Scattered Suns - Kevin J. Anderson [180]
Nikko grabbed Speaker Peroni’s slick, suited arm and guided her to the Aquarius. She and her companion, whom she introduced as Purcell Wan, gasped out a brief story of how the robots had been discovered under the ice and awakened.
While the two crowded into the small water-bearing ship’s airlock, Nikko waited outside, alone in the cold and intense silence. Every jagged black shadow on the terrain seemed to hide an insectile mechanical killer.
Chapter 89—RLINDA KETT
BeBob’s sham board of inquiry went just as Rlinda expected. Wartime regulations allowed the EDF to do many things behind closed doors, with looser rules favoring their own desired outcomes. General Lanyan didn’t even bother to attend the second day of the proceedings—apparently he was busy with Admiral Stromo, dealing with what the EDF had learned about Corribus.
Rlinda squeezed BeBob’s hand as the head of the tribunal announced, “Captain Branson Roberts, since you do not dispute the charges, this board of inquiry finds sufficient cause to declare you guilty of desertion during wartime and of stealing a reconnaissance ship that belongs to the Earth Defense Forces.”
“That was my own ship!” BeBob said.
“Which was duly acquired by the Hansa for military use in time of war,” the head of the board said quickly and dismissively. “By the emergency authority vested in this tribunal, you will be held in confinement on the Moon until such time as your sentence can be determined.”
“I object,” BeBob said.
Rlinda glared at the military legal counsel. “I object to this whole ridiculous process. File an immediate appeal, demand a trial in the light of day—for a change.”
The advocate looked at her. “You can’t do that now.”
“You sure didn’t do it for us during the trial.”
“This wasn’t technically a trial, it was a preliminary board of inquiry. In all likelihood, there will still be a formal public court-martial proceeding, unless certain wartime rules are invoked.”
BeBob snorted, “Either way they only put two options on the table: summary execution and permanent penal servitude! What sort of chance does that give me?”
“I sent out feelers everywhere I could think of,” Rlinda said, ignoring the legal counsel. “I can round up media attention—I’ve got friends, you know.”
“What a shitstorm,” BeBob said, as if he had just realized it. “Pardon my language.”
Rlinda gave him a rough but maternal pat on the back. “That sums up the whole situation.”
Four uniformed EDF guards appeared in the hearing room to surround the prisoner. Because of a newly heightened state of alert since the Corribus attack and the destruction of Relleker, the guards were dressed in commando uniforms and helmets; one of the men even wore a full protective facemask. Four armed guards seemed overkill for leading one frightened AWOL pilot back to his cell.
The guards took BeBob away, and when Rlinda tried to follow, the men brusquely stopped her. “Your presence is no longer necessary, Ms. Kett,” said one of the guards.
She put her hands on her hips and stood stubbornly firm. “At least let me cook him a nice last meal. It’ll be better than anything this base has ever served. Who knows, you might get some of the leftovers.”
The head of the tribunal stood from his table. “There’s nothing more you can do, Ms. Kett. Go home.”
“Well, I can walk him to his cell, can’t I? Grant me that much.”
“Ms. Kett, please don’t make this any more difficult—”
The guard in the facemask said, “We can take care of it, sir. Let her accompany us, so long as she doesn’t snivel.”
“I hereby promise a minimum of sniveling.” Rlinda raised her arms and allowed herself to submit to yet another search for concealed weapons. Gathering her personal pride like a shield, she accompanied a downcast Branson Roberts out of the courtroom.
The four guards marched them along Moon base corridors, taking the prisoner