Autocrat!" Elizabeth's over-reaction was driven by fatigue and stress she'd been hiding for weeks.
"What's going on?" Arthur Steiner-Davion came out of their shared stateroom.
"Honey, don't worry about it, you've got enough on your mind," Elizabeth Ngo-Steiner-Davion dismissed.
"Now I am worried, what's going on and why are you two arguing?"
"Elizabeth's short term move," Helena explained. "Elizabeth's sent an executive order using a weird legal trick to reassign the court on some cases."
"It's not weird," Elizabeth scowled. "It's rare, sure. And I'm using and abusing a gap and a Mistake, but it means what they're pulling gets complicated because it's not in the hands of a Party-Stalwart elected judge who's probably compromised. And that I can't just remove from the bench on an order if I want to actually keep what I tried to build."
"You Drafted a Magistrate."
"Which is allowed," Liz said. "It's also 'fair' in that they can't say the replacement belongs to me. Candidates with the necessary credentials are selected by random lottery without their previous consent. Nobody knows exactly who gets the nod until they're getting the summons, like Jury duty. But we didn't remember to give lots of ways someone can be excused."
"That means you don't know who either!"
"Exactly. The other side can't know if I don't. Thus, they can't have a sure-fire plan in place, because they can't know who's going to be on that bench… but neither do I. Difference is, I'm ready to stress-test it to see if it works. Because I didn't start this with a long term agenda, and there's enough resources going into this between puppet media and aggressive legal manipulations that their plan requires someone specific on that bench, or a specific selection of someones, and this throws chaos into the mix."
Helena frowned, then, "You should have led with that."
"It can still fail," Liz said. "We could get anyone who's on the registry, including idiots, ideologues, imbeciles, and political operators. But with thousands of people to pull from, the odds that it's going to be someone the other guys are ready for are pretty much hashed. Especially since most of the viables who can be drafted are recently discharged Navy or Coast Guard personnel with either Provost or JAG experience."
"Why?" Arthur wondered.
"Because one of the functions of the Guard in the outer system is acting in the same roles as police and magistrates. With the distances and dispersion, and the sheer time out in the Kowloon Oort or Kuiper belts, a Coast Guard contingent on circuit may have to handle any number of things from Claim arguments to murders and rapes. Thus, it's 'encouraged' to study laws. The degree's worth twenty percent more pay, so it's popular and all I need under Section 6 of the Constitution, is proof of legal knowledge. So ex-Guard, or any Lawyer who's got all the degrees can be tapped to sit Judge for a term, because trying to handle it by election in the Outer System is clunky."
"What happens when your draftee ****** up?"
"Then it lands on my desk," Liz said. "I get stuck reviewing the case. If it looks like they ****** it up, I can reverse the judgement."
"Can you call for a new trial?"
"Only if the Prosecution won because of mistakes or misconduct," Liz stated. "I had to do it that way. I didn't want the judiciary to become anyone's club for gathering political power, so I made sure that we adopted a stricter standard of evidence and conduct than the general Lyran Commonwealth's courts, including an old Skye tradition of 'presumed innocence' where the burden of proof is on the prosecutor, and not the defendant. It's clunky and inefficient, but I was designing a government that could survive without me."
"Who gets it under this, 'without you' you were designing?" Helena asked.
Liz froze up, then, "It would land on Evelynn, or my designated heir. Or it would land on a committee from the upper house of the Assembly with a sixty percent vote requirement. I really wanted to make sure the Legal System couldn't be used as a club for political purposes."
Arthur frowned, "So… anyone with a Master's in Law, could find him or herself drafted?"
"There's a citizenship requirement, but yeah," Elizabeth nodded. "That's like half the real-estate brokers, a good chunk of the investment community, a lot of Coast Guard officers both serving and retired, retired lawyers…"
"Like Jury duty," he said with finality. "That's right?"
"I mentioned it was a mistake! A detail I missed when Victor dropped 'congratulations you're independent now' on me. I pulled up the Charter because we really didn't have one for two hundred and some odd years, and it was pretty close to how we were operating under the Lyran documents. Less disruption, but without the Commonwealth judiciary to pull from, we needed something."
"I don't think it's a mistake," Arthur said after a moment. "Unplanned and kind of chaotic, but it's not a mistake. You've eliminated a whole field of normal corruption by making it random and limited. There's probably pitfalls there, but if you accounted for everything you wouldn't be human. I take it this is for System-level issues? You mentioned before that most places on the surface have elected judges for their day-to-day operations."
