WoWS3 Chpt 41

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==Weapons of War Saga: The Final March- Chapter 41 - ==
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===Uncovering a Coverup===
Port Lazarus Station
New Lazarus, Star League in Exile
14th December, 3144
When you think it's bad enough, it gets worse. "These are the logs from the Seahorse.”
Haida spotted it first. "They've been altered."
"What?"
"They've been altered."
“And look here. Empress of India was in system at the time too doing unrep.” Haida slid over another set of logs.
Admiral Foster sighed, "There's no report of a rape of any kind on the surface. If anything, Summer had a lower than average crime rate during the time in question."
“Possible that they just didn’t beam the report to either ship. Crimes are rarely reported like that unless it does involve crew.” Haida offered.
Amanda Roberts took up her part of the work. "Medical…just a moment…" she dialed out on her personal comm, "Vendetta, are you on the Station?"
<<"Yes mother, why?">>
"I need you at the JAG office, room 304, as fast as you can come, and bring your reading shoes."
"Reading shoes?" Foster inquired.
<<"On my way mom…">>
“An expression from long ago that means get here in a hurry, and you;ve got lots of reading to do in little time.” Haida offered quietly.
"What do you think you found?"
"Well, our suicidal 'witness' had gastrointestinal distress, but the details weren't logged by the Doctor…and there are some other irregularities."
“Yeah and look at this unrep manifest. Something seems weird to me.” Haida kept studying the log.
“Could be anything from good old fashioned back channel horse trading to black marketeering. Which means it could also be completely unrelated, just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Vendetta arrived still wearing her clinic scrubs. "I hope this won't take long."
Amanda handed her the record, then, "And I want to examine mister Stevens. Full physical."
“Probably a long shot we know with how long it has been but we’re running out of ideas.” Haida said.
"What am I looking for?" Vendetta asked
"Evidence of a crime that even the people punishing the perpetrators won't readily admit to, and the victim will refuse to admit to." Amanda stated. "You have as much time as necessary to eliminate that possibility, otherwise there might actually be some significant court martials."
“The claim is there was a rape. We can’t find it. Report says this man witnessed it, was intimidated into silence, then became suicidal.” Foster said flatly.
"With the Admiral's permission, I'll have a look." Vendetta said.
“Do it. There’s something going on in this navy and I want to make sure it isn’t rot finding its way in.”
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"Exhibit A, Able Spaceman Alan Stevens, age nineteen. Damage to the lower gastrointestinal tract, including long term scarring from repetitive penetrations. He's homosexual, so that's almost to be expected, there are also signs of recently treated minor bone injuries indicating restraints, along with sub-dermal healing trace associated with repeated bruising. Spinal fluid samples show doses of Parahypnol six fifty seven, a sort of 'bathtub roofie' used in the kink community in the Magistracy of Canopus, and outlawed in most of the civilized inner sphere. Also trace of Sezzanine with needle marks that require a second person and the entry style suggests forcible dosages."
“I hope I am jumping to conclusions based on what you are telling me but I do not like these implications.” Foster said.
"Well, some guys are into 'taking it rough' but most of those don't need to be dosed." Vendetta explained, "the psychological traumas in his interview by Station psychiatrists suggest ptsd associated with repeated, systemic, sexual assaults. He's not the witness, he's the victim."
“Which means the most likely explanation is the two men did not rape a local woman, they had been raping the Able Spaceman. And for some time.”
"Records show a few reports of domestic nature for both NCOs, investigators dismissed the allegations of…one wife, and a girlfriend." Haida reported, "Their records during the war got them a pass, I think, given the number of medals each of them had."
“Which we can now only speculate about. I am beginning to believe Commander Mahan did the right thing, for the right reason, but because of how he did it his career is now in jeopardy.” Foster shook his head.
"I think we can strike Gaines from consideration for promotion." Amanda said coldly, "i think the crew of SLS Seahorse may need to be investigated as accessories to a crime-a Pinto isn't that big, they knew."
“Aff. This kind of coverup cannot be tolerated.” Foster nodded. “Which means we have some terrible news for an old friend.”
"Tom's going to have a damned anyeurism. This could kill him for real." Haida quieted down. “But we have to tell him.”
"I'll do it." Amanda said. "I'm the outsider, I can be sent away, this kind of news shouldn't be from his close friends."
