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Civil Intelligence?
The meeting re-convened in a basement. The area had been hastily cleared of stored furniture components. Even when you have 3D printers and the ability to reconfigure at will, stuff still piles up, and UC Stanford Space Planning had a _lot_ of space they weren't using, sandwiched in between all the space they were.
Dr. Krismurti was deceased. But the issue he'd raised was still very much alive.
"OK, folks, we now have to go back to the Civil Intelligence component."
One of the nurses stood up. In a public meeting, this was a conventional way of becoming recognized. In this meeting, it drew laser eyes from Samantha - which is understandable, as she is a KittenBot - but also from Captain Amy Tsai, CHP.
One of the little known facts about the modern California Highway Patrol is that promotions above Captain are not public. Thus the rank structure seems oddly flat to outsiders - employees, troopers, officers, sergeants, lieutenants and captains -- in increasing order of responsibility and pay. But between Captain and the Commissioner was a void, filled by many, many Captains with various roles and responsibilities.
It occurred to me suddenly that Captain Amy might be a lot more than she first appeared. Not in charge of Vallejo Barracks, say, but someone who worked on special projects.
"Why are we so concerned with Mr. Anderson? Why not leave his hearing to the normal process and move forward with what is important, stopping this madman Colonel Mastermind?"
Amy glanced carefully around the room. The half of us in the room who were combat trained tensed, seeing her hand position. She was very ready to draw her smartgun and open fire.
"Because he is key to stopping the Mastermind. I am not prepared to go into detail at this time. The sheer amount of effort that has gone into trying to kill him is proof of that. I also irritated the Mastermind - but he did not target me personally with three orbital laser barrages. Nor did he compromise at least three secret agents trying to kill Alan for no reason."
This was a bit of a revelation. I'd assumed, apparently wrongly, that Captain Amy had suffered as bad a day as I had.
Other people also showed a reaction, but Amy decided not to kill anyone for it, at least yet.
"Normally, the outcome of a Civil Intelligence Hearing is obvious to everyone in the room. The accused can choose to be tried by a randomly selected single magistrate, by a council of three - one selected by the accused, one by the trial authority, and a third acceptable to the first two - or the accused can choose to be tried by a jury, as in criminal proceedings.
"I had hoped to use a jury of the whole, as we did to clear him of the criminal matters. However, we have an objection on the record from his attorney and an expert witness statement - however motivated - in favor of remand.
"Does Alan - or his attorney - have any preference?"
Again my lawyer earned his ridiculously large pay.
"Alan - I'd counsel you _not_ to accept a random magistrate in a matter this serious. If we convene a council, we have the awkward problem that there is no trial authority. Or let me ask you, Captain Tsai ... is CHP bringing the Civil Intelligence charge? Or what agency or activity is?"
Amy looked momentarily stricken.
"After such extraordinary events, it's normally automatic. Second use of a smartgun in 24 hours, a felony charge involving violence, illegal possession of proscribed weapons, negative involvement in a mass casualty event . . ."
"He's just been cleared of the felony charges," my attorney pressed. "The 'second use of a smartgun' rule is normally applied by San San. CHP is one of three hundred-odd registered policing organizations in San San. Is CHP bringing that charge? UC Stanford Safety can't, it's outside their jurisdiction. The first smartgun use was in CalFire primary jurisdiction, a former state park. They've already filed a demurrer - the use was appropriate to the conditions. The second smartgun use was actually in a tower in the City of Santa Clara, who subscribes to Bay Area Safety Team. Is BART bringing the charge then? They don't have a representative here. Besides, he drew but did not actually fire. How about San Francisco PD? They would seem the most involved party. But they _refused_ to send a representative, stating that preliminary review showed that Alan's actions were lawful. As for negative involvement in a mass casualty event, my client was _shot at_ - and not through any fault of his own. I'm going right back to my starting position - the need for a hearing has not actually been established."
Amy opened an external link and subvocalized a conversation with someone, probably CHP Legal.
"I have just been informed that the civil intelligence hearing never properly opened. Therefore the expert testimony is stricken. However, I have just been informed that CHP is in fact initiating the trial here, and that I am to serve as the adversary representative."
I blinked.
My attorney snorted.
"Very well, _I_ will serve as my client's representative. Who shall we pick for the third? I object to anyone who works for CalFire, CHP or UC Stanford. You presumably object to anyone who works for Alan, which leaves out Kinetic Solutions and the Fedhobbyists. That doesn't leave much left over."
