High Law and Low Justice, Part 4

[Guest 11456]

Trelene Scrautigue : Luriani Navy 2/Prof 7/Trav 1: Retired Makhidkarum Vice President

[sblock]Trelene complies with the request for electronic devices. She gives the shipmen a look that any vice president of a large company knows how to give. That 'why are you treating me like a common citizen' look. As she waits for her interrogator, she reviews what she knows of interstellar law as it applies to such a situation. Specifically she wishes to make sure she is given the proper treatment that is due her. But she also wishes to make sure that any questioning is done via the appropriate law.[/sblock]

 

[doghead]

Saanath, male human merchant.

[sblock]Saanath considers the woman infront of him for a moment. He realises that they have been rather naive in their expectations. There was going to be no warm hero's welcome for them here. And the Imperium makes the rest of the forces they have gone up against look like minnows. The only thing going for them, perhaps, was that at this point the Imperium didn't have against them personally.

Saanath decides he didn't come this far to lie down and play dead. Saanath gives the Lt. Commander his warmest smile. He is going to see what he can get out of the Lt. Commander while she does the same to him. He pays particular attention to the questions that she asks trying to see what they reveal about what she knows.

"Are you with IIS*?"

Regardless of the reply, Saannath just shrugs. He lets it dangle for a while.

He proceeds to tell the Lt. Commander the events leading up to their arrival in system, starting with the original distress call from the Dvonn. He is polite and respectful and keeps his language cooperative. He wants her as much as possible on his side. But he is careful not to overdo it. She, Saanath suspects, has done this before. He tells a pretty straight story, with the exception of events on the Kerrchan leading up to the group's departure from the ship. He doesn't lie, he just says the group assisted the Captain in putting together a resue team in response to the distress call.

ooc: *Or is it ISS? Liason +11, Bluff +10, Gather Information +12[/sblock]

 

[Maerdwyn]

Trelene:
[sblock]Trelene is taken to a very small cabin, furnished with only a small desk and two chairs, one on each side, where she is made to wait for some thirty minutes before a large man in a naval uniform enters and tells her, somewhat rudely, to sit. He wears no identifying badge, nor, does he introduce himself. He simply begins. (Trelene is not restrained phsically in anyway, and hile she has no attorney present, she has not, so far, requested one. In a criminal or civil matter in which she was suspected of wrongdoing, she would be entitled to one. If she was believed only to a be a witness or otherwise possessed of information relating to an investigation, or if she were accused of a being a threat to the Imperium's security, she would not be entitled to an attorney.) "Ms. Scrautigue. Until recently, you were Vice President of Conventional Drive Development of Makhidkarun Corporation, is that correct?" Whether she assents or denies it, or refuses to answer, he continues. "I need you tell me your versions of the events which led to your presence on the passenger Liner Dvonn. You should know that this session is being recorded; please give me a full and truthful accounting, as facts which later contradict your statement here may tend to incriminate you."[/sblock]

 

[Maerdwyn]

Saanath:[sblock]

"Are you with ISS*?"

The woman's eyes narrow, and she asks with a slight smile, "Now what would make you ask that, young man?"

Regardless of the reply, Saannath just shrugs. He lets it dangle for a while.

In the silence that follows her question, both inquisitor and subject study each other's faces, and Saanath comes away with the distinct impression that that was a confirmation.

He proceeds to tell the Lt. Commander the events leading up to their arrival in system, starting with the original distress call from the Dvonn. He is polite and respectful and keeps his language cooperative. He wants her as much as possible on his side. But he is careful not to overdo it. She, Saanath suspects, has done this before. He tells a pretty straight story, with the exception of events on the Kerrchan leading up to the group's departure from the ship. He doesn't lie, he just says the group assisted the Captain in putting together a resue team in response to the distress call

.

