MRBC Investigation - Schuster, Nicholas (Death)

[C.I. Robert Blaton]

I checked my watch as I always did before making a data-memo. It was 15 seconds untill the hour and if I paced myself correctly, I could state the time accuratly to within a tenth of a second.

"Robert Blaton, Commision Investigator, the 18th of January 3069, 19:00 hours. I am questioning Gen Miyamoto, a free agent employed by the Legionnaire unit. It has been stated that he was present at the time of Nicholas Schuster's death. Mr. Miyamoto is recovering from major wounds sustained during the operation, and is being monitored by chief of medical staff Dr. Jessica Saturina."

I set the recording device down on the metal table in front of me and began to unbind the twine clasp on my paper file folder. It was regulation to keep a digital assistant with all pertinent data for investigations readily available at all times, I did so as was my duty. However, I also indulge myself in the nostalgic practices of printed paper record keeping. The feeling of turning pages as a story unfolded in my mind always relaxed me. Made me feel in control.

"Please state your full name and liscence number for me, sir."

"Gen Yoichiro Miyamoto, A0037451"

"Do you remember the events of Devember 22nd, Mr. Miyamoto?"

"Yes, sir. Operation:Bloodhound began then. That was the day that Lt. Schuster...ended his life."

The suspect glanced at his nurse while he said this. He's uneasy to talk about it around her, maybe she was sweet on the kid, maybe she had a hand in his death. No matter the case, I'd be sure to thouroughly examine the crew.

"I see. Now you maintain that Lieutenent Schuster committed suicide?"

"Yes, sir. He was in fairly poor health, he may have been sevearly depressed. The situation in the field was becoming dangerous, we were at great risk for capture at the time. Things were desperate and he was not thinking well."

"I have reviewed the mission documents, and saw that you all were engaged in an infantry conflict. That hardly seems like your line of work. Or his."

"I've seen my share of blood. As for nick, he was a Legionnaire. He wasn't going to sit around while others did his fighting."

"I read in the medical logs that Lt. Schuster was treated for nearly a textbook of chemicals, the use of three of which are expressly banned by the Mercenary Bonding Commission. Psychosis inducing agents that can cause permanent psychological and physical damage. Were you aware of this?"

"Yes, well, I was aware he was treated. Nobody could have guessed his drug habits, he had been very careful to hide it from the rest of us."

"Port Authority records a Nicholas Schuster as being drunk and disorderly just three days before the operation began. It indicates that your captain Maxwell posted the fine for him. There are numerous incidents of this occuring, would you say that the captain was very firm with the deceased? Very strict with demerits?"

"I would say the captain knows the difference between his staff being relaxed and his staff being rebellious. He knew people, and what some folks needed. I am sure he has seen plenty of heavy drinking during leave."

"That's not what I asked. Please state the severity to which Nicholas Schuster was punished for his frequent abuses of alchol."

"Light. The captain would ofcourse dock the costs, no doubt give Schuster a stern word or two."

I paused for a moment, as I turned back a page to examine a medical report.

"Mr. Miyamoto, would you say Lt. Schuster was able to operate effectively in the environment this operation required him to enter?"

"No."

"Would you say that his deteriorating physical and mental condition percipitated his death?"

"Yes."

"Would you say the captain and Dr. Saturina failed in thier duties, when they deemed Lt. Schuster fit for a combat mission he had no formal training for?"

"They did what they felt was right! Strapping him down to a table while his friend died on the battlefield isn't any way Nick wanted to live. He would have gone regardless of orders."

"MR. MIYAMOTO! Would you not say that Dr. Saturina and Captain maxwell are DIRECTLY responsible for his death?"

At this point the attending medical observer, Dr. Saturina, began sobbing loudly. I decided to briefly pause the memo recorder and would excuse her from the room. Without her there, I could more carefully begin to figure out the pilot. He was stonewalling me, and I was going to see what it was he was hiding.

