CROSS-CULTURAL EFFECTS / CH. 11:IDENTITY CRISIS
HIGH COUNCIL OF ATLANTIS, 8.30PM
“Let the prisoner be aware that her thoughts are heard by all on the council, and not seek to deceive us,” the elder of the council stated, “You face trial for violating the ban on Russian military personnel of greater rank than a commander of ten. Do you understand this?”
“Yes.”
“As your identity is a key part of the case against you, please state your name and nationality.”
“I am Sandra Smith, and am a citizen of the Restored Kingdom.”
“We acknowledge you do not seem to be lying. Our first witness is the ambassador for Russia. Your Excellency, do you recognise the prisoner?” The elder of the Council asked.
“Not personally,” Mikhail said, “She looks very much like the picture I have seen of Lieutenant Valentina Ivanovna of the Russian imperial naval intelligence service. But appearances can be deceptive.”
“Thank you. If she were the Lieutenant, what actions would you have expected from her?”
“As a member of the armed forces, if she were assigned here, she ought to have made her presence known. I would have also expect her to have her uniform with her, although she wouldn't need to wear it when off duty.”
“You were present during the search of her lodging, was a uniform found?”
“Yes, one was,” Mikhail said.
“Would you identify it for us?”
“It was the uniform of a female lieutenant in the imperial navy intelligence service.”
“Did it bear anyone's name?”
“Yes, it was marked with the patronymic Ivanovna.”
“So there is no reasonable doubt in your mind that she is indeed Valentina Ivanovna?”
“I would find that the most natural explanation, unless she were some kind of imposter.”
“Do you find that second possibility plausible?”
“It might explain why she did not report to the embassy, explain her presence in contravention of the Council's ruling, and not be lying when she gave her name.”
“How would you account for her failure to present herself otherwise?”
“I would prefer not to enter into wild speculations, Elder.” Mikhail replied.
“Thank you, your excellency. Oh, before you leave the stand, would you say that a state of war, armed conflict, or other hostility exists between Russia and Atlantis?”
“No.”
“Thank you.”
“As there is no armed conflict, would the prisoner agree that no one should be making any reference to the Geneva conventions?”
“Yes,”
“So, we don't need to hear your rank or serial number. We would like you to say more about your name though.”
“When I was four my mother died and a little later my father took me to his homeland and renamed me Valentina Ivanovna. I recently discovered that I was born Sandra Smith. Or rather re-discovered it, and claim that as my true identity.”
“How did you discover this?”
“I found my childhood passport in my deceased father's papers.”
“Were you pleased to find it?”
“Yes, very. I knew my name had been changed, but I couldn't remember it.”
“And on the basis of that passport, you gained a new one, and used that passport to travel here?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“My commanding officer in naval intelligence instructed me to, and to not contact the ambassador.”
“Your commanding officer did not foresee any problem with you asserting a secondary citizenship?”
“Not that he expressed to me.”
“What were your duties?” The elder asked.
“I was to talk socially with the forces of all nations present, and get pictures of myself taken with them.”
“For what purpose?”
“I do not know,” Sandra replied.
“Was that all you were to do?”
“I was to record myself in uniform in some obviously Atlantis location, with some unmistakable indication of the date, for example the singing of Christmas songs.”
“Have you done this yet?”
“No.”
“Did you get photos of yourself with service men?”
“It didn't feel right at the beginning, as though I was trophy hunting or something. I decided I would ask for pictures when I left, then... I got involved with one particular sailor, Horace Lamb, and it would have been hard, if he hadn't been involved. I thought a group photograph would be best.”
“Could it be that the intent of your stay was to demonstrate that the Mer interdiction on military officers is not as absolute as claimed, and we are not able to do everything we say?”
“It's possible.”
“Would you please describe to the court how you reached Atlantis?”
“As a tourist, from my birth-country.”
“Were you at any time prior to your arrest asked if you served in the Russian military?”
“No.”
“Were you at any time prior to your arrest asked if you served in any military?”
“No.”
“Did you do anything except act in a tourist-like manner in your time here?”
“No.”