Throughout his story, Lr.Cmdr. Green asks numerous questions. She is interested in the fighters and ship that attacked the Keruuchan's boats and then the Dvonn during the rescue, assuming they were mentioned. If so, she asks, "Why do you think they attacked you Saanath? Why would they try to stop what you say was a rescue attempt?" She asks more questions in this vein, apparently trying to draw Saanath out especially regarding the attacks before arriving at the Dvonn. In particular, she works in "What about the Keruuchan itself, Saanath? Was it attacked?"

[/sblock]

 

[Maerdwyn]

Ruzz'koff:

[Sblock]
Ruzz'koff awaits the Captain Keyes in his quarters. When the human captain arrives about an hour later, he says, "Welcome to the Empress, Lieutentant Ruzz'koff. I'll be honest with you; I'm amazed you saved as many people as you did. Good job. I've got some problems, though, and I've going to need you to help me clear them up. I'm going to cut right to the chase with you, I've think you've earned that. Take a look at this sensor readout. It's from four days ago."

He begins playing a computer generated representation of sensor data. It focuses on one ship that is leaving the Dukh system. "That there is the Kalama. She's a passenger liner that had been itching to get out of the system ever since the embargo started. She was inspected thoroughly, then fueled her up and sent on her way." Another ship blips onto the map. It heads toward the planet, then suddenly changes direction. "That's right about where we figure this ship realized that the Emperor was in the system. Watch what's next." The Kalama halts and heads for the new arrival, and the new arrival moves away from the planet toward the Kalama. Several navy ships move away from the main fleet at the planet and head towards the two other ships. "We knew something was up, but not what." The two ships meet each other and drift, apparently doced with each other. "See what's happening here? It's the damnedest thing. Kalama's tranferring all her fuel to that other ship." THe ships disengage, and the Kalama heads back towards the planet and the oncoming navy ships. The new arrival jumps away, apparently using its newly acquired fuel. "Navy just couldn't get there in time to stop it. That ship have had a damned good reason it didn't us to see it. And Kalama must have had a damned good reason for giving over her fuel to her, cause Kalama's now impounded and her crew is in custody. Won't tell anything - don't seem to know much. All we do know is that Kalama is operated by HiranuCorp, same company as the ship that took off without saying hello. Yep, the Keruuchan got clean away, and we have no idea why it needed to so badly."

He looks at Ruzz'koff squarely. "So today you show up with a beat up corsair-cum-yacht and start limping towards us apparently bearing more nastiness than the whole of Zhodani space. But you also got something else. You've got one of the Keruuchan's life boats. Which means you might just have the answers we need. So what can you tell me, Lt. Ruzz'koff?" [/sblock]

 

[doghead]

Saanath, male human merchant pauper in a flash paper suit.

[sblock]"They didn't attack me really. I'm the architypal nobody from planet nowhere. High School education. 8 years in the merchant service, and retired still a ship's boy. Got a knack for trade and kept showing up the Stiffs. Picked up how to handle a ship shuttling them around in docking orbit while the crew drank themselves into stupor and/or shagged their wives, girlfriends, favourite hookers planetside. The joys of being the Boy," Saanath adds with a wry smile. "I was just there, trying to help out and getting shot at for my trouble. You'd think I'd have learnt by now; once bitten twice shy and all that."

Saanath goes over what he sees as the key points again. The astronav calculations were modified to bring the Dvonn out of jump space in the wrong place. The contamination dispersal was keyed to the maneuvour drive. Someone wanted the Dvonn there, and in that condition. Disabled, but capable of broadcasting a distress signal. It sure looked like bait, in Saanath's opinion.

As for the who's and the why's?

"That," says Saanath, "Is the question we have all been asking ourselves.

"But seeing as Armand seemed to be right in the middle of things, I thought ISS might be the people to talk to."

