Tone deafness, hearings, innuendo, libel, and aggressive pointing

Chapter 17: Tone deafness, hearings, innuendo, libel, and aggressive pointing
==Text==
Quiet singing greets Hermann as soon as he wakes. He wishes it wasn’t. Newt’s skill at the piano is considerable but he can’t carry a tune in a washtub. As Hermann proved to himself on one memorably painful occasion soon after their mutual assignment to Hong Kong, the effect of melody on Newt’s voice produces a sound more disturbing than that of fingernails on a chalkboard. Hermann groans and pulls one of the half-dozen pillows on the bed over his head.
"You’re awake!" Newt sings. Hermann responds by clamping the pillow more tightly over his ears. "You’re not getting away with that this morning. We’ve got a global stage to rock."
"I’m not leaving this bed until you promise to stop singing," Hermann grumbles. "You have absolutely no business trying to sing, ever, let alone at this hour."
You wound me, Hermann," Newt says with feigned indignation as he sits on the bedside table and begins to gently stroke Hermann’s wings. The winged man sighs contentedly as the muscles in his back and shoulders relax when Newt kneads his fingers into the sensitive spots under his feathers. "That better?" Newt asks. Hermann hums affirmatively.
"I’ve already got the order in with room service. Go get cleaned up. We need to look extra gorgeous today for our big TV moment." Hermann grumbles half-heartedly and pries himself from the mattress.
As he goes about his morning routine, doing his level best to ignore Newt’s renewed vocal exercises, he mentally reviews the day’s agenda, his presentation, and answers to the most likely questions he will face. The volume of material leaves Hermann feeling grateful for his excellent memory. He is much less thankful for the cowlick at the back of his head which absolutely refuses to behave.
He finally gives up and leaves the mirror to accept Newt’s help with his wing binding. Over the weeks together, Hermann has come to savor these few moments of gentle contact and looks forward to them. How unusual to look forward to touching, he muses.
After breakfast they finish dressing in their jackets, ties, and, for Hermann at least, freshly polished shoes. Nothing can convince Newt to give up his boots. Hermann sighs at the sight of the scuffed Doc Martens poking out from beneath Newt’s sharply pressed trousers. I suppose it’s enough of a miracle he’s not wearing denim. "Let me do up your tie, Newton," he commands.
"I’m having flashbacks to my dad dressing me for school picture day," he says as Hermann finishes knotting the cloth and Hermann pauses, looking mildly offended. "You know, dude, I’ve seen pictures of your mom. She was, like, tiny. Why are you taller than me?" Newt asks. "Shouldn’t you be her size?"
"I did say she made some ‘tweaks’ to my genome. She adjusted my height potential," Hermann answers. With a smirk, he continues, "She apparently thought I would be freakish enough with extra limbs and didn’t need the added insult of being miniature." He looks down his nose at Newt. Newt tilts his head back until he makes eye contact.
"Are you calling me short?"
"You are short. I seem to remember some of our colleagues referring to you as ‘bite-sized’."
"Well, everyone is ‘bite-sized’ to a kaiju," Newt says with a dismissive wave of his hand. He studies his reflection. "Ugh. I can’t believe I have to wear a jacket. They’re afraid I’m going to roll up my sleeves, aren’t they?" Hermann nods and Newt reappraises himself. "What the hell kind of knot is this?" he asks as he examines his tie.
Hermann steps back to admire his handiwork. "Eldredge," he answers.
"You did the same thing to yours," Newt says suspiciously.
"Ah, yes. I thought perhaps we should match in a subtle visual demonstration of K-Science solidarity," Hermann says, a tiny blush lighting up the back of his neck.
Newt grins. "Okay, that’s fine for today," he replies, "but you’re not turning us into one of those weird couples who dress alike. Should I call us a taxi?"
"Frankly, it’s a lovely day and I’d rather walk," Hermann says. "It’s only a handful of blocks and I think the fresh air will do us good."
Hermann and Newt stroll the short distance from the hotel to the United Nations building side-by-side. Hermann, though, rebuffs Newt’s offer to link arms. The biologist looks disappointed and Hermann decides to do something to make up for it later.
