Chapter 11: A New Post

I glanced at the door when it opened and the tall marshal walked in, “The fleet commander is waiting.”

I shook my head, “I can not wait for the new commander to get here and take over.”

He grinned, “Suck it up. What did you have for me?”

I turned and picked a chip up before tossing it, “A fugitive on Maple. Take Tonks with you.”

He nodded and turned to the door, “Amanda and her newbie just returned and he wanted to see you.”

I sighed, “Send the fleet commander in and tell Smith to take a seat.”

We had been on Gable six months as marshals arrived to fill the new sector headquarters. I had been promoted to captain as soon as we returned to Canis, three days later we left to return here. I sat back as the tall fleet commander walked in and gestured to a chair. She grinned as she sat, “Getting settled in?”

I sighed, “Once we have all the marshals it will slow down.”

She nodded and looked down, “I ... we have a problem.”

I looked at her and she sighed, “Provost Marshal Dillon committed suicide.”

I waited and she looked at me, “His men are capable but something does not feel right.”

I turned as I thought, “We could step in but with what goal? And for how long?”

She sat up, “I want you to investigate his death and clear his case load.”

I stood and walked to the window to look out, “Normally that would be the job for a captain but I can not leave until the new commander arrives and I do not have a lieutenant.”

I looked at her, “I can send sergeant marshal Swift since she is just back from assignment.”

She stood, “I will be grateful for anything you can do.”

I watched her leave and turned as the sturdy new marshal came in. I waited as he crossed and sat before I walked to my desk, “What do you need?”

He leaned forward, “A new partner.”

I looked at him and leaned back, “Why?”

He cleared his throat, “I know you and Swift are mates but she lets that ... animal...”

He stopped talking as Dragon leaped from her perch and landed on my shoulder. I smiled, “And how long have you been a marshal?”

He frowned, “A month.”

I reached up to touch Dragon, “These are not just pets. I am sure Amanda told you that. Did she tell you that she could use Cynthia and look through her eyes?”

He blinked and shook his head as I pulled Dragon into my lap, “Did she tell you they can produce acid that can eat through a lock or detect poison?”

He shook his head and I smiled, “Did she tell you their bite can put a person into stasis or inject a lethal poison?”

He shook his head and I shook mine, “Did you think to ask her about them?”

He reddened and shook his head and I sighed, “Smith you may have completed the marshal academy but they do not teach everything and you will not learn if you do not ask questions. Now sergeant Swift has another assignment and this one is going to involve investigations and attention to detail. While you two are partnered start thinking like a marshal.”

He stood and then smiled, “I have been a little smug.”

I gestured and he walked out and I stood to follow with Dragon climbing to my shoulder and looked around the squad room, “Amanda?”

She looked up as two other marshals tried to pretend they were not listening, “Take Smith and go to the fleet base. The provost marshal died and the commander has requested us to investigate his death and clear his case load.”

She stood and grinned, “At least we are still packed.”

I nodded and watched them leave before looking around and heading back to my desk. It was several hours before I shoved the evals into a drawer and looked up. It was evening and everyone was gone but a woman stood in the doorway. I smiled, “It has been awhile ma’am.”

She smiled, “Somehow I knew I would be seeing you again.”

I stood and walked around the desk and went to take her hand, “I thought you were still on Central.”

She held up her commander’s badge and I grinned, “About time you got here.”

She snorted, “You just do not like the paperwork.”

I turned as Dragon flew across the room and gestured, “How about we go upstairs and talk over dinner?”

Marshal commander Deb Maloy grinned as she slipped her arm in mine, “I heard you have a spouse?’

I smiled, “She should be back by now. She has an on planet assignment.”

She had been one of my instructors at the Marshals Academy. When I led her into the apartment Amanda turned from reading a screen and frowned. I smiled as I gestured to the table, “Amanda this is Deb Maloy. She was an instructor at the academy and now she is our commander.”

She grinned as she set the screen down, “In that case welcome.”

Deb grinned as she sat and I went into the kitchen. When I walked out they had their heads together looking at the screen. I set the warmed meal packs on the table and then two small plates for Dragon and Cynthia, “So what does the doctor say about the provost marshal?”

Amanda snorted and pushed the screen across to me as they both reached for a meal, “There was no way he could have killed himself. He had enough drugs in him that I doubt he could even move.”

I looked at the screen and then frowned, “Why did the fleet doctor annotate suicide?”

Commander Maloy was quiet as Amanda shook her head, “Those were pre inspection results. He had two sworn statements from fleet security officers that witnessed the death.”

I pushed the screen back, “Have Smith question them but...”

I closed my mouth and smiled, “But you know what to do.”

Amanda grinned and stuck out her tongue as commander Maloy laughed and reached out to pet Dragon and Cynthia, “How many are on assignment?”

I sighed, “All but two. We have twelve assigned right now so we are only up to half strength.”