Saanath goes on to note that he does not recall the Keruuchan being attacked. There seemed to be some fairly sophisticated jamming going on. Saanath got the impression that this was centered on the Keruchan.*

ooc: * OK. I'm a bit hazy here. This is how I recall it, but not really sure if it was just a misunderstanding of the situation. Feel free to correct it as necessary.[/sblock]

 

[Maerdwyn]

Dorothy and Trel:
[sblock] After a short time, midshipmen form the Empress Margaret's crew arrive and begin taking individual statements from the passengers. Their questions ranger from how their ordeal on the Dvonn began to the treatment they received from their rescuers, any attacks suffered during the recue, and what they knew about the other ships in the Tamandere system. They are asked if they had any reason to suspect that any of the rescuers was other than they appeared to be. They are asked to provide any other thoughts on the ordeal that they would like included in their statements [/sblock]

Tomas:
[Sblock]After being escorted to an empty stateroom outfitted with four berths, four footlockers and little else, Tomas it politely asked to wait for someone for senior to arrive. After about half an hour, a human in a naval uniform enters the room. He is balding, a little overweight, and his eyes are grim. "Alright Mr. Makea, lets have your version of these things. We've got more of it from the others, but we want to get yourside to make sure. Oh and don't leave out Mr. Nells-Corzine. You know how he hates being ignored..." Tomas gets little more giudance than that on how to respond to the man.[/sblock]

 

[Maerdwyn]

Saanath:
[Sblock]She listens with interest, and generally seems, at least, to believe Saanath. "Lest there be any doubt, I am ISS, Saanath, and so was 'Armand Blair.' And having told you that, I am going to tell you something else. And you are going to give me your full reaction, open and honestly. Four days ago, a ship arrived in the system. But when it notived the presence of the Emperor's flagship, it turned and fled. It docked with another ship that was almost out to a safe jump distance. That ship tranferred all it's jump fuel, and the newly arrive ship jumped out before we could even establish communications. We could simply not figure out why. We knew something was wrong, but not what. And we had no way to find out. Then today, Dvonn arrives here, in need of rescue. And what do we find when we get there, but one of the vanished ship's life boats, shot up all to hell. And among the dead on the Dvonn is the registered captain of that vanished ship. So what I need to know from you, Saanath, is whether you can tell me anything more that might shed light on this very puzzling - and one must say, rather alarming - situation." [/sblock]

 

[doghead]

Trelelawiero, male aslan mercenary

[sblock]Trel feels a little awkward out of the vacc suit for the first time in over a week. But he finds the familier fittings and fixtures of the Imperial ship reassuring in a vague sort of way. Although this ship is a hell of a lot more sophisticated than the ones he ever saw duty on.

Nothing but the best for the big man.

Trel reads over the questions handed to him. The question about his rescuers being other than they appeared to be brings a deep growl to the aslan throat. He beckons to the midshipman, and is suitable satisfied to see the you man blanche a little.

"I would speak to your Marine commander or his SIC if it is possible. I am Private Trelelawiero Hreayierlo, formerly of the old one one second regiment, 77th platoon, anti-smuggling operations."

"Of course they are not what they seem," Trel mutters furiously after the midshipman had departed. To anyone hearing the story they would seem like goddamn heros, Travellers in the tradition of the high adventure holo-dramas. But during the week in jump space, Trel had seen nothing to suggest that they were other than just a bunch of ordinary people who had tried to help. What the hell do these Imperials think that they might be? Zhodani agents? Wraxian fifth columnists? Perhaps the Imperials are just being cautious, but Trel would like a chance to make sure that the story is heard by someone who has an outside chance of being ... what? Impartial? Trel is not sure really. But the old Marine loyalties run deeper than he had realised.[/sblock]

 

[Maerdwyn]

Trel: [sblock]
"I'll ...see what I can do," stammers the midshipman. He moves to the side of the room and calls someone on his comlink. Several minutes later a vargr marine (PFC) arrives and says, "Let's go Private." Moving down into the lower deck of the ship, Trel soon finds himself standing before a big (unnecessary desciptor when dealing with marines of any race, of course) human man in a marine uniform - a captain. His hair is graying, but he looks fit. "Alright, Marine," he says expectantly, "I hear you got somethin to say. Let's have it, then."[/sblock]