“Would you say you acted in a manner entirely consistent with a tourist of your birth-nationality?”
“Yes.”
“Would Sandra Smith would have reported to the Russian ambassador?”
“Certainly not.”
“But Lieutenant Valentina Ivanovna would have?”
“Yes.”
“How did you feel, when you saw your uniform?”
“I tried not to look at it. It was in a separate part of my luggage.”
“So, for all intents and purposes, during your visit to Atlantis you were the tourist Sandra Smith, not Lieutenant Valentina Ivanovna?”
“Urm, Yes.”
“The court asks midshipman Horace Lamb to take the stand.” The elder said, then asked “How did the prisoner react to first being addressed as Valentina Ivanovna?”
“She looked round, looking confused.”
“How did she react to you calling her a liar for calling herself Sandra Smith?”
“She said that's who she was.”
“Did she at any time agree she was Valentina Ivanovna?”
“Not really.”
“Thank you, you may return to your seat. The court asks her majesty Karella Farspeaker to answer some questions.”
“I am here,” Karella came out of a side room.
“When you heard there was a Russian naval intelligence officer on Atlantis, how did you react?”
“Intense surprise, Elder.”
“Why?”
“Because every day I check for people who are Russian military, politicians or diplomats who should not be here, and I saw none.”
“How then would you explain the Lieutenant's presence?”
“My first thought was, as I assumed with some other recent cases, that she came before the ban entered in force, otherwise I thought maybe the Lord had determined that she should be here. But I'm not sure, because when I try to identify the woman there, the first answer I see is not a warrior, elder. That is a secondary identity, but the first identity I see is an actress called Sandra Smith.”
Sandra gasped, and put her hand to her mouth. Karella took a quick look at her thoughts and asked, “Sandra, would you like to share with the court what memories have just bubbled to the surface of your mind?”
“One was my Dad, saying 'Yes, love, it's all a big game of pretend. You need to pretend you're Valentina Ivanovna from now on.' And the other one, I was asked why I wanted to join the intelligence service. I replied that I was good at acting, and almost felt that my whole life I had been acting one role or another.”
“Your role in intelligence service then, consists of acting different parts?”
“Yes.”
“Have you ever felt you needed to think 'how would Valentina Ivanovna react to such and such a situation?'” Karella asked.
“Yes.”
“What about Sandra Smith?” Karella asked.
“Only at first, then I thought, you don't need to do this, just be yourself.”
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
“Did you ever form a romantic attachment in Russia?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“Valentina was engaged, then I found out he was two-timing her.”
“When was this?”
“Just as my father was dying.”
“Are you lieutenant Valentina Ivanovna?” the Elder of the council asked, getting confused about the way she was speaking of Valentina in the third person.
“Yes, I must be. No one else is.”
“Are you also Sandra Smith?” he asked.
“Yes.” she said, more certainly.
“Why didn't you want to look at your uniform, Sandra?” Karella asked.
“It was so nice not being Valentina.”
“You stated at your arrest that you were absent without leave. Was that true?” The elder asked.
“No.”
“If you had not been arrested, might you have sought to stay to pursue your romance?”
“Yes, certainly.”
“Have you ever before thought to break a promise Valentina made because she wasn't you?” he asked again.
“No, she doesn't,” she corrected herself, “I don't break promises.”
“But you enjoy not being her?” he asked.
“Yes,” she replied.
“But you often play different roles. Are you always relieved you stop playing one?”
“Yes.”
“Have you ever had a combat role?” he asked.
“No.”
“Or combat training?”
“Not really.”
“How many people have you commanded?”
“Me? None.”
“At your arrest, you seemed confused about being called Valentina, were you?”
“Yes. It seemed really out of place. No one should be calling me that here.”
“But it's who you are.”
“It's who I am in Russia.”
“But not here?”
“I'm only Valentina here sometimes. Valentina feels guilty about her orders. Does that make sense?”
“Sandra-Valentina, my belief is that you have a mild form of a multiple personality disorder,” Karella said, “the death of your father and break up of your engagement, your childhood trauma, would all contribute. You have been pushing your experiences as Valentina away, dissociating yourself from them, trying to pretend they didn't happen to you. Does this sound plausible?”
