Commander Cien’dra had arrived at the detention block early.
Lake could hear him talking to the security officers. He didn’t dislike Cien’dra, as such, he just didn’t believe he had his, Herez’s or the Earth’s best interests foremost in his schedule. Even though he insisted he was completely unbiased in his private opinion and had an enviable record of winning defences of supposedly cut and dried cases, Lake was sure Cien’dra had a hidden agenda and wasn’t going to be giving them one hundred percent of his efforts. But then again, Lake was like that; he hadn’t built his business empire by being a loving, trusting soul.
The conversation down the corridor ceased and he could hear the clatter of boots coming up to the cells.
Today was a preliminary hearing, a swearing in of the ten ambassador judges who’d been randomly selected from human races within the GDA, and the arraignment: a formal reading of the charges against them.
‘Good morning, Mr Lake,’ said a smiling Cien’dra as he arrived at the cell door. ‘Are we ready to go to war?’
‘No, I’m not,’ answered Lake in a forceful tone and enjoyed noticing Cien’dra’s smile slip a little. ‘I’m an engineer and entrepreneur, not a soldier, so I’d appreciate you not considering me a combatant in any kind of battle.’
‘That’s good, Mr Lake. That’s very good. Remember to use that line in court if the situation arises.’
The guard deactivated the door field and moved along the corridor to open Herez’s cell.
Herez emerged from inside, mumbling to himself and glaring at the guards. He fell into step beside Lake and trudged along the corridors, looking disquieted and positively murderous.
‘If you walk into the court looking like that, Mr Herez, we’re as good as guilty from the start,’ said Lake, glancing over at his employee.
‘Do you really think I give a shit now?’ said Herez. ‘We’re being royally set up and there’s nothing you or I can do or say that will change the outcome of this. It’s already been decided.’
‘That’s where you’re wrong, Mr Herez,’ said Cien’dra. ‘A lot of the evidence is circumstantial and alludes to possible scenarios, not fact. As you will see, I will demonstrate an alternative sequence of events to seed doubt in the prosecution’s case.’
As they made their way across the huge station, Lake noticed the hostile stares and shouted comments they were getting from the station personnel. He couldn’t understand them but, judging from the tone, they weren’t being wished good luck.
‘I think it’s going to take a bit more than seeds of doubt to sway this lot,’ he said, shaking his head and giving Cien’dra a sideways glance. ‘Have we heard anything more about the supposedly delayed witness?’
‘I have no information other than that a prosecution witness was given leave and is now unavailable. That’s good for us, so I’m not pressing the matter.’
The courtroom was a hastily converted small theatre. The prosecution, defence and accused all sat in the stalls. The twelve randomly chosen judges from local GDA worlds were to be seated above them, along the stage.
As they were escorted in, Lake noticed the other two or three hundred seats in the room.
Cien’dra noticed him looking nervously behind at the unoccupied seating.
‘It’s okay. No public permitted,’ said Cien’dra, sounding confident.
‘That’s good news,’ said Herez, sarcastically. ‘At least we won’t get stabbed in the back.’
‘No, not physically,’ said Lake. ‘It’s the metaphorical that’s still very tangible.’
One of the courtroom officials approached Cien’dra and gave Lake and Herez a lingering glare as he passed, before bending down to whisper in Cien’dra’s ear. A document was offered and Cien’dra’s face went ashen as he read what had been handed to him.
‘I take it it’s not good news then?’ said Lake sarcastically, observing his defence lawyer’s reaction.
Cien’dra stared at the document for a few moments and turned to face him.
‘It’s fresh evidence being submitted to the case by the prosecution.’
‘And?’
‘And they’re saying…’ Cien’dra looked back at the document. ‘They’re saying they’ve found empty virus vials hidden aboard your ship on the 37.’
Lake’s eyes widened at the realisation of what Cien’dra had said.
‘You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,’ he raged as he stood up. ‘That’s complete bullshit—’
‘They’ve staged the evidence,’ said Herez, interrupting and looking up at his boss. ‘It’s what I would have done. I told you it’s already been decided. They have to blame someone for the death of that crew and we were in the wrong place at the right time.’
‘Well, I don’t need to tell you that this isn’t good news, but the way I look at it is –’ Cien’dra paused and looked thoughtful for a moment ‘– it’s too convenient. You two are not unintelligent. If you had just poisoned the water supply on a starship, you would have thrown the only damning evidence out an airlock, not hidden it aboard the only thing on the ship that could be attributed to you.’
A sudden call came from the usher at the side of the theatre.
Cien’dra stood and beckoned them both to follow suit.
The twelve judges entered and began trooping across the stage to take their seats.
Lake leaned over and whispered in Cien’dra’s ear, hoping the personal translator would pick up his voice.
‘Time to prove you’re the hotshot defence lawyer you say you are, because if you fuck this up, you’ll have the blood of an entire race on your hands.’
Lake knew the translator had picked it up as Cien’dra stiffened and all the colour drained from his face.