Part 6 (1/2)
Well, time for business, he decided. But he'd take it as easy on her as he could; she'd had a rough time. ”How about some more information on this rebellion?” he asked, keeping his tone casual.
”I have already told Major Dawson what I am certain about,” Corina said quietly.
”And the mind-probe of Entos confirmed all of it. But can you tell me why it's happening?”
”Thark is convinced that the White Order can rule the Empire much more effectively than you unTalented humans have been doing. They have, after all, ruled Irschcha for over five millennia, and according to Thark, brought about peace and order for most of it. He feels honor-bound to do the same for the rest of the galaxy.”
”Looks to me more like stagnation,” Medart commented. ”You've had s.p.a.ce travel for more than--what, two of those millennia?--but when MacLeod found you, you were still system-bound. Sorry for the interruption; go on.”
”I could not agree with him, and came here,” Corina said. ”I have no physical proof, however, of anything I have said. I learned what I have reported when I broke through Thark's mind-s.h.i.+eld this morning.”
”Physical proof isn't necessary,” Medart told her. ”Your report, backed up by the probe of Entos, is enough. Learn anything else?”
”Not really. The whole Order is not taking part, of course, but those who are not active in the Crusade will also not actively oppose it.”
”Oh? Why not?”
”They cannot honorably do so,” Corina replied, surprised. ”The oath of the Order forbids such opposition to its leaders, though of course it cannot compel any to follow orders which would lead them to death, as the Crusade will.”
”You're not actually a member of the Order, then?”
”No. I was to be initiated soon; however, for now I am bound by no oaths. I am still free to follow my own paths.”
”Uh-huh,” Medart agreed. ”Good thing for the Empire.” Not as free as she believed, he thought but didn't say. She had chosen sides, and it was up to him to make use of that choice. Then he went on. ”I still need your help. As secretive as the Order is, we don't know much of anything about this Talent you say they have, much less how to combat it.”
The intercom chimed before he could go further. Dawson answered, and Medart joined him, looking into the screen.
”Lieutenant Edmonds, Duty Officer of the Watch,” the caller identified herself. ”The head of the district Sanctioners is here. He has extradition papers for Ms. Losinj, who is accused of a.s.saulting a Sanctioner officer. He also demands we release Entos.”
”Send him in,” Medart said, the casualness he'd a.s.sumed for Corina's benefit vanis.h.i.+ng. ”I'll handle this myself.”
”Yes, sir.” The viewscreen went blank.
Medart turned to Corina. ”Did you a.s.sault a Sanctioner officer?”
”That is a matter of interpretation,” she replied. ”I was on my way here when they stopped me. They were taking me to Headquarters for execution; I had to use Talent to knock one of them out so I could escape.”
”Self-defense, then, since you were trying to prevent a crime by escaping.” Medart took Dawson's place behind the desk, and the Marine took position slightly behind and to the Ranger's right, standing at parade rest. All three waited silently until the door slid open again, to admit the Sanctioner chief. He wasted no time getting to the point.
”You have no right to interfere in purely planetary matters,” he said.
”I must require the return of Losinj and Entos.”
”You're wrong on two counts,” Medart said coldly. ”As a Ranger, it is not only my right to interfere, as you put it, anywhere and anywhen I see a threat to the Empire, it is my duty. Rebellion against the Empire is such a threat, not a 'planetary matter'; Losinj was acting properly in defending herself to report that treason. She is guilty of no crimes, which is not true of the ones who obstructed her.
”I am not particularly concerned about the ones who arrested her,” he continued. ”They were obeying what they considered lawful orders from their Baron, on his world, so punis.h.i.+ng them would be unjust. Entos, however, is guilty of attempted murder on Imperial territory. I have both eyewitness and mind-probe evidence, so there is no doubt of his guilt; he will be executed.”
”But she betrayed the Order!” the Sanctioner chief objected. ”For that, if nothing else, she deserves to die. Entos was acting properly.”
”Not under Imperial law,” Medart said. ”The sentence stands. And I advise you not to get more deeply involved. Just carry out your peace-keeping functions.”
”But--”