She nodded, “And I brought a personal one for you.”

I looked at her, “Nothing came in.”

She pulled out a data stick and slid it across, “Straight from the emperor. Duke Izkovich is on planet and will be using one of the empty imperial judge apartments. He is temporally sitting on the dukes court to hear a case between barons Altson and Martinez. The emperor wants you to babysit him since he is young and has never sat in judgement.”

I sighed and Amanda grinned, “Have fun.”

I stuck my tongue out as she and the commander laughed. After dinner the commander left and I sat with Amanda as Dragon and Cynthia played tag. She leaned against me, “Smith wanted a new partner?”

I smiled, “I think some of my nature rubbed off on you. For a new marshal and one straight from the academy you need to explain things like what Cynthia is and what she can do. Remember when we met?”

She grinned and bumped my shoulder before sighing, “He is not to bad but his smug attitude is irritating.”

I grinned, “Ignore what he does as if he were a child and just do what you know how to do.”

She laughed and caught Cynthia as Dragon chased her across the room. I was up early and made checks before Amanda left and then I was going down and knocking on the door to the judge’s apartment. A servant answered and frowned at Dragon as I walked past him. I smiled at the well dressed man relaxing in a chair as he read something from a holo display.

He looked at me and blinked, “Can I help you marshal?”

He was in his early twenties and I sat across from him, “I was asked to watch and assist you while you sit in judgement.”

He sat back and smiled, “And who would have you do that?”

I lifted an eyebrow and he blushed, “The emperor?”

I nodded. “I was told you have not done this before. There are certain guidelines you should follow.”

He looked at me, “Guidelines?”

I shrugged, “Normally I can not look at or review the case and that is not an area marshals are trained in. However, when sitting in judgement there are certain security precautions you need to learn. First until the case is finished and you give your judgement you do not leave your apartment, this is so you appear impartial.”

I looked at him carefully, “Next is safety for you and any servants you may have. You do not use a window or go for walks. You use the door scanner to check the thermal image of your servants and confirmed who they are.”

I waved the servant away, “While you are sequestered you do not speak to anyone about the case. You do a complete security verification on your court AI before you connect. If one side or another seems hostile you do not hesitate and contact the marshal commander and request a marshal.”

I looked at him closely, “Companions may enter but you are to check them like the servants and if one mentions or tries to talk about your case you report it.”

I glanced at Dragon as she sniffed and alerted and held up a hand. I touched her as she looked at the servant who looked nervous, “Seek.”

I came to my feet as she leaped and flew straight to the servant. She landed as he stiffened and opened his mouth. I moved quickly, “Do not move.”

Dragon turned and started down his arm towards his left hand. I pulled my weapon, “Hold it straight out.”

He swallowed, “It is just a sedative.”

Dragon clawed back his sleeve and I caught the tiny vial. I touched my comm, “Commander.”

It was a minute before she answered, “What is it?”

Dragon moved as I put restraints on the servant, “I need a marshal for protect duty.”

“What happened?”

I looked at the white faced duke, “Duke Izkovich’s servant was turned.”

“We just got three in, I will send one down.”

I disconnected, “Sitting in judgement is very serious your grace.”

He stood, “He has been with me for two years.”

The servant shifted and I lifted his hands behind his back. He winched and kept quiet as I moved to the door, “Do not touch anything until I come back. Dragon guard.”

I pushed the servant to the door and opened it before taking him out. I smiled when I saw Michaels quickly walking from the lift with his Georgia peeking out of his hair, “They transferred you?”

He smiled, “They said you needed someone.”

I nodded to the closed door, “Dragon is on guard but the whole apartment has been compromised.”

He nodded, “I will start a sweep with Georgia.”

I pushed the servant towards the lift as Michaels knocked on the door. I stripped the servant at the cells and shoved him in before activating the energy screen, “Who paid you?”

He looked at me calmly as if he knew he would get away with what he had done. I shrugged, “Very well I will inform the next available imperial judge of your attempted murder of a noble sitting in judgement.”

He looked startled, “It was a sedative.”

I shook my head, “Dragon only alerts to the presence of poison.”

He moved towards the door screen and it buzzed to warn him. He froze and licked his lips, “It was baron Alverez.”

I nodded and gestured to the bed behind him, “Put the jumpsuit on.”

I turned and headed back down to see the duke as I used my comm, “Commander?”

She answered right away, “What now?”

I sighed, “We are going to need to truth scan the servant. If his story checks we are going to need the emperor to sign an arrest warrant for baron Alverez.”

She sighed, “I will have Baker truth scan him and call the commissioner.”

I touched my badge to the door lock plate and waited for it to open all the way before stepping in. Michaels nodded as he put his weapon away, “Everything looks clean.”

I gestured and Dragon leaped off the chair the duke was sitting in and flew to me. I looked at the white faced duke, “Is baron Alverez involved in your case in any way?”