"Recorder off"

[C.I. Edwin Clark]

___________________________________

Maxwell was the very picture of calm as I entered the room. Seated reverse-saddle on one of the wooden chairs that adorned the sparsely decorated room, he conveyed an aura of cold detachment as I began to set up my recording devices on the table which separated us. I couldn't help but feel a brief wash of disgust as he watched me - the man seemed more concerned with the way I arranged my belongings than the very grave situation at hand.

I shrugged off my overcoat, and draped it across the back of my chair. The cold Sheratan winters were a far cry from the year-round heat of Hesperus II, and stepping off the transport at the Gellen's Heights spaceport had been a real shock to my system. I was thankful when the Humvee arrived at the well-heated Legionnaire complex.

Taking a seat across from the stoic Captain, I opened his service jacket, and browsed through the files within. Although I was intimately familiar with Maxwell's background already, I wanted to ensure that I hadn't missed anything that could potentially aid the investigation - an investigation which I was certain would end with the good Captain spending a fair amount of time in a prison cell, not to mention having his credentials yanked indefinitely.

I switched the recorder on, with a 'click' that echoed through the quiet confines of the room.

"Edwin Clark, Assistant Commision Investigator to Robert Blaton, January 18, 3069 - 19:12 hours. I am questioning Benjamin Maxwell, commanding officer of the Legionnaire unit. It is the responsibility of this commission to investigate the Captain and any responsibility he and his staff may have had in contributing to the death of Nicholas Schuster."

The Captain stared at me blankly.

"Captain, please state your full name and license number for the record."

Maxwell leaned forward, as though to speak directly to the recorder, glancing at me as he did so.

"Benjamin Edward Maxwell. Q7211994."

"Thank you."

The Captain returned to his impassive state.

"Captain Maxwell...you have a rather...colorful...track record with this unit. I see that, out of the past six Operations you've conducted, five have resulted in massive losses to your unit, by desertion, suicide, gross acts of incompetence, and an unusually high attrition rate sustained in battle. What do you have to say for all of this?"

Maxwell remained silent.

"I asked you a question, Captain. What is your reply?"

The Captain looked down at the table, and pursed his lips, as if considering his response very carefully before replying.

"It is what it is." he murmered, his voice barely above a whisper.

"You would agree that, as compared to other 'grade A' units registered with the MRBC, yours appears to be, quite frankly, a disaster, almost to the point of being a parody of itself?"

Maxwell continued to avert eye contact.

"I would not."

I removed a computer printout from my valise, and slid it across the table to the Captain.

"In his official report to the MRBC, John Murlance used, amongst other colorful descriptors, the term 'gross negligence' when describing the management of the Legionnaires. His recommendation was that you be stripped of your command, and the unit itself disbanded. I believe that - "

"John Murlance was a traitorous bastard who very nearly took the lives of two of my officers!" Maxwell exploded, rising from his chair, punctuating his words with a pointed finger. "How you can use his report to justify - "

"SIT DOWN, Captain Maxwell. We're just getting started."

[C.I. Robert Blaton]

The room was now clear of distractions. Mr. Miyamoto would have no one to spare him from my questions. The critical thing was to get him make a definite statement, Clark would do the same. If we could catch some of the crew in a lie, we would gain some serious leverage.

"Robert Blaton, investigating the death of Lt. Nicholas Schuster, 19:14 hours.

The good doctor was attached I presume."

"Very."

"Would you characterize thier relationship as romantic?"

"No, maternal is closer to it."

"Has Dr. Saturina been in a romantic relationship with you or any other member of this unit?"

"No, she maintains total professionalism."

"Mr. Miyamoto. My constituents and I would find the doctor's clear attachment to the deceased a direct violation of the ethos of professionalism. Quite possibly, her hypocratic oath."

The infirmed mechwarrior glared at me. There was no doubt now, the doctor had been soft of Schuster. I picked up my stenopad and quickly noted a reminder to recommend Dr. Saturina's transfer to another unit. I had what I needed for a profile on her, the time came for Miyamoto to put his noose on.

"Alright Mr. Miyamoto. Could you describe, in your own words, what series of events led up to Lt. Schuster's demise."