While they wait in the anteroom with Tendo, Raleigh, Mako, and Herc to be called into the assembly chamber, Raleigh offers everyone a hard candy from his pocket. The man seems to have an endless supply of them. Hermann selects a lemon-flavored one, his favorite. Raleigh gives him a little smile and pops a lime one into his own mouth.
Hermann hopes to spend more time with the American Ranger before they go their separate ways in a few weeks. Maybe it is the way the younger man dealt with Newt’s fanboy behavior the first time the two met—which is to say more politely and less physically threatening than usual among Jaeger pilots—reminds him of Raleigh's kindness in Anchorage years earlier, but he wants to invite him for tea and chess.
"Right, people," Herc says. "Everyone stay on topic, stick to the areas we practiced yesterday. If you get in trouble, look to the person next to you for help. And, Newt, don’t interrupt people and don’t say anything off limits. Got it?" His gaze at the biologist is laden with unspoken threats.
"Why are you picking on me?" Newt whines.
Tendo responds first. "Because you’re the one who can’t control himself, brother." Newt sputters with wounded pride while Hermann gives him an ‘I told you so’ look.
There’s a polite knock on the door. "That’s our cue," Herc says as he rolls his shoulders. "Good luck, everyone, and remember we have each other’s backs."
The president of the Security Council, the British representative, greets them formally as they take their seats. Herc sits closest to the panel of questioners; Newt is the farthest away, much to Hermann’s relief.
The preamble wanders its way through meaningless platitudes and obvious attempts by the Council members to excuse their withdrawal of support from the organization and plan that finally made the world safe from the Kaiju. Hermann successfully avoids rolling his eyes or grimacing. Newt does not. Hermann battles an urge to fold an origami model out of the notepaper in front of him for Newt to play with, but settles for kicking him under the table. Finally, the pointless speechmaking winds down.
"Mister Hansen, while we appreciate what you and your men," the president begins the questioning and Raleigh and Hermann’s hands simultaneously tighten on the edge of the table, "have done to advance the safety of the people of the world, this body believes there are questions about your operations you must answer. Let us begin, gentlemen." Raleigh clears his throat loudly. "And Miss Mori. Mister Hansen, if you would, provide a brief overview of the actions your organization took on the fourth and fifth of January this year, please."
Herc takes a deep breath and begins. "Gentlemen and ladies, thank you for giving us this chance to explain to the world how we closed the Breach, temporarily ending Kaiju attacks, and what we have to do in the future." He sips his water and Hermann sees him fight an urge to tug at his tightly buttoned collar.
"On the evening of January 4," he continues, "two Category 4 Kaiju, codenamed ‘Leatherback’ and ‘Otachi’, the largest recorded to that point, approached Hong Kong and were challenged in Victoria Harbour by Rangers Sasha and Aleksis Kaidanovsky in the Jaeger Cherno Alpha and Cheung, Jin, and Hu Wei Tang in Crimson Typhoon. My son Chuck and I waited at the shoreline in Striker Eureka to provide backup, if needed, to the Kaidanovskys and Weis. Rangers Raleigh Becket and Mako Mori and Gipsy Danger were held in reserve at the Shatterdome."
"Excuse me," interrupts the U.S. representative, "but, rather than risking the loss of so many of your Jaegers before your planned operation at the Breach, why did you not request the Chinese air force deal with the kaiju? Would that not have been the wiser choice?" The Chinese member glares at the man from farther down the table and Hermann marks him down as an ally. He also suspects the representative from Russia will be sympathetic. Both nations had long been the staunchest supporters of the Jaeger program.
"Marshal Pentecost felt—and the other pilots and I agreed—we could not allow the use of nuclear weapons, the only weapons besides Jaegers which can stop kaiju, in or near Hong Kong while Jaegers were available. We alerted the Chinese military of our deployment and did our jobs," Herc declares.
With no follow-up questions forthcoming, Herc picks up the thread. "Moving on, then. The kaiju overpowered and killed the Weis and Kaidanovskys and destroyed their Jaegers. Both teams fought until their final moments." Herc allows several beats of silence to pass. "Chuck and I then engaged Otachi, but our Jaeger was disabled by an electromagnetic pulse created by Leatherback. The EMP also took out communications in LOCCENT and a large section of Hong Kong."