“Yes,” Sandra said.
“You do this using the mental skills you learned as as actress to take on and then discard roles and separate truth from reality,” Karella continued, “There it is very healthy thing, but you are misapplying them to your real experiences, as though Valentina were a separate person, or a role. I am afraid that my earlier questioning may have strengthened the power of this lie, I'm sorry.”
“Thank you, your majesty,” the elder said. “From her testimony, it seems the prisoner's experience in naval intelligence has mainly been that of an actress, so it is hardly surprising you saw her as such. Also, she has never had a command role. Therefore, I conclude that while she holds the title of lieutenant, that is an honorary title and she is not a commander of ten. Therefore, she is not covered by the ban, and never has been. There is thus no surprise that she was not found as someone who should not be here. Lieutenant Valentina Ivanovna, born Sandra Smith, you are free to go, and you are of course free to use either of the names that are legitimately yours. I recommend, however, you claim both, and if you have problems with that, to seek help. Our most sincere apologies for the distress caused by your arrest and trial.”
“That's it?” Sandra asked.
“On the matter before the court, you are free to stay in Atlantis as long as your visa and travel plans allow. Mr Ambassador, we trust you will return the young lady's possessions immediately.”
“Of course,” Mikhail told Sandra, “However, your wrist unit has been found to contain a number of trojans and autonomous attack tools. The last I heard, it was still being analysed by a female officer I trust. Queen Karella assures me you knew nothing about them, and we must assume that their spreading their attacks of was one purpose in your mission.”
“So, I've unwittingly infected everyone who shared pictures with me?”
“The most dangerous is if you shared pictures with them, and they took too much or used unsafe methods, but I'm told some of the trojans apparently looked like pictures.” Yelena had told him the booby-trapped 'pictures' in question were clearly intended to attract attention, and were only visible to people accessing the wrist unit externally.
“Oh. That technique. I didn't know.”
“Your wrist unit also had a remote access tool on it. It's possible the attacks were only initiated after you got here.” It was also entirely probable Sandra-Valentina hadn't known what her wrist unit offered, or even that the pictures were being taken of her.
“Mr Ambassador, do I have any right of protest at such an invasion of my privacy?”
“You refer to the scanning of your wrist unit, or the remote access?”
“The remote access.”
“I believe you do, Lieutenant.”
“I would like to exercise that right.”
“Of course.”
“And to have my possessions back.”
“Of course.”
“Without setting foot in imperial embassy grounds.”
“You fear arrest or something? You will be free to leave.”
“I am sorry, but I feel have little reason to trust.”
“I would like you to be fully briefed about what was on your wrist unit.”
“Can that not happen outside the embassy compound?”
“That decision rests with the High Council of Atlantis,” Mikhail said.
“Why?” Sandra asked.
“The officer in question does not have the right to roam the city at will.”
“But you trust her?”
“I do, entirely.”
“You speak, I presume of your betrothed, your excellency?” Sue asked.
“I do, Commander.”
“Would you accept a location in our embassy, Sandra? Assuming the council allow the imperial ambassador's betrothed permission to visit?”
“Escorted by your men, commander? Certainly,” the elder said.
“You are most welcome to attend too, your excellency,” Sue added.
“I must study some legal documents, Commander, regarding the blatant disregard for this officer's privacy and violation of procedure, both of which for the moment I presume originated from her immediate chain of command.”
----------------------------------------
EMBASSY OF THE RESTORED KINGDOM, ATLANTIS
“Hi Sue,” Yelena said, “Lieutenant? Please call me Yelena. I've been having fun with your wrist unit.”
“I, urm, expected someone military.”
“I'm not in a uniformed service,” Yelena said.
“But you are an officer?”
“Colonel, to be precise, but please don't tell anyone. In the wrong ears that puts me and friends of mine in danger. Yelena is much safer. You didn't know what was on your wrist unit, I presume?”
“No.”
“So you don't particularly like whoever did it to you?”
“Ah, no.”
“That's good,” Yelena grinned infectiously.
“What have you been up to, Yelena?” Sue asked.