"Yes, sir. The operation called for a mixed ground team insertion and mech attack. The mechs were deployed at a distance and were piloted by Bravo lance. The heavy combat was mostly a distraction, as well as an effort to eliminate pirate occupation forces.

The other team, Alpha, entered the facility from the roof, via an Anhur transport helicopter. We forced entry into the building and devided into smaller teams to over state our numbers and further devide the pirates."

"The captain and a commander Garland seperating from you and Lt. Schuster?"

"Yes. Schuster was an adept computer hacker and it was decided that he should attempt to gain access to the security network. I escorted him to a nearby network node where he was able to achieve full access to security sub-systems."

"Could you characterize the levels and types of threats? How dangerous was this mission in comparison to most?"

"Small teams of unarmored infantry, well armed, and in quickly escilating numbers. By the time we had gotten to our objective, we were greatly outnumbered and the threat of death was very apparent."

"How was Lt. Schuster handeling the situation? What were his exact reactions?"

"He was feeling extreme stress, he had trouble breathing and had been sweating heavily. He had a lot of distractions and dangers while trying to achieve a complicated task. His performance was super human, but it drained him."

"Did you see the Lieutenent do anything that might lead you suspect what he was about to do? Perhaps some unusual behavior?"

"After he accomplished his mission, he just stared at me. He looked vacant. I didn't know what to make of it. I looked away for just a moment, when I heard his side arm discharge."

"So you did not see him draw his sidearm?"

"No."

"So you cannot be certain that it was suicide?"

"A smoking gun in his hand as he lay lifeless makes me pretty damn certain."

"You say that, but the forensics reports were all signed and filed by Dr. Saturina, a woman of noteable attachment to the deceased. We have no official sources, no way of double checking those findings. I imagine all the feelings she was having, it could be quite easy to confuse a selfinflicted wound with a point blank execution. A tale of heroic sacrafise might have sat much better with her than one of betrayal or negilgence."

It is at this time that Mr. Miyamoto rose from his seat and approached me. Lowering his head to meet the level of mine, he growled out a threat.

"Accuse her again and I will end you."

"You shall sit down this minute or I will have you detained and court martialled! I will not be threatened, strong armed, or intimidated! This is an official investigation by the Mercenary Bonding and Liscencing Commision! If I so much as suspect you are responsible, you and this whole unit will be out of work by morning!"

I paused and regained composure, preparing an icy tone to cool mr. Miyamoto's temper.

"If you are found to be responsible, legal action will ensue and I can assure you that murder one is a career ending conviction. Unless you wish to spend the rest of your life pressing liscence plates I suggest you cooperate."

[Dr. Jessica Saturina]

Listening to Blaton interview Miyamoto over Nicks death, finally took its toll. I became visibly upset. I thought my grieving for him was over, but with the recent death of another close fiend, it was more then I could handle.

"Dr. Saturina, I would like you and your techs to leave the room as I conduct my interview."

I straightened myself up, taking a hold of my emotions once again, I turned to glare at him.

"My patients are never left alone Mr. Blaton. I can disperse the techs but I will remain in here with him."

"That will not do Doctor. I need privacy. You will do as I ask. I do have the power to have you removed if I have to."

I stood with my arms crossed, glaring at this individual that appeared to have no sense of loyalty to people but only to his duty.

"Fine! I will go. I will be right out in the waiting room though. Let me warn you though Mr. Blaton. If my patient is harmed in any way by you or your interview, I will report you to your superiors immediately. Is that understood?"

"It is understood."

He didn't look worried at all. I had no choice, so I went out to the waiting room. I could not sit though. I paced the floor waiting for Mr. Blaton to come out and allow me to return to my patient.

[C.I. Edwin Clark]

"Let's talk about Operation Phoenix Down for a moment, shall we?"

I slammed a sheaf of surveillance photos down onto the table before Maxwell. The Captain's brow furrowed as he leafed through them, each one a damning chronicle of the unit's sabotage of the Slocum Recharging Station.

"You sabotaged your employer's recharging station, Captain! What were you thinking?"

