CHAPTER TWELVE
The courtroom was a small conference room with no chairs for spectators. Why would there be? The trials were designed to be conducted in secret, with the prisoners escorted as quickly as possible to prison. Stormtroopers and security droids were lined up against one wall, no doubt to keep any possible agitation from turning into violence.
Solace sat in the judge’s chair, on a slightly raised platform at one end of the room. She quickly familiarized herself with the controls. “I have the capability to activate the droids,” she whispered to the others. “That should come in handy.”
Two tables faced the judge, and Trever and Oryon took their places at one of them.
Captain Tran and First Officer Dicken hurried in, followed by a law droid, who took its place at the other table.
The captain and the first officer stood at the back. Obviously they didn’t think this would take long.
“Let’s hurry this along,” the captain said. “We’ve got to finish this and make it to the Nunce system to pick up a load of prisoners. My job is to fill up the ship, and the sooner I do it, the sooner I get a better commission.”
Roan and Dona were led into the courtroom by guard droids. Trever looked at them carefully for signs of mistreatment. Dona looked thin and tired, but Roan walked in, his head high. He saw Trever and gave a small start, not visible to the officers. Then his face was impassive again.
“This trial will come to order,” Solace said, hitting an electronic gavel that emitted a soft bong.
Roan and Dona sat at the table with the law droid.
“Roan Lands and Dona Telamark, you have been accused of conspiracy against the government of Bellassa and plotting to assassinate the Imperial advisor to the government of Bellassa. How do you plead?”
“Guilty,” the droid said.
“Wait a minute,” Roan said. “This hunk of junk doesn’t speak for us. We requested a lawyer.”
“I am a court-appointed attorney, sir,” the law droid said, swiveling its head.
“This is outrageous. Under rules of the Galactic Senate, we have the right to choose our own counsel.”
“I must correct you, sir,” the droid said. “The Emperor has suspended that right in Senate Act three-two-one, point seven, when it comes to traitors of the Galactic Empire.”
“But I haven’t yet been proven a traitor of the Empire,” Roan pointed out.
“Yes, but we have the right to try you as one.”
“If you are, indeed, my attorney, then I have the right to fire you,” Roan said. “I’ll handle our case.”
The droid’s head swiveled faster, its sensors flashing. “There is no precedent for this. I must do a more extensive search of my memory banks.”
“Don’t bother,” Solace said. “The accused has a point. I recognize his right to fire you.”
The law droid’s sensors blinked frantically. “Objection!”
“On what grounds?”
“On the grounds that it violates the procedural microchip!”
“Overruled. Let us proceed.”
“What’s going on here?” Captain Tran asked.
“I’m sorry, Captain, you are a witness to this proceeding, not a participant,” Solace said. “I accept Roan Lands as attorney. How do you plead?”
“Not guilty.”
“Let’s get this show into the space lane,” the captain muttered. “I have things to do.”
Solace nodded to Roan. “Proceed with the prosecution.”
Roan stood. “Before we begin, I make the motion to dismiss the case, your honor. This case was built on illegal surveillance. Under the rules of the Bellassan Senate, an order from a security court judge must be obtained. This was never done.”
The droid’s sensors blinked. “Objection! The Emperor has suspended the need to obtain an order to run surveillance on any citizen of any world in the galaxy for any reason.”
“True,” said Solace. “But the Galactic Senate has not ratified the decision.”
“But it hasn’t been asked to consider it,” the droid protested. “The Emperor doesn’t need permission.”
“Nevertheless, I feel this is a gray area,” Solace countered.
“This is contrary to the information in my procedural memory banks,” the droid said. “Highly irregular … overheating circuits. I must be repaired immediately!” It quickly bolted from the room.
Captain Tran stamped his foot. “Gray area!” he exclaimed, exasperated. “There are no gray areas in the Galactic Empire! The Emperor has done away with gray areas! That was the problem with the Republic!”