Uzuldaroum Xomotron

June 10 - Paquin

The machine made a horrific sound.

Whirring and squealing, and the wild noise of mechanically generated suction. The brush tore at fiber and thread. Bits of sand and the debris of the day clattered and hissed as it slammed into the inner wall of the canister. The carpet protested, clinging to the floor, struggling against the inevitable power of the vacuum.



It was just like cleaning up a crime scene.

I could get used to this.

I could.

I'm sure I could.

---

A message from Araxes suddenly interrupted. I quickly killed the power to the machine.

It was a direct communication from the Magistrate, Joan al Jofar. "Uzuldaroum Xomotron contacted me for an arrest warrant. One of the Space Navigators' Corpus navigators has been abducted."

Interesting. This could get tricky. I paused for a moment before engaging the signal.

"Thank you Magistrate. Do you have further details?" I asked tentatively. How much did she know?

"Yes I do," she replied, "I'll send you the folder once I get back into my office."

Exactly nineteen minutes later, the data arrived. There was an image like the one we had intercepted from our monitoring station. Lily in her ship.



It was accompanied by other images that could only have been taken inside the Terminus. They showed Lily and what could have been AuroraBlue near an Ardra hologram.

Also enclosed was a transcript of discussion between the Navigator Uzuldaroum Xomotron, and the Magistrate. It was a different being than the navigator that had visited Major Muircastle.

I acknowledged receipt. "Thank you.. I will review this file. Who has been assigned this case?" I scanned the transcript quickly. "I see Kaden Director Gustav..."

".. and you it seems. Yes," replied the Magistrate.

"I'm sorry," I interrupted, seeing an opening, "Are you granting me police powers?"



"I did not imply that," she resisted, "I only said that I would contact you on behalf of The Space Navigators' Corpus. Are you offering your services? I don't think we have a contract on file for you."

"The UAP does not do contract work, Magistrate," I said plainly.

"That must be why I can't find a contract," she responded.

"I see that the missing Navigator is Ardra Aurotharius," I continued, "You are aware that the Alliance wishes to question this person in connection with a number of incidents."

"I am aware of your interest in this navigator," she said, "I do believe this means that you owe me a favor?"

I smiled. As if.

"Let us see where this leads, shall we?" I asked rhetorically.

"Leads are for you to follow Major. I have a planet to administer," she replied, washing her hands of the matter.

"Of course, Magistrate," I said, "and I will not keep you."

I terminated the call. Still reflecting on the conversation, I flicked on the vacuum cleaner. Again, the room was filled with the noise of inevitability.


----

- Transcript begins. -

The Navigator Uzuldaroum Xomotron addressed Magistrate Joan al Jofar, "The Space Navigators' Corpus has need to discuss your warrant procedures."

"Greetings Uzuldaroum," replied the Magistrate, "There will have to be a short hearing in the court where your evidence for issuing a warrant is presented."

"Would that be during the Laandsraat Council?" asked Uzuldaroum. "One of our navigators has been abducted."

"I think the other Laandsrat members would enjoy the hearing," reflected the Magistrate, "If there is an active crime being committed then a warrant is not necessary.  But that is only if an officer sees it going on. If you are acting on suspicion then you need a warrant...I think that's how it works."

"Should we speak to your police force in the meantime or utilize one of the paramils?" asked the Navigator.

"We have contracted with KPS to provide security," said the Magistrate.

"I did not understand."

"Arnold Gustav is the contact person for Kaden Private Security," she explained.

"We will have a representative attend the Laandsrat Council," said the Navigator. "In the meantime, we will employ Kaden to gather further evidence."

"Yes," replied the Magistrate, "I am also contacting Major Pepper Siamendes. She is investigating the Jadeists."

"The SIU officer is known to the Corpus," said Uzuldaroum.

"She is well known," remarked the Magistrate, "That is why we have engaged her services." A moment later she added, "I have also contacted Arnold Gustav on your behalf."

The Navigator commented, "It might be easier to have the SIU retrieve the Gatherbot and it's spawn, but we are bound to obey the forms."

"Yes," agreed the Magistrate, "The forms must be obeyed."

"The Corpus thanks you for your assistance, Imperial Servant," said Uzuldaroum. "We will follow up with Gustav and Siamendes."

"Thank you Mr. Uzuldaroum," replied the Magistrate. "I hope your navigator will remain safe."

"Your sentiments are noted."

"And we will do our best to see that they are returned safely," the Magistrate added.

"We will keep you informed as progress occurs," said the Navigator.

"I will begin preparations for issuing a warrant," said the Magistrate, "Thank you again."

Uzuldaroum Xomotron continued. "There are only two who have access...."
 

"...One recently accessed the Terminus. BlueSun Single Seeded Genetic Construct 041295, LilyBell Snoodle...."



"... The other is a Genetic Construct Hybrid by the Name of AuroraBlue LittleBoots."

"Are LilyBell and AuroraBlue going to be named in the warrant?" asked the Magistrate.

"They are our main suspects," said the Navigator. "Both have means and motive and opportunity."

"I will begin the paperwork," promised the Magistrate.

"The Corpus thanks you for your cooperation on this serious matter," said Uzuldaroum, "Ardra is a critical gatekeeper of the Arsenal Wormhole of the Imperial Nexus. Both suspects had taken an interest in Ardra."

"Yes," said the Magistrate, "Ardra would be a tempting target. I will add that information to the folder."

"The Genetic Construct has previously accessed Corpus technology," added the Navigator, "for its own purpose."

- End of transcript. -