Alien Skies, page 13
part #3 of Wakanreo Series
Jared shook his head. “I went to a lot of trouble to keep that quiet. If Ianachh knows we’re friends, he’s got some mighty deep sources.”
The word surprised Kamuhi. “Are we friends, Jared?”
The older man smiled. “You tell me, kid?”
Kamuhi shrugged, unwilling to make a claim now that he was talking to his very superior officer. “I don’t know. I owe you a lot.”
“No. You don’t owe me anything.”
“I don’t want to argue about it, not at this hour. What will happen to Joenne now?”
“I’m going to hold a formal hearing tomorrow. You’ll get a summons and so will she and Ianachh. We’ll hash it all out for the record.”
“Then why did you come down here in the middle of the night and wake me up?” Kamuhi demanded.
“Because,” Jared replied calmly, “I wanted to know what a hearing would uncover before I called one. Never look under a rock unless you’re prepared for what you might find.”
Kamuhi had a thought. “Just how public is this hearing going to be?”
“Not public at all. Why?”
“I was just wondering if Yulayan would ever find out about it.”
“She won’t hear about it from me, Kam, but I wouldn’t count on her not finding out. A small base like Yiangliun is a hotbed of gossip.”
Kamuhi shook his head regretfully. “I don’t know how she’ll take it. She has quite a temper.”
Jared smiled. “Just don’t let her jiewa on you.”
Kamuhi smiled ruefully. “I’ll try. I just wish I knew why Ianachh thinks I’m worth the trouble of pulling something like this in the first place.”
“I can tell you that. There’s a flag on your file.”
“A what?”
“A flag. Every now and then someone comes through with a flag that’s visible only to the base C.O. and above. It alerts the C.O. to keep an eye on them. Some C.O.s assume that it means the person is going somewhere with ThreeCon. I suppose that’s why Ianachh thought it would be wise to suck up to you—maybe even ease you into a promotion by getting Macaulay out of the way?”
“What do you mean by keep an eye on them?” Kamuhi said suspiciously.
Jared chuckled. “If I told you that, how could I keep an eye on you myself? Did you ever hear the saying ‘Shuratanians rule the universe’?”
“Of course.”
“Well, I don’t know about the universe, but I can tell you, in spite of ThreeCon using Terran time and distance units, it’s Shuratanian philosophy that determines how ThreeCon operates. That means deviousness is encouraged and mentorship is always at work even when it’s not in the open.” He drained his cup and set it down. “I’ve got to get back to Wisuta and make some arrangements so I can throw a scare into Ianachh tomorrow.” He slapped Kamuhi on the shoulder. “Go to bed, kid. You look awful.”
Kamuhi went back to bed, but it took him a long time to get to sleep. It seemed like he had just drifted off when the alarm sounded.
Chapter Nine
Both Joenne and Kamuhi were in the liaison office when Raji Ranganathan, one of the medtechs, came in, eager to tell them the news.
“The Planetary Commander is here,” she said. “His flyter landed just a few minutes ago. He went straight to Ianachh’s office, and no one’s heard anything since.”
“What?” Joenne said, startled enough to come halfway out of her chair. “What in bloody hell is going on?” she added, giving Kamuhi a speaking glance as she sank back down again.
He refused to be put out of countenance, but he didn’t think it would be wise to reveal what he knew. “I didn’t ask him to come,” he said, sticking to the literal truth
Raji was excited. “Do you think this means they’re on to the little weasel’s tricks?” she asked Joenne.
Kamuhi wondered if there was anyone on the base who liked Lieutenant Ianachh.
“I don’t know,” Joenne said slowly. “It could be just another one of Ianachh’s schemes.”
Before Raji could answer, two security officers came through the still open door.
Joenne stood up. “Can I help you?”
“I’m looking for Liaison Officer Joenne Macaulay,” the taller one said. He was a Miloran, a little taller than Lieutenant Guhlhan, but not quite as wide. The other officer was a Terran woman half his size, if you measured by either width or bodyweight.