"It's not your job, Amanda Roberts." David said, "it's mine."
“He’s in his quarters.” Haida looked at Dave.
Foster squared his shoulders, and left, to tell an old friend horrible news.
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Thomas Mahan’s quarters
“Enter.” Mahan gruffed at the chime letting him know he had a visitor.
"Tom, I have…bad news." David said.
“I know. He told me everything as soon as I saw him. Stupid fool. He’s ruined now.”
"There will have to be a real investigation, and charges." David said, "How much did he know, and when, will become very important."
“He’s my grandson and there’s nothing I can do to protect him now. Here. This is a recording of our conversation. He agreed to it.” Thomas handed over a datachit.
"I'm sorry it has to be this way…I'll see that he gets a good advocate."
“Thank you, Dave. To think it seems like yesterday we were in the CIC of SLS Larry Nichols hammering nails together… Now I’m putting in my papers early. I wish I could have stayed in a bit longer but my son and daughter-in-law need me now.”
"I understand. Those days-on the Larry, they were good days, you did good things, great things…"
“You ever wind up with any trueborns with your genes, Dave? I know it’s different with the Clans, but a man like you shouldn’t leave this world without passing on a legacy.”
Foster mused, "Roberts, Class 01 of 1, mixed with Amanda's." he said, "My…son? Made it through training, made it as far as the Trial of Bloodright, died fighting Pirates over Tortuga Prime."
“Well at least he died fighting the good fight. I lost two other sons to other causes and a daughter to a bad child birth. My wife died of cancer some time ago. I think I’ve lived too long, Dave.”
"Stick around a bit longer, Tom. I've buried too many old friends, and we're not getting younger." Dave told him.
“Aye. This old spacer isn’t done yet. I’ve still got a son and a grandson even if the grandson is going to be in prison for a long time for what he did that need me.”
“How did you do it though, going from a Battleship to a Corvette to the Merchant Marine Q ships?” Dave tried distracting Thomas.
“For a spacer like me, a ship is a ship. Doesn’t matter how big, or how many guns. They’re all the same in one way. They carry me through the black. I think that is how I would like to die. One last sail in the black.”
"You'll get that last cruise, Tom." David found he meant it, "I'll make sure you do."
“I believe you. Even if you have to take my ashes into space. That would be good enough.” Thomas’ eyes closed and the tumbler fell from his hand as he gently snored.
“Just drunk. Good.” Dave checked Thomas’ vitals.
----
===Visiting the Accused===
elsewhere on the station…
"Tell me a story I can Believe, Commander Mahan." She was a face from his Grandfather's time, one-eyed, the lattice of an implant where her left eye should be, long coat,and cutlass, and she looked like a fury from legend.
“It was supposed to be justice for a victim. It snowballed. I know I’m done. Nothing can stop that now.”
"There are two sorts of honor, Commander. Inner Honor, and Outer Honor. A Pinto's a small ship."
“I don’t regret helping my crewman. My crew is being stupid trying to save me. Maybe I could have gotten them to tell the truth if those bastards didn’t put me in medical for a week at the same time I put them in medical. Still, I’m their Captain. I am responsible. I gave the orders.”
She stared at him silently. Then, "William Mahan, your grandfather was a better poker player. How long did you let it go on before you acted?"
“Too long. I thought it was innocent at first, by the time I realized it was something worse it was too late.”
"Too goddam right it was 'too long'." she said, "You don't deserve this, but I owe your Grandfather a lot…so, instead of a court-appointed advocate, I'm going to spend the price of a Dropship to get you enough attorney, that you won't end up dying in a cell…and I may intercede with Her Highness if you lose, and offer you the chance to redeem yourself…but it's not for you, it's because your grandfather is a good man and an old friend. Am I clear?"
“Oh god, I let it get that out of hand didn’t I?” William leaned into his hands, cupping his face as he began to sob. “Yes. I’m sorry. I know I should have more composure.”
"We're always sorry when we make mistakes. That's the true reason apology exists, but you did nothing to me. The person you need to seek forgiveness from, is currently in the in-patient treatment ward. You need to apologize to HIM, and to your Grandfather…and maybe your parents, but not me. You've done me no wrong to be forgiven for."
“May I freshen up first?” William stood up.