"I must interrupt you here, Mister Hansen." The U.S. delegate, Moore, again. "How were these kaiju able to so quickly overwhelm and incapacitate three of the most successful Jaegers?" Hermann tries to recall what he knows of the man, searching for possible motivations (beside self-interest) behind his immediate challenges. He finds nothing of use and resolves to watch the man carefully the rest of the day and dig into his background once back at the hotel.
"As Doctors Geiszler and Gottlieb found later on, Otachi and Leatherback were built by their masters specifically to destroy those particular Jaegers," Herc answers.
Moore feigns surprise. The Jaeger team sent him this information in advance. He has no excuse for ignorance. "Then why was Gipsy Danger successful?"
"The Masters were unaware Gipsy had been repaired and weren’t ready for her. They also had no idea what Rangers Becket and Mori are capable of," Herc says with a smirk he makes no effort to suppress.
"Now," Moore smarms, "there are expert opinions being voiced that the Kaiju ‘Masters’ learned of the Jaegers’ abilities from someone within your organization. How do you respond?"
Beside Hermann, Newt pales. Hermann squeezes Newt’s thigh under the table and Newt looks up at him, grateful and smiling weakly.
"There is absolutely no evidence of any cooperation between any member of the Jaeger program and the Kaiju masters," Herc declares with finality.
"I see," Moore says, clearly indicating he doesn’t believe Herc at all. "We may discuss this issue further later. For now, please continue."
"After the Kaidanovskys and Weis were killed and Striker frozen, Rangers Becket and Mori were sent out and killed both kaiju. Striker and Gipsy were recovered and repaired. I was injured in the fight," he says, gesturing to his right arm with his chin, "and Marshal Pentecost removed me from the active-duty roster. He assigned me overall command of our operation at the Breach."
"Excuse me, Mister Hansen," breaks in the French delegate, "but why would Mister Pentecost give you, a pilot, command rather than passing the authority to another member of his command staff?"
Herc bristles at the man’s casual dismissal of Jaeger pilots. "Marshal Pentecost felt I was the best choice. I was thoroughly briefed on the plan and fully aware of the capabilities of the remaining pilots and Jaegers. With respect, no other staff member had direct combat or command experience. I have both, from both my time as a Ranger and as an officer of the RAAF."
A considerable period of time passes while Herc details the events of the Battle of the Breach and the panel plies Raleigh, Mako, Herc, and Tendo with questions about the operation of Jaegers and the execution of the plan. Hermann listens with half an ear, occasionally jotting down a reminder to address one point or another brought up by the panel. Finally, the time for the K-Science portion of the presentation arrives.
"While the Jaegers were flown to the drop point in Challenger Deep and then walked across the seafloor to the Breach, Doctors Geiszler and Gottlieb worked to improve our plan for the final assault on the Breach," Herc says.
"Mister Gottlieb … ," the Council president begins.
"Doctor Gottlieb," Newt interjects and Hermann’s mouth twitches into a smile.
"Doctor Gottlieb, why was it necessary to employ nuclear weapons to close the Breach? Certainly there must have been a less dangerous method."
"Only a nuclear bomb could deliver the force required to cause a collapse of the Breach while being deployed quickly by a Jaeger. I must also remind you that the device carried by Striker Eureka and detonated at the bottom of Challenger Deep was a comparatively small bomb. May I also ask you to recall the first three kaiju to attack each required multiple warheads to kill and each individual bomb used was larger than that in our operation," Hermann replies confidently.
"What about the explosion of Gipsy Danger’s nuclear reactor? That must have been more power and released more radiation than the actual bomb?"
"No radioactive emissions from the Jaeger’s reactor reached Earth as the detonation occurred well inside the Anteverse. The Breach collapsed in advance of the shock wave from the explosion, confining all radioactivity to the Anteverse."
Newt interrupts. "The bombs also incinerated the kaiju corpses before they could cause a massive slick of Kaiju Blue, which is so much worse than a little radiation. That stuff lingers for years, while radiation disperses pretty quickly."