“I’m Macaulay,” Joenne said.
He nodded. “I also need Assistant Liaison Officer Kamuhi Hailoaka.”
Kamuhi stood up. “I’m Hailoaka.”
“If you’ll both come with me, please,” the officer said, stepping aside so that they could precede him through the door.
Joenne frowned at Kamuhi with a stare that spoke of deep suspicion. Kamuhi returned her stare but shook his head slightly, trying to suggest this wasn’t his doing.
They walked to the central building in silence. The officers escorted them right up to Ianachh’s door, and then the Miloran knocked.
“Come,” said a voice that Kamuhi recognized.
When they opened the door, Kamuhi was surprised to see that Ianachh’s scaled down desk had been pushed into a corner. Jared was sitting behind it looking rather like a parent at his child’s school desk, and Ianachh sat in one of four chairs placed facing it.
Jared looked up. “Come in.”
Kamuhi and Joenne both came to attention and saluted. Jared returned it and waved them both to sit down. Another officer, a Shuratanian woman, stood next to Jared.
The security officer closed the door from outside the room.
“Now,” said Jared, “we’re all here. I’ll make the introductions, for the record and so everyone will know who everyone else is.” He nodded at the Shuratanian next to him. “This is Lieutenant Piquachh shu Rrhum. She’s here as the recording officer and witness to the proceedings. Lieutenant?”
Kamuhi noticed the lieutenant held a small portable video recorder which she now took over to the far wall. She adjusted the controls, held it right about her own eye level, checked a dial, and then stuck it firmly to the wall. Then she sat down in the only empty chair, between Kamuhi and Joenne.
“I am Planetary Commander Jared Harlengin,” Jared went on briskly. “These are Lieutenant Ianachh shu Pttach, Base Commander of the Yiangliun Facility, Liaison Officer Joenne Macaulay, and Assistant Liaison Officer Kamuhi Hailoaka. Is that all correct?”
Everyone nodded.
“I should remind everyone,” Jared said, “that these proceedings are being recorded. I should further remind each of you that you took an oath when you enlisted in ThreeCon. That oath included an agreement to obey orders, and to tell the truth when asked a question.”
“Sir,” Joenne interrupted. “If I might ask, what are these proceedings about? Is this a trial?”
“No,” Jared said. “It’s not a trial; it’s a formal inquiry into a notation that was made in your ThreeCon personnel file yesterday afternoon by your commanding officer, Lieutenant Ianachh shu Pttach.”
Joenne’s face went blank. “What?” she demanded loudly.
Jared looked down at a portable terminal on the desk. “Yesterday, Lieutenant Ianachh entered a notation that he had reprimanded you for sexually harassing a subordinate.”
“What?” said Joenne again, even more loudly. She jumped to her feet as if she couldn’t contain herself. “Sir, I’d like to protest! Lieutenant Ianachh never told me he was making any kind of notation into my file, certainly not that he was alleging that!”
“Sit down Liaison Officer Macaulay,” Jared said. “You’ll get a chance to speak very soon. First, I need to hear from Lieutenant Ianachh. Lieutenant, will you tell us please why you made that notation in Macaulay’s file?”
Ianachh smiled blandly. “Certainly, Commander Harlengin.” He looked straight ahead and began. “The day before yesterday, a new officer was assigned to Yiangliun, a young Terran named Kamuhi Hailoaka. He was posted as an Assistant Liaison Officer, under Liaison Officer Macaulay. As is my custom with new officers, I went over to check on Assistant Liaison Officer Hailoaka—”
Jared held up a hand, and the Shuratanian stopped talking.
“For the sake of brevity,” Jared said, “let’s agree that we will henceforth refer to these two people simply as Macaulay and Hailoaka. I don’t have all day to devote to this matter.”