I spoke up.
"I recommend Bao."
My attorney looked at me in horror. "Who is Bao?"
"Accepted!" Amy said at once.
A few minutes later, a short Asian man wearing a ridiculously expensive business suit was escorted into the room. He looked very different from the 'humble seller of meats' I'd so often bought anonymous cooked meats from. He completely owned the room. Everyone stared.
"Testimony I reviewed on the way here. Alan? Crazy? Crazy like fox maybe, but not crazy like dangerous. Do you think I give just anyone experimental exoskeleton with enhancements?"
He handed me a gauntlet I recognized. Energy charge and dump system. Not a weapon, technically, but as useful for handling energy as a sledgehammer or baseball bat is for hitting things.
"Try not to lose this time. Took much effort to find on a rooftop in San Francisco. Now slightly modified. You can wear on your arm, as so." He fastened it, then turned to the crowd.
"I vote no. Alan's attorney votes no. Amy votes however she wants, does not matter. Hearing ended."
"Oh, and I have now five offers from Mastermind. I sell meats, I do not rule China - and would not so much as cook a soy dog for murderous Colonel who weaponized Rice Blast. Good bye, good luck. Oh wait, UC Stanford, transfer five billion credits to disaster fund. Please work on same."
He bowed and left. The Dean of Medicine blinked as the credit transfer hit. She started subvocalizing, carrying out the intent of Bao's donation.
"Rice Blast?" someone asked.
"Bio-agricultural weapon," I replied. "Interferes in the growing cycle of rice. If it got out and could not be countered, would be annoying for San San and very awkward for China. Last century it would have killed billions of people, even if it didn't start a nuclear war."
Amy pointed out, "This is exactly why we need Alan. He knew that _without consulting any ware_."
Point to Amy.
The gauntlet felt very heavy on my left arm. Considering it carried a 20 mJ power supply and corresponding defense fields - including the ability to fire, I mean dump energy, without frying me - I was surprised it was not heavier.
I could literally shoot down a satellite with it, if I could hold my arm still enough.
"Who was that guy?" someone else asked.
"He's a street griller in San Jose North," I said in a tone that brooked no contradiction.
Amy motioned me up front to take over the meeting.
The meeting re-convened in a basement. The area had been hastily cleared of stored furniture components. Even when you have 3D printers and the ability to reconfigure at will, stuff still piles up, and UC Stanford Space Planning had a _lot_ of space they weren't using, sandwiched in between all the space they were.
Dr. Krismurti was deceased. But the issue he'd raised was still very much alive.
"OK, folks, we now have to go back to the Civil Intelligence component."
One of the nurses stood up. In a public meeting, this was a conventional way of becoming recognized. In this meeting, it drew laser eyes from Samantha - which is understandable, as she is a KittenBot - but also from Captain Amy Tsai, CHP.
One of the little known facts about the modern California Highway Patrol is that promotions above Captain are not public. Thus the rank structure seems oddly flat to outsiders - employees, troopers, officers, sergeants, lieutenants and captains -- in increasing order of responsibility and pay. But between Captain and the Commissioner was a void, filled by many, many Captains with various roles and responsibilities.
It occurred to me suddenly that Captain Amy might be a lot more than she first appeared. Not in charge of Vallejo Barracks, say, but someone who worked on special projects.
"Why are we so concerned with Mr. Anderson? Why not leave his hearing to the normal process and move forward with what is important, stopping this madman Colonel Mastermind?"
Amy glanced carefully around the room. The half of us in the room who were combat trained tensed, seeing her hand position. She was very ready to draw her smartgun and open fire.
"Because he is key to stopping the Mastermind. I am not prepared to go into detail at this time. The sheer amount of effort that has gone into trying to kill him is proof of that. I also irritated the Mastermind - but he did not target me personally with three orbital laser barrages. Nor did he compromise at least three secret agents trying to kill Alan for no reason."
This was a bit of a revelation. I'd assumed, apparently wrongly, that Captain Amy had suffered as bad a day as I had.
Other people also showed a reaction, but Amy decided not to kill anyone for it, at least yet.
"Normally, the outcome of a Civil Intelligence Hearing is obvious to everyone in the room. The accused can choose to be tried by a randomly selected single magistrate, by a council of three - one selected by the accused, one by the trial authority, and a third acceptable to the first two - or the accused can choose to be tried by a jury, as in criminal proceedings.
