Redburn nodded. "Yes."

Vitios's eyes glowed fiercely, and Redburn felt as though he were suddenly plunging through deep, dark space. "A senior officer, the graduate of a superior military academy, and a Diamond Sunburst winner for his actions on Spica, has just learned that his command is surrounded. What would we expect from this sort of man? Wouldn't such a commander return to rally his troops? He's only half a klick over a hill. Didn't you expect him to return, Leftenant?"

Redburn swallowed hard and drew in a deep breath. "Yes, sir."

"Of course you would, Leftenant." Vitios opened his arms to include all the officers in the gallery and the three men on the tribunal. "Anyone with military experience knows a commanding officer does not abandon his men. But what is Justin Xiang Allard's reply to this urgent appeal by his troops? 'No way out here, either. Do what you can, Andy. The cadre is yours.' He abandons his command, then adds, 'It's a trap. All a trap. Don't run west . . .' " Vitios shook his head. "He abandons them and dashes their hopes for any sort of escape."

Vitios smiled conspiratorially at Redburn, and dropped his voice to a malicious whisper. "You did feel betrayed, didn't you?"

Redburn hesitated, then nodded his head with resignation. "Yes."

"And so you were." Vitios looked to Courtney. "I am finished with this witness."

The Major General looked at his watch. "Given the hour, this court will adjourn."

Lofton shot to his feet. "Objection, Your Honor! It's only three-thirty! We cannot adjourn before I have a chance to cross-examine the witness."

"Leftenant Lofton, need I remind you that Prince Davion is holding a reception for Leftenant Redburn tonight. I will not have this man too badgered and exhausted to fully participate in this great honor."

Lofton removed his glasses and narrowed his dark eyes. "No, but you'll retire and a whole evening will pass before I can purge your mind of the prejudicial testimony that Count Vitios has wrung from this valuable witness."

Redburn looked up at Courtney. "I can go on, sir."

Courtney's gavel slammed into the bench. "Enough. Court is adjourned until nine-thirty tomorrow morning. As for you, Leftenant Lofton, one more statement like that and you'll spend the night in a cell with your client because I'll hold you in contempt."

13

New Avalon

Cruris March, Federated Suns

22 January 3027

No, Major, I won't put you on the stand!" Leftenant David Lofton glared at his client. "Your story of what happened in the field that day is utterly unsubstantiated."

Justin stared into the mirror as his right hand labored to button his dress jacket shut. "Leftenant, you must allow me to testify on my own behalf. I read the text of General Courtney's speech at Andy Redburn's reception two nights ago. He already believes I'm guilty."

Lofton snarled in frustration. "What could you say? What could you add that would justify your giving Vitios a direct shot at you?"

Justin spun about. "Courtney is a commander of men. He's made battle decisions before. I served under him. I can convince him of my innocence. I can touch that chord deep inside every soldier who's ever had to make a decision that sent men out to die."

Lofton shook his head violently. "Are you mad? Recall, Major, that it was your unorthodox action on Spica that saved Courtney's command. If you and Colonel William Dobson hadn't flanked Liao's Blackwind Lancers, Courtney would have died without having to face the shame of being trapped by those Capellan units." Lofton cursed under his breath. "I wish Dobson hadn't died on Galtor. We could have used his testimony to your bravery."

Justin nodded slowly. "And I could have used his friendship."

Lofton shook his head. "Redburn was . . . is . . .your friend, and Vitios made mincemeat of him. He'll do the same with you, Major, and that's the reason I won't put you on the stand."

Justin tugged at the black glove on his left hand. "Absolutely?"

Lofton shrugged and picked up his briefcase from the table. "I think I made some headway with Redburn's cross-examination yesterday. He got a chance to use his wit, and it worked in our favor to delay until after Prince Davion awarded him the Silver Sunburst. I don't want to give Vitios a shot at you, Justin, because he'll hurt you badly."

Justin pursed his lips and nodded slowly. "This is your battlefield, David. Just remember I'm ready if you need reinforcements."

Leftenant David Lofton forced a smile and led his client out into the maelstrom. I hope, for your sake, Major, that this trial doesn't get to the point where Ineed your help.

* * *

"Objection, Your Honor!"

Courtney shrugged and looked toward Lofton. "Yes, Leftenant?"

Lofton adjusted his glasses. "If it please the court, the prosecution cannot use the holovid tapes of investigators on Kittery as testimony. To do so would violate my client's right to face his accusers. Because I cannot cross-examine those witnesses, their testimony cannot be allowed."

Vitios placed the tapes back on the desk. "Your Honor, though I would never think of denying Leftenant Lofton the chance to crush my witnesses—as he has so ably done thus far—I would hasten to point out that tapes have been allowed in court before." The titters that sprang up at Vitios's sarcastic reference to Lofton's inability to break witnesses died as the prosecutor's aide typed furiously on a keyboard.

Vitios turned to face the large viewscreen to the right of the witness stand. "As you can see, in the case of Muije versus Nebula Foods,the court allowed the plaintiff to present holovid tapes because of the prohibitive cost in time and money of bringing witnesses to the site of the trial."

Lofton's laugh startled the court. "Your honor, this is ridiculous. Muije versus Nebula Foodsis a civil case over two hundred years old, and this is a military trial! The plaintiff, in this case, is a member of the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns." Lofton turned to face his adversary. "It strikes me that if Duke Hasek-Davion can afford to send his own hatchetman to persecute my client, he can damn well afford to send witnesses."

Courtney's gavel thundercracked silence throughout the courtroom. "That will be enough Leftenant! You, yourself, have reminded the Court that this is a military trial. Now the Court will remind you of the same and demands that you conduct yourself in a military manner!"

Lofton bowed his head, "Yes, sir."

Courtney drew his bushy gray eyebrows together in a way that filled Lofton with cold dread. "While your objection might have some merit in another case, or even at another point in this proceeding, it has no bearing here. The witnesses on these tapes are experts in their fields, and it would be well beyond your ability to impeach their testimony. The tapes contain information needed to adjudicate this case. Proceed, Count Vitios."

"No!" Lofton stalked forward. "Am I to believe, based on what you have just said, Your Honor, that you have already reviewed the tapes?"

Courtney nodded his silver-maned head. "I have, Leftenant Lofton, and I see no reason to let your objection stand. Overruled."

* * *

The courtroom lights came back up as the image of the last Hasek-Davion expert faded from the viewscreen. Vitios, poised perfectly in the center of the courtroom, opened his hands to include the whole audience. "In short, Your Honor, the witnesses have confirmed that Major Allard's Valkyriewas damaged by autocannon and laser fire, as he has maintained. They found enough chemical residue and spent projectiles from an autocannon to suggest, as Major Allard reported, that he tried to evade the 'Mech shooting at him. But, because of their inability to recover data from Major Allard's damaged battle-recorder, they have no way of verifying this claim to have fought off a Rifleman.In fact, given the evidence in the field, they have concluded that he faced an UrbanMech—the lightest 'Mech known to carry an autocannon."