Templeman was using the highly expensive direct link communicator, talking directly to one of the partner's in their law firm, Van Horne preferred to stay out of the lime light of the court room, renown for his ability to plea bargain his way out of ever having to set foot inside the doors.
There was a little known other side to Van Horne, the fact that he used to be a Corsair ship captain, a dread pirate that had taken the money he'd made from pirating the Omegas and investing it in two fledgling lawyers the Bretonian Templeman and the Rhienlander Goethe.
That had been nearly twenty years ago, and with most tings, Templeman, Van Horne and Goethe had risen to become one of the best law firms in Sirius with offices on Manhattan, New London and New Berlin... and a fourth office, rumoured, to be open on Crete.
Van Horne was, as usual, his helpful if surly self. Promising to find the people on Christian's list and getting them to New Berlin as soon as possible.
That meant Templeman had to buy time.
He rubbed his temples as he sifted through various courtroom strategies. Considering the prosecutor, and how it was a difficult play.
The Prosecutor needed the defence to end quickly, he'd made his case, and won it. It was up to Templeman to pull that case down, a long hard slog up hill, on ice, in a hurricane.
He secretly wished the prosecutor had made him call every name on the Alster witness list. But, with Doreen's testimony at least, he had the chance to think what his next move would be.
"You have just had a baby," Templeman rose again from his chair, flipping through his notes. "Congratulations," he smiled.
"The Medical logs of Med.Force.One indicate that you were found in some distress, and requiring immediate medical attention. Can you explain to the court how you came to be in this situation... please remember your right not to incriminate yourself, but any information you can supply would be helpful..."
"I always knew you were soft," the prosecutor hissed, a predatory smile playing on his face, anticipating the cross-examination gleefully.
"Objection, your honour," Templeman said, a look of disgust on his face. "Prosecution should have a license to be that much of an As-."
The Judge banged her gavel, "finish that sentence and I'll find you in contempt Mister Templeman... and the prosecution is reminded that this is not a high school cafeteria, that kind of baiting is not tolerated here."
Templeman straightened up, his feather's ruffled but still on his game. "Ms. Naggar, can you tell us the events leading up to when you were brought aboard by Med.Force.One?
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Doreen sighed as some shame came over her. She looked briefly at the crib to where her son was sleeping and then turned back to address the court, her shame seeming to vanish at the viewing of her sleeping son.
"I wanted to see my Dad," she began, "more than those rare occasions that he was home. Mom was OK with it as long as the pay checks were coming in but I needed him so, I went off to find him. I took what money I had saved from waiting tables and borrowed some from Mom. I went to the bar where Daddy had met the man he had taken the job from. I didn't find him but I did find someone like him."
She paused for a moment, the shame returning. She managed to suppress it and continue.
"I didn't know much about him. He was handsome and had his own ship. Over the course of many days, I learned of where I could find Daddy. I offerred him everything I had. He accepted it and I travelled with him trying to find Daddy. While we travelled, I began falling in love with him and we began a consummated relationship. When I found out I was pregnant, he promised to stay with me and he did until the dreadful day in Omega 41."
She thought for a moment and continued, "It was then I found out who he worked for. He was a Red Hessian who was more interested in fighting the Corsairs than the Rheinland government. We were travelling to a Hessian base in Omega 5 when we were engaged by 3 Corsairs. He disabled one, killed the second and the third disable our own ship. Being that I was 7 months pregnant at the time, he told me to get into the escape pod and leave, which I did."
She sighed, looking down for a moment and looked up with a tear running down her cheek, "I haven't seen Beren since."
Wiping her nose, she finished, "I don't remember how long I was out there but I do remember the oxygen getting low and the beginnings of radiation sickness. I was rescued by some passerby and delivered to Med.Force.One where I was treated. I was even scared when I got there but the crew and staff made me feel safe."
She then looked at the defense table where Dr. Tesh was sitting and smiled at him.
"Thank you, Dr. Tesh, for saving us both," she tearfully said through a smile, "and do thank Dr. Holliday as well. Without you, I would be just another corpse floating around in space."
Templeman nodded his head, as he looked towards the jury, "you risked everything to be with your father... like Jason did, risking everything to be with him as well... Your father, in return, risked everything to provide for you and your family. What sort of situation would you be in if he hadn't..."
"Objection, speculation."
"Sustained."
"Withdrawn your honour," Templeman said, stepping back. "Well, if you could say anything, anything at all to your father about everything that has happened, what would you say to him?"
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She sat silently. She didn't know what to say that hadn't already been said. Realizing this, she just turned to Mr. Templeman, "Sir, I've said all I have to say." She then turned to her father, forcing a smile through tears, "No matter what happens, Daddy, I love you....very much. I know you did what you thought was right."
She then looked at her brother, "and I love you too, little brother."
Templeman nodded, looking up at the Judge. "No further questions your honour."
The Prosecutor rose, the wolfish smile flashing across his face. "Who is the father of your baby, Ms. Naggar?"
"Objection!" Templeman shot up from his seat. "How is that relevant to the case at hand?"
