Polity 2 - Hilldiggers by Asher Neal Page A

Consulate on Sudoria. But that siting was all somewhat beside the point. Quite simply, Sudoria resembled Earth of a millennium ago, when the politics of nation states were shaped by politicians, the media and public opinion—of the three the media becoming the most powerful. All a very complicated and messy process. By those who wanted greater contact with the Polity I would be employed as a media weapon—my being here already considered a victory. Of course the downside of this was that those—mainly Fleet—who did not want any contact with the Polity, would try to use me negatively in the media too. But I intended to sell the advantages, and they were many, maybe enough to eventually influence Fleet personnel, who also possessed their own voting system and their own little internecine conflicts. Maybe this was why Fleet did not seem in much of a hurry to let me go.
    “It has been turned against us,” said Duras.
    “If you could explain?” I prompted.
    Once again we were sitting around that same central table in Duras's cabin. He eyed me carefully. “I hoped the charges I filed against Inigis would prevent any further attempts on your life during our journey to Sudoria. But Inigis was last night arrested by his own lieutenants and confined to his cabin.”
    “Surely this is a good thing?”
    “Not,” said Yishna.
    Duras continued, “Fleet claimed Inigis must be tried by them, and pushed this demand through Parliament.” He explained further, “The twentieth anniversary of armistice is only a few months away, and there has been much media programming concerning the War, and also, despite Uskaron's book, much nostalgic sympathy aroused. So when Fleet said, 'We must try him in full public view to wipe this slur from our integrity' and then put it to the vote, they received the support of most of the planetary delegates.” Duras glanced at Yishna. “Even some of the Combine delegates voted in favour.”
    Yishna said, “Membership of Combine does not automatically eliminate stupidity.”
    “So now either you suspect another attempt on my life, or some attempt to traduce me?”
    Duras continued, “While you are out here, we can't protect you too well. They don't want to move against you overtly, and by now Admiral Carnasus and the rest realise that you are not going to shuffle off your mortal coil with a mere whisper and a sigh. Inigis was a fool, who thought he could raise his position in Fleet Command by getting rid of you. Carnasus, however, will not want you to die aboard a Fleet vessel. After all, Fleet is responsible for you, and will get to look bad if you die wholly in their care, and in such circumstances Combine representatives,” he glanced at Yishna, “myself and the other members of Parliament would be pushing for Carnasus and his staff to be charged with murder.”
    “So, the alien will instead be paraded in court and made to look foolish, dangerous, sly, or any combination of the above?”
    “We rather suspect so. It will be an open session aboard the Ironfist—all media representatives allowed. However, aboard Ironfist the Fleet Admiral, Carnasus, himself wields the power. And that ship is presently in orbit around Brumal.”
    Yishna shook her head. “Fleet will probably draw comparisons between you and the Brumallians. This won't be about Inigis, but about you. Certainly they'll try to find some reason to eject you from the system...perhaps because of that 'organic technology' Inigis detected inside you.”
    “So, how do you think I should deal with this situation?” I asked.
    “We will prepare you as best we can,” said Duras. “There is no system of advocacy in Fleet courts, so you must represent yourself.” He grinned. “But in the time I have come to know you I feel you to be quite capable of that.”
    Our meal time then became a rather morose affair, with further speculations about what Fleet intended. Eventually I changed the subject. I turned to Yishna.
    “Tell me about your