Three - EARTH

"The witness may be seated", Page said pointedly. Marco felt blood rush to his face and hurried to comply. 

"Thank you", Page said sarcastically. "Please proceed". 

Harry nodded and said "yes, sir", turned to Marco. "Please give the court your name and rank". 

"Dooley Marco, Colonel, Commanding Officer, Rim Sector 872".

"And the nature of the forces under your command?" 

"I command a mixed battalion consisting of two infantry companies, two platoons of sentient armor, three batteries of artillery, and a headquarters group". 

Harry nodded agreeably. "And for those not familiar with Rim Sector 872, where is your battalion headquartered?" 

"On Foxybro". 

"Are all of your troops stationed on Foxybro?" 

Marco shook his head, "no. We have outposts as well". 

"Outposts that can be resupplied and reinforced form your headquarters on Foxybro?" 

"Yes, exactly". 

"Thank you", Harry easily said. "Now, tell the court about Captain Usmos, does he report to you?" 

"Yes" 

"What are his responsibilities?"

"Captain Usmos commands Outpost RS 872-12".

"Which is located where?" 

"On a planet named Numus". 

"Thank you. Now, tell us about Numus, and Captain Usmos' specific responsibilities". 

Marco's mouth felt dry. He took a sip of water. "Numus attracts all sorts of beings. In addition to thousands of law abiding citizens, the planet is home to smugglers, thieves, and a variety of other criminals." 

"And Usmos keeps the lid on it?" 

"Yes", Marco replied. "In a manner of speaking. There are civilian authorities as well." 

"Of course", Harry said agreeably. "But Captain Usmos is the senior military officer on the planet, and as such, has the latitude to do as he sees fit". 

"That's correct". 

"So, let me see if I understand", Harry said thoughtfully. 

"Captain Usmos had been given a significant amount of freedom, was assigned to a planet crawling with criminals, and suddenly wound up with a whole lot of money. Is that about the size of it?" 

Daniel Bari jumped on his feet, "I object! Leading the witness. Move to strike." 

Page speared Harry with one of his darkest frowns. 

"Granted. Watch yourself, Major. We'll have none of your shenanigans here". 

Harry looked suitably apologetic. "Yes, sir". He turned to Marco, "so, Colonel, given the fact that you were stationed on Numus, how could you tell whether Captain Usmos and his legionnaire were faithful to the fifty-five thousand two hundred thirty-eight regulations presently listed on the Legion's books?" 

The question drew tittters from the audience. Daniel Bari rose once again, "may I ask the relevance of this line of questioning?" 

Harry looked to Page, "motive has been established. The accused spends more than he makes. The question goes to opportunity, relevance will become obvious in a moment." 

Page waved a hand, "whatever, get on with it". 

Harry turned to Marco, "answer the question, please".

"I hold scheduled as well as unscheduled inspections". 

Harry nodded as if hearing that particular piece of information for the very first time, "I see, so the men and women stationed on Numus never knew when you might arrive". 

"Certainly so". 

"Describe the inspection that took place on Earth date November 23, 2647".

Marco had been expecting the question and was ready. If his words sounded rehearsed, they were. "Sergeant Major McCain and I landed on Numus at approximately twenty hundred hours. It was dark". 

Harry nodded in encouragement, "tell the court what happened next". 

Marco 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?" Harry 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 notice any markings on the shuttle?" 

"Sergeant Major McCain took holos of the vehicle. The name 'Rim King' had been painted across it's bow and the number ISV-7421-3 was stenciled on it's hull". 

Harry turned towards Page, "if it pleases the court, Sergeant Major McCain's holos are marked as exhibit 34, and subsequent investigation revealed that the shuttle is registered to the freighter Rim King. A vessel sought in connection with a variety of smuggling activities". 

Daniel Bari came to his feet, "I move to strike counsel's last comment as both irrelevant and prejudicial". 

Page waved a hand, "so noted. Strike the major's comment". 

Harry remained unperturbed. An idea had been planted, and there was no way that Page could remove it. The prosecutor turned to Marco, "what happened next?" 

"McCain and I stood in the shadows and watched Captain Usmos approach the shuttle". 

"Wait a minute", Harry said critically. "It was dark, how could you be so sure the man was Usmos?" 

"He passed under a hover spot", Marco said with certainty, "and registered on my wrist term". 

Harry mustered a look of surprise, "on your wrist term? Could you 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. However, Marco went along, 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. Nine miniature heads appeared and started to rotate. Eight were dark, showing they were off-line, while one glowed green. The name was there for everyone to read - "J. Usmos".

There was a stir as the robocams whirred in for a closer look. Marco glanced at Page, saw a look that could only be described as venomous, and knew there was no going back. 

Harry 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". 

Marco described how he called Usmos' name, how Sergeant Major McCain felt compelled to crank a round into the chamber of his GP-5 submachine gun, and how they searched the truck. A search that turned up a large number of weapons that Usmos had reported as lost.

Daniel Bari spent the next four hours hammering Harry's witnesses, and none more than Colonel Dooley Marco. But the officer refused to change his testimony, and, assuming the panel was honest, there was little doubt what they would find. 

Finally, when Marco left the building, it was with a deep sense of disappointment. In Usmos, in Page, and the Legion itself.