Furious

54

“Your Honor,” Mr. Kawaguchi said, “I would like to offer into evidence a list of the crew of Haruna when she sailed for Wardhaven. It has Miss Ishii’s name on it. I also have a copy of her orders that allowed her to return from the Fleet of Discovery to Musashi. In case there is any doubt that she is who she says she is, we have made an active copy of her Ident.”

“The bailiff will accept them,” the Chief Justice said.

Tsusumu turned back to his witness. “Petty Officer Ishii, could you tell the court where you have been since returning to Musashi?”

“I was terribly embarrassed when I returned. The Navy had no assignment for me, so I returned to my parents’ home. Being with child and not with a husband, I was ashamed and spent my days in my room.”

Kris strongly suspected thoughts of suicide must have kept her company. Poor girl.

“Then why have you now come forward?” Tsusumu asked.

“Last night, my brother brought me his computer and showed me all of the horrible things that were being said about Admiral Kota and Princess Kristine. I watched her testimony this morning and knew that I had to act for the admiral’s and the princess’s good names.”

“How could you act? You are just a junior petty officer.”

“But I was on duty in Haruna’s communication center when the admirals met on net to discuss the situation. Our watch officer ran the conference on a large screen for all of us to see. He often did that. It was he who realized, I think just as quickly as Princess Kris, that the different reports from the returning scouts pointed all to the same thing. He called the admiral’s bridge to alert them. We all watched, as much as our duties allowed, as the battle plan was developed.”

“So if you watched the recordings of the War Council that we have, you could verify if they are a true-and-accurate account of the meeting?”

“I can do better than that, sir.”

“How so?”

“Before going on watch that evening, I had taken my future husband aside and told him I carried his child. He was overjoyed. A few days later, as the fleet prepared to sail for battle, Admiral Kota informed us that the princess had arranged for any Sailor who wanted a ride back to human space to go with the freighters. Of course, no one on Haruna would think of abandoning their post at such a moment. However, my future husband insisted that I and the baby must return home. He said that they would all very likely die in the coming battle and that he wanted his child to have a chance to grow up. He said it was my duty.”

“So you chose to return.”

Now the young woman studied her hands. “No, sir. I did not want to obey my future husband. I talked with my watch mates, the women who would have to do extra duty if I left. I told them I did not want to obey my future husband. They told me I was being selfish. That my child deserved a chance to be born. They insisted that they could do my work. ‘It is the Navy way always to have more hands than are needed to do the job,’ they said. Only then did I apply for release and was granted it. Admiral Kota himself signed my papers.”

Mr. Kawaguchi frowned. “I am sorry, but I do not see where this is going.”

“My watch officer insisted that I carry two files back with me. He said the admiral was sending a report through channels, but he feared that the report would not arrive where it was supposed to go. My watch officer entrusted me with two copies of the admiral’s report.” And the young woman produced an envelope, still sealed.

“My watch officer told me that Admiral Kota’s report included a copy of the Council of War. He had copied it himself to the file.”

“Your Honor,” from Mr. Kawaguchi was interrupted by “Objection,” from the prosecution. “We have no idea where these files have been or what might have been added to them.”

“We have five copies from different perspectives on that War Council,” said Mr. Kawaguchi. “We have a sealed envelope to examine. If these two files are the same, it seems to me that we are developing a trend, Your Honor.”

“Bailiff, accept the sealed envelope into evidence under objection.”

“If it pleases the court,” came from the gallery. Kris turned to see Captain Miyoshi of Mutsu standing. “The honor of the Navy is very much carried by the content of those devices.”

“The honor of the court is as well,” the Chief Justice said darkly.

“I do not question all the honor those devices bear, Your Honor, I just wish to make sure that the Navy’s honor is respected. If it please the court, I would like to assign a Marine officer to escort those devices.”

“I believe the court can allow that.”

“Lieutenant Suganami.”

“Hai,” said a first lieutenant who came from among the Marines guarding the door to stand beside his captain.

“Is there a technician who can assure the proper treatment of those devices in your guard detail?”

“Hai.”

“You and he will accompany the bailiff and bear the responsibility for the Navy’s honor.” The technician turned out to be a she, but the two of them quickly moved to join the bailiff and move off with him smartly.

“Are you out of surprises, Tsusumu-san?” the Chief Justice asked.

“I believe so, Your Honor.”

“Very good. Mr. Prosecutor, the witness is yours to cross-examine.”

The prosecutor stood, studied his notes for a moment, then snapped. “Who is the father of your unborn child? Remember, you are under oath. The court can order a paternity test to see if you are truthful.”

Kris had heard of attacking a witness, but this approach seemed not only unnecessary but brutal as well.

The young woman surprised Kris with the strength of her reply.

“My future husband was Lieutenant Fujioka Tomio, my watch officer.”

The prosecutor was about to open his mouth, but from the back of the court there was a cry, whether of joy or sorrow or both, Kris could not tell, but an old woman rose to her feet.

Living in Fujioka House, Kris had seen portraits of the dead owner and his wife. They did not do Mrs. Fujioka justice. The woman in the flesh was both soft and hard, like velvet-covered marble. She looked at the witness as the witness broke into tears. “My daughter,” was all she said, as those between her and the aisle made way for her.

“Have you any further questions?” the Chief Justice asked the prosecutor.

“No, Your Honor,” he wisely answered.

The young mother-to-be was dismissed in time to meet the grandmother of her unborn child at the gate to the formal court area.

“Now, do you have any more surprises, Tsusumu-san?” the Chief Justice asked.

“That was not my surprise, Your Honor, but yes, the defense rests.”

The gavel came down. “Court is recessed until nine o’clock tomorrow morning when we will hear final arguments.”

And the courtroom became bedlam as people talked, and reporters hurried out, phones already being talked into, to make their deadlines. Tiny Mrs. Fujioka and her newfound daughter might have been trampled in the haste, but Captain Miyoshi personally led a Marine detachment in forming a wall around the two women and slowly walked them from the room.

Kris was in no hurry, so she waited with her friends and her defense team as calm slowly returned to an emptying room.

“Are all your trials so, ah, surprising?” Kris asked.

“Each trial is unique, but I am always happy to pull a few rabbits out of my hat,” Tsusumu admitted with a smile.

“Do you need any further help from me?” Kris asked.

“No, I think I can compose my closing arguments without any further input from you and yours.”

“Cara and I need an ice-cream sundae, and, no doubt, Jack would like a beer.”

“I suggest you get them at Fujioka House. I strongly suspect every newsie on the planet can hardly wait to shove a mike in your mouth.”

Kris’s Marine guard now arrived to surround her. They rode the elevator down to the subbasement, where her caravan awaited.

Fortunately for Cara and Jack, the kitchen at Fujioka House was quite prepared to support their celebration.

Better, Kris and Jack were left the privacy of the sitting room for themselves alone. They both knew their privacy was insecure, and there were limits beyond which they dare not go, but still, holding and being held, sharing and being shared with, they made a moment that held the fears and terrors around them at a distance.

At least for a few hours.