Considerations

Jan. 25 - Al Raqis

"You must look down on the enemy, and take up your attitude on slightly higher places." Musashi

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I spent the night at the Zenobian embassy compound. It was not as secluded as my little house in the Hagga Settlement but there was no commute either.

The smaller of the two buildings housed a comfortable bed and fully stocked library. All it needed was it's own wind trap.

Tucked underneath one of Faith's residences there was a clear view from one window of his front door affording a good view of the comings and going from the house. It conceded the higher ground in favor of good surveillance, placement near the main street and better access to the desert.

Of course, the diplomatic staff would have little interest in Faith except perhaps as trade competition. As for surveillance, they would be watching anyone and everyone in any case.

Ardra had instructed Ms. Celestalis of the Umbrella Corporation to deliver Aurora's cloned brain to me in hopes that it could be used to influence Krenshar into cooperation.

While on Caliban, Krenshar had been obsessed with the idea of 'fixing' the child and had cloned her in the course of his experiments with this end in mind. These experiments themselves were troubling to Lily and she sent me a message to tell Krenshar to 'cut up no more cubs name Aurora'. I suppose I didn't act quickly enough for her as she burned down Krenshar's laboratory before I arrived.

However, looking at a copy of this morning's Blue Sun Signal. It would appear that it was too late for Aurora.

Obituary - Blue Sun sends condolences to the family of Aurora LittleBoots. We are certain that Miss Aurora will be missed by those who loved her....Her death has been ruled accidental by the Hale's Moon Sheriff.

I sighed. Lily must be devastated. I had half a mind to give her the cloned brain then and there. But what would that accomplish, except to force her to bury her child twice?

At the same time, I was in no hurry to act in procuring material for Ardra until I had a better sense of the wider consequences.

When there is doubt, there is no doubt. I would do nothing at this point.

Besides, right now, I had another matter to follow through on.

I contacted Tillery Woodhen, CEO of the Cortex News Service.

"Mr. Woodhen," I began.

"Yes, Major?"

"Did I catch you at a bad time?" I inquired. It was difficult calculating the timezones between the various planets, the different solar systems. Best just to ask.

"Nope."

"I have discovered an aspects of local law that may be of interest."

"Oh?"

"The term 'kanly' refers to a tradition of vendetta acceptable within the context of their legal system," I explained.

"Really."

I elaborated. "An official is appointed to monitor the vendetta... to ensure the proper forms are obeyed." I explained how this judge was appointed by their High Council.

"Why are you telling me this, Major?" he asked.

"Well, because it appears there are legal means available for you to address the wrongs that have been visited upon you by a man who seeks to evade our own laws...and, if I may, it suggests a course of action that could prove effective, with you pursuing the matter on Al Raqis by these legal means, while I will be waiting in Alliance space in case the party in question seeks to flee there."

"While interesting, I do have one question."

"Go ahead."

"If he doesn't follow Alliance law, why would he necessarily adhere to Al Raqis law?"

I presented my theory. "Currently this world is his refuge. They are quite strict about the adherence to the correct forms. Their law stresses that point time and time again."

"He's already violated that world's law, Major."

"Really?"

"Does Al Raqis allow the storage, and transhipments, of weapons of mass destruction by its business people?"

"They do not appear to restrict the ownership of such weapons. It is the use of such weapons that is prohibited and indeed the bombing of Shadow may be an avenue we can explore as a basis for deportation. I am merely suggesting we consider the range of possibilities open to us. You have suggested you are a man of resources and seem to have no fear of either the man or his powerful family."

"And you're trying to avoid a..... messy conflict."

"No," I replied, "I am suggesting we place the man is a situation where he has to fight on more than one front."

"There will be more than one front, don't worry about that, Major. And I will use legal means. Until I'm forced to do otherwise."

I suggested that he contact the Magistrate if he wished to pursue this course of action.

"I will talk to her. But do you really think a vendetta, no matter how legal, would be limited to just Al Raqis?"

"Not at all, and once it spills over to Alliance space, I will be waiting for him. Are you concerned this will spin out of control?"

"This is Faith we're talking about," he replied ominously.