The prosecutor turned, "defence counsel is trying to bombard the jury with confusing sentimentality, parading this witness... a new mother, before the jury and expecting them to be gullible enough to commute Mister Naggar's sentencing. Mister Templeman is preying upon emotion here, and I think we really need to look at what is underneath that sentimental nonsense. Who are the Naggars, why do they commit crimes..."
"Objection!" Templeman demanded again. "Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?"
"He confessed!" the prosecutor barked, slamming his notes down on his table. "I have victims here, people who have families, who try to eke out an honest living in this harsh economic climate... a climate that Mister Templeman would have you believe drives people to crime... Well these honest citizens haven't committed any crimes, and have directly suffered at his hands. And I intend to show that the Naggars are as bad as the Baker clan of old Earth history."
The Judge looked uneasy, "a short leash Councelor. A very short one..."
"Your honour!" Templeman exclaimed.
"Sit down Mister Templeman," the judge banged her gavel. "The witness is instructed to answer the question."
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She sat, somehow composed. She saw the face of the prosecutor. She wanted to say nothing. She wanted to lie but she remembered how her father always told her to tell the truth.
"Daddy always told me to tell the truth," she began, "my baby's father went by the nickname "Rusian." As to what his real name is I don't know. I found out later that he was a Red Hessian himself."
She sighed, "I don't know if he's alive anymore after being shot up by Corsairs."
Having answered the question best she could, she sat and waited.
Meanwhile, in the back of the room, the robed man wore a face of disgust. He pulled out a small pad of paper and began writing a note. Once finished, he folded it. Eventually, he made eye contact with Dr. Tesh. He excused himself as his medical pager went off. He excused himself to leave to deal with it. It was Doc's number, quietly rung from his seat. On his way back, he quietly and quickly took the note from his boss. So as not to raise the prosecutor's attention, he read the top while his back was turned, it read, "Hand this to Mr. Templeman during a recess ONLY!"
Both men then sat quietly, watching the trial, even if John Holliday, the mystery man in the robes, sat quietly, not liking what he was seeing.
The Prosecutor began to pace the floor, "A Red Hessian... Pirate Father, traitorous lover... you seem to have a flavour for bad men..."
"Objection!" Templeman roared.
"Sustained!" The Judge banged the gaval. "Counselor you will contrain yourself to questions."
The Prosecutor inclined his head.
"Ms. Naggar, are you a pirate?" He rested his hands on the rail. "Bear in mind we have... recovered the remains of your fighter. A lucky RM patrol, in the right place at the right time managed to recover your flight data recorder."
"Your honour," Templeman protested. "We weren't made aware of this evidence..."
"This 'Evidence' concerns Ms. Naggar's reliability as a witness. It has only just been recovered and hasn't even been studied yet... if the court would indulge my and probably the Jury's curiosity... let's see exactly what kind of person Ms. Naggar and her lover truly are."
Templeman sat back down, seething, as young Jason Naggar pushed a note into his hand from Doctor Tesh.
"The court will allow the flight data to be entered into evidence," the judge responded. "We should take a ten minute recess to get set up..."
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When the note was opened, it was brief but to the point.
I am growing tired of watching one of my patients being put through the ringer. Of course, no offense to you, Mr. Templeman, as you're doing your best. Who I am is not important right now. Be it known that should it come to it, or, if you wish for this to end sooner than later, I will pay all fines of Mr. Naggar and take his family out of Rheinland. I could use a good shipwright. If you wish to chat with me during a recess, feel free....and put this note in your pocket. I wouldn't want the prosecutor to know of me
When Templeman looked toward the back of the room, the tall, robed man was standing. Noticing the look from Templeman, he smirked and winked and returned to his small talk with the woman who escorted him, a woman being closely watched by some Rheinland guards.
During the recess, Doreen's baby awoke. During that time, she changed him and left view to nurse him. As a result and due to a judge who was a mother herself, the recess was extended long enough for her to care for her child. Once fed and burped, the child returned to it's slumber. Doreen re-assembled herself and prepared for more testimony as the trial resumed.
"Am I a pirate?" she asked, re-stating the question, "I guess if I'm my father, I would say yes. Why? I took his Eagle to go find him. Have I ever stolen from or shot at a police officer or a Rheinland military officer? No. If I'm guilty of anything, it's being a kid who needed her father and did something terribly wrong to find him."
She continued, "You will find that when I did leave, it had a civilian transponder. I wouldn't let Rusian mess with anything. I did let him fly it since I'm not much of a pilot myself."
Templeman bit his lip, looking over the notes before him. Slipping a fob watch out of his pocket and checking the time.
"Your honour..." he said, "interrupting the the prosecutor. "It is getting late on Med.Force.One... perhaps the court could adjourn until tomorrow..."
The Prosecutor opened his mouth in protest, "No! I am in the middle of..."
The Judge held up her hand, "Counselor... there is only one person who should decide if we need to break here... Ms. Naggar, what would you like?" she asked with a warm smile.
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Doreen was relatively calm, for now. She was tired but willing to continue.
"Your honor, Mr. Prosecutor, Mr. Templeman, if it means anything, I would just like to get his over with, at least my part," she stated, "I don't know that I can mentally prepare myself for this twice."
The robed man in the back was watching her closely, taping his finger on his boot which was crossed over his leg. He was straight faced for now but inside, was beginning to boil. For the time, he was hiding it well.
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