Sunday July 16, 2006
Book 7: Emperor Pius Dei — Part VI: Long Arm of the Law

Transcript

Narrator: Theater Three aboard the Mercenary Warship Touch-and-Go.
Massey: Your Honor, in any extradition hearing, two critical judgements must be passed.
Massey: The first is whether there is sufficient evidence to try the suspect. In our case, it's a no-brainer. Celeschul Law Enforcement has made a great case, and we've confessed to some of the crimes in question.
Massey: The second judgment is much stickier: The extraditing jurisdiction must decide whether justice in the foreign jurisdiction will be served in accordance with local law.
Massey: Our defense in this case depends, therefore, entirely on Fleetmind law, of which we are all completely ignorant. Your Honor, before I can proceed, I need to ask you a question.
Petey: Well done. You managed to ask me whether you can ask me a question without using up your question. ask anything you want, Massey Reynstein.
Massey: We can show that if we are extradited, Celeschul and the U.N.S. will figuratively bury us under a rock, and completely "vanish" the embarrassment we have become.
Massey: My question, then: Is it legal, according to the laws of the Fleetmind, to make a prisoner completely disappear?
Petey: Before I answer, I have a question for you, Massey.
Petey: If my answer to your question is "yes," will you proceed with your defense anyway? You've piqued my curiosity.
Massey: We are so screwed.