Hostile Genus: An Epic Military Sci-Fi Series (Invasive Species Book 2) Ben Stevens (best contemporary novels txt) 📖

me a break!” Miller roared. “You expect me to believe that this man was only following orders when he took Lucy from the Shanty and cut her up? Turned her into a killing machine?”

Neither Libis nor Matiaba showed a sign of emotion at Miller’s rage. They looked at each other expressionlessly and then turned back to Miller.

“That is precisely what I expect you to believe, General. For that is the truth.”

The council room fell silent as concerned glances shot back and forth.

“If I may?” Libis asked, holding his hand aloft as if an invisible object rested within it.

“Fine,” Miller said, almost growling. “Make your case.”

“Excellent. First, let’s look at the details of the accusations. What was the first on the list? War crimes?”

“Yes,” Miller mumbled, frowning.

“I see. And what exactly is the nature of the so-called war crime?” Libis asked, smiling slightly.

“How about the transformation of every New Breed soldier into those demonic robots and the capture of every other man, woman, and child into those Harvester spheres?” Miller snapped, his patience with this charade already long gone.

“I see,” Libis said, his small smile now slightly turned downward in a frown of contemplation. “And the conspiracy charges?”

“I think I just made that clear. Did you miss the part about the Harvester spheres?”

“Oh. I see.” Libis’s smile returned. “Honorable council members, I ask you a simple question. Who do you see here on trial?”

The room was silent. Confused glances came to Miller from nearly everyone in the room.

“You don’t need to take your lines from the good general here. I assure you, you can all think and answer for yourselves. It’s not a trick question. Who do you see here on trial?”

“Uh… Matiaba?” Quiteke broke the silence, his answer sounding more like a question of its own.

“That is correct, sir. Matiaba. Not Chairman Warbak.”

Miller watched in frustration as understanding dawned on his peers’ faces. So that’s your game, eh?

“You see, ladies and gentlemen, my client here was an aide, not a leader. Like everyone in the Ziggurat, he had orders to follow. Matiaba had no choice but to do his job. We should remember all too well the late Ministry of Social Purity, and the consequences for not following orders.”

Heads around the room nodded gravely. Miller seethed.

“Would you care to make a statement?” Libis said to Matiaba.

The former aide nodded and stood, looking around the room, pausing briefly to make eye contact with every member of the council.

“I swear on Home, and all it stands for, that I was not aware of Chairman Warbak’s intention to transform the New Breed into Spartans, or of his intent to capture the citizens of Home. Furthermore, I had no idea that he was working with Umbra and the Harvesters,” Matiaba said.

“And,” Libis continued, “please tell the council what you would have done if you had known.”

“I would have attempted to stop him.”

“What a load of bullshit!” Miller shouted, rising again to his feet and slamming a palm on the table, causing many a cup of tea and water to spill. “You’re as guilty as Warbak!”

“General, please,” Libis said calmly. Matiaba looked his way, but still bore no sign of agitation or fear.

“On what grounds do you say such things? What evidence do you present? I assumed this council would be founded on the principles of liberty, notions such as innocent until proven guilty, or have you simply removed one despot and taken his place yourselves?”

Miller practically shook with rage. He stole glances at his fellow council members and saw to his dismay that they were almost all looking at him with concern, even Candy. Only Elena looked unconvinced.

“And where is your proof that he is innocent?” Miller asked through clenched teeth.

“The burden of proof falls on the accuser, not the accused,” Libis said, eyes narrowing with triumphant glee. “Ladies and gentlemen. Allow me to digress for a minute. I assure you, there is a point.”

“Very well,” To-Kan said. Miller wondered if she’d decided to take over because of his emotional outburst, or if it was merely a coincidence. He curled his palm into a fist and sat back down.

The child, Wyntr, was restless, climbing off To-Kan’s lap and playing with the edge of the table. The play caught Miller’s attention, and when he looked, he found the girl staring at him, though most of her face was obscured by the table.

Oh, to be that innocent, Miller thought. Though, for her sake, and countless others like her, I’ll be damned if I let Matiaba walk!

“General Miller,” Libis began again, “were you or were you not present during the Battle of Texhoma?”

“What the crap?” Miller barked in answer. “Who’s on trial here?”

“Forgive me, ladies and gentlemen, but if the good General won’t even—”

“Miller, please,” To-Kan said.

“Fine. Yes. Yes, I was present,” Miller said, crossing his massive arms in silent protest.

“And during that battle—or slaughter, really—how many people, human and Displaced, did you kill?”

“Why you—!” Miller bolted back upright so fast and hard that his chair shot out from under him, striking the wall behind him and causing many in the room to gasp. He was shaking and had lost any control he had left of his temper. “I should have gunned you down in the Wombat,” he said, but not to Libis. His bloodshot eyes drilled holes into the former aide to the Chairman. More gasps, followed by silence.

“Interesting…” Libis mumbled, gently stroking the frames of his glasses with a fingertip.

“I mean…” Miller tried to correct himself, realizing that everyone in the room was staring at him in aghast disbelief.

“You don’t have to answer the question, sir.” Libis quickly turned the tone of the inquiry as deftly as a master duelist parried the incoming tip of an opponent’s rapier. “The question was not meant to bring you shame. We all know that you were decorated by Warbak for your actions in the war of reclamation. Surely you took no joy in the slaughter of your fellow man. You did what you had to do as a