Maxwell calmly shuffled the photos back into their original order, and placed them in the folder, placing it onto the table and pushing it back toward me.

"The situation necessitated that extreme measures be taken to ensure the sucessful outcome of the mission."

I balked at the Captain's reply.

"The mission? The MISSION? Mister Maxwell - because of you, House Liao was one step away from cancelling all of its contracts with the MRBC when evidence of your antics came to light! The political jockeying that had to take place just to keep the Capellans from bombing Sheratan back to the Stone Age was unprecedented, and came at an incredible cost! House Liao was ready to declare war on you, personally, Captain! Does that even mean anything to you?"

Maxwell studied the table for an extended period before replying.

"The mission was accomplished. Lives were saved. I consider a few ruffled political feathers acceptable collateral damage."

"A few 'ruffled political feathers?' Are you out of your mind? I suppose that's how you justify your flirtations with the Clans, Captain!"

A knock came at the door. I glared angrily at Maxwell, before turning to throw the hatch open. A young MP stood before me.

"Everything okay, Mister Clark? I heard yelling."

I ran my fingers through my hair, pushing my glasses back to their proper position on the bridge of my nose as I did so.

"Yes, Private Weinhold. Everything is fine. It's likely you will hear a great deal of yelling before this interview is over. I will reiterate my instruction to you: I am not to be disturbed."

"Yes sir."

I slammed the hatch, and returned to the table.

"Captain Maxwell - let's discuss your attack on the JumpShip Trestin...does the Ares Convention mean anything to you...?"

[C.I. Edwin Clark]

"Resume recording. 2145 hours."

I paused for a moment, partially to review my notes, and partially for effect. Mind games were as much a part of the interrogation process as the actual gathering of information, and I took particular delight in 'psyching' subjects that I knew carried a lot of emotional baggage on their shoulders. Captain Maxwell was one such subject. The past two hours had been delightful.

"Let's turn our attentions toward your hiring process. Who is primarily responsible for the selection of staff in your unit?"

"I am."

I murmered an affirmation.

"And Captain, aside from yourself, does anyone participate in the screening process?"

Maxwell looked at the table.

"Occasionally, a member of my senior staff will weigh in on the decision."

"Occasionally?"

"As the situation permits."

"But not all of the time?"

"No."

"I see. And would you say this makes your hiring process...fair and impartial?"
"How do you mean?"

I looked incredulously at Maxwell.

"Do you feel, Captain, that you are capable of making an informed, rational hiring decision, without any input from the staff under your command, regardless of their years of experience, training, and qualifications?"

There was a tangible pause. I had gotten him. There was no way the Captain could answer the question without making himself look bad.

"If I am required to."

I lashed out.

"And was it required that you singlehandedly recruit, without any input from your staff, persons with documented histories of mental instability or illness, extensive criminal histories, outstanding criminal warrants, bad conduct discharges from other units, and even Clan histories?"

Maxwell once again paused, folding his arms around the back of the chair from which he had remaned poised in since the session began.

"It was not."

I grinned as sinister a grin as I could muster, and tore my glasses from my face, staring Maxwell down.

"But it was done, Mr. Maxwell! And not just once - but multiple times!" I exclaimed, throwing a stack of dossiers across the table to land before the Captain. "Again, I ask - and you must answer - what were you thinking? Do you have any regard for the danger you placed not only yourself, but every last Legionnaire in, by willfully bringing these elements into your midst?"

"Although I was aware of the risks, I was following a belief that a person's past shouldn't be the sole factor that determines the outcome of the rest of their lives. In the hiring process, if a candidate had a questionable background, I examined their track record since that time, where they had been, what they had done, and what sort of a person they had become along the way."

"So what you're telling me is, if the Black Widow herself wanted membership in your unit, you'd hire her, provided she, what? Attended a few bake sales before she signed up?"

