By Blood Alone Read Free Page A

suitably apologetic. “Yes, sir.” He turned to Booly. “So, Colonel, given the fact that you were stationed on Caliente, how could you tell whether Captain Pardo and his legionnaires were faithful to the fifty-three thousand two hundred thirty-seven regulations presently listed on the Legion’s books?”
    The question drew titters from the audience. Fox-Smith rose once again. “May I ask the relevance of this line of questioning?”
    Hassan looked to Loy. “Motive has been established. The accused spends more than he makes. The question goes to opportunity. Relevance will become obvious in a moment.”
    Loy waved a hand. “Whatever. Get on with it.”
    Hassan turned to Booly. “Answer the question, please.”
    “I hold scheduled as well as unscheduled inspections.”
    Hassan nodded as if hearing that particular piece of information for the very first time. “I see. So the men and women stationed on Pebble never knew when you might arrive.”
    “That’s correct.”
    “Describe the inspection that took place on Earth date October 23, 2645.”
    Booly had been expecting the question and was ready. If his words sounded rehearsed, they were. “Sergeant Major Mueller and I landed on Pebble at approximately twenty hundred hours. It was dark.”
    Hassan nodded his encouragement. “Tell the court what happened next.”
    Booly shrugged. “We pulled our duffel bags off the transport and headed for the terminal. That’s when a hover truck passed in front of us.”
    “Was there something special about the truck?” Hassan inquired. “Something that set it apart?”
    “It had Legion markings.”
    “Please continue.”
    “I was curious, so I followed the truck across the tarmac to where a shuttle was parked.”
    “Did you note any markings on the shuttle?”
    “Sergeant Major Mueller took holos of the vessel. The name ‛Rim Queen’ had been painted across her bow and the number ISV-7421-3 was stenciled on her hull.”
    Hassan turned toward Loy. “If it please the court-Sergeant Major Mueller’s holos are marked as exhibit 36-and subsequent investigation revealed that the shuttle is registered to the freighter Rim Queen . A vessel sought in connection with a variety of smuggling activities.”
    Fox-Smith came to his feet. “I move to strike counsel’s last comment as both irrelevant and prejudicial.”
    Loy waved a hand. “So noted. Strike the major’s comment.”
    Hassan remained unperturbed. An idea had been planted-and there was no way that Loy could remove it. The prosecutor turned to Booly. “What happened next?”
    “Mueller and I stood in the shadows and watched Captain Pardo approach the shuttle.”
    “Wait a minute,” Hassan said critically. “It was dark ... how could you be sure the man was Pardo?”
    “He passed under a hover spot,” Booly said with certainty, “ and registered on my wrist term.”
    Hassan mustered a look of surprise. “On your wrist term? Show the court.”
    What ensued was more for the benefit of the press than the court, since nearly every officer present wore a similar device and knew how they functioned.
    Booly went along, however, even going so far as to roll up his sleeve and display a sinewy arm. The terminal was black. He touched a button, and a holo bloomed.
    Eight miniature heads appeared and started to rotate. Seven were dark, showing they were off-line, while one glowed green. The name was there for everyone to read: “M. Pardo.”
    There was a stir as the robocams whirred in for a closer look. Booly glanced at Loy, saw a look that could only be described as venomous, and knew there was no going back. Hassan nodded for effect. “So, that particular function was activated? And confirmed the captain’s identity?”
    “That’s correct.”
    “And the transmissions are secure? No one could feed false information into your terminal?”

    “Legion wrist terms are extremely well protected.”
    “Go ahead.”
    Booly described how he called Pardo’s name, how