"Yeah, it is. The mistake is a loophole I accidentally left that lets me escalate a case from local to national courts. The JAG representing a serving NCO filed a motion to elevate to the National courts. The Prosecutor didn't file an objection, so…"
"So you drafted a Magistrate to cover the case, since you can't be there."
"I screwed up on setting Jurisdictions,” Liz said. "I shouldn't be able to do that... Honey, I… I haven't been doing my real job. I've been having too much fun with science and pushing boundaries and… I have to go back to work when we get back. This is all my fault."
Legal Situation Growing[]
Kowloon, Federated Commonwealth (Lyran State)
3063
“Sergeant Janet.” A Constable was at the base office when Janet came in. “We have to place you under arrest for solicitation, conspiracy to commit criminal acts, and giving false report.”
“Sir, I did nothing wrong,” Janet tried to declare.
“I know, Sergeant. But since this is a civilian matter, they do have jurisdiction. Best we can do is get you the best JAG we can, and then expose this for what it is,” base Kommandant General Heinrich Vogelman briefed. “Be smart, Sergeant. You’re about to go through a special kind of hell.”
“I understand, sir.” Janet nodded.
She was led to a wheeled APC with the Constabulary's logo stenciled on the sides by men in riot armor, with automatic weapons.
She was allowed to board it under her own power, and was shackled to the left-hand side bench seat, across from a familiar face.
"Hey, sorry Sergeant," Eddie Vanh said. "I guess we're getting the same prisoner transfer." He was dressed in prisoner orange, and, she noted, heavier chains. "I think we're in real trouble. My trouble got YOU in trouble."
“This is going to be a challenge. I know what awaits me when we get where we are going, but I know what I must still do,” Janet sighed.
"If you think I'm going to let that happen?" he shook his head.
"How do you intend to stop it?"
He was silent on the matter.
“Besides, if I can endure it without breaking or giving them what they want, it will serve both our purposes.”
"If they do that, it's illegal." he said quietly. "If it's allowed? That's conspiracy to commit a felony."
“This has clearly spun into a matter beyond mere law.”
"Obviously," he said. "But they're still pretending, and as long as they think they need the pretense, they'll stick to the letter of the law, if not the spirit." He spat on the deck. "It's the Regency all over again."
“Aff. But I suspect what is in store for me is not what you think. No, letting me loose in General Population? That would not go well.”
"They're trying to paint you as a prostitute, I still hear the news and the scuttlebutt from the guards," he told her.
“I do have a certain reputation. All because of the difference between Clan Society and Inner Sphere society.”
"Too bad. Ox said you were too drunk. It's why he sat in the chair and let you have the bed in the hotel room," Eddie told her. "He didn't reject you, he just wanted you fully aware."
“Which is frustrating. I promised him an experience he would not forget.”
"Make it up to my buddy when you walk out of the court free and clear,” Eddie told her.
“Aff. My promises must be worth more than my threats, and I made a promise,” Janet nodded.
"Solid," Eddie nodded.
“Solitary confinement is going to be difficult for me now that I’ve adjusted as much as I have, and I think they know it. But that is exactly what they should do because as I said, me in General Population. It would not end well.”
"Then we'll probably be across the hall. The Prosecutor's office filed a motion based on my combat service," Eddie told her. "Seems the mix of my training and experience makes me 'dangerous to other inmates and guards'." He shook his chains, "Hence, the thousand kilo rated tow-chains instead of the cuffs they gave you. Which I count as proof someone didn't do their homework very well."
“Aff, but I do not feel a pressing need to correct their oversight,” Janet smiled. “Besides, it is proof whoever is doing this is not as clever as they think they are.”
"Like I said, it's the Regency all over again," Eddie agreed. "Stoney's 'courts' pulled the same shit, especially in Hue County. He'd appoint an ****** buddy and the local cops usually did what they were told, but not the smartest way they could. THAT time, half the shore of Golden Lake out to The Folly… They had to send Battlemechs if they wanted to hassle anyone in the Granges because sending less meant funerals and disappearances."
“We will see how clever they really are when we get processed at our destination,” Janet nodded.
The personnel carrier bumped up onto an off-ramp.
"Early," Eddie said, and this time he sounded concerned.
It rolled to a stop.
“I take it this is unusual.”
"Hue County holding is another ten minutes," Eddie told her. "Between my brothers and I, we spent a lot of time there during the Regency."
“Say the word and I will free us.”
"The word is 'wait'," Eddie told her. "If this is the game I think they're playing, they'll let you think you can escape, and then shoot you and it's a 'clean shoot'."