"That's not what I'm saying. Persons with a history of psychosis are - "

"...routinely admitted into the Legionnaires, Captain!" I exclaimed, picking the dossiers of Shea Anzovino, Go'buki Mathamamoyo, Saburo Kintaru, and Nicholas Schuster from within the pile, and slamming them down on top, ensuring that Schuster's fell open to his grisly autopsy photos. "And sometimes, they pop, don't they, Captain?"

Maxwell winced as his eyes caught the images of the deceased Legionnaire lying prone on a mortuary slab. After a moment's pause, he slowly closed the folder.

"At the time," the Captain replied, his voice husky with emotion, "we had no knowledge of Schuster's lifelong struggles with depression and substance abuse. We didn't pick up on it until it was...too late."

"So you were remiss in your duties to ensure the well-being of your staff, Captain?"

"No, I don't believe that anyone was remiss in their duties."

"Surely you would at least admit that certain parties, perhaps - including yourself - were negligent in detecting the problem before it got out of hand?"

"I acknowledge that a more thorough investigation of Schuster's personal background might have revealed the problem sooner."

"And who is responsible for this type of investigation?"

"Doctor Saturina and myself, primarily. Commander Garland also contributes as required."

"And what is Doctor Saturina's investigative function?"

"Foremost, to ensure the mental and physical health of the applicant, and to investigate any past or present disorders they may have had or presently have, taking corrective action when possible, and submitting an evaluation as to whether or not the applicant is fit for duty."

"And was this examination ever performed on Mr. Schuster?"

"It...was not."

"And why was that?"

"It was...overlooked. The unit was still recovering from the destruction of our FBO on Tau Ceti IV, and the events which took place in the subsequent operation."

"But, Captain, this type of examination is basic! A green MedTech can perform the tests required in the back of a MASH truck with even the most rudimentary of implementations! Was Doctor Saturina unable to carry out these responsibilities?"

"She was not."

"Then again, I ask the question - why were these examinations never performed?"

Maxwell looked me directly in the eyes for the first time since the interview began. The fire in his expression burned brightly in the darkness of the briefing room.

"Because I never ordered them, Mister Clark."

A satisfied smile played across my face. I was already anticipating the response. Maxwell simply had needed to say it.

"Recorder off."

[C.I. Robert Blaton]

The brief pause in the questioning afforded me a chance to check the time. 22:46. Things were moving along a little more briskly than I had predicted. Mercenaries generally hold out the longest. Thier expierences with interogation and sometimes torture prepared them for this type of thing. Luckily for me, I was dealing with a hot head. A little button pushing, some word twisting, and soon enough I'd crack him. What I needed now was a little bait.

I rose and slowly approached the local climate controls by the door. Feeling the eyes of the mechwarrior on me, I cranked up the temperature a few degrees. Turning to face the sweating suspect, I began.

"Whew, these Sheratin winters. They'll freeze you where you stand if you aren't carefull. You know what I'm talking about Miyamoto. Whelen must be looking like Eden right about now. Tell me, what was it like growing up there? With the clans and all."

"I wouldn't know, sir."

"Ah yes, that's right. You were off-world. Say, where'd you end up?"

"Terra."

"So you did, so you did. You lived in Kitty Hawk, if I'm not mistaken."

"That's right."

"Ever make it up north any?"

"Once or twice."

"It must have been fascinating. All of those cities, all that history. Coming from Somerset, I'd wager you met all kinds of interesting people."

"You could say so."

"Say, did you ever see New York? I've hear you can't go to Terra without seeing the Big Apple."

"I've been there."

The soft shoe act was over. I had given him his carrot and the time came for the stick. My smile opened wider and my southern drawl hit its sweetest.

"Say, while you were walking around New York rubbin' elbows with all those interesting folks, did you ever meet a Hoshino Tanaka?"

His face tightened as I said the name. He had sorely underestimated our records on him. Now, only when it was too late, he realized his position. His silence played on my ear like a symphany.

"Oh, Mr. Miyamoto. I know it was a long time ago. Perhaps a picture might refresh your memory."

"I believe I did meet this man, he owned a few buisnesses I think. I ate at his place a few times."