“Certainly, Commander,” Ianachh said. “As I was saying, I wanted to check on Hailoaka’s progress, so I went over to the liaison office. I discovered that Macaulay had gone out on her official duties and ordered Hailoaka to remain in the office. This struck me as negligent on her part, as he was assigned to her for training. Macaulay has something of a reputation among the staff for her aggressive sexual behavior with men of her own species, especially young ones. After inquiring of Hailoaka on his interaction with Macaulay, I discovered that she had been making demands of him and that he had refused them.”
Joenne turned and glared at Kamuhi. If looks could have killed, he would have been lying lifeless on the floor.
“After her return to the base,” Ianachh went on smoothly, “I therefore admonished Macaulay for her behavior and subsequently entered a notation of the event into her file.”
“Very well,” said Jared. “Do you wish to go on record that this version of what happened yesterday is the truth, Lieutenant?”
“Yes,” said Ianachh, “to the best of my recollection.”
“Hailoaka,” Jared said. “Let’s start with the allegation of harassment itself. Did Macaulay ever harass you sexually?”
“No, sir,” said Kamuhi.
“Did she ever make any comments, suggestions, or overtures of a sexual nature?”
Kamuhi hesitated. “Yes, sir.”
“What form did this take?”
Kamuhi cleared his throat. “She offered me a sexual relationship, sir.”
“You said she offered a relationship. Did she suggest any reason, outside of the relationship itself, for you to accept the offer?”
“No, sir.”
“And what happened after she made this offer?”
“I said no thank you, sir.”
“And she accepted your refusal?”
Kamuhi hesitated again. “I had to say no again, sir.”
“After you repeated your refusal, did she accept it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Did she ever say or do anything that indicated to you that she was holding your refusal to accept a sexual relationship against you?”
“No, sir.”
“Did she ever mention it again or repeat her offer?”
“No, sir.”
“Did she ever touch you or attempt to touch you in a way that was offensive?”
“No, sir.”
“And that one conversation was the only time that Macaulay ever said or did anything that implied a desire for a sexual relationship?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You’re quite sure about that?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Very well,” said Jared, “let us now look at the allegation that Macaulay was in some way punishing you for your refusal. Did she give any reason why she didn’t take you with her when she left the office?”
“Yes, sir,” said Kamuhi. “She first expressed dismay that my wife is half-Wakanrean and half-Terran and has been the focus of a lot of controversy in Wakanrean-Terran relations. Secondly, she pointed out to me that, while I might be familiar with other parts of Wakanreo, the Yiangliun District is very provincial and its people are easily offended. She advised me that I would be staying in the office until she was certain I knew how to conduct myself.”
“Did you convey this information to Lieutenant Ianachh when he spoke to you yesterday?”
“Not the first part, sir, no. I did tell him I was learning some background on the district.”
“And then you complained to the Lieutenant about Macaulay’s offer of a sexual relationship?” asked Jared.
“No, sir.”
“You didn’t voice a complaint about Macaulay?”
“No, sir.”
“Did you tell someone else on the base?”
“No, sir. I didn’t see it as something to complain about, sir.”
“I see,” said Jared. “How can you account for the fact that the Lieutenant seemed to know about it?”
“Well, he did ask me if I had had any trouble with Macaulay. I said no, but I’m pretty sure I looked embarrassed when I said it.”
“And that is the only part of your conversation with the lieutenant that dealt with any complaint you might have had with Macaulay?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Very well,” Jared said. “You wish to go on record that your version of yesterday’s events is the truth, Hailoaka?”
“Yes, sir.”
Jared turned to Joenne. “Macaulay, did you ever at any time harass any ThreeCon personnel in a subordinate position?”
Joenne sat up straighter. “No, sir.”
“Did you ever make any comment or suggestion of a sexual nature to any ThreeCon personnel in a subordinate position?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What were these comments or suggestions?”
“I had a conversation the day before yesterday with Assistant—with Hailoaka, in which I offered him a sexual relationship.”
“And what was his response?”
“He was polite, but he declined, sir.”