"Thank you for your opinion, doctor … ."
"It’s not an opinion. It’s a fact."
"Excuse me … ."
"The fishing grounds where we left those first kaiju to rot still haven’t recovered. The ecosystems are trashed … ."
Moore speaks up. "I should inform the panel and those following along that Doctor Geiszler may have a conflict of interest when it comes to portraying the seriousness of environmental damage from Kaiju Blue. He has recently been marketing his knowledge of the phenomenon to governments looking to begin environmental remediation."
"That has nothing … ," Newt stammers.
"Pardon me, sir," Hermann breaks in smoothly, "what you say about Doctor Geiszler’s potential future employment—and remind me to inquire later how you found out about what I’m sure are confidential negotiations, if they are indeed taking place—does not render his assessment of the comparative impact of radiation and Kaiju Blue contamination inaccurate. If you will kindly provide me with your email address, I will happily forward you my annotated bibliography on the subject, which contains summaries of over one-hundred-and-fifty studies investigating the phenomenon, a number of which were prepared at the request of and with funding from this body’s parent organization."
"The-there’s no need for that, Doctor. Let’s move on to the next question," Moore sputters. Newt looks at Hermann with admiration. Hermann gives a tiny shrug in response.
"Why did this assault on the Breach succeed, while earlier similar attempts failed, with the bombs exploding harmlessly—to the Kaiju at least—on the seafloor?"
"Doctor Geiszler and I discovered that a ‘key’ of sorts was necessary to open passage through the Breach. That key was Kaiju DNA. Therefore, we advised the Jaeger pilots to grapple one of the kaiju and fall with it into the Breach. The method worked as we predicted," Hermann responds.
"Doctor Geiszler, I’m curious as to how were you able to determine this method was necessary to enter the Breach?" Moore asks, grinning like the Cheshire cat. Hermann’s hackles rise. Whatever is coming cannot be good.
"We—Doctor Gottlieb and I—used technology I developed to tap into the Kaiju intelligence network," Newt answers.
"What sort of technology?" Moore prompts.
Newt chews his lip. "That’s classified."
"Your organization has no authority to ‘classify’ data."
"Sorry, sir, your question relates to sensitive operational data and cannot be disclosed in a forum like this," Herc interrupts.
Moore’s face breaks out in a nasty grin. "Let’s try this from a different angle. Reliable sources have informed me the ‘technology’ mentioned by Doctor Geiszler is most likely a type of neural bridge like those used by Jaeger pilots. These devices automatically and by design create a two-way flow of information. If this is indeed what the doctors used to ‘tap into the Kaiju intelligence network,’ they also, necessarily, would have provided the Kaiju and their ‘masters’ with information about human materiel and plans. Such information could explain the amount of damage caused by the kaiju in Hong Kong and the need to destroy the final two Jaegers in Challenger Deep." He pauses to allow his accusations to sink in before continuing. "So, they could be traitors, as well as heroes."
The knuckles of Herc’s clenched fists turn as white as Newt’s face. Hermann swallows an urge to lunge across the table and intervening space and strangle the man with his bare hands. From the corner of his eye, he sees Tendo, Raleigh, Mako, and Herc calculating the odds of successfully completing the same action.
Where is he getting this information? Why is he so set on destroying the Jaeger program’s—and especially Newton’s—reputation and prospects for the future? Hermann places a calming hand on Newt’s leg and focuses momentarily on transmitting love and confidence through the touch. It works. Newt’s breathing slows and steadies and some color returns to his face. He squeezes Hermann’s hand.
"With respect, Mister Moore," Herc growls dangerously, "your sources are talking out their asses. I said it before: There is absolutely no evidence of any cooperation between any member of the Jaeger program and the Kaiju masters."
Before Moore can gather himself for a response, Hermann enters the fray. "May I also remind you, Mister Moore, such an accusation of treason aimed against Doctor Geiszler and myself may be libelous under applicable law unless you are able to produce conclusive proof admissible in a court of law of your statement’s truth."
The man recoils slightly in surprise, but recovers quickly. Hermann stares at him levelly, expression neutral.
"My apologies, doctors, for my colleague," the British delegate says. "You must understand the depth of feelings raised by this subject."