"I had hoped to use a jury of the whole, as we did to clear him of the criminal matters. However, we have an objection on the record from his attorney and an expert witness statement - however motivated - in favor of remand.
"Does Alan - or his attorney - have any preference?"
Again my lawyer earned his ridiculously large pay.
"Alan - I'd counsel you _not_ to accept a random magistrate in a matter this serious. If we convene a council, we have the awkward problem that there is no trial authority. Or let me ask you, Captain Tsai ... is CHP bringing the Civil Intelligence charge? Or what agency or activity is?"
Amy looked momentarily stricken.
"After such extraordinary events, it's normally automatic. Second use of a smartgun in 24 hours, a felony charge involving violence, illegal possession of proscribed weapons, negative involvement in a mass casualty event . . ."
"He's just been cleared of the felony charges," my attorney pressed. "The 'second use of a smartgun' rule is normally applied by San San. CHP is one of three hundred-odd registered policing organizations in San San. Is CHP bringing that charge? UC Stanford Safety can't, it's outside their jurisdiction. The first smartgun use was in CalFire primary jurisdiction, a former state park. They've already filed a demurrer - the use was appropriate to the conditions. The second smartgun use was actually in a tower in the City of Santa Clara, who subscribes to Bay Area Safety Team. Is BART bringing the charge then? They don't have a representative here. Besides, he drew but did not actually fire. How about San Francisco PD? They would seem the most involved party. But they _refused_ to send a representative, stating that preliminary review showed that Alan's actions were lawful. As for negative involvement in a mass casualty event, my client was _shot at_ - and not through any fault of his own. I'm going right back to my starting position - the need for a hearing has not actually been established."
Amy opened an external link and subvocalized a conversation with someone, probably CHP Legal.
"I have just been informed that the civil intelligence hearing never properly opened. Therefore the expert testimony is stricken. However, I have just been informed that CHP is in fact initiating the trial here, and that I am to serve as the adversary representative."
I blinked.
My attorney snorted.
"Very well, _I_ will serve as my client's representative. Who shall we pick for the third? I object to anyone who works for CalFire, CHP or UC Stanford. You presumably object to anyone who works for Alan, which leaves out Kinetic Solutions and the Fedhobbyists. That doesn't leave much left over."
I spoke up.
"I recommend Bao."
My attorney looked at me in horror. "Who is Bao?"
"Accepted!" Amy said at once.
A few minutes later, a short Asian man wearing a ridiculously expensive business suit was escorted into the room. He looked very different from the 'humble seller of meats' I'd so often bought anonymous cooked meats from. He completely owned the room. Everyone stared.
"Testimony I reviewed on the way here. Alan? Crazy? Crazy like fox maybe, but not crazy like dangerous. Do you think I give just anyone experimental exoskeleton with enhancements?"
He handed me a gauntlet I recognized. Energy charge and dump system. Not a weapon, technically, but as useful for handling energy as a sledgehammer or baseball bat is for hitting things.
"Try not to lose this time. Took much effort to find on a rooftop in San Francisco. Now slightly modified. You can wear on your arm, as so." He fastened it, then turned to the crowd.
"I vote no. Alan's attorney votes no. Amy votes however she wants, does not matter. Hearing ended."
"Oh, and I have now five offers from Mastermind. I sell meats, I do not rule China - and would not so much as cook a soy dog for murderous Colonel who weaponized Rice Blast. Good bye, good luck. Oh wait, UC Stanford, transfer five billion credits to disaster fund. Please work on same."
He bowed and left. The Dean of Medicine blinked as the credit transfer hit. She started subvocalizing, carrying out the intent of Bao's donation.
"Rice Blast?" someone asked.
"Bio-agricultural weapon," I replied. "Interferes in the growing cycle of rice. If it got out and could not be countered, would be annoying for San San and very awkward for China. Last century it would have killed billions of people, even if it didn't start a nuclear war."
Amy pointed out, "This is exactly why we need Alan. He knew that _without consulting any ware_."
Point to Amy.
The gauntlet felt very heavy on my left arm. Considering it carried a 20 mJ power supply and corresponding defense fields - including the ability to fire, I mean dump energy, without frying me - I was surprised it was not heavier.
I could literally shoot down a satellite with it, if I could hold my arm still enough.
"Who was that guy?" someone else asked.
"He's a street griller in San Jose North," I said in a tone that brooked no contradiction.
Amy motioned me up front to take over the meeting.