“Aff. But if it gets to that point. I would rather risk it, and if we survive, face the consequences.”
"Patience," Eddie told her, as he closed his eyes, and leaned his head back against the hull of the carrier. "Engine's still running."
“Aff. I will be quiet now so you can rest.”
"Forward doors opened," he added. "Two doors? Two doors. That means driver and the lead guard."
Janet leaned back against the wall as well. “Patient as the Steel Viper in the grass. If the foe is wise they shall proceed intelligently.”
He started softly counting seconds.
The rear doors opened.
"See? They're fine!!"
"I will ascertain that when I've spoken with my Client, Deputy!!"
Eddie kept his eyes closed, but Janet looked. The woman was dressed in a harsh suit, "Sergeant Janet… no family name on record? Is this you?"
“Aff.”
"I'm Cecilia Thomas, your court appointed legal counsel, the Judge Advocate's man is on his way, but-"
"But you work for Hue County, CeeCee," Eddie said without opening his eyes. "And your boss told you to get down here and get her consent before she's been informed she doesn't have to take a Court lawyer."
"Eddie! If I can win this, it'll make my career!!" Cecilia snapped. "I already sent an appeal to Her Grace, this entire thing is a collection of violations!!"
“I will await my JAG,” Janet nodded. “If what you say is true, then they will accept it and advise me appropriately. And the time spent waiting for them will not matter.”
"You can sit with us for the trip and make your pitch anyway, but I think she already made up her mind, CeeCee."
"You're still an idiot, Eddie…" Cecilia huffed. But she climbed into the back of the vehicle and sat down at the far end of the bench. "...You know and I know JAG officers know military law, not Civil or civilian criminal!"
“Ma’am, this is highly irregular,” the Guard said. “Procedure is no civilians in with detainees.”
Eddie opened one eye, "Deputy, are you saying you intend to deprive me of legal representation while in your custody, in violation of sections Four, Six, Seven and Eight of the Charter Constitution?"
“Err… Look, you can talk in the rooms at the prison after you have been processed.”
"CeeCee is also a legal witness. She's the only bet you get if I hurt myself NOT getting popped with a Police Brutality suit," Eddie continued. "Now you know me, Todd, do you think I might hurt myself out of spite? Hmm?"
“Constable? What do we do?” Deputy Todd asked.
"Let the lawyer… bear witness," the Lead constable said sourly. "You would do that, wouldn't you, Vanh?"
"Yes, I really would, don't you feel safer now?" Eddie said with a smirk.
“Just remember we can hear what you say. We have to listen.”
"I'll keep the sexy talk for later then. Wouldn't want to distract your driver."
"EDDIE!" Cecilia scowled as she fastened her seat-belt. "That white horse you're always riding is going to get you killed, and I hope I'm not there to see it!"
“You two are just like some of the romantic comedy holos I have been watching,” Janet chuckled.
"She dumped me," Eddie said.
"I really did," Cecilia agreed.
“I see. I believe this is the part of the show where someone would suggest it might work out better the second time around,” Janet laughed again.
"That one? Right there? That's fiction," Cecilia told her. "Which is the dreams of man, but not the reality."
"Reality is messier," Eddie agreed. "You really sent a complaint to the Duchess?"
"Yeah. No woman should have to go through this treatment over your mouth, Eddie."
“Aff. Reality is messier,” Janet nodded.
"You used to like my mouth."
"We were teenagers... okay, so… Once we get you in holding I can claim conflict of interest and your Dad's lawyers can take over. But for right now, you gave your consent for me to serve as legal counsel… why?"
"Save you a walk," Eddie told her. "Also, so you can pitch to the client you really want."
"Always on your stupid white horse!" Cecilia closed her eyes and reverted to professionalism as the rear doors closed and the vehicle started moving again.
“Since we cannot talk about legal strategies at the moment…” Janet prompted.
"I graduated from the University of Washington Donegal Law School last year. While a student, I served as an assistant to the Clerk of the Commonwealth High Court under Justice Krieger, the district being anti-spinward Coventry Province. I took the job with the Public Defender's office here in Hue County after a prior deal fell through in private practice, and I'm the best lawyer this side of the continent if you look at my knowledge and skills. But I admit, I have not had to litigate a case with as much… coverage, as yours. Then again, nobody short of Gorsuch und Shaw of Tharkad has...." she shot Eddie a resentful glance. "And I admit a personal interest in this case beyond possible career enhancement. You were caught in the blowby of Eddie's unfortunate mix of poor character traits and idiotic white-knight syndrome. I would as soon see you freed of both the smear campaign, and these bogus charges in a way that is particularly humiliating to Dennis Waverly, the Prosecutor in your case."