"So long as you don't take the coward's path, sure, you're still a free man at this point, so far as I know."
“No, that really would kill him. Then I would be guilty of murder. Right now I’m guilty of being the king of the oblivious and stupid people.”
"Not so long as you learn from it, take it from a girl who tried to storm a Lola Three with five marines and a cutlass, because she was too stubborn and bull-headed to do the intelligent thing instead."
“Strange, now that what I did is out in the open I think I’m finally able to face it.” William walked into his bathroom and left the door open as he washed his face.
After a few moments he dried his face off with a towel.
“I’m ready for the worst day of my life.” He said as he stepped out of the bathroom.
"If this is the worst, you'll live a charmed life indeed." she noted, putting her eye back in. 
“I’m about to face my Grandfather. Trust me, it may seem like today is pretty good but it’s about to get a lot worse for me.”
"Want a bad day? Try dying and coming back. Everything else just doesn't compare to that." she told him, "being that close to heaven, and having it wrenched away."
“Try disappointing your biggest supporter and trashing everything you ever worked towards and knowing it.”
"Mom." She stated. "They looked for me for years after my abduction, and when they finally found me, I'd been so butchered…" she tapped the side of her head, "...that I no longer recognized them…any of them, I had to learn my family from records."
“Jeez. Okay your ****** up beats my ****** up.”
"Yah, and you're kinda cute." she said, "but I'm a little old for you. Let's go visit your grandfather."
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===Facing the Truth===
Medbay, Thomas’ room 
Port Lazarus Station
New Lazarus, Star League in Exile
“Hey Grandpa.” William said as he kneeled by Thomas’ bed. Amanda stood behind him, slightly to the left.
Thomas reached up cupping his grandson’s head in his hand and brought his head down closer to him then kissed his forehead.
“You’re an idiot, but I still believe in you.” Thomas said.
“Dad’s already blaming me for killing you.”
“Seems you have someone in your corner. Someone who can help you. More than I can at least. Thank you, Amanda.”
"I'm just buying his lawyer, Tom…and betting that if the lawyer doesn't get him cleared, I can steal him for the Privateers." Amanda said impishly, "I mean, what fun would it be, if I didn't get at least ONE Mahan of my own?"
“Heh. I would have been proud to call you daughter in law. If only my other sons had lived long enough.” Thomas told her.
"Yeah, but I died. Coming back was a bitch and a half, but this is Billy's moment." she said, "He's got something important to say."
“I’m sorry, grandpa.” William said as he began to cry.
“I know. Like I said you were an idiot, but I still believe in you. Just be the man I know you can be.”
“I promise grandpa. I’ll do it.” William said.
“That’s my grandson.” Thomas smiled. “All this fuss because I got drunk. I must be in worse shape than I thought.”
"Hey, Tom? If you decide to actually punch that button? I'd take you too." Amanda contributed, "Get both of you a couple cool hats!" she winked.
“If I were younger…” Thomas winked back.
"Yo ho ho…and off we go." she said sadly.
“Cheer up. I’m an old man. It is simply nature. I am not made to be immortal. You? You’ll figure yourself out eventually and do all the things that you want.”
Amanda nodded, "Veronica hasn't re-cracked that nut yet. Best I can manage, is second chances. Bill, you've got testimony to give, and I need to find out where that damn lawyer is…"
“For that I thank you Amanda. So I give you my last gift. In my quarters, my desk. Third drawer down. It is my updated will. I think you’ll find it useful to make yourself whole after paying for William’s lawyers.” Thomas smiled.
She sniffed, "NO DYING. Dying hurts, Tom, trust me on this, Live as hard as you can, don't die now."
“Heh. Everyone seems afraid I’m going to die any moment now. I’m a tough old Spacer. I’ve got a little left in the tank yet.” Thomas chuckled.
"Great, I'll get you a hat!" she grinned manically.
“You know what you just did right?” Dave Foster spoke up.
“Yeah. She’s a strong girl. She’ll get over me retiring.” Thomas chuckled again. “Now hopefully someone will tell me what is actually wrong with me that I’m in medical? I only remember getting drunk!”
“It’s your heart, Tom. After you fell asleep you nearly had a heart attack in your sleep.” Dave said somberly.
“Well, that definitely settles it. No more high G burns for me, ugh. Now my daughter-in-law is going to insist I eat rabbit food…”
“How the hell you lived so long with your diet is a mystery science may never solve.” Foster chuckled grimly.
