Lars sipped hot tea from a handle-free earthenware mug, alone in the cafe. The emptiness was surreal with the murmur of conversation and clinking of dishes. He’d never noticed how fake it was before. The white linen tables had always been crowded, no matter the time of day.
The slight young woman loaded, standing, between two nearby tables, then she pulled out the ratan chair across from him. She wordlessly picked up the teapot and elegantly poured a stream into the mug set at her place. Lars hoped this was a good idea.
She sipped, then smiled. “I am Meela family Barlos. My office has assigned me to your case.” Her voice was soft, not at all intimidating. While her name was of his people, her sleek navy pants and jacket marked her as off-world. They were striking against her pale coloring.
Lars narrowed his eyes. She looked too young to be a lawyer, but he knew better than to say it. “Thank you for meeting me. I’m Lars family Dexius. I guess you know that already though?”
She nodded and sipped her tea.
Lars drank and then reached for a biscuit. He closed his eyes, relishing the sweet explosion in his mouth. He knew it didn’t provide any real nutrition—if you wanted to stay under for long periods, you had to hook up and he’d packed limited supplies for that—but damn if it didn’t taste good. Nutripacks left something to be desired, especially after years of them.
Even the water on his ship tasted stale. He’d gotten used to it, of course, but this tea was delightful. A lot of Operators brought tea sachets in their personal storage, but that was one of the things Lars had foregone to make room for Grog’s food.
Worth it. The cute little guy had been nestled right into his neck when Lars woke up this morning. His breathing was ever so soft. Then Lars’ movement had startled him and he’d flung himself across the room. Lars had laughed so hard. He’d never seen the damn thing jump so far, even for food.
He’d needed that laugh. And Lars was forgiven once Grog had his breakfast. After eating, the little beast had watched Lars check the ship and get his status report. Then he’d settled into Lars’ lap to watch the stars. Lars wasn’t sure what he’d do without his little buddy—especially now.
“It is good you’ve retained me,” Meela said. “While you were correct that your employment contract prohibits you from contacting anyone outside of FRC and its legal representation regarding an active case, Conglomerate charter supersedes that. The clause is invalid.”
Lars was relieved but scrunched his face. He’d raised the concern when he’d initiated contact, but ‘invalid’ made no sense. The Conglomerate was FRC. If anyone knew the charter, it would be them.
As if reading his expression, she said, “It’s likely a scare tactic. But you have me.” She centered the mug in front of her. “Today, we’ll go over some basics regarding what you can expect. Then we’ll meet two more times before the trial.”
Lars nodded.
“Is this a good location for subsequent meetings?”
“It’s okay.”
“I thought it might make you feel more comfortable.” She smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes.
Lars nodded and his leg started to shake. He took another sip of tea. The hot liquid helped. It warmed down his core as the taste lingered in his mouth, slightly bitter while full and sweet.
“Good.” It was her turn to nod.
She went over the details of their contract, leaning back in her chair and referring to a green-tinted plasti-sheet. She detailed how they would work together and listed what she termed ‘reasonable expectations.’ To his surprise, they went both ways, stipulating her conduct as well as his. When she got into the financials, his eyes glazed over and he ate another biscuit. She asked for his consent but what choice did he have?
“That’s fine,” he said, swallowing the last crumbles. Then he wet his throat with more tea. “I understand.”
“So, let’s talk about what we’re preparing for.” She effortlessly shifted the conversation to the trial.
Lars could feel the hairs on his neck starting to stand up. “Okay.”
“How familiar are you with Conglomerate proceedings?”
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“Uh, I know there’ll be a trial.” Lars raised both eyebrows.
“And?”
“Well, everyone knows the High Chancellor presides.” Lars shrugged. “I’ve never been to one before. Tertiary said to ignore the dramatizations—that they’re inaccurate—and to stay away from the records so I don’t freak myself out. He didn’t get around to covering it yet.” Lars sighed. “I think hiring you pissed him off.”
Meela’s eyes hardened. It made her look older. “Stop that, right there. You need to understand that this is 100% business. All of it. Tertiaries are all FRC-employed Cogitare.”
Lars nodded slowly. She sounded like she knew what she was doing. He hoped she did.
“You are correct that the High Chancellor presides,” she continued. “Let’s start there. What do you know about him?”
Lars shrugged. High Chancellor Garok was the FRC’s Conglomerate delegate and held the highest leadership position. It was always held by FRC. Everyone knew who he was and what he looked like. The man existed on a knife’s edge between awe-inspiring and terrifying. Or perhaps he was the knife. Lars was sure his image was no accident; he had a media machine behind him spitting out messages in just the right way.