"Her other ex," Eddie commented. "It lasted, what, two months?"
"Shut UP. How did you know that?"
“Would that not also be a conflict of interest?” Janet asked.
"As legal counsel? Hating the other side isn't a conflict unless I planned to cheat. I don't have to cheat, I just get to savor humiliating an enemy," Cecilia's eyes were predatory now.
“Eddie Vahn, you are the only person it seems I can ask this question. Can I trust her?”
"You can trust her to be detail-oriented, creative, focused, adhere to the rules, and be as vindictive as they try to tell people lawyers aren't," Eddie answered. "CeeCee is vicious, petty, cruel, and absolutely thorough… but she's ethical.”
“I do not know who my JAG lawyer is…” Janet shook her head.
"Cee, are you willing to share this?" Eddie asked.
"Not with you, but I have no problem working with a member of the Judge Advocate's Corps. The officer they're sending is from the New Saigon station of the Coast Guard. Bernie Haugen, he's used to dealing with messier stuff. Worked with The Seether back in the early fifties."
“Bargained well and done.” Janet nodded.
"Stop looking SMUG Eddie!" CeeCee snapped.
"Why? I was right," Eddie said. "I deserve to be smug when I'm right." He leaned back, and feigned sleep the way infantrymen often do in the back of a vehicle in the field.
"He went to sleep," Cecilia muttered. "Okay, now, once we're there and you've in-processed, you'll meet with Bernie and I in an interview room. Legally, they can't record, but with the loose conduct thus far, assume they're tapping the room until Bernie tells you otherwise. If he doesn't, we'll be filing a motion to get you transferred to Coast Guard Station Vin Drin Lap for holding, and it's likely we'll get that."
“I understand,” Janet nodded.
“Good. We’ll start with the easily publicly verified stuff until we get that sorted. Stuff the other side should already know anyway. Then when we’re clear, we’ll talk real strategy and prep.”
Prison Population[]
Kowloon, Federated Commonwealth (Lyran State)
3063
Clearly something was wrong. Eddie sat in the common cafeteria surrounded by petty criminals, with a tray of something that resembled food.
If you can't smell or taste, anyway.
General Population.
"You're in my seat, little man."
"Huh. I was finished anyway." Eddie moved to stand, and a heavy hand rested on his shoulder, mentally, he counted them: Three. Huh.
“You don’t seem to understand the rules here.”
"You're right, I don't understand the rules here," Eddie said blandly. "I would guess you're the leader of these other two fine gentlemen, since you're the one talking, but I don't think you're the shot-caller, are you?"
“Well, now. Fresh meat seems to be all high and mighty.”
Eddie smiled, closed mouth, and casually took the hand on his shoulder at a nerve junction, twisting into a joint lock. "Anatomy is a fascinating study." The big guy started whimpering, as Eddie stood up, and that larger man sank to his knees. "Let's talk about the rules. You will explain them, and I will decide if I am inclined to follow them, how does that sound?" He side-eyed the big man, "That's a two, quit being a baby, my little sister does worse."
“Rule one, never be on your own.” One of the other men threw a slow, obvious punch, one that would certainly hurt if it landed.
"That seems like common sense," Eddie agreed, ducking and lifting the other guy's agonized hand into the path. "You don't have to hit your buddy."
The last of the trio began to circle around Eddie.
"Who said he's alone?" a feminine voice asked.
“Thought they had you in solitary, Janet," Eddie noted.
“Seems they had the same idea for me as they had for you after all.”
"Staged fight with casualties?" Eddie suggested. "They can tack the charges on."
“Seems likely. Which means we are going to have to handle this very carefully.”
The second thug clearly didn't get the context, and swung again. Eddie's 'duck' wasn't a dodge-he put the crown of his head directly in the path of the fist, and the man screamed in pain as his fingers broke.
The third took a swing at Janet.
She easily dodged it, then the follow up. As her opponent kept throwing punches all she did was dodge, block, or re-direct.
Eddie's first guy went down in a sleeper hold, the second was still mewling over his mangled punching hand. He reached over and tapped Talker. "Not right to strike a woman," he said. "Bad things happen, and I'm not responsible for what happens if you piss her off."
“Fight back bitch!”
“When the time is right,” Janet said as she made it look effortless to continue weathering his blows or make sure they never landed.
The shift in odds drew a few prisoners crowding, watching. An older prisoner cleared his throat, which seemed to still things.
"Shot Caller," Eddie said.