“And how did you react to this refusal?”
“I . . . pressed him just a little bit, sir.”
“How did you press him, exactly, Macaulay?”
“I asked him if he was sure he wanted to say no, in view of the length of time it had been since he and his wife—that is to say, in light of the fact that he had been at OPI for several months—” Joenne stopped speaking and turned bright red.
“I think we get the point,” said Jared. “Did you ever threaten him in any way for refusing you?”
“No sir,” Joenne said firmly.
“Did you attempt to persuade him by offering him any job-related inducement, such as a good performance review?”
“No sir.”
“And did you ever repeat this offer?”
“No, sir.”
“Did you make any other comments or suggestions of a sexual nature?”
“No, sir.” She wavered a moment. “Not unless you count swear words, sir.”
Jared looked as if he were repressing a smile, but he didn’t allow it to break his air of gravity. “Now, then,” he said. “After you returned to the liaison office yesterday, did you speak to Lieutenant Ianachh?”
“Yes, sir. Hailoaka told me that he had come by the office, and that he wanted to see me.”
“And when you went to see the Lieutenant, what did he say to you?”
“He reprimanded me sharply for leaving Hailoaka at the liaison office. He also implied that I was in some way attempting to sabotage Hailoaka’s career.”
“And what answer did you give the Lieutenant?”
“I’m afraid I wasn’t very polite, sir. I told him that I was in charge of the liaison office, and I would run it as I saw fit.”
“Did the lieutenant question or admonish you about making sexual overtures to a subordinate?”
“Not in so many words, sir.”
“In what words, then, Macaulay?”
“He told me to keep my hands off Hailoaka, sir.”
“And how did you interpret this comment?”
“I just thought he was being nasty, sir. He didn’t say anything else; he just shouted it at me as I was leaving his office.”
“Did Lieutenant Ianachh tell you that he was making a notation in your file citing you for sexual harassment of a subordinate?”
“No, sir. He made no mention of my file at all.”
“Very well, Macaulay,” Jared said. “Do you wish to go on record that this version of what happened yesterday is the truth?”
“Yes, sir.”
Jared sat back in his chair. “Well, we have similar bones with very different flesh here. Let’s see if we can resolve the difference.
“Lieutenant Ianachh, when you spoke to Hailoaka, did you ask him if Macaulay had made any demands on him?”
“Not in those words, Commander.”
“What exactly did you ask him?”
“I asked if he had had any problems with Macaulay.”
“And what was his response?”
“He was reluctant to answer me directly.”
“What did he say?”
“He actually said no, but he seemed troubled, as if he were afraid to say anything else.”
“What makes you say that he was troubled?”
“His expression reflected mortification, and he almost stammered when he answered.”
“Did you ask him any more questions about Macaulay?”
For the first time, Ianachh looked uncomfortable. “No, sir.”
“If you believed that Macaulay had indeed harassed this young man, why did you not attempt to confirm it?”
“I felt it was confirmed, sir. Hailoaka had shown it quite clearly in his behavior. I had no wish to embarrass him further.”
“You considered that signs of embarrassment in Hailoaka were sufficient evidence to charge Macaulay with harassment?”
“Commander,” the Shuratanian said, “Macaulay is notorious among the entire staff. Everyone knows what she’s like.”
“Lieutenant Ianachh,” Jared said, “do you have any further evidence in support of your allegation? If so, please present it now, as I am about to conclude this hearing.”
“No, Commander, I do not.”
“Liaison Officer Macaulay,” Jared asked, “do you have anything further you would like to say before I conclude this hearing?”
Joenne shook her head. “No, sir,” she said firmly. “I’ve had my say.”
“Very well, then,” said Jared. “This hearing is concluded. Lieutenant Piquachh, please turn off the recorder.”
Jared stood up, and all four officers stood at attention. The Commander walked from the room and then turned as he reached the door. “Lieutenant, please report to me this afternoon at Headquarters in Wisuta. I’ll send a transport.”