"Of course, sir," Hermann replies. "However, feelings, no matter how deeply held, are not a substitute for fact, especially in such a respected forum as this."
"Yes. Ahem. Very well," the representative says. "I see our time is beginning to run short, so we must move along." He glances down at his notes. "Mister Hansen, are you certain your actions will prevent any further kaiju attacks?"
"I’d like Doctor Gottlieb to address your question, sir. He can explain the situation more clearly than I can," Herc says.
Hermann says, "There is no way to be absolutely certain the Kaiju cannot return. We lack knowledge of how the Masters created the Breach and whether they can create another one. We also have no information on how much damage the explosion of Gipsy Danger’s nuclear reactor caused in the Anteverse. We know only that it rendered whatever force held the Breach open inoperative and the Breach has not yet reopened. Beyond that, everything is base speculation."
As they’d rehearsed, Herc picks up seamlessly. "Which is why we urge the United Nations to maintain monitoring systems around the Pacific, reopen Shatterdomes, and construct Mark VI Jaegers—Jaegers are the most effective weapon against kaiju, as we’ve demonstrated—to prepare for a possible second war."
"Yes, Mister Hansen, we’ve received your recommendations and will treat them with all due consideration as we set our course for the future," the Council president says. He glances at his watch. "I see we have consumed all of our time. Thank you for your time today, gentlemen." All five of the Jaeger program men turn in unison and level stares at the man, who swallows audibly. "And Miss Mori. You and your crews have all of our gratitude. Thank you for your service."
The Council members’ polite applause quickly drowns in cheers and stomps from the gallery in the back of the room. Newt turns and waves cheerfully to the crowd, who respond with whistles and increased volume. Hermann rolls his eyes, but allows his partner his rockstar moment.
Eventually they file out of the Council chamber into the anteroom. There, they catch their breath and try to relax their long-tensed muscles. The three (ex-) pilots chat quietly. Newt ducks out to find a restroom.
Tendo and Hermann excuse themselves and begin a slow amble down the adjoining hall toward the exit. Before they travel far, Hermann halts them to wait for Newt to catch up.
"You really schooled those guys in there. Where’d you learn to do that?" Tendo asks.
"My father, actually, taught me the basics," Hermann replies. "I used to help him prepare for presentations before government bodies and funding agencies and would watch the proceedings from the gallery or on recordings. We performed often enough for me to document patterns of beneficial and detrimental behavior. I applied that knowledge today."
"Well, great job. I think you saved our butts in there. Especially Newt’s."
"That is rapidly becoming a habit," Hermann sighs.
"He’s a lucky guy." Tendo pauses and peers at something in the distance. "Your dad’s coming up behind you. Get ready," he warns in his barely competent Cantonese. Hermann nods and squares his shoulders as he turns to face Lars Gottlieb.
"Hermann, it is good to see you again and well," Lars says smoothly in German.
Hermann’s eyes narrow. So you don’t want my colleague to know what you’re saying, do you? he thinks. Two can play at languages. "Father. To what do I owe the honor of your attention?" Hermann asks in clipped English, which his father properly interprets as a slight.
Lars yields as Tendo steps closer to Hermann. He replies in English, "You handled yourself well in front of the Council."
"Thank you. I hope you fare as well tomorrow."
Gottlieb frowns. "What are you plans now that the PPDC is being disbanded, Hermann? Do you plan to return to Europe or maybe the United States to be near family again?" he asks. Hermann hears his father’s unvoiced ‘as you should’ and ignores it.
"As much as I would love to be closer to my siblings and their children, I feel drawn to remain on the Pacific coast," Hermann answers, speaking carefully. "You needn’t worry about my being alone wherever I go. My adopted family will be at hand."
Newt’s squeaky shout startles all three men. "Hey!" he yells as he races toward them along the hall pointing aggressively at the elder Gottlieb. "You!"
==Meta==
Apologies for the dearth of fluff this time around. This is in here to try and build the world out a little bit more, you know, give you a little taste of how the Jaeger veterans are viewed and what the world political situation is like.
Hermann inflicts another fancy tie knot on Newt.
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