All eyes turned to Ash then as the room held a collective breath. Sera pulled out the file folders and began to spread out the evidence.
“Before we begin, I want to reiterate a few things. First, Sera and I are together. I will not marry another woman, so I suggest you save the effort and embarrassment of these lovely ladies and stop parading them before me. She may be married to Brandt, but she is mine as well, and I am hers. If we have children, they will be Family and ranked. Do not seek to harm her in any way.” Ash looked around the table, and Sera was suffused with warmth. He’d defended her, he’d stood up for them and hadn’t backed down. It was real, their future was real, and he wanted it as much as she did.
Brandt sat forward. “As Ash has indicated, our team has uncovered information that indicates involvement between some high-ranked members of the Walker Family and the Imperialists. Should any of you wish to confess your involvement at this point, it will be recorded and applied favorably when it comes time for sentencing.”
“Such treachery is an executable offense, is it not?” Perry’s voice cracked, and Sera wanted to slap his face.
“There’s execution and execution.” Brandt lifted his shoulders slightly.
“This is madness!” Ash’s uncle shot out of his seat. “You come in here with your unranked lover and your boyfriend and accuse your own Family of treachery. It’s unconscionable. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
“I’m not accusing you of treachery, specifically. I’m charging you with treason and violation of the Federation Intra-Universe Credit Act.” Ash wanted to throttle his uncle, but he wanted to see where his father and brother ended up.
Sera shuffled through her papers and began to speak in an even voice, totally unaffected by the fact that these people had just called her a worthless whore. “Perry Walker, on nineteen occasions, you’ve taken credits from Imperialists in exchange for information on the location and security coverage of Federal outposts.” She looked up at him, waiting for a reply.
“Brandt, why do you allow this?” Kira yelled. “She’s accusing my husband of treason. How can you sit there and let this happen? She’s jealous and wants what she’s not good enough to have. Can’t you see?”
Brandt sighed. “I should add, Kira Pela-Walker, several incriminating communications were made through your network comm account to Imperialist-connected parties.”
“You’re out of your mind, Brandt! Why would I care enough to do something so stupid?”
Sera nodded. “Sit down and cease your wailing. As it happens, despite not being good enough, I agree. Not that you’re not stupid. I think you are. And ridiculously shallow, selfish, petty and ignorant. Credit-hungry as well. But frankly, as I look over all the information and as I read your communications on a day-to-day basis, you’re just not smart enough or bloodthirsty enough to engineer this sort of thing. You can get your credits in other ways; I think you’re too lazy for this. I do think you’re guilty on some level, but just not smart enough to attempt to bring down the Federation. Just greedy. Oh, and silly.”
Ash stifled a laugh. Gods knew Sera deserved to say it after the way she’d been treated.
Dismissing Kira, Sera turned her gaze to Perry. “But you, Perry, you’re guilty. Craven. Without many redeeming qualities, really.” Sera tapped the stack of paper with her fingertip. “Page after page of truly incriminating communication with Owen Alder and Giles Stander. I would like to compliment your record-keeping skills. Thank you for that.”
Perry stood and made to leave the room, but the soldiers Brandt had signaled stood in the doorway, barring his exit.
“I think you should sit back down, Cousin.” Ash narrowed his eyes.
“Angelo, how dare you force us to sit here and be insulted and accused of such terrible crimes. You called us here to discuss financials.” His uncle puffed his chest.
“Do you have proof, Ash?” his father asked.
“Yes. It’s been entered and sent to the comandante. It’s enough to have warrants for arrest and extradition to Ravena issued. Are you involved in this? I can’t protect you if you are.”
“We’re supposed to trust you? You’re nothing but a lazy drain on the Family, while Perry deepens our coffers. Even Kendal works harder than you,” his uncle sneered.
Anger sparked deep. “Kendal. Ah yes, my little brother. We’ve also got evidence Kendal is involved in this scheme.” Ash pushed the papers to his father, who looked at them, growing more and more pale as he read. The soldiers had moved closer to the table to keep order, but Perry had shut up when Ash told him it was either shut up or get shot in the head.