“Admiral Foster, I know I owe you an apology too.” William finally gathered his courage for this. “I’m sorry. What I did was wrong and I disgraced the uniform and the service.”
"Let me tell you what you did wrong, so you learn from it." David said, "You overlooked a situation until it got out of hand, then you skipped normal process to correct it, and then, you hashed covering it up. I'll expect better from you in the future."
“Yes sir. I did, sir. It has become clear to me I was promoted too fast because of my family name and I made terrible mistakes with the position and authority I was trusted with…wait, what?"
"I said, I expect better of you in the future." David told him. "Because you'll have one,and you can learn from this, or you can wallow in it. I prefer you learn from it."
“For my grandpa. I’ll keep my promise to him. You can count on it, Sir.” William told him.
"It's better if YOU count on it." David told him, "Considering that that pixie-girl with the funny hat is betting she can get you for her own fleet and I still have use of you."
“I understand, Sir. I know I can’t go unpunished, Sir.”
"Then take this.." Foster handed him a datachit. "Get to your ship, and start looking for a new XO. Your punishment is to live with this and make something out of it besides a dog's dinner. You'll be on the Lyran front, and I expect more of you now."
“You’re not demoting me? Or putting me under someone else’s command?”
"We dragged the truth out of your crew, William. We know what happened, who altered the logs, how, and why. Don't take this as 'easy mode', you've used up your second chance on this, next time, you're out."
“Yes sir.” William acknowledged
“And take these, you do need something to learn from.” Dave Foster picked up a stack of books and shoved them in William’s gut.
"What about Gaines?" he asked.
"Gaines is on his way to Kolossus." David said, "He won't be coming back."
“Do I want to know what that means?” William asked.
"It means he's not forgiven, but he is still going to be used. Don't end up like Gaines."
“Yes, Sir.” William steadied the pile of books in his off hand then saluted.
After the door closed behind William, Thomas spoke, "Sent to Kolossus?"
"Yep." David said, "He can't stay in the SLDF, but Kolossus has…uses for him."
“Hmmm… I suppose it is the best fate any could expect in such a situation.”
"That all depends. That AI is preparing to fight god-like aliens…or at least, it thinks it is."
“There are stories in the shipping lanes and burrows. A lot of us believe we’re not as alone as we seem.”
"TAS Philadelphia…yeah, I know, and Kolossus is going to pick a fight with it."
“It may be a long shot but Kolossus really should start with diplomacy. But then again we spacers have been trying to get away from planets for a long time, many of us to do something many describe as ‘the scattering’.”
"I expect Kolossus is going to use up Gaines and the guys like him just looking for it, or them, or…whatever. Long range, one-way exploration to be sure."
“Well, I’m not sure I want to wish them luck then. Knowing mine they’ll find what Kolossus is looking for long before we’re ready and it’ll be the end of us all.”
David released a cold chuckle, "yeah. But if that happens, it will happen anyway."
“Aye. Makes it all the more important we help Helena though. A lot of us believe she is our great hope for humanity.”
"More than anyone might know, I suspect." David agreed, then his comm chimed.
He looked at it, "Erinyes is here."
“Tell the crabby old girl I said hi and I still haven’t given up on getting her to agree to a date.”
Foster laughed as he left.
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===Reunion on the Dock===
docking area, Port Lazarus Station…
"Holy shit, Esme!! You've got gray!" Amanda Roberts
"It's called aging, Amanda, you philistine, you got gray too…now what's this I hear about cutting edge AI research? SO what did you and Kolossus do to my Exploration Cruiser design??"
"Needs must." Amanda said, "We needed combat cruisers more than exploration platforms."
“Hello, Esme. Nice to finally meet you in person, so to speak.” Truk’s avatar came up to the two women.
Esme reached out and hugged the remote, then, "Erin's been eager to meet you for a while, how about if I let you two get on with it? I just need to catch Helena."
“Yes, I do apologize for interrupting your reunion with Amanda. Please enjoy my hospitality.” Truk trundled off with a smile.
"Is it really, Amanda again, and not 'Primary'?" Esme asked.
"It's Amanda again. Kolossus put…his foot down and my girls backed him up, no more calving experiments."