“Just what comes naturally. A little investigating of my own. Do you know this man, Lieutenant?”
“Regrettably, yes,” Sandra said, “two-timing ex-fiancé.”
“Oh, a nasty slimy piece of work then?”
“Yes.”
“Anything in particular you'd like his wrist unit to do?”
“Pardon?”
“Silly slime tried to look at a blurry picture from your wrist unit.”
“I don't understand.”
“Your wrist unit was set to send all pictures back home. I sent one which was all blurry and flesh-tone. A standard bait photo, in other words. He opened it, the silly man.”
“You sent him a trojan?”
“Oh, not just him, don't worry. I'm doing a proper investigation here, I was just wondering if there was anything particular you'd like me to investigate on his wrist unit? Say whether it can order some pizzas for a homeless shelter?”
“Yelena?” Sue asked, “are you being serious?”
“Oh, I'm always serious, Sue,” Yelena said, still grinning.
“Just it sounds to me like you're planning an illegal act.”
“Not at all, Sue. I'm conducting a test of the security alertness of this officer in another branch of the Russian state. So far, he has allowed his personal connection to the Lieutenant to make him violate lots of rules of data security by immediately clicking on an out of focus picture of a plant which just happens to look like vaguely reminiscent of female flesh if you're a sex-crazed misogynist. The next stage of the security alertness test is that I make his wrist unit conduct a low value financial transaction which brings me no personal benefit, such as a charitable donation. If he's obeyed governmental rules, that will fail. The chances are it won't, of course.”
“There's an orphanage fairly near him.”
“Excellent, how many children?”
“About a hundred, I think.”
“Perfect. Can you enter its name here? Oh, there's a list.”
“Third one down.” Sandra said,
“Thank you. Does he like to be known as a generous man, or shall we make it an anonymous donation?”
“Oh, I'm sure he'd like to be known as generous,” Sandra replied, thinking that'd make it much harder for him to claim anything back.
“OK. Now, stage three of the test is we make this a regular order. In the circumstances, it being the run-up to Christmas and I expect the orphanage staff are planning something special, I think weekly rather than daily, don't you?”
“Oh, absolutely.”
“There! Order placed, and yes, he's failed that test too. I'll have to put a reprimand on his file. This is his name, right?”
“Yes.”
Yelena issued a few more commands, “Right, that's done,”
“You're sure that was legal?” Sue asked.
“Absolutely standard procedure,” Yelena said, not actually answering the question.
“Just Sandra's planning to issue a complaint against her commanding officer for putting a tool like that on her wrist unit. Don't prejudice that.”
“I have no plans to prejudice that. But it might be irrelevant. You haven't seen what they did with that unit, Sue. However, since I have, Sandra or Valentina, you have a request for the commander.”
“I do?”
“I should think so. You or Horace ought to, anyway. Based on what they recorded this afternoon.”
“Horace hates me.”
“He'll get over it, I'm sure. Sue, you probably want to call Horrace in here.”
“What are you saying, Yelena?”
“I think it would be better for Sandra to say it.”
“You want me to tell her I'm a stupid slut?” Sandra asked Yelena in Russian.
“Oh, no, Sandra,” Yelena corrected, “I believe under the laws of Atlantis, you're about to be a married woman, unless you want to take his life for dishonouring you. But I think marriage is a better option, given what you said to each other before and after.”
“But we can't...”
“You have, woman. Unless that recording is a clever fake. You weren't worried about the legal consequences when you promised to marry him or took him to your bed, so let's solve them later. It's going to be very easy to get you out of the Tsar's navy, woman, if that's all you're worried about.”
“How?”
“Your oath of service does not allow them to secretly make your wrist unit distribute videos of yourself taking a shower, and failing anything else, based on this afternoon's recording I can get you summarily dismissed for unbecoming conduct. So ask the commander for Horace's presence and married quarters, or I will.”
“Yelena is convincing, commander,” Sandra said in English. “Could I have Horace present?”
“In chains if necessary,” Yelena added.
“Chains?” Sue asked.
“Go on, Sandra,” Yelena prompted.
