“What?” the Marshal General muttered to the man next to her. “No, we’re not going to wait for her. I want to get out of here on time for once. Are you ready? Fine. Let’s just start.” She cleared her throat and projected her voice across the courtroom. “I hereby call to order this hearing to review the events of investigation 1523-J-12. Major Syfax Zidane?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Syfax stood up from his seat in the center of the room. The Marshal General and her two colonels sat at the table in front of him. A single row of chairs for observers stretched across the room behind him. The only occupied chair held Corporal Kenan Agyeman.
“Major, the facts of this case are not in dispute. Your report has been confirmed by Corporal Agyeman, as well as several members of the Royal Guards and the Air Corps. The ongoing investigation into the plot against the late queen has already led to four convictions and executions, and no doubt will continue over the next year or two as we continue to identify the other parties involved.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Syfax frowned.
“We are here today to discuss your conduct during the investigation. As you know, we’ve had concerns about your methods in the past. The Brassmoon Gang in Lixus. The Tingis Seven. The serial killer in Acra last year. Up until this point, we’ve all rationalized your actions against your results, but in light of recent events, we are forced to reconsider.”
“Recent events being the death of the queen, ma’am?”
“Yes. I have just a few questions. After the initial explosion in Tingis, you left the crime scene to pursue Ambassador Chaou. Who did you leave in command of the crime scene?”
“No one, ma’am,” Syfax said. “I guess I forgot to do that.”
“Mm hm. The night you arrived in Port Chellah, you found a police officer suffering a gunshot wound to the stomach. What actions did you take to care for that officer?”
“There wasn’t anything we could do for him, ma’am. He was bleeding to death. He would have died within the hour.”
“You snapped his neck. Is that correct?”
“It was what he wanted. He said so, ma’am.”
“Mm hm.” The general regarded the pen in her hands. “Later that night you confronted Ambassador Chaou and Police Captain Aknin. You grabbed Chaou’s weapon, which then discharged, killing Aknin. Is it your opinion that Chaou would have killed Aknin in any event, regardless of your actions?”
“Probably not. Aknin was part of their little conspiracy.”
“Then, in your opinion, did Aknin die because of your actions?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Mm hm. The following evening, you entered the home of Fariza Othmani uninvited, damaged her personal property, and assaulted her house staff. All without a warrant. Is that correct?”
“Yes, ma’am, but-”
The general waved him off. “Later that night, according to your report, you were accosted on the highway by several would-be bandits. But you did not arrest any of them. In fact, you advised them to proceed to Arafez and demand food and shelter from the temple. Is that correct?”
“Yes, ma’am. They had a lot of hungry kids with them.”
“Were you aware that when they arrived in Arafez, they attacked the temple priests and started the largest riot in the city’s history? The violence persisted for three days, during which time over one hundred people died and over eight hundred people were injured. Five city blocks burned to the ground.”
Syfax swallowed. “I am aware of that, ma’am.”
“You also gave a sidearm to a police detective. You assaulted the Royal Guards, stole a horse, and proceeded up a restricted road without appropriate clearance. You then authorized a pilot to crash-land an airship gondola in the middle of the queen’s airfield, destroying the royal skybarge and injuring countless bystanders. Also killing the pilot herself.”
“The queen’s life was in danger, ma’am. At that moment, I had no reason to believe that anyone else would be able to save her.”
The general nodded to herself. “I understand that. But you’ve had several weeks now on administrative leave to review the events of this case. With the benefit of hindsight, in your opinion, were these actions and decisions the best possible options? If you had them to do again, would you make the same choices?”
Syfax frowned. “I don’t know, maybe, some of them. I can’t really say, ma’am.”
“Fair enough. As you know, we were apprehensive about transferring you from the army into Section Two, but your record impressed us and you seemed eager to learn and grow into the position. But we are forced to conclude now that investigative police work is not where you belong, major. Several of us, myself included, would prefer to see you serving a brief sentence before being discharged from the service, but your little stunt in the capital impressed Lady Tzeddig, which places me in a difficult position. Fortunately for us, a compromise has presented itself. Effective immediately, you are transferred to Security Section Four.”
“Transportation?” Syfax glanced back at Kenan, who shrugged. “What am I supposed to do there, ma’am?”
“They have created a new position just for you. Air marshal. As I understand it, you will sit in the back of airships to ensure the safety of the passengers and the airfields. They’re hoping to avoid another attack like the one Hamuy pulled off in Tingis. You’ll be in the air most hours of the day, and you’ll be unarmed, of course. You’ll report to the Tingis airfield first thing next week for orders. Dismissed.”
Syfax saluted, turned, and strode out of the room.
Kenan dashed after him. “Sorry, sir. But at least you’re not going to prison.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s something. Are you going to be okay, kid?”
“Yes, sir. Actually, you’ll probably be seeing me around the airfield.”
“What? Did they make you an air marshal too?”
“No, sir. I met up with that pilot, Ohana, a few weeks ago. They made her a captain, you know, and she put in a good word for me with her superiors. They’re rebuilding the Northern Air Corps right now. Anyway, they let me take the pilot’s test. I passed.”
Syfax grinned. “Good for you, kid. To be honest, I never really thought you were cut out to be a marshal anyway.”
Kenan shrugged. “I guess that makes two of us.”