"Tanaka was a buisnessman alright. Why, you'd be surprised just how MUCH he owned in that town. Why just about everybody in that whole neighborhood called him "Boss Tanaka". Isn't that funny?"

"I didn't really see him around much. I suppose he was fairly busy running things."

"I'm sure you must have seen him a few times. He had a pretty noticible person. Six and half feet tall, covered in tattoos,....... a missing pinky knuckle. May I see your hand Mr. Miyamoto?"

The pilot produced his hand, which surprisingly was still steady. I feighned surprise upon viewing it and looked up into his steely eyes.

"Why, with a wound like that, some people might get the idea that you were mixed up with something very, very serious!"

"I don't see what this has to do with my fallen comrade."

"Mr. Miyamoto, I would think you would want to know if Lt. Schuster had been betrayed and killed over something as petty as a debt to the Yakuza."

[C.I. Robert Blaton]

"Robert Blaton, Commision Investigator, January 19th 3069, 02:00 hours. I have put Miyamoto through his paces, probing his every defense and at last cutting through his story to the truth. Nicholas Schuster had been spiraling slowly into self-destructrion and either through his own actions or his apparent mental condition, he percipitated his death. There was no question of his stability, even before Clark and I started questioning.

The real matter the MRBC wanted investigationed was the operational quality and conditions of the Legionnaires. Previous reports were confirmed and the slipshod irresponsibilities of the commanding officers were staggeringly apparent.

Clark and I collaborated on our investiagations over coffee and cigaretes. Clark's knack for pressing hard on his subjects hadn't turned out like we had hoped. The captain had said enough to keep himself in command, a few reprimands and fines were the worst he had to fear. He's dodged a court martial for now, but it is our official opinion this will not be the last incident.

The extended staff, including Dr. Saturina, all were found to be within the acceptible tollerances of all regulations regarding performance. Deserved or otherwise, the Legionnaires administration is in the clear.

The mechwarrior Gen Miyamoto, however, will bear serious consequences. Partly due to highly incriminating mafia ties, partly as an example to the Legionnaires, Miyamoto will have his liscence suspended for one year. Free agents like him usually live mission-to-mission and I will lay good money that this pilot is no exception. More than likely we've effectively elimnated mech piloting from his career. If this means one less hired killer in the mafia's ranks, then so be it.

Clark and I have booked passage on a dropship and will be departing in less than eight hours. With a few chage overs, I should have plenty of time to complete all the nessecary forms and tie up any loose ends. Another day, another c-bill. Robert Blation - End recording"

[Captain Benjamin Maxwell]

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- Incoming Personal Message -
- Command Instruction Follows -
- Decode : HPG NETWORK FAILURE - BY COURIER -
- Disseminate by need only -
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Subject: Notification of Suspension
From: Noyce, Tom
To: Maxwell, Benjamin
Sent: 21 January 3069 | 1253 hours GST

MESSAGE:

Benjamin -

Being the bearer of bad news never seems to get any easier.

I've just received the results of the commission investigation, and as much as it pains me to tell you this, I wasn't impressed. Personal feelings aside, the findings of Blaton and Clark paint a very dismal picture of your unit, and by all appearences, your command presence seems to be at the heart of it. Your apparent repeated acts of gross negligence and failure to take appropriate action to correct outstanding problems within the Legionnaires is greviously troublesome, and as such, it is the decision of this commission, that, until such time as this investigation can be completed to the satisfaction of the Primus, your certifications and licenses be suspended indefinitely. To that end, as of this writing, the MRBC no longer recognizes you as the legitimate commander of the Legionnaires. All subsequent contracts and relevant paperwork will be handled through Commander Garrett Garland, and you are to have no involvement with said contracts for the duration of this suspension.

I'm sorry, Benjamin. I hope you understand that it had to be this way. Go home. See your family. Take your mind off things for a while.

- Tom

- TRANSMISSION ENDS -

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Sender: L.C.I. Tom Noyce
Encryption Priority: HIGH
HPG Relay: DropShip Fury
Received: Pers Comp. 1249 Standard Terran Time
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