“Commander Vode. You stand before this tribunal to answer for your failures at Vargas. Under your command, 346 of our current legion were killed in action after the Vargasian uprising near the city of Wendel. As you well know, we cannot allow the Vargasian resistance a foothold in that city nor can we give them any sign that their resistance movement could potentially be successful.”
Lars Vode was staring into a floodlight. He stood in front of a high dais in a gray, lifeless rotunda. From his position, he could make out the silhouettes of six figures. His would-be jury. The voice he heard coming from the brilliance was Deputy Director Hanard. Lars had an excellent ear for craven. “What, may I ask, are the exact charges against me, sir?” Vode replied. “I’d like to know precisely for what - or whom - I’m answering.”
“Commander, you will show deference to this tribunal or you will face separation.”
Separation? This was new. And unexpected. It seemed a particularly harsh response to his query. “I simply meant, sir, that I’d like to be as clear as possible in my report. I would hate for there to be any confusion. Do you have specific questions or would it please the tribunal for me to simply…start from the beginning.”
“There is no need for extensive exposition, Commander.” Your losses are your own and they are unacceptable. We’ve already reviewed the reports submitted by lieutenants Carter and Gree. The fact that they conflict is the only reason you’re standing here and not confined to a discipline chamber.”
So…Gree set me up.
“Therefore,” said a new, older voice. A voice Lars didn’t recognize. “We want to hear your version of what transpired.”
Not likely, but fine…
“Command sent word about a potential strike by Vargasian rebels. That information was disseminated, per standard operating procedure, to every section. The order was given to redeploy 500 troopers to the three forwards. They were to be sent from Base Command with authorization from General Alverson. My report states quite clearly that the forward sections were supplied and prepared for any unprovoked attack.”
“Commander Vode, are you impugning the word of a Domain officer?” Hanard said. “An officer with an exemplary record? And if so, what reason would Lieutenant Gree have for disputing your version of the facts?”
Any notion Lars’ might have had that this was not a complete waste of time melted away. Arnold Gree had never been described as ‘exemplary’ in anything, certainly not as an officer. “I was not stating a ‘version’ of the facts, sir. I was simply stating the facts. Every step of the process I’ve just described has been logged. I do not know why Lieutenant Gree’s report differs from mine. I haven’t seen his report. I simply assumed his account was the one that skewed reality since he is, in fact, a poor officer and an insufferable ass.”
“Commander Vode, you have denigrated the authority of this tribunal and attacked the credibility of a fellow officer. You are found in…”
“I think we can overlook that remark…for now, Commander.” The second voice cut in. “Thank you for your report. You are dismissed.”
Silence. No protestation from Hanard. Nothing. Lars saluted, turned and walked toward the exit that was illuminated by a small overhead light. He stepped into a brightly lit hallway which forced his eyes to adjust. It wasn’t his first tribunal. Likely wouldn’t be his last. It was, however, his most adversarial. As he walked toward the lift, Lieutenant Carter stood up from a bench nearby and approached.
“Well, how’d it go? You’re not bound or dead, so I assume…pretty well?”
“It appears someone is trying to get me separated.”
“Separated? Why? For Vargas? My report says you played everything by the book. Which, I’ll admit, is unusual for you.”
Lars nodded with a quick smile. “Well, apparently, your assessment doesn’t jibe with Gree’s. They just put me through some sort of ‘good cop/bad cop’ routine in there. Although, I couldn’t quite place the good cop. One guess who the bad cop was.”
“Hanard.” Carter replied.
“None other. He threatened me from the jump. I think I may have outgrown my usefulness to the Council. That or they think I have information unbecoming.”
“Do you?”
Lars looked at Carter for a moment, as if pondering, but said nothing. They both entered the transparent exterior lift and proceeded to ground level. From fifty floors up the city looked calm, almost tranquil. The towers that dotted the skyline seemed clean and polished, sunlight reflecting from their metallic skins. But as the pair got closer to the surface, reality settled in. The dross that covered most of the Domain’s lower First City became manifest. And the gleam that typified the upper levels faded to a brownish grime. All about, urban dregs masquerading as lifeforms shuffled along the streets. The sound of the City guards’ sirens echoed from multiple directions. Carter shook his head.
“Why do you always insist on taking ground transport back to headquarters? These streets turn my stomach.”
“It’s a reminder. Of where and who we really are. And maybe…what we could be. Keeps me focused.”
“Keeps me nauseous…but I suppose I take your point.”
The two men stepped off the lift and out the front door of the Domain Federated Council building. They walked toward a transport at the circular curb. There were usually a few such vehicles sitting out front, ready to take low level officials and not-so-low level servicemen wherever necessary.
“What’s the next step?” Carter chirped.
“Not sure just yet. But I think we should…” Lars looked down at his watch. It was giving off a low level hum that throbbed on his wrist. “DUCK!”
“What?!” Carter responded.
Lars grabbed Carter and pulled him toward a four-foot steel wall that separated the walkway from the street and served as a railing for a short concrete stairway. They landed at the bottom just before part of the canopy covering the walkway exploded behind them. Tiny stone projectiles ricocheted in all directions and Lars could feel their hot stings across his face. The blast signaled a barrage of concentrated plasma fire from the west. It tore through the concrete around the two men and narrowly deflected off the cover they’d found, leaving sizzling black scoring in streaks across the wall.
Carter pulled himself up to his knees from prone, scraped away a few hot chunks of concrete and reached for his pistol. “What the hell is going on?!”
Lars called back, “I think someone got impatient!”
Cover photo: Nova
Absolutely loved this! Such fantastic world building, so much packed in such a short chapter. Can’t wait to read more!