“Good. That was taking far too much of a toll on you, but it seems you have a new plan.”
"Not my plan." Amanda said, "They're vetting a volunteer. If Vendetta can't treat her cancers…and then they're going to try the Gestalt experiments."
“Part of me is terrified and the rest excited.”
"Same, also, Her Majesty has officially chained me to a desk." Amanda quipped, "So there's been some events involving interviewing substitutes."
“She finally took the kid gloves off? Kind of surprised.”
"I am, as you well know, a terrible mother. So, I have to learn how to be a good one. Petra's going through changes…and I skipped a lot of those thanks to involuntary brain surgery and being far from home."
“I know you will. You may be stubborn and a bit thick headed at times but you have more compassion and love than you give yourself credit for.”
"We'll see, I calved sixty-five times, twelve are active in the physical world, one out of those twelve decanted early because she was needed here…and now, I'm learning what a shit parent I've been through experience…and what my own parents must've gone through. She's started dying her hair..."
“Hahahahahahaha… Oh boy… That is rich. But you’re making an effort to become better. That is the important part." Esme chuckled
"No, what's 'rich' is that Kolossus loaned Famine to Her Majesty." Amanda told her friend.
“Oh that must have gone over well at first.”
"I was too drained to argue it, so my psychopathic tendencies are out and about in the real world instead of safely contained in Similife, and…so far, she hasn't…gone off the rails?" Amanda winced, "but you remember that test, right?"
“Been a lot of tests over the years and I’m getting old enough to get forgetful now and again.”
"Yeah…anyway, we need to catch up with Helena, and you need to be briefed in and meet Trinh."
"Trinh?" Esme asked
"She's our upload subject, also Vendetta would never forgive me if I didn't make sure Aunt Esme stopped by. She's a Doctor now." Amanda said
“Doctors, engineers, scientists, you have a lot of accomplished daughters.” Esme commented.
"Perfidy's a musician, Peregrine's turned into a Diplomat…" Amanda sighed.
“More to be proud of.” Esme commented
"...and Pestilence is a General in the SLDF." Amanda finished.
“That’s not so bad.”
"If you remember, because she was number three, she HATED violence early on." Amanda commented.
“Ah yes, well still from what I know of her mom and Helena I feel confident she’ll never start the fight but she’ll finish it in the most efficient manner possible.”
"And then, there's the twelfth one. Atrocity." Amanda told her, "Calved her after…the incident that stranded you out there." Amanda frowned, "She's reorganizing Clan Jade Falcon's remnants for the Lyrans. Calls herself 'Hazen' now. She's less comprehensible to me than Petra is…and four. That's Priss? She apparently has been communicating with Daryl's side of the family…after getting herself killed three or four times."
“Well, just try to remember, they all came from you so somewhere in you is what made them still.”
"Oh dear, a clone of Amanda Roberts getting herself killed? That's not a new one…" Erin's remote came down the ramp with Truk. "Tell me she hasn't been reckless, Truk…"
"I would, but it would be a lie."
“Okay enough teasing. Amanda’s a work in progress that won’t get better if we keep teasing her.” Esme said.
“You’re right, Esme. Maybe you two should go to the food court. We just got a shipment of fresh strawberries in and word is Thela makes a wonderful shortbread.” Truk offered.
“Truk, are you trying to make time with Erin?” Esme giggled.
Erin smiled enigmatically, "Mmmm…unlike you, we can multitask…aahh."
Amanda flinched, "Too much information!!"
"No such thing." Esme commented.
“And really it is nothing more tawdry than the equivalent of a back rub.” Truk said defensively.
The whir of pressure washers giving Erin’s hull a good scrub were suddenly audible in the dock.
"Yeah, let's go, Truk's getting her wet." Amanda cracked, "They need some private time."
“You two have fun but if I find two ships when I get back you better believe there will be trouble. And I’ll want every detail.” Esme commented with a chuckle
"Esme, where would we find a shotgun large enough?" Amanda asked.
“Guess I’ll just have to use my engineering genius to make one.” Esme said.
They headed for the lifts to the market level.
“So shall we go talk to our volunteers?” Truk offered.
"I think that might be for the best, did I overact?" Erin asked.
“No. As much as I have studied their psychology they sometimes still elude me, but I think they know the real us and realize we were just having some fun with them.” Truk said.
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