“I guess just what everyone knows?” Lars said.
Meela sighed. “I assume you know he’s FRC and the basics of Conglomerate governance? As in policy decisions, in the courtroom, the High Chancellor’s autocracy is only tempered by his need to save face.”
She set down the plasti-sheet and added more tea to her mug, lightly guiding the spout as she tipped from the handle.
“That means,” she continued, “there is a subtlety to winning any case. He will decide in favor of FRC but the decision must also be defensibly in The Conglomerate’s interests. So, there is a dance of options, benefits, and consequences.”
She sipped her tea and Lars nodded.
“Now, I’m hopeful that the number of parties involved will work to our favor—think of it as increasing the number of possibilities—that, combined with you having the shallowest pockets. In some ways, it’s laughable that the claims against you would be heard in the same trial.”
“What?” Lars blurted.
“What what?”
“Same trial?”
“Oh. Apologies. I thought you knew that. Conglomerate trials have been multi-party since the founding.”
Lars stared back at her, wide-eyed. He’d assumed it would be similar to his planet’s traditions, going back thousands of years. He’d been taught in school. He’d never thought he’d be involved in something big enough to merit The Conglomerate’s legal system. He guessed his teachers hadn’t either. Panic rose to his throat. His heart thudded loudly.
“The Conglomerate is a governance system but it is also a business agreement.” She raised her eyebrows. “Recall I said it’s 100% business? Its legalities draw from FRC practices of self-governing corporations—with some third party oversight.” She nodded from side to side when she said ‘some.’
“In this case, PRO will be present, as they filed the initiating claim on F-311246.3’s behalf. While their representative’s primary function will be as a planetary advocate, their presence may also work in our favor as another level of oversight. Usually, this function is limited to the lesser High Seats, filled by member worlds with direct stakes and any personal legal advocates, such as myself. Of course, too there is the gallery and, by extension public opinion.”
She paused to sip her tea. He didn’t know what he was supposed to say.
She set down the mug. “The High Chancellor will hear all parties’ claims and be officially asked for rulings. I will present and speak the formalities on your behalf.”
Lars poured more tea for both of them. The liquid dripped brown dots on the white tablecloth. He grimaced, even though the fabric would be reset once they stood.
“You may be called during evidence as an Orator. As I mentioned earlier, much of our next two meetings will focus on preparing you for that. We will know, before our last meeting, if any High Seats other than myself will be calling you. But it is best to start preparing, assuming they will.”
Lars nodded and brought the mug to his lips. His hand was shaking. He hoped she didn’t notice. He focused on the tea, then asked, “What’s it like?”
“We’ll go into more detail next time but, in general, it’s civil. There isn’t the back and forth of the planetary legal system you’re probably used to back home. There’s a lot in Conglomerate charter about hearing everyone out fairly—and what constitutes ‘fairly’—which seeps into the minutia of the proceedings. Interruptions are prohibited and challenges must be more indirect and when it’s your turn. From an Orator experience perspective, it’s probably one of the better systems.”
Yeah. Better if I didn’t have a stake in the outcome, Lars grumbled silently.
“My job is to prepare you and to navigate, on your behalf, to the best outcome.”
He could tell she was trying to be assuring. He wasn’t sure it was working.
“The evidence will be mostly official records and orations. The Conglomerate favors those. Once each High Seat has presented, we will be given the opportunity to provide requests and recommendations for any of the rulings, based on what has been heard. Then the High Chancellor will retire to his office to review the materials assisted by a specialized AI. Rulings are typically rendered within a few hours but can take up to one standard day. Questions?”
Lars lowered a hand to his knee to steady its shaking. He maintained eye contact.
“May I remind you that this conversation is privileged. While this is an outworld instance and regular Continuance privacy rights do not apply, my legal parameters take precedence. No parties are recording.”
Lars nodded slowly.
“Now would be the time.” Meela raised both eyebrows.
Lars slowly sighed. “I… I just…” He grabbed another biscuit. He didn’t know why. He didn’t want to eat another. He held it in his hands, then broke it in two. “It’s not right.”
Her eyebrows shot higher.
Hell, if he was going there, he might as well go there. “I did it,” Lars whispered. That was the first time he’d said it out loud. “I mean, I followed protocol exactly, but it still happened. And what Tertiary is planning is wrong. Beyond wrong.”
“Start from the beginning.”