"Vanh," the older man stated. "You didn't kill 'em this time."
"Not homicidal today. Was this testing me, testing her, or arranged?" Eddie asked.
"It was arranged."
"I see. So do we keep going, or not?"
"I'd as soon not." the old guy said. "But watch your ass. You're both marked, and some of the other leaders in the cell block aren't as… careful… about keeping their people alive as I am."
Janet just simply put her hand on her attacker’s shoulder as he panted. “Thank you for the work out.”
"You feel like saying?" Eddie asked.
"You know better than that," the older guy said. "Smart to ask though."
"What's the vig?" Eddie asked.
"Some of your commissary," the old guy said. "Two packs a week."
"Fair," Eddie nodded. "One each."
"I'll allow it. Bring it to my cell after exercise."
“I must admit, I’m surprised prison is mixed. I was given the impression that the Inner Sphere separated male and female prisoners.” Janet looked around at the gathered crowd.
"It would be, and you would be. Someone higher up made an exception," the old guy answered her. "I imagine after this you'll be back in the women's wing. More's the pity, you're a looker."
“Perhaps that is part of their plan. They hoped I would trade sexual services for protection,” Janet nodded. “It would never have worked.”
"I think they had a darker idea," Eddie noted, the old man nodded. "Two packs. Any flavor?"
"Clove," the old man said. "It annoys the head guard, but it's available."
"Nobody touches her?" Eddie asked.
"Agreed. Nobody touches the Clanner," the old man nodded.
“Thank you. May I know your name?” Janet asked the old man.
"On the outside, I was Kommandant Erich Faust… That was before the Ngo bitch shut down the Regency. In here? I'm just Six-Four-One. A Number. HIS old man took me prisoner, but sometimes I still remember what I was before being sent to this hell pit planet."
“I see,” Janet nodded.
"I thought you were supposed to be handed to the FedCom authorities?" Eddie asked.
"They decided I could do my time here, instead of shipping me to a penitentiary in Broken Wheel in the FedSuns. I've got a couple decades left on my term."
“So how long do you think it’ll be before I’m taken where I actually belong?” Janet asked.
"Not sure," Erich said. "I'm wondering that myself."
Eddie had a look in his eyes, thinking, and a frown. "This is all wrong," he said. "Janet, let's hit the commissary now, while the level's open."
“Aff. The lack of guard response to a fight is worrying.”
"No blood," Eddie said. "My guess, anyway. It's not like POW holding on the Island, where we put your guys after the fighting."
“Perhaps. Either way, you are correct that we should hurry. Not that I doubt your friend. But there are an awful lot of prisoners in here and they cannot all be under his control.”
"He's not my friend. Erich was a Firestarter pilot. He burned half the Folly out… but he's a Federated Commonwealth officer, not Kowloonese. He should've been sent to the FedCom when Victor cut us loose… but he's still here. That's not right."
“The system is technically jointly administered, it could simply be a cost savings measure.”
"Yeah, but it was a Commonwealth court that sentenced him," Eddie persisted. "Not Kowloonese. It's like they just… cut him off and forgot him, and that's not right."
“Grounds for appeal perhaps?” Janet offered.
The pair reached the vendomatic in the 'commissary' and Eddie punched in a code, let it scan his eye, and collected two packs of Clove element nic-gum sticks.
"For the time being, we're buying protection through his gang," Eddie explained. "Ablative meat against the other gangs in the facility."
“Aff. I do not like it, but I see little alternative. We can not fight all of them on our own.”
Indicator lights and an announcement that the exercise yard was now open for this wing.
“Good. I was afraid you’d still have Clanner sentiments that would wind up getting us both killed.”
“I have thoroughly learned that those sentiments are designed to get a Warrior killed. Not if, when. I may be a lifer as you say, but I do not find myself eager for death.”
“Yard time, here and the showers are where we’ll be most vulnerable,” Eddie nodded.
“Aff. I will keep my eyes open.”
“Nice statement you made back there by the way. Not hitting the guy but staying standing.”
“It seemed the right call,” Janet nodded. “Plus it will make it harder for them to add to our charges if I do not inflict injury. I know it is likely I will have to before this is over, especially if they wise up and put me in with the women where my protection will have to be re-established.”
"When they do that, just use common sense. The people pushing this want incidents. We beat them by disarming the incidents before they can capitalize," Eddie told her. "Think of it as a strategic training exercise."
“Aff. I win this war not by inflicting injuries, but by making sure as few as possible even occur, and if they must occur they should be mine.”
He nodded as they passed into the courtyard.