“What authority do you have? Father, don’t you see, he’s—”
Ash interrupted his youngest brother. “By the authority of the comandante of the Federation Military Corps as a commander of said military corps. And I’m what, Kendal? Jealous?” He stood and began to pace. “You see, I’ve been trying to understand why this was going on. We don’t need the credits. Family businesses are doing extraordinarily well. We’ve always been solidly aligned behind the Federation. Ours was the second Family to proclaim allegiance to the Federation generations ago. So why are we suddenly aiding Imperialists?”
“Control. They want their line in control,” his father spoke quietly. “Costas has been working to undermine me for years now. It’s normal, you know, political infighting in Families. I expected it. But not this. Selling out our own people. Using my son to harm me. This will lay the Family low when it gets out.”
“Angelo, do you believe I’d sell our universe out for credits and control of the Family? I can take over without that.” Costas smirked.
Sera tossed a sheaf of papers down the table to Ash’s uncle. “Would you like to tell us why you’ve had such a lively communication with several members of this conspiracy then? If you didn’t do it for credits and control, why did you do it? Are you a true believer in ’Verse-wide fascism and enforced order? Do you think the Walkers will retain their holdings if the Imperialists edge into this part of the Universes?”
He wouldn’t even look at the papers. “I’ve known Giles Stander and through him Owen Alder for some time. It’s not a crime to have friends, is it?”
“Did I say the communication was to Alder or Stander?”
Costas swallowed hard. “No. But you named them earlier. I assumed you meant them.”
“Father, why do you just sit there and believe Ash’s lies? Have I not been right where you needed me always? Where has Ash been? Off traveling, collecting women, spending credits, all while I stayed here and did my part to help you.” Kendal looked to Angelo, but his father just sighed.
“I don’t want to believe any of it, but the facts here,” he motioned to the papers, “are inescapable. My heart breaks to know my own son has not only betrayed me but his Family and government.”
“Get ready to transport them to the docks to get them to Ravena.” Brandt turned to speak to one of the soldiers near the door, and they dispersed, leaving the room to follow orders.
Costas leaned forward on his hands, still standing at the table. “Let us be reasonable here. Whatever you think you know, Ash, you’re mistaken. This is all just a misunderstanding.”
Perry nodded his head. Kira simply looked dumbfounded, and Ash nearly felt sorry for her.
“Why, Perry? Why did you do it?” Ash wanted to know.
“Were the credits worth dying for?” Sera added.
“I did it for my father! He wanted the connections, wanted the power. Your father has held on to control all this time, and what about our line?” Perry wilted right there in his chair, and Ash sat, dumbfounded by the confession.
Before Ash could comment, his uncle jumped at him, landing on him, sending his chair backward. He struck his head on the floor, losing focus momentarily, but it was Sera who flew across his body and shoved Ash’s father down.
Brandt watched in horror, frozen with shock, as Costas jumped at Ash. He’d been reaching for his blade when he caught sight of Costas also reaching for a weapon, turning toward Angelo.
Sera had been a blur as she leapt at Angelo, knocking him down as Costas’s weapon discharged, filling the space with the loud crack and the acrid stench of the powder.
Ash shoved up, knocking Costas down, while Brandt’s blade landed true in Costas’ chest. With his other hand, he pulled his blaster, holding it on Perry and Kendal. Soldiers had rushed toward the knot of activity, a shower of metal clearing leather and clicks as weapons were pulled and safeties thumbed off.
It wasn’t until Angelo yelled out that Brandt truly saw Sera. She looked fine until he noticed the steady stream of scarlet dripping down her left wrist and hand.
“Arrest Perry and Kendal Walker. Confiscate their comm units and cordon off their personal residences. Take Kira Pela-Walker in for questioning and hold her for possible involvement in the conspiracy. Check Costas and see if he’s still alive. If so, take him into custody, if not, toss him in an incinerator.” Brandt said this all as he rushed to Sera.