Justice
By Kurun t’Gath
Translated from the Kashlanin
(99.3% accuracy)
© 2026 by Walter Reimer

Thumbnail art by  morgdl


Nine.



My first task after returning to the station the next morning was to talk with the two technicians who had inspected the house’s drones. One was a male of average height; the other was a female who was as tall as the male was. They were both in white working uniforms as they entered the interview room and sat down.

“I will begin with one question,” I said after setting my [personal access device] to record the conversation. “Did you check all of the drones in the house?”

The two technicians glanced at each other and the female replied, “[Respect], Captain, but we did not. We examined only the drones assigned to the kitchen area.”

I frowned and felt my tailspur drag across the floor. “That was insufficient.”

“That was where the crime occurred,” the male said.

“That does not matter,” I told him.

“Are you accusing me of being unprofessional?” he asked. I could hear his tailspur tapping against the floor, a sign of agitation.

I matched the gesture. “Yes,” I replied. “Worse, you were complacent. The physical search for the murder weapon extended several [meter-equivalents] beyond the property.” I suppressed my own anger and said, “I will be issuing a search order, to be executed today. You two will examine every drone in the house, even the ones tending the yard, and you will query the house’s computer to obtain a full inventory. When you are done, you will report to me.” I glanced from one to the other. “Understood(peremptory)?”

“Yes, Sir,” the female said, gesturing contrition. After a [moment] the male followed suit, acknowledging that I was correct.

“This was a murder,” I said. I felt my claws twitching. “Failure to be as thorough as possible in the search for evidence could allow the perpetrator to escape unpunished. We cannot allow that, understood(peremptory)?” They gestured comprehension. “Dismissed. I will issue the search order within the half-cycle.” After they had left the interview room, I spent a short amount of time calming myself.

The Rekkadh detachment was headed by a lieutenant, who I had not yet met. I went to his office and waited as his [staff assistant] asked him if he could speak with me. “Please enter, Captain-Inspector,” the [staff assistant] said. I thanked(polite) him and entered the office.

Lieutenant l’Zhafur saluted and offered me a chair. “May I help you, Captain?” he asked.

“I have issued another search order, after speaking with two of your technicians,” and I explained why I was issuing the order. “I will be issuing a reprimand to the two technicians.”

He considered what I said. “They are veterans, but you are correct. A murder demands a far more comprehensive effort. I will see to it that they receive the reprimand, as well as remedial training.”

“Thank you(sincere), Lieutenant,” I said. I returned to the small office arranged for me, and I decided that I would wait until the search was concluded before interviewing the family members. The interval would also allow my anger to recede.

But there was a Person I could speak to, and I searched for the call code for the local office of the Combined Services. I contacted the office and after several requests I was connected to the recruiting assessor, a [sergeant-fourth].

“How may I assist you, Captain?” the sergeant asked.

“My information shows that you assessed Veridh g’Zherin for military service, and assigned her to Support based on that assessment.”

“That’s correct.”

I felt my ears [flick] forward. “Could you explain why?”

The [sergeant-fourth] gestured affirmatively. “The assessment is based upon the subject’s academic grades, social history and aptitudes in areas such as mechanical, electronic, clerical and medical. G’Zherin-[young-madam] scored well in areas that would direct her to Support.”

“What were those aptitudes?” I asked.

“In [descending] order,” the assessor said, “legal, medical and clerical. She scored lower in mechanical and [cybernetic] specialties.”

I considered this. “I am told her [father-first] objected to your assessment.”

The assessor gestured affirmatively. “He did. He was angry that she was not recommended for the Fleet.”

I moved my ears in an interrogatory/curious gesture. “Did he threaten violence?”

“No, Sir, not in my conversations with him,” the assessor replied.

“He spoke with you more than once?”

“Yes, Sir. Trying to persuade me to alter my assessment and recommendation.”

“I see. Thank you(sincere),” and I ended the conversation.

I would wait until the next day, after the second search and when I had the time to read the results of the search. Something was not feeling right.





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