“And we will need married quarters. It was stupid but consensual and promises were made, so I want his life to cherish rather than to take.”
“One way or another, Sue,” Yelena added, “Sandra will soon cease to be an officer of the Tsar, or have any involvement in the Imperial navy. And she is a dual citizen.”
“Not a good mark on his record, but he was warned about Mer law.” Sue said. She opened the door, and commanded “Midshipman Lamb, get your miserable body in here this instant.”
“Yes, Maam.”
“Is this the man, Sandra?”
“Yes, Commander.”
“Midshipman Lamb, an accusation of conduct inappropriate for an unmarried couple has been made. Under Mer law, by which I remind you we are bound here, Sandra has the right to request your life, your castration, or your oath. Since promises were made of marriage, she has chosen to demand your oath.”
“But....” Horace tried to protest.
“Will you vow to stay with this woman your whole life, knowing that an oath once made must be kept?”
“I'd love to, Commander, but I can't can I? She's foreign military.”
“You should have thought of that, you know the law here. Good job for you she's got dual citizenship. Take your oath unless you've got a better reason.”
“What do I say?” he asked.
“Something about a wholehearted, lifelong exclusive and faithful commitment.” Sue said.
“I always liked the old one where he says he worships me with his body.” Sandra said.
“You know it means honour or respect?” Sue asked.
“I know. But still, I like it.”
“And you're going to vow to obey him?”
Sandra looked at Horace, and said, “Not without him vowing to discuss everything first, listening seriously to my point of view, and the rest.”
“I think that's counted as being in the meaning of the word love.”
“Not explicit enough,” Sandra said.
“Fine, you two put your heads together and come up with an acceptable wording. Yelena, a word outside, please?”
“Of course.”
Outside, Sue asked, “Sandra said you'd convinced her. Is she entering this marriage unwillingly?”
“No. She was worried about the legal implications. I said not going to be a problem for long, and based on the video I could always issue a summary dismissal.”
“Dare I ask what was on the video?”
“They were doing a lot of kissing and cuddling and then she asked him playfully if he really wanted to get married, he said yes, got down on his knees and asked her to marry him, she said yes.”
“And then...”
“Then they went back to kissing and cuddling and eventually expressed their total lack of residual thought or moral restraint. He removed her wrist unit, by the way. I thought I ought to check that. Oh, I'm quite sure there's no way what they did could be taken as forced.”
“Next question... legalities.”
“The video I mentioned was obviously being edited remotely, in real time, and then made available for remote access, but hidden from the owner. Likewise two videos of her having a shower. All had a booby-trap payload. I have removed them all from her wrist unit, and the remote tool. The persons doing this were at naval intelligence, and were clearly using her images as bait for sailors, for their own titillation — I have access records — and were storing the images in a folder named 'volunteers', which has pictures and videos of other women intelligence officers. There's a note in there, not encrypted, or anything, talking about how to fake their signatures. Hopefully, I can persuade my colleagues back home to take action quickly rather than waiting until next week. In any case, this counts as degrading treatment by a superior officer, which allows for departure from the forces with full pension rights and damages. But the officer being prosecuted etc. would take a fair amount of time, for me, especially from here. Maybe Yuri can help, but that might involve politics. But, I've just thought of this, maybe Mikhail can get behind the prosecution, and say, hey, they broke all sorts of rules, she's a dual national, you're breathing down his neck for blood, and it gets resolved quickly. Perhaps it'd be better I delete her agreeing to marry Horace though, that might count against her. Option two, I issue a summary dismissal for improper conduct. She's out, especially if she doesn't contest it, so her marriage is legal on both sides. I delete all sign of the offensive recordings, and the prosecution continues at its own sweet pace, without Mikhail's intervention, but I record her as also a plaintiff. Eventually, maybe, her pension rights are restored.”
“And you can legally delete evidence?”
“I can morally delete evidence, and that's all I'm worried about right now. Sorry if that offends you, but the ways they've been using her offend me. I'm quite sure she's raped in their imaginations daily. I know she's not got the best morals, Sue, but I don't think she deserves that.”
“Let's go witness some vows,” Sue said.