Ciudad Oxford, Arluna...
"I have to insist, Commander, the girl is an Arlunan citizen." Governor Ewan Wilder insisted.
"I have a Ducal order to the effect that she is currently the responsibility of the Coast Guard, mister Governor. I report to Her Grace the Margrave, not you." Linda Sithers wore 'Working Dress' uniform, not quite the full dress blues, but not a field uniform either. "Isn't that correct, Ensign Minh?"
"Yes'm, we have orders."
"If you wish to countermand the orders, you will have to take them up with my chain of command at, or above the level at which the order has been issued." Sithers continued, "I am given to understand the Duchess will be returning in six months, but if you would like to discuss with her superior, the name in the directory is Victor Ian Steiner Davion."
"Excuse me? Your orders came from Elizabeth Ngo herself?"
"Aye sir." Sithers said, and produced the offprint. "Signed by her personally after receipt of my report on your civil disturbance here. I have orders to maintain protective custody of one Debra Lee MacAulliffe until properly relieved. My interpretation of that order, is that Debra Lee MacAulliffe is not secured anywhere on this planet after someone thought it was a good idea to shoot up a civilian farm using taxpayer property. In our hands the girl is secured and protected. as an orphaned minor, her status as ward of the State is a simple matter, in terms of chain of custody, the Ducal stands above the Gubernatorial levels, and she is under Ducal State Protection as a witness in an ongoing investigation."
"Is that why you are here?" He asked.
"Actually, we were just doing taxi service initially, the auditors were being delivered to go over your books and verify progress on the March reforms, however, our tasking was expanded upon learning there was an uprising in progress. The MacAulliffe farm is less than twenty kilometers from a navigable body of water, and within Coast Guard jurisdiction."
"A..a what??"
"Navigable body of water. Jennison pond." she said.
"that's...that's practically a bathtub!"
"I can land a helicopter on floats on it, therefore, it is a navigable body of water, we also observed the lift of a Leopard class dropship from Ciudad Memphis on a governmentally cleared flight path, observed the deployment of four battlemechs, and ground fire before intervening to defuse the situation. at no time did any onboard sensors detect return fire, and it was only after watching a firestarter pilot go axe-crazy that I acted on my own authority to step in-you can't prosecute dead defendants and you can't get reliable testimony from burn wards. Both suspects dead, along with civilian casualties and confirmed lack of return fire demonstrates proof of either malice or incompetence. The presence of minors on a combat mission in peacetime indicates administrative malfeasance, shall I go on?"
Ensign Minh lifted her briefcase, and snapped it open. "This visit is a courtesy visit, Governor, to inform you that your Administration, and this entire situation, is now under investigation by the Theater and March authorities, you are advised to cooperate with investigators to your fullest ability. Failure to do so may result in charges of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to capital murder." she laid the first document on his desk. "That is the first item. Item two, is that the March Authority, under the Equal Protections under the Law clause, is paying for legal representation for one Debra Lee MacAulliffe, this is an order suspending all commerce related to the estate of the MacAulliffe family until a March Court Magistrate can rule on the Probate and arrange for the settlement of all outstanding legitimate and legal debts owed to, or owed by, the deceased." she laid it on his desk, "This is a Ducal order to freeze the assets in question, it vacates the Imminent Domain ruling you issued in May of this year pending a court review of the assets involved, as well as a Ducal review of the Imminent Domain case to verify legitimate public use under the Commonwealth Charter, as well as an order to an Audit to determine if said public use is or was unduly influenced by or to the benefit of, the issuing authority of the ruling of Imminent Domain under the Anticorruption policy instituted here in the Kowloon Theater March."
"one more, ma'am." Ensign Minh said.
"Oh, yeah...and this is a court ordered review of your finances and dealings, Governor Wilder. This order gives our investigators lawful access to your accounts, which as of ten minutes ago, were legally frozen until the audit is done. I am also under orders to place you on House Arrest until such time as this audit is completed, at which time, the arriving Judge Advocate officers will determine if criminal prosecution is warranted."
Sithers laid the last order on the desk, then leaned forward on it, hands firmly on the surface, eye to eye with the Governor. "Let me be exceptionally clear for you sir, the Duchess herself has chosen to notice you, and not in a way that results in photographic opportunities and investment advice. Your ass is in a sling, sir, and your cooperation may be the difference between you walking out that door a free man, and walking out to the gallows. Do you savvy my transmission, Heinie?"
"Yes." he said, struggling to retain some dignity. "House arrest?"
"your phones will be tapped, you will be confined to quarters, access to external communication will be by my permission, if you try to escape, I will not hesitate to have you shot." she told him. "In official corruption cases, it is common for a suspect to try to run, or hide information, conceal compatriots, or warn fellow suspects. you will not do this, attempting to do so is a very, very bad idea. Servants and employees coming and going will be searched and questioned. you are in a fishbowl, Governor, your yard is your yard, and going outside means going under guard. This is for your protection as well as the requirements of the case-in the event you turn state's evidence, your continued physical existence could